We're Bringin' It Next Year

We did not win the Christmas lawn decorating contest for our neighborhood. Of course (who knows better than me, right?), you can't win if you don't enter. But next year, it's game on. Beware house on the corner with the synchronized light and music display and house around the corner with the life-sized cutouts of your enitre family posing so gracefully around the lighted tree on your porch. Next year our oversized Christmas boxes flanking the front door will have new friends and you can bet your stockings our porch light will be on when the committee comes a votin'.

Thank You, Phyto!

When I saw the FedEx man at the front door, I wondered what late Christmas gift had arrived...you know, maybe Kevin was going to great lengths to surprise me with the Infiniti I've been drooling over. No such luck.

But I did win some phytovolume actif (volumizing spray). Great day for it, too, 'cause the haircut I got today needs some extra sass in the back. I've used phyto products before -- when I was highlighting my hair -- and I really like them. They just cost too darn much to buy on a regular basis.

Thanks, FedEx man!

Merry Christmas

12 Days of Cookies - Day 12

We've finally made it to the last day of our 12 Days of Cookies bakefest. I must confess that this recipe did not actually get baked today...go ahead, let me have it. I know, I know, I technically didn't complete my mission. But I did have more fun than I imagined baking through the countdown to Christmas and spending time with the kids (and the hubby, too!). There were some challenges (I reaaaallly need a new oven) but we made it through. Enjoy this last recipe, even though it isn't a cookie -- but it does use cookie dough, so I'm gonna let it count!

Cheesecake Cookie Cups
1 pkg. (16.5 oz.) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough (use the Nestle Toll House kind you break apart)
2 pkgs. (8 oz. each) cream cheese
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
2 lg. eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. Put one piece of cookie dough in the bottom of each cup. Bake for 10-12 minutes (cookie should spread to the edge of the cup).

Beat cream cheese, milk, eggs and vanilla until smooth. Pour about 3 tbsp. cream cheese mixture over cookie in each cup. Bake for an additional 15 - 18 minutes (until set). Cool completely when removed from oven. Top each cup with a level tablespoon on pie filling and refrigerate for one hour.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 11

Not sure why bar recipes are classified as cookies, but they seem to be. So I chose one to be included in our 12 Days of Cookies because I like this one so much. It takes a bit more work than some of the others I've featured (but no baking!) -- it is so worth the effort!

Nanaimo Bars
..bottom layer..
1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 large egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup coconut (sweetened or unsweetened -- your preference)
1/2 cup nuts, chopped (walnuts or pecans)

Spray 9x9 inch baking dish with nonstick spray. Melt butter in saucepan over low heat. Stir in sugar and cocoa. Gradually add beaten egg. Cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens. Remove from heat and add vanilla, graham cracker crumbs, coconut and nuts. Stir until well mixed. Press mixture into bottom of prepared pan.

..filling..
1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2-3 tbsp. milk or cream
2 tbsp. instant vanilla pudding powder
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 cups powdered sugar

Cream butter with electric mixer. Beat in remaining ingredients. Add more milk if the mixture seems too thick. Spread this over bottom layer, cover and refrigerate until firm (about 30 minutes).

..topping..
4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
1 tbsp. unsalted butter

In heatproof bowl over pan of water, melt chocolate and butter. Spread over filling and refrigerate.

To serve: let it come to room temperature and use a sharp knife to prevent cracking the chocolate as you cut it into squares.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 10

The 12 Days of Christmas song boasts that today (day 10) there are ten lords a leapin'. Lords make me think of my old friend Pauline, who is from London, and thinking of her makes me think of her teaching me to 'take an afternoon cup of tea' and enjoy it with a few 'biscuits'. The first time I heard that expression, I was bewildered...who wants Earl Gray tea, with sugar and milk in it mind you, with a biscuit? A good Southern biscuit deserves some sausage gravy or homemade fig preserves or a slice of ham, not a cup of tea.

But being the great gal I am, I gave her biscuits a try. Turned out to be a shortbread cookie. Humph... why didn't she say it was a cookie? I'm all for that. But back to today's 12 Days of Cookies selection. For those leapin' lords, and Pauline, here is a twist on the traditional shortbread cookie. And with only three ingredients, it doesn't get much easier than this.

Brown Sugar Shortbread
1 cup flour
1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup brown sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients with an electric mixer. Press into a 9 inch square pan. Bake until golden at edges - usually about 18-20 minutes. Cool slightly in pan and then cut into 16 squares. Remove to wire rack to cool completely.

Did You Know...?

I don't have a Facebook page, but that's another story for another post. I find fascinating, though, the perks of working for Facebook:

100% employee benefit (medical, dental, vision, life and disability) premiums PLUS 50% dependent benefit premiums

4 months paid parental leave for when you have or adopt a new baby PLUS $4000 baby cash when the child is born and $3000 per year for day care costs through age 5

21 days of paid vacation PLUS 11 paid holidays PLUS unlimited sick days

Free breakfast, lunch and dinner at the office (prepared by chefs) PLUS snacks

$50 per month to assist with public transportation to the office

Laundry, dry cleaning and photoprocessing service with pick-up and drop off at your desk

Quite a package, huh?

12 Days of Cookies - Day 9

By chance I ran into my aunt tonight at a local deli and she shared with me a cookie recipe she makes for her family. The original recipe used macadamia nuts, but all she had on hand was pecans. So, she changed the nut, baked the cookies and a family favorite was born.

I'll bet you could even swap the nut for dried cranberries (roughly chopped) and a little orange zest, and you'd have another tasty treat. Here is today's 12 Days of Cookies offering:

White Chocolate Pecan Cookies
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 large egg
8 oz. white chocolate, chopped
1 cup chopped pecans (or macadamia nuts if you prefer)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix first seven inredients on medium speed until blended. With spoon, add chocolate and nuts. Drop by heaping teaspoonful 2 inches apart onto parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 8

Little Debbie is my friend. But I haven't seen her much lately. She doesn't get along too well with my other friend, Curves.

Little Debbie makes this killer concoction she calls Oatmeal Cream Pies. Because I miss those things, and because there's nothing like the holidays to reconnect with old friends, I'm baking up a batch of those delightful, delectable treats at home for our 12 Days of Cookies.

Oatmeal Cream Pies
..cookie ingredients..
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1/4 cup corn syrup (light)
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
2 cups uncooked oats (regular)

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Place butter, shortening, corn syrup and sugar in a bowl and beat on medium speed until fluffy. Add egg and vanilla an mix until blended.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Gradually add this to the butter mixture and combine. Add oats and mix well.

Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls and place on parchment-lined baking sheet. Press down slightly. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 3 minutes then transfer to wire rack to cool completley.


..filling ingredients..
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tbsp. whipping cream
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients and beat on low until combined. Switch mixer to high and beat until light and fluffy. Spread on cooled cookie and top with another.

Note: You may want to make another half recipe of the filling to ensure you have enough. Also, these cookies are pretty big. You can make them smaller if you like by rolling into balls less than 1 1/2 inches.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 7

When I was younger -- much younger -- my friend, Melissa (who by the way claimed she was part of the witness protection program), and I would ummm... stalk is such a strong word...let's use the phrase scope out...young men. You know, we'd sit up the street from their house in hopes they would come out the the mailbox or get something from their vehicle or mow the lawn or something. (I should probably be in therapy for this, eh?) I have absolutely no recollection of who we did that to or how often we did it. But I do remember that we always took a package of chocolate chip cookie dough and two spoons and ate that dough in its uncooked state. I think there are label warnings about that now. But, oh my, that was the best stuff right?

So, this being one of the busy days in our holiday season that limits my time to be in the kitchen baking, I thought I'd share a recipe for cookie dough that you can eat raw - it has no eggs. It's still technically a cookie recipe, right, and should qualify for our 12 Days of Cookies? Just a batch you don't have to bake, but one I'm sure you'll whip up again and again.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
2 tbsp. milk
1 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Add flour and salt and mix until combined. Stir in milk and fold in chocolate chips.

Grab a spoon and enjoy.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 6

If you like lemon, Martha's Glazed Lemon Cookies are for you (you like how I've baked so many cookies lately that I feel I could be on a first name basis with her?). They are easy to make, make the kitchen smell good, and are just the right combination of sweet and tart. Definitely couldn't be a 12 Days of Cookies without these.

Two things to consider: I halved the glaze recipe because that's all the confectioner's sugar I had, and it was plenty for the two dozen cookies the recipe makes. Also, if you want cookies that look more like cookies than drop biscuits, you may want to pay a bit more attention than I did to shaping them and placing them on the cookie sheets to bake.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 5

I've learned a few things in this holiday cookie-fest thing we're doing:

1) I need a new oven. I don't think the temperature gauge on mine works (is there such a thing?).

2) I need a food processor. It is entirely too difficult to pulse butter, flour and suger together in the blender. Not so good.

3) I need to find something to do with all these cookies.

Today, the food processor would have come in handy for our 12 Days of Cookies pick of the day -- Earl Gray Tea Cookies. I wasn't so sure about eating tea leaves -- checked it out and it seems to be okay. So we plowed forward, working through the difficulties of not having a food processor, and made some of the nicest cookies I ever eaten. The texture was just right, and the hint of Earl Gray tea lent a pleasant taste.

Two thumbs up from our house to yours.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 4

Today's 12 Days of Cookies recipe was chosen because my mother-in-law has made these cookies for many years. And she is even nice enough to leave the nuts out so Madalyn will eat them (I'm not that nice). Potato Chip Cookies are not as weird as the name sounds. They actually have a really nice flavor -- just don't use Doritos or anything like that. Here's the recipe, although ours did not lose much of their ball shape while baking. I might suggest you flatten them slightly before baking, and don't crowd the oven.

Potato Chip Cookies
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup sugar, plus more for coating
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3/4 cup potato chips, crushed
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and 1/2 cup sugar on high speed. Lower to medium and add vanilla. Add flour and cinnamon to butter mxture. Beat on low until incorporated. Fold in chips and pecans.

Form into 1 1/2 inch balls. Dredge in remaining sugar. Place on parchment-lined baking sheets about two inches apart.

Bake until golden brown around the edges, about 13 minutes. Let cool on sheets for five minutes; transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Makes about 30 cookies.

12 Days of Cookies - Day 3

I sure would hate to be Martha Stewart's kin. Can you imagine getting together for the holidays and being asked to bring a dish to her house? I'd have to decline the invitation, I think. She does turn out some good dishes, and her sweets are no exception. Some time ago, while reading her magazine, I came across a recipe for Toasted Pecan Butter Cookies. I used to work in an ice cream shop and loved the butter pecan ice cream, and hoped these would be something like the ice cream flavor. While they aren't an exact flavor match, they are to die for. They have become one of Kevin's favorite and by far the most requested cookie at our house. They melt in your mouth. If you don't try any other cookie from our 12 Days of Cookies, this one is a must. Enjoy!

Cody, Won't You Blow Your Horn?

Super horn player Cody has been selected out of over 900 applicants to be part of the Troy University Southeastern US Honor Band. He will participate in three days of workshops in February and will play in a final honor band concert on the last day. We're proud of you, Cody!

Thank You Loreal & Pam Anderson

Kevin checked the mail today and came running down the driveway yelling, "It's here! It's here!" He knew I'd be excited to see the cookbook I'd won from Pam Anderson (not the Tommy Lee gal). But he had another surprise for me...some Loreal lipgloss that I won from something back in November. How cool is that? Two in one day! What a nice treat after a long week in Mobile.

You can't win if you don't try, friends. Enter, enter, enter!

12 Days of Cookies - Day 2

A dear, dear friend introduced me to these cookies almost 15 years ago. His grandmother used to make them. I remember that his practice was to get a recipe when he gave a recipe. I cannot imagine what recipe I shared with him. Anyway, this is our cookie of the day in the 12 Days of Cookies. Not sure where the name comes from, but we hope you enjoy!

And I hope you're still making these cookies, my friend, maybe even for your own family.

Monster Cookies
3 eggs
1/4 lb. melted butter
1/2 lb. brown sugar
1 cup white (granulated) sugar
1/2 Tbsp. corn syrup
3/4 lb. peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1 Tsp. vanilla

Mix all above ingredients.
Gradually add the following and mix well:

4 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup plus 1/8 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 lb M&Ms
1/4 lb peanuts, crushed or chopped
1/4 lb. chocolate chips
(M&Ms, peanuts and choc. chips can be substituted with raisins, butterscotch morsels, etc. -whatever combination you like)

Spoon dough on baking sheet. Mash/flatten cookies before baking. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes. Let cool before removing from pan.

12 Days of Cookies

Each day for twelve days we will be baking up a batch of cookies as part of our 12 Days of Cookies tradition at our house (can you call it a tradition yet if this is the first year you've done it?). Some are basic, some are not. But they all require that we spend time together, and that's what's important, eh? (Can I use two contractions back to back like that?)

Tonight's cookie of choice is pretty basic -- Classic Sugar Cookies. Something easy since I have been out of town all week and needed to use what I had in the pantry. Which, I might add, is why the cookies don't tast exactly like the ones you get at the mall cookie store. The recipe called for lemon zest and since I didn't have a lemon on hand, I just left it out. I mean, who tastes lemon when they eat a sugar cookie, right? Well, next time I will go get a lemon because I think it is the factor that is missing from the overall taste of the cookies we baked.

Not real sure that by including the recipe here you'll be enlightened very much since all sugar cookies are made basically the same. But use the lemon if your recipe calls for it and add it if it doesn't.

Tomorrow's cookie recipe was shared with me by a good friend many years ago. Don't miss it.

What Am I Eating?

I've been in Mobile on business this week with a collection of farmers from all across the country. You can probably imagine that would bring together alot of regional mentalities and quirks. And you'd be correct. Possibly the funniest thing all week went like this.

Yankee: You're from around here, right?

Me: How'd you know?

Yankee: Well....anyway, what am I eating?

(Note: We were at the buffet at Bellingrath Gardens. I was the tour host; how funny is that? I even got to talk on the bus microphone.)

Me: Grits.

Yankee's wife: They certainly are good.

(Yes -- a cream of wheat convert!)

Me: I agree. The cheese makes them even better, right?

Yankee: What's a grit?

Cooking with Pam Anderson

Move over purple eye shadow, there's a new sheriff in town. Pam Anderson (no, not that one) is sending me a signed cookbook 'cause I won it on her website. Check it out if you have time. She cooks and that makes me like her.

O Christmas Tree(s)

Tree number one sports a mink tree skirt and I admit, that's a bit hard to beat. But we found tree number two this weekend after a Christmas concert and we were able to get it decorated before I leave on business for the week. It's darling!

Those of you who know me well know I prefer all white lights on my trees. It's not that I think colored lights are ugly, I just prefer white. Several years ago I was overcome by the cuteness of these colored button lights, nice round bulbs and all, at my local Target. So I bought a couple of strands. Put one strand up and hated them. Loathed them. Complained for weeks about the three bucks per strand I had paid for them. But who returns Christmas lights, right? So I kept them stuck away at the bottom of one of the boxes of decorations.

This year, they have a home on a cute little tree in our living room. (The mink skirted tree lives in the breakfast room, standing regal and all with its coordinated ornaments.) Note: Little here is important, because we went from an 11 foot tree last year to a 5 foot tree this year. HUGE difference. But, little trees need love, too, right?

I decided that if we were going so radical on the size, we'd really stir the pot and use colored lights. And it works. I'm not totally in love with the lights just because they are so different from what I am used to. But they are kinda nice for a change and look right at home with all the Hallmark ornaments we've collected over the years. There are no other ornaments on the tree. Just colored lights and Hallmark ornaments (yes we have enough to fill the tree).

I wonder if the ornaments in the other eight boxes in the attic are lonely? (Yes, there are more...what can I say?)

Boys Will Be Boys

Ber-New-Who?

I don't really remember 5th grade, but I'm sure I wasn't studying physics and flying Cessnas. Or designing rockets and studying atmospheric pressure, either. ("What's that mean, Everett?") I think the most important thing for me back then was jumping on my friend Stephanie's trampoline and blowing my whistle on Junior Traffic Police.

My how times have changed. Madalyn was fortunate to be able to participate in the Department of Defense program STARBASE at Maxwell Air Force Base over the past five weeks. While there she and her classmates built and launched their own rockets, flew a Cessna 172-P (simulator, thank heavens!), studied Bernoulli's Principle & Newton's Law of Motion (don't ask me), fluid mechanics and aerodynamics, and learned navigation and mapping, computer aided design, geometry and data analysis. Whew, brain overload! Oh, and they rode a hovercraft, too.

Here, she and a friend are sucking all the air out of a vacuum container that has a miniature marshmallow in it. It was miniature when they started, anyway.

They'd just finished jumping around the room like molecules in motion. Guess something about that was funny to her.

Aren't they cute? Leave it to her to pose in a flight suit. It would've been cool to keep the flight suit, eh?

Guess my tax dollars are going to something worthwhile after all.

If I Were a Rich (wo)Man

If I had lots of money, I'd buy myself these.

If I had even more money, I'd buy this. (Boy, is it gorgeous.)

But I don't have a lot of money, so I'll buy some of these. (This will almost make up for not having enough money for the first two...)

Whhaaaatttt?

Look closely. Move a bit closer to your screen. See that there under the tree? Not the dust bunny, and never mind the bare lower branches (I'll work that out). Look carefully at the tree skirt. It's mink.

Yes, mink. And my grandmother's head would roll on her shoulders if she were still alive. "Whhaaaatttt are you doing with my wrap unduh your tree?"

Forgive me, my dear grandmother, but the fur is staying right where it is -- under the skinny tree in the breakfast room in a house full of holiday cheer.

Holiday Hits

In the market for some entertaining holiday flicks? Check out the ABC Family channel's 25 Days of Christmas for a neat line-up of classics and new films.

Iron Bowl Frenzy

While I was busy shopping, Cody and Kevin went to their first Iron Bowl. They were excited when they left (and pretty proud of Auburn's efforts when they got home) and Cody wanted to share it with y'all. Here are his thoughts:

Tiger Walk was great. Except for the man with his blue & orange wig and his shaker.

He would not stop jumping in front of the camera. He was from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, and he was haaaaaappppppy to be there. So happy, in fact that he he could not control his shaker:

It is not nice to hit the coach in the face.

Kevin interjects this piece of advice: If you are in the unfortunate situation of being wheelchair bound, do not wait until two minutes before the team is walking by to try to make your way through the crowd to get to the rail where you can see. It ain't happening.

Fat Willie's make a mean hot dog. You can enjoy it while waiting for the game to start if you hide it in your coat pocket on the way through the gate. The bored large black female gate guards didn't even think of patting us down.

Kevin interjects again: If she'd have patted me down, I'd have just told her it was my Fat Willie.

It was fun, even if we didn't hold out to win. And even if there were Alabama fans around me. War Eagle!

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 4

After the a*@ whooping we put on Alabama (hey, Saban said it, not me) -- even though it didn't work out for us -- guess what? We went shopping again!

Another trip to Belk, a second stop at Bath & Body Works (hey, we were in Prattville the first time), shopping at Hallmark and Aeropostle...Madalyn and I were ready to call it a day. Besides, there wasn't much left in the piggy bank.

Only 364 days to go...

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 3

Dropped of shopping partner #1 and picked up shopping parnter #2. Madalyn was pretty excited by all the hoopla at first (yes, the excitement did wane). We shopped at Walmart, Bath & Body Works, Best Buy, Belk, & Movie Stop -- all by 11:30 AM.

After the traditional Olive Garden lunch, we headed home for the big game. Madalyn was glad. Her feet hurt.

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 2

Just in case you were wondering, there is nothing like getting up at 2:00 AM and being on the road within 30 minutes to head for the first shopping destination of the day. Well, actually we rode through the mall parking lot to see if we stood a chance for the goodies there (we did) and then we headed for our first destination - Target. What a way to start the day. After he dropped me off to stand in line until they opened at 5:00 AM, Kevin went back to Belk's to get the gift cards they handed out. I am so proud of him 'cause he got two. He's so sly! Then he drove around to Penney's to get the free ornament (all about that free stuff) and coupon. Then he drove to back to Target to stand in line with me -- he couldn't actually stand with me because the police officer on duty wasn't letting folks cut in line, so he had to stand at the back of the line. But at least we got two of those lovely reusable shopping bags they handed out. This was my must get item of the day. All else was just fluff.

So what was I doing, you ask, while my husband was trekking all through the city for me? Standing in line at Target talking to the nicest guy. We chatted about football (he's a USC fan), the military (he's in the Air Force), kids, Charleston, Christmas decorations, Alabama fans, Somalia, the give and take in a marriage, the media, what our troops overseas really think about being there, his tours in Iraq, how cold it is at 2:00 AM in Ohio, family traditions, the man crush going on between Tebow and Urban Meyer and many other off the wall things. So, to my line buddy I say: thanks for helping the two hours pass rather quickly, name your new baby after me (his wife is pregnant), I hope you got the Magna Doodle you were in line for, and I really apologize for thinking you were a thug at first.

What did I really need from Target? Nothing but the free shopping bag. Seriously -- that was all I was there for. But I was so overcome with adrenaline when they opened the door that I just followed the crowds to the electronics. Everyone was grabbing televisions and XBoxes. I just had to get in on the action and so I asked the guy to hand me some things from behind the counter. Then I just went through the store and handed them to people who were farther on back in the line trying to get them. Wasn't that precious?

The rest of our morning was spent at Pier 1, World Market (got some free ornaments) and Old Navy (what a war zone!).

I had to take my shopping partner home at 8:30 so he could go to the big game. But that didn't stop me.

Happy Busiest Shopping Day of the Year - Part 1

This is my most favoritest (okay teachers in the family, I know it ain't a real word but I am super excited about today and I tend to forget my learnin' when I'm like that) day of the year to go shopping. I love it more than tax day even.

By the time you read this I will be at store number three or four most likely. I'm lucky my husband goes with me. He is my place in line holder, my elbow the way through the crowds to get to the right rack/shelf guy, my run down to the first open fast food place you can find and bring back a cuppa joe man. What would I do without him? And since he's with me we get double the goodies they hand out!

I can't say exactly what I'm shopping for and spoil all the Christmas surprises, but it really doesn't even matter. If I had nothing to shop for I would still go shopping on this day. I'd find stuff to buy. And if I couldn't come up with anything to buy I'd still go stand in line early in the morning just for the heck of it.

To make this possible, I need little rest and lots of coffee (it used to be Coke but since I gave up carbonated beverages 8 months ago -- what was I thinking -- I had to switch). I like most any coffee. Last year, on a business trip to Baltimore, I got to stay on the club level and those rooms had Starbucks coffee. The Sumatra blend was very strong, but it was just what I needed to get through the week on little sleep. Most of the time my coffee is much less bold. My favorites are Christopher Bean's Jamaica Me Crazy and New England Coffee's Blueberry Cobbler.

Oh my, enough about coffee. There is shopping to do.

Why I Love My Neighborhood

I usually post a flag of the month, but this month there is none. One, because I don't have a flag for November and two, there is no way a cloth flapping in the breeze, no matter how lovely it might be, can compete with this:

We bought our house where we did partly because of the mature trees on most of the lots. Come fall, I'm sure glad we did.

Thanksgiving Traditions

As far back as we can remember (well, at least the past 11 years or so), we've spent Thanksgiving morning in our jammies eating breakfast and watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. It is so endearing when your oldest still asks if we're going to play Parade Bingo like we have for so many years. (Yes, there's still a little guy somewhere in him...) It's just a fun little game where you look for certain things during the parade and mark your Bingo card when you see them.

I thought I'd share our traditional breakfast casserole (no idea where the recipe came from -- I've had it for yeeaarrs; if it's yours, thanks!) and the Bingo cards. Might just start a new tradition in your family. Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!

Thanksgiving Day Parade Bingo

Our Favorite Breakfast Casserole
2 (8 oz.) packages of diced ham
10 pieces of white sandwich bread, cubed
2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 cups milk
6 large eggs
1 tsp salt
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce

Spray 13x9 in. baking dish with nonstick spray. Add bread cubes in an even layer. Top first with cheese and then with ham, distributing each evenly. Whisk remaining ingredients together and pour over bread/ham/cheese mixture. Cover and chill for 8 hours or overnight.

When ready to bake, remove from fridge and let set at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Bake at 350 degree for 45 minutes or until set. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Share the Love and It Comes Back Around

Yesterday after I posted the Thanksgiving Edition of You're a Know It All, the postman put a little love in my mailbox. I won some Isadora eyeshadow! Only problem is -- it's purple. Now what in the world possessed me to register for purple eyeshadow? Other than the fact that I'll register for almost anything free, that is.

I'll admit I did wear teal eyeshadow in the 80s, but let's face it, it was the 80s and everyone else was wearing the same thing despite the fact it looked like our gall bladders had busted.

I'll give the shadow a try. But don't expect any pictures...

You're a Know It All - Thanksgiving Edition Winner

Winner, winner, chicken dinner (does anyone know where that saying originated?) -- congrats to Melinda for winning the Starbucks giftcard. (She only missed one, but since she was the only one to respond she gets the prize.) Here are the answers to yesterday's You're a Know It All quiz:

(1) Originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade and featuring animals from the Central Park Zoo, in what year did the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade first feature helium-filled balloons?
1927. After the parade, the balloons were released but unexpectedly burst over Manhattan.

(2) What is the phone number for the Butterball Turkey Talk Line?
1.800.BUTTERBALL. When the line opened 29 years ago six people answered roughly 11,000 calls. This year, more than 50 people are expected to answer over 100,000 calls in November and December.

(3) We all know that Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. On what day is the holiday celebrated in Canada?
Second Monday in October.

(4) In 2009, which state leads the country in number of turkeys raised?
Minnesota with 45,500. That's a lot of gobble gobble.

(5) The town of Benton, Kentucky, celebrates the sweet potato annually (in April) at what festival?
Tater Day Festival.

You're a Know It All - Thanksgiving Edition

So, I'm always winning something, right? Well, it makes me so happy that I thought I'd share the love. If you are the first person to leave a comment with the correct answers to the following five questions, I'll send a Starbucks gift card your way. No strings attached, just me sending a little holiday cheer to you.

Get ready, get set...go!

(1) Originally known as the Macy's Christmas Parade and featuring animals from the Central Park Zoo, in what year did the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade first feature helium-filled balloons?

(2) What is the phone number for the Butterball Turkey Talk Line?

(3) We all know that Thanksgiving is celebrated each year on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. On what day is the holiday celebrated in Canada?

(4) In 2009, which state leads the country in number of turkeys raised?

(5) The town of Benton, Kentucky, celebrates the sweet potato annually (in April) at what festival?

Good luck!

Happy Birthday, PawPaw Long

I cannot imagine what life will be like in 2063. That year, I will be 92 years old -- the same age that Kevin's grandfather, James Pellar Long, turned this year. I don't imagine he gave it much thought all those years ago what life would be like today, either.

We had dinner for his birthday this weekend, and all but two families were represented (we missed the other two families, but so much appreciate their military careers and the protection they are providing our country). As I looked around the room, I thought about all the things that brought him to this point in his life, surrounded by people that love him dearly. There are so many stories that I am sure he could tell. And thankfully, my mother-in-law put together a collection of stories he retold recently as a way to remember them in the years to come.

He tells an interesting story of how he chose the Navy over the Marines back in 1943:

"I was going to join the Marines but when I got to the recruiting office the recruiter was closing the office because he had a date and told me to come back the next day. The Navy recruiter said, 'I'll sign you up.' So I signed up."

Later, after getting out of the Navy, he worked as an Alabama state trooper and saw many interesting things, like the civil rights riots in Birmingham. He also got to work at the governor's mansion guarding Governor Gordon Person's daughter.

He also tells of his encounter with Minnie Pearl:

"One day Minnie Pearl come to town to do a show. She told me

she had always wanted to ride a motorcycle. I told her to hop on; she grabbed up

her dress and I took her for a ride."

His love for family is very evident in the stories, as he recalls how the grandchildren came to visit and go fishing and hunting, or how they buried tools hoping for a tool tree to grow.

His health isn't what it used to be, but he still drives and is a regular at Julia's Restaurant in Troy. He's still full of spunk, and I'm sure if you asked him he'd tell you all about being the oldest of six boys, cane-pole fishing, finding a bootlegger's rum stash, and how families are forever.

Thank You, NYC!

Substitute postwoman brought me another prize the other day...but I forgot to mention it. I hope I'm not becoming complacent...yuck-o! Never want to take the even the least of my winnings for granted lest I ingrate (can I use this word this way?) myself into a dry spell. I got a NYC bronzing blush palette (some brand of makeup that I really hadn't heard of, but, hey, it was a contest). Looks quite lovely, actually. So if you see me around with pinkish, melonish colored circles on my cheeks, you'll know where I got them (like you really care).

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Pumpkins and mums on the front porch will soon give way to hand-traced turkeys hanging on the fridge followed by Christmas trees with blinking lights. I don't like to get ahead of the game -- you know, like most stores have already done with Christmas decorations galore cramming the aisles -- but I do anticipate the coming days with much glee.

It means I can use the Thanksgiving dishes that used to be Thanksgiving and Christmas dishes before I found -- and bought -- the three other Christmas patterns I love so much. I remember how my grandmother used to buy her best friend a new piece of this set each year as a Christmas gift. I fell in love with it back then and love it's classic design more each year. So Carolyn, here's to a beautifully set table, and to you for inspiring what has become a dearly loved tradition in our home. Sadly, the pattern has been discontinued.

One of the Christmas sets I really love I spied in La Crosse, Wisconsin, while travelling with my husband on a business trip. I finally found the set at a department store locally, and turns out they were only a one season wonder. Jeez...I'm o-fer here. But I just add to the collection, mix and match, and enjoy the holidays.

I hadn't planned for this post to be all about dishes. I really wanted to reflect on all the things that make me love this time of year. But it just goes to show you how much the little things -- place settings, favorite ornaments, annual Christmas Eve service at church -- contribute to the much loved traditions that can't be bought or wrapped up and tied with a bow. And it's those things that make it a most wonderful time of the year.

The Pioneer Woman

Ladies, you must read this true story. Not half, not the first few screens before you get tired of pressing the down arrow on your keyboard. Read it all. Men, probably not your thing.

I wanna be her when I grow up.

Totally Random Thoughts

Look...my hubsy's initials are all in a row on the computer keyboard. Random, yes.

Really?

You tell me...

It's What's for Dinner

I seriously dread the daily question, "What's for dinner?" Not because I don't know what's for dinner (most of the time anyway), but because I wonder what it really matters. Like, do you sit around and try to determine if you're okay with the menu? Are you really anticipating how each bite will taste? Or is it your little way of asking how much longer until I get in the kitchen and start cooking dinner?

Tonight, for those of you that care, we are having chicken fried rice. There. I said it before they asked. And when they do ask I'll say I already posted it for the world to see and if you read my blog as often as you claim to, you'd know. So keep up, my family.

Someone will pick out the peas and someone else will pick out the carrots, but the other two of us will savor every bite, me even more so than usual because I beat them to the punch.

I Told You So

More money for using reusable bags...

By the way, when I went to CVS the other day to get my green tag and bag, no one in the store knew what I was talking about, not even the supervisor. I told her she'd be hearing about it from corporate soon and would say, "You know, that lady told me so."

Thank You, Estee Lauder

Even our substitute postwoman knows that I like to get free stuff in the mail. Seems I won another cosmetic giveaway -- Estee Lauder sent me their Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex. It's worth $40 - maybe the odds for a huge haul are swinging in my favor...

It's in the Bag

Okay, I am confessing again. Along with the travel size toiletries I so love to collect when I travel, and the stationary items I pick up at trade shows, and also the samples of make-up and lotion I make it my mission to acquire, I also love reusable shopping bags. I've never been one to follow the crowd, but I must say I like to feel part of the sustainable biodiversity movement when I haul my bags into the local grocery store.

Today I will add a CVS bag to my growing collection. You see, they are jumping on the 'tree hugger' band wagon now. Nothing wrong with that. In fact, it'll make me money in the long run. If you pick up one of their new 'green' cards (just a little hang tag for your keychain) and present it with your regular CVS Extracare card and a reusable CVS shopping each time you shop, after four uses you'll receive $1 CVS extra bucks. Is $1 that I must spend in CVS really worth it, you ask? Definitely. When you have some time, just ask. I'm happy to share how far that $1 can go.

But the real reason for my post is this...I am dying for a reusable shopping bag from Whole Foods. I love their brightly colored bag. It screams to be filled with fresh fruits and veggies. They also have a reusable lunch bag in various sizes that I would also like. But, alas, there is no Whole Foods in my town. Friends, if you have a Whole Foods in your area, and think of me next time you are shopping and see those bags, I'd sure love to repay you for picking me one up!

Thank You, Buotini & Dove

Guess what I won? A set of wooden salad hands (you know, those things that you toss salad with) and some Dove Shampoo and Conditioner. Keep 'em coming, Mr. Postman!

Auburn Caught the Swine Flu

My Tigers didn't look so good today...I think they caught a case of the swine flu.

Did You Know...

...that cold lemons are easier to grate but you get more juice from room temp lemons?

...that cold eggs are easier to separate but you should whip egg whites at room temp?

Best in Class

More props for the ACA Marching Eagle Band. They won several best in class awards this past weekend, along with the Challenge Cup, at the Southern Hospitality Marching Festival in Hartselle. While it was nice for the kids to be recognized for the entertainment aspect of the show, I think it is just as important to acknowledge the hours and hours of hard work the've put in. Through 95+ degree weather (for 12 hours a day) and pouring rain, they stuck by their commitments and contributed to the success of a first class band program.

Cody was happy to be selected to perform with the ensemble portion of the show. Take a peek below. (For the record, this is the first video I've posted using the new Flip video cam my sweetie bought me last week as a surprise.)

Thank You, Styli-Style

Wow! Sure do thank the postman for another great find in my mailbox today. I won a tube of lipstick from Styli Stlye. Keep 'em coming!

Thank You, Revlon

It's been a slow mail week at our house and that really bums me out. Seeing the mail truck come up the street (okay, let's be honest here...I hear the postman before I see him, usually when he's still on the next street over) is one of my most favorite times of the day. I don't even mind the bills he brings, as long as there is something fun mixed in.

Well, I was not very happy to find one manila envelope in the box today...until I turned it over and saw the Revlon return address on it. More free make up for me!!! I entered the giveaway in June -- better late than never.

One day I'll reel in a big one. Until then, I'll take whatever goodies the postman brings me.

Homemade Chicken Pot Pie

My Cooking on a Whim thing has been going well, although I haven't been blogging about it much. So here goes the latest great tasting dish to come out of the kitchen -- chicken pot pie. It's not from any of my cookbooks. Rather, I saw Pat and Gina Neely cook it on Food Network and decided it would be a nice addition to the 'you have to try it once' routine at our house.

This dish was easy to make, had a nice crust (even if it was store bought) and the filling was very tasty. Here are my notes if you're interested:

(1) You really should use the rotisserie chicken in the dish. It gives a depth of flavor that boiled chicken cannot. Or, you could buy a whole chicken, cut it into eight pieces, salt & pepper it, brown it in a heavy skillet, and finish roasting it in the oven.

(2) Use the sherry or not. I didn't and it tasted fine. But I do believe the sherry would have been a nice addition.

(3) You can use a pie plate instead of individual dishes. It actually took two pie plates for the amount of filling this makes.

Fabulous Food Find

If you are a lover of food, you simply must check out this blog. This chick rocks!

Polka Dot Dress

I bought this black and white polka dot wrap dress a few years ago for a cruise. Can't say what made me buy a polka dot dress other than it must have been on sale and appropriate for dinner in the ship's formal dining room. It's some blend of fabric that is slightly stretchy and gives in all the places I need it to. Until recently, it hung in the back of my closet.

On a morning when I had nothing clean to throw on so I could take the kids to school, I grabbed the dress, slipped it one, tied it and decided right then this would be the new carpool dress. Some days I wear black strappy shoes and others I wear silver beaded & sequined flip flops.

I'm sure those that see me regularly (like the school crossing guard) wonder if I own any other clothes. But I don't care. I'm happy in my swingy, polka dot thingy.

Check Out This Blog

I have no idea who this chick is, but her blog is fantastic. Cracks me up! Check it out.

Sounding Off on Healthcare

Ah, healthcare...here we go again.

I Am, Therefore I Deserve
The notion that everyone should have health insurance simply because they are owed it is foreign to me and I believe it to be just plain wrong. The entitlement mentality is running rampant in our society and not just where health care is concerned. Not too many generations ago, people wanted the government to leave them alone, and now many want the government to be completely responsible for them.

For many years, I lived in a single parent home as a child. My mom received no child support. Times were tough. However, she recognized that she had a responsibility to provide for us girls, and that's exactly what she did, working multiple jobs and selling sausage biscuits from our porch to neighbors headed off to work. I had no idea we were poor, only an understanding that it took hard work to raise a family and that you did what you had to in order to make ends meet. Sometimes that meant making payments to the doctor for services rendered because you didn't have health insurance and couldn't pay the bill all at once.

Healthcare is Not a Right
Back when companies began to offer health insurance to their employees as part of their compensation packages, I would almost bet it was not because someone thought it would be a generous thing to do. I believe it was the result of needing to entice the best employees to come to work for them and because it allowed for a less expensive premium for everyone -- you know, like a group discount. I think it is unfair to impose on businesses the mandate that they must provide healthcare for employees.

Additionally, think for a moment what would happen if all the folks who became physicians stopped practicing medicine and no one else entered medical school from here on out. Far-fetched, I know, but I say it to prove a point. No one forces anyone to become a doctor. That choice is made in the same way some become attorneys, teachers, small business owners, etc. We have healthcare providers because they choose to become healthcare providers, not because it is a right of the masses to receive medical attention. But because so many believe that healthcare is a right, what's next -- will the government force people to become physicians?

Healthcare is not a right like free speech or bearing arms. Just because your mom and dad brought you into this world doesn't mean I should be responsible for your well being just because you were brought into this world. Take some ownership of your own life and stop mooching off mine.

Nine Days Old

Pease porridge hot
Pease porridge cold
Pease porridge in the pot
Nine days old.

Some like it hot
Some like it cold
Some like it in the pot
Nine days old.

Remember that old nursery rhyme? My last blogpost is like that porridge...nine days old. Where did the week go?

Lots of things on my mind to share, but I need to find the time to do it. Keep watching for posts about where my friends are now, how talk radio gets on my nerves but I can't break free from its hold, what we're eating at our house these days, and much more earth shattering information to cloud your brain.

How Do You Spell Relief?

Last week, following the opening of college football season in the state, many local commentators couldn’t figure out why so many of us diehard Auburn fans were so excited about the upcoming season. Most commented that we shouldn’t be so sure we were such a great team after only one win to a less than formidable opponent.

Here’s what I think (‘cause I know you were just about to ask…)
It isn’t so much that I think we are a great team, it’s more like we all let out the collective breath we’d been holding since January when we realized we might not be as bad as we were last year. Be honest, fellow weaglers, we really weren’t all that impressive in the ’08 season.

Here’s why I think what I think
Three things contributed to the collective sigh of relief: coaching, cooperation, and confidence.

First, we have a coaching staff that is on the same page. Face it, Tony Franklin never had a chance to succeed. He couldn’t bring anyone with him and he just couldn’t stand alone. With a fresh direction under fresh personnel, we have a chance to be good.

Second, we have a cooperative team. Nobody seems to be a showboat yet. In fact, some players have already given credit to their success on the field to other team members doing their part. Last year, it was every man for himself. Who can forget the quarterback debacle?

Last, the team has a sense of confidence not seen in some time. I don’t think any of us could have imagined the effect selecting one person as quarterback would have on the overall confidence of the team. Once it was settled, I think it allowed players to be secure in their place on the team, and not have to worry about if they would be playing. Rather they could concentrate on how well they should be playing.

Are we in the meat of our schedule yet? No. Do I feel better than I did a year ago about our prospects for at least an 8-4 season? Yes.

War Eagle.

Even More Free Food

Panera Bread will be debuting their new menu items on September 10 with a free tasting. Check with your local establishment, though, before heading out as not all locations are participating.

More Free Food

Wear something with your favorite team's logo on it to Chick-Fil-A on Labor Day, and get a free sandwich. Bet Tim will be happy...

And for those of you in the Montgomery/Prattville (AL) area, Chick-Fil-A will be giving away free breakfast items on Tuesdays in September. Go to any area restaurant on September 8 between 6:00-10:30 AM for a free chicken biscuit (thanks to Melinda for the tip!).

Uncle Sam Theatre

Don't miss this poignant video. (Bet you're wondering what it's about, huh? Well, why don't you click and see...)

Hot Stuff

Kevin got this really cool stainless steel jalapeno-shaped jalapeno roaster for his birthday. (Yes, some men do like to get food related gifts!) This gadget is cool because you just chop the stem end off the pepper, stuff it with cheese, stand the pepper upright in the roaster and put the whole thing on the grill. We like sharp cheddar cheese or cream cheese filling. Sometimes we wrap bacon around them. Yum!

(This is like my second food post this week...I am still going to Curves regularly, in case you were wondering. Sometimes my mind just wanders back to the dark side.)

Family Feud

To put it in good ol' South Alabama vernacular, looks like somebody put a country a** whoopin' on somebody else.

More Freebies in the Mail

I don't usually post more than once per day (makes me look like I have nothing else to do...) but I had to share what I got free in the mail today. UPS delivered a package from Redken. I won a full size bottle of their All Soft shampoo from another sweepstakes I entered back in June!

I'm still holding out hope for those kitchen appliances, Kevin's grill, the trip to Niagra Falls, a meet and greet with the Jonas Brothers, the garden makeover.....

On Our Front Porch

At the beginning of August I didn't have a flag of the month to display on our front porch. But, I got one as a gift -- one that I'd been wanting for quite some time -- and it looks quite lovely. It even inspired us to put up black shutters along the front of the house as soon as we can find a spare minute or two to install them.

Chicken Fried

Besides being the name of a really cool song by the Zac Brown Band, chicken fried is the term used to describe anything battered and deep fried like you would chicken here in the South. You know, like chicken fried steak.

Could it get any better than chicken fried bacon? A food editor at the LA Times has compiled a list of 1001 things to do with bacon. Some are a hoot. This battered, deep fried idea spoke to my heart, or more likely my stomach. But since I can't post the particulars of this divine-what-to-do-with-bacon idea without express written consent, I'll link to it. You can bet this will be tested at our house. Bon appetit!

Ribbit, Ribbit

We added a really whimsical water feature to the back porch yesterday. I'm not usually a huge frog fan, but this guy is really cute playing his horn and the sound of the water is divine!

Backyard Visitors

The weather was too beautiful to be indoors today. I spent a considerable amount of time in the yard, and I wasn't alone. We often have several cardinals that frequent our bird feeders. They were joined by some sparrows today, who were especially enthusiastic about the clean water I put in the basin. There was just a bit of nut and berry blend bird food in the feeders, so I dumped that out along the shrubbery line for the squirrels -- boy were they glad -- before putting fresh food back in. Butterflies were chasing one another all over the place, too.

But my favorite backyard visitors today were the three hummingbirds that went whizzing by every few minutes. Those little things would fly right up to my face and just hover for a few seconds before flying away to perch on a limb somewhere. I usually keep fresh sugar water in the hummingbird feeder, but lately they haven't been drinking it all before it went rancid in the heat, and I'd let a couple of weeks go by with nothing for them. Well, when I refreshed it this morning, they came from all directions and stayed most of the day. What a treat!

An Anchor and a Driver

Madalyn was chosen as one of the news anchors for her school's television station, WBEC. She's hoping she'll get 'discovered.' Dream big, sweetie!

Cody is finally liscensed to drive a car alone. Scary, huh? Congrats on that new liscense, buddy!

I'm a proud mama, not just for their accomplishments, but because of who they are as individuals.

Po-Tay-To, Po-Tot-O

However you say the word, there's no denying that potato chips are one of the most consumed snack foods in the world. If you haven't discovered the variety of flavors available, check out some of my favorites:

Route 11 Potato Chips Don't the Habanero and Cinnamon Sweet Potato flavors sound good?

Kettle Chips What about Spicy Thai and Tuscan Three Cheese? They even have a kit at World Market where you can create your own flavor from the included bags of plain chips and seasoning packets.

Beer Chips Gotta go with the Margarita flavored chips.

According the the USDA's Ag Research Service, teens consume the most chips per year of any age group and African Americans consume more chips per person per year than any other race represented in the United States.

Let Them Eat (cup)Cake(s)

Don't know about you, but it's hard for me to resist a good cupcake.

Hello Cupcake and Martha Stewart Cupcakes are two really cool books that give good instruction on how to make whimsical cupcakes that any kid would be proud to take to a class party. I have both books and must say it is fun to just sit and look at the photos.

You can also find some neat cupcake ideas in an article on Woman's Day website.

Have fun perusing the links and I say, in honor of this, my 100th post, eat a cupcake!

Pray for Your Child

Both of our kids are back in school now. It's so hard to believe that the oldest is a junior in high school already. Seems like just yesterday Mrs. Grant was pulling him from my arms so he could join the others in line. Before we know it he'll be off to college and another chapter in his life. And for all the school supplies I've purchased, cupcakes I taken to school, lunchroom food I've eaten, trips I've chaperoned, and performances I've attended, nothing matters more to his success in school and life than the prayers I've uttered.

Pray daily for your child. Be sure to ask him or her how you can specifically pray for needs he or she might have. Beacuse long after there is no ink in the pen or lead in the pencil and the locker door has slammed shut for the final time, your diligent petitions will continue to help them make the grade where it matters most!

What I Got Free in the Mail Today

If you know me well, or follow this blog, you know I have been entering sweepstakes quite regularly for some time. Actually, my first win was in 10th grade when I won a trip for two to Raleigh, NC, for a Bruce Springsteen concert...airfare, hotel, tickets, the works. I've been filling out those forms ever since.

My persistence had paid off again. I was so excited to see a package in the mailbox this afternoon addressed to me. Inside was a full sized bottle of Clarins Self Tanning Bronzer that I won from something I entered back in June. I know some of you might think a $32 bottle of lotion stuff isn't quite worth the daily entering of information that I do. While mathematically it might not seem a wise investment of time, I assure the excitement of coming home at the end of a busy week to find a surprise in the mail makes it worth it.

I'm still waiting to bring home a bigger haul (like the complete Frigidaire kitchen appliance collection), but until that time, I'll stay the course.

Blogging Moms

I was entering this contest (yes, I'm still at it) online, and I came across an interesting article on blogging women. You can read it here -- it does give an interesting perspective on the phenomenon.

However, the most interesting part to me is that I learned there is actually a blogging conference that people attend, with keynote speakers, breakout sessions and (the part that caught my attention and piqued my interest), exhibitors giving away free stuff! I am a sucker for samples. That is except when it comes to the Chinese lady at the mall food court trying to woo me with her toothpick impaled sesame chicken and cries of, "Sample, sample..."

Keeping it in perspective, I am not a mean girl (read the article) and just blog for the fun of it. Thanks for following my ponderings.

Tea Parties and Town Halls

All we heard about during the campaign of 2008 is how change will come. Unless you've been under a rock somewhere, you recognize that change has come, some of it not exactly what I think many were hoping for.

Before becoming president, Barack Obama noted, "Change will not come if we wait for another person or some other time." (Feb 2008) It is one of the few things that he's said or done that I agree with. He has certainly done his share of changing things, or attempting to, inside the beltway since January. It is those changes, or attempts, that have many people up in arms and ready to stand up and speak out. And that's a change that I bet Obama wishes hadn't come.

I remember reading a political analyst's blog earlier this year that compared the political tea party movement to Obama's campaign -- both brought many people out to engage in politcs, many of them for the first time ever. Nothing wrong with that. What I do have a problem with, though, is now that the tables are turned and people are expressing opposition to his ideas rather than drinking the Koolaid, those people are being labeled as radical extremists. I suppose he doesn't recall his comments in February of this year, "The strongest democracies flourish from frequent and lively debate."

To this I raise my glass and say, "Make my tea sweet and and let's visit at the picnic table."

Additionally, kudos to those folks who have taken the time to show up at town hall meetings to express themselves and remind the elected officials that they were elected by us, work for us and can be voted out of office by us, the screaming mobs, as we've been called. It reminds me of a playground squabble where the bully pushes the scrawny kid around until the scrawny kid realizes he might not be able to out-muscle the bully, but he can outsmart him. Then the bully runs crying to the teacher. Come on, you're in the big house now, not the schoolyard; run it like a man, dude.

Stop trying to scare folks into sitting down and shutting up lest they be investigated. The encouraging of citizens by the White House to send to the White House 'fishy' emails or claims regarding health care reform is nothing more that intimidation and borders on a violation of free speech and right to privacy. Doesn't quite line up with his remarks at the 2004 Democratic National Convention: "The true genius of America...that we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution."

To this I raise my fist and say, "Right on and write on!"

All you tea partiers and town hallers out there, keep the words of JFK in mind as you press on: "One person can make a difference and every person should try." Hear, hear!

Nothing Like Free Beer

I haven't won any huge sweepstakes yet, but I did score a free beer the other night at dinner. The folks at the next table had been sippin' a few and on one of the refills the bartender opened the wrong kind. So, our server (who is our favorite and who we request every time we eat at this restaurant) asked Kevin if he drank beer.

"Not much," he said.

"Is it free beer?" I asked.

"Yes," came the reply.

"Hand it over," I said, reaching for a bottle of beer whose label was totally new to me.

But after drinking the smooth ale, I hope the bartender messes up again next time we're in there. The Atlanta Brewing Company's Brown Ale was a bit more full-bodied than I normally like, but after a few sips, the coffee flavor came through and I enjoyed the rest of the free bottle.

Four Things You Can't Recover

The stone...after it's thrown.
The word...after it's said.
The occasion...after it's missed.
The time...after it's gone.

Good Morning, Mr. President

I've never been more thankful for my private healthcare than today, Mr. President. In the span of just under two hours, my son was seen by a primary care physician who referred him to a specialist who saw him imediately. Not tomorrow, not in a few days, not in a few weeks. We are talking about being referred and receiving an appointment in a matter of 20 minutes.

Was it expensive? No more than a monthly cell phone bill. Was it a strain on the budget? Coulda been. But because we were taught to take responsibility for ourselves, live within our means, and prepare for times when the goose might not be laying golden eggs, we were able to seek treatment without having to worry about how to pay the bill.

Do the healthcare system need some reform? Yes. Is nationalized healthcare the answer? No.

The Scholarly Gourmet

The Scholarly Gourmet is a "collection of recipes from Alabama's public universities." Produced by the Alabama Higher Education Partnership in honor of their 10th anniversary, this publication is chock-full of recipes from university presidents and alumni, as well as HEP board members. Diane Cuasey, the book's designer, has done a delightful job of arranging the recipes in an easy to find format, and has interspersed photos of campus landmarks, little known trivia facts and stories on well known alumni throughout the chapters. (You'll even find the recipe for Goat Drop Cookies, a world famous favorite of nationally syndicated radio hosts Rick and Bubba.) The spiral binding allows the book to lay flat while you are cooking. This would be a wonderful addition to any cookbook collection.

Two of our favorite recipes in the book (which we've tested and highly recommend) are the Grape Koolaid Ice Cream and the Apple Mountain Dew Dumplings. The ice cream is a mix of only three ingredients (Pet milk, sugar and grape Koolaid powder) and is as easy to prepare as it is good to eat. The apple dumplings are simply Granny Smith apple wedges wrapped in crescent rolls and topped with a mixture of butter, sugar, cinnamon and Mountain Dew. After they are baked, we top with vanilla ice cream and dig in! Both recipes are easy for little helpers!

If you are interested in purchasing The Scholarly Gourmet, send an email to partners@higheredpartners.org. A portion of the proceeds will go to the university alumni department of your choice.

Moonwalking

Sorry, MJ, no press for you here. Today we're all about Neil Armstrong and his historic walk on the moon. Perhaps a lesser known, but no less historic fact is this: Buzz Aldrin was the first person to pee on the moon. Wow.

The Birthday Cookies

At our house, you get to choose your birthday dessert. Except for today, that is. It's my dear husband's birthday and although he didn't choose the dessert, he'll definitely love the Toasted Pecan Butter Cookies we made him. He's mentioned how good they were several times since I first made them (which is surprising because he'll admit he's very particular when it comes to food), so I thought I'd surprise him with a batch for his birthday.

Happy birthday, honey! Save a cookie for me.

Free Tea

Another free food/beverage find...

McAlister's Deli is giving away free tea on July 23.

Cooking on a Whim

I love cookbooks. I have a nice collection of them. I love recipes in general, I think. I am constantly scouring foodie magazines for new dishes. But a love of recipes and pretty pictures of completed dishes doesn’t mean I love to cook all the time, though. I try really hard to cook at home at least four nights a week, but sometimes even that is difficult with our crazy schedules. Usually I’ll cook enough so the natives don’t get restless, but every once in a while I’ll get an urge to put together something special. If I had a cooking show I think the perfect name would be Cooking on a Whim.

Whim: an eccentric and often sudden idea of the mind. Definitely an apt description of my latest endeavor. I proudly announced to the family tonight over dinner that I would be trying one new dish per week from the cookbooks that line our kitchen counter and then blogging about it. Oh, the family favorites wouldn’t be forgotten, mind you. We’d just be introducing a new palette of flavors to our taste buds. And we’d be sharing with you a recipe review of sorts.

Because I’m an avid student of journalism, I appreciate very much the protection afforded authors and publishers against unauthorized use of their material. But since one of the beauties of food is sharing it with others, I intend to give the title of the recipe, the name of the recipe book it comes from and a description of the dish, along with our two cents opinion. If you’re interested, I’m happy to share the recipe with you (but not in the public blog, unless I can find an online link to it) under the ‘limited personal use’ umbrella found in the copyright notice of each book.

Bon appétit!

On Our Front Porch

Flying on the flagpole this month is our red, white and blue windsock in honor of our nation's celebration of independence.

Oh, I Wish I Were An...

Our Sunday afternoon drive took us by the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile. Can you sing the song?

Sweeping, But Not Cleaning

I coutinue to be amazed at the number of companies giving away their product for free. It's a wise marketing strategy, though. Put your product directly into the hands of the consumer or place an ad on television....the former guarantees that your product will get exactly where you want it to be.

What I am more amazed at, though, is how big this whole 'sweeping' thing is. There are entire websites dedicated to listing current sweepstakes, others designed to tell you how to increase your odds of winning, and still others that deal with the etiquette involved in the whole system. (Yes, you are expected to write a thank you note to the sponsor of the sweepstakes if you win.) Many even consider sweeping a hobby, like you would scrapbooking and playing video games.

The biggest surprise to me, however, was that there are both individuals and companies who will enter you in as many sweepstakes/contests as you want them to for a small monthly fee. Who would have thought that there was a market for that? But as with everything, I guess there wouldn't be a need for professional contest enterers if there weren't people who would pay for their service. Go figure.

Free Food and Drink

Looking for a way to eat and/or drink cheaply? Don't forget about the following deals when the dining hours roll around:

Arby's Wednesday Freebies
July 8: Free Orange Cream Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
July 15: Free regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
July 22: Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
July 29: Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase

McDonald's Mocha Mondays
Free sample of iced or hot mocha every Monday until August 3rd between 7am and 7pm at participating McDonalds)

Liberty

The Statue of Liberty's crown reopens to visitors today. It has been closed since the attacks on 9/11. For a really neat virtual tour (unless you just won the lottery and are headed for an in person visit), visit the National Park Service website.

Happy 4th! Celebrate your freedom today. Wave a sparkler for me!

Clean Energy and Healthcare

Look who all is getting along these days:

AL District 1 - Jo Bonner (R)
AL District 2 - Bobby Bright (D)
AL District 3 - Mike Rogers (R)
AL District 4 - Robert Aderholt (R)
AL District 5 - Parker Griffith (D)
AL District 6 - Spencer Bachus (R)
AL District 7 - Artur Davis (D)

Every one of these U. S. Representatives voted NO on H.R. 2454: American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, quite possibly the largest tax increase in American History. Send them a quick thank you.

While you're at it, remind them to vote NO on universal healthcare, also. Because I don't know about you, but I don't really see people who can, as President Obama put it, keep their existing healthcare coverage when universal coverage becomes available, continuing to pay for medical insurance out of their own pocket. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?

Look, I'm not interested in seeing people suffer because they can't get treatment beacuse they don't have insurance. And I don't want to see people go without their medicine because it costs too much. But neither do I want to foot the bill for those who fail to make provisions for themselves.

I believe there is much room for charity in this world. We all could do better by our family members and neighbors. But as I've said before, if I give it to you, it's charity, or benevolent goodwill. If someone takes it from me to give to you, it's theft. And the last time I checked, thievery was against the law.

Around Town

Best billboard I've seen in a while!

Well Said

"To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our choice between economy and liberty, or profusion and servitude."

- Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States

Jonas Brothers Via Cell Phone

Anyone who has a 'tween girl at home knows who Nick, Joe and Kevin are. Yep, they are the Jonas Brothers. And whether they are singing Paranoid or Love Bug or Pizza Girl, or their weekly Disney Channel show is on, Madalyn transforms into a screaming being with no awareness that anything else is happening in the universe at that time. They are a phenomenon, to say the least. For example, at the National Museum of American History there is a photojournalism exhibit chronicling the Inauguration 2009 activities. If you'll remember, the Obama girls were treated to a concert by the Jonas Brothers at the end of a scavenger hunt as part of the festivities of the day. So, they are featured on one wall of the museum as part of the exhibit. When you've made it into a Smithsonian museum, you must be doing something right.

The fellas started their summer tour not too long ago, and Madalyn's cousin, Brittany, got tickets for her birthday for their show in the Seattle area. Madalyn had accepted that she wasn't going to get to see the Jonas Brothers in concert in Birmingham (for a variety of reasons, even though she tried hard to convince us otherwise). So, you can imagine her excitement when Brittany called her from the concert with updates on who was on stage at the time and how much longer it was until the Jonas Brothers performed. Madalyn was jumping around and singing along with them, and even though she wasn't there in person, she thoroughly enjoyed it and said it was the next best thing to being there. How nice to know she's able to appreciate the small, unexpected delights of life!

DC - Day 5

Today was the last day of our vacation. We wrapped up the trip to DC by visiting the National Museum of Natural History. We saw the Hope Diamond, the kids held a Madagascar hissing cockroach, and we all participated in Forensics Friday -- we talked to real forensic scientists and tried to solve a crime based on actual evidence and we learned Madalyn has the rarest type of fingerprint. Always knew she was special!

Madalyn finished up her Junior Botanist program at the US Botanical Gardens. She has to do an activity at home and then she gets her certification and gets to help with future studies in our area. She had lots of fun with this, especially since this goes hand in hand with what she learned in Garden Club this past year in school.

We got schooled in proper Metro etiquette by some locals who weren't too happy that we stood still on the escalator and were in their way of walking up the escalator. Did they miss the steps right next to the escalator? Had I though more quickly, I would have responded to their 'stupid tourists' comment with a reminder that this stupid tourist was contributing to the economy in their backyard, and perhaps they should be grateful and not resentful.

We ate a great meal at Tortilla Coast, a small Tex-Mex restaurant located behind the House office buildings that is a favorite of locals and Congressional staffers. A group of what appeared to be Nationals players came in, and Madalyn had on her Nationals ball cap, so I tried to formulate a plan on how to get an autograph. Problem is, I have no clue who any of them are and I would have felt really stupid if they'd turned out not to be players. They were wearing athletic shorts and tshirts like the players wore to warm up before batting practice last night at the game. At least, I think it was the same outfit. Guess it was a good thing I didn't interrupt their lunch...

We took one final walk down the mall, looked one last time at the Washington Monument and the Capitol, and rode one last time on the Metro as the vacation drew to a close.

The kids (and some strange boy that just walked up to be in their photo)

inside a shark's jaw

Cody holding the Madagascar hissing cockroach (Madalyn wanted me to note she held it, too, but that I had to use the picture of her holding the caterpillar -- see below -- because Cody didn't hold the caterpillar)

Madalyn holding a caterpillar (if I understood the docent correctly, it will become the kind of moth seen in the movie Silence of the Lambs)

DC - Day 4

We had an early morning tour at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing where we got to see currency being produced. No samples today, though. We also went to the National Museum of American History. The Road to Freedom exhibit is spectacular. The First Ladies' Exhibit was neat, too. We skipped right over the Inauguration 2009 section...not interested.

We ended the day at the baseball stadium to watch the Nationals pull out a win over the Red Sox. I have never seen a more devoted bunch of fans than those Sox fans. There were as many of them at the game as there were Nats fans. The food was great, the stadium was gorgeous, and we had a great time. Kevin sprung for a cab ride back to the hotel -- we didn't have to fight the crowd on the Metro. Madalyn wasn't thrilled because she loves the public transportation system. Go figure.

Anyway, here's a few pics of the fun:

Cody & Madalyn find out they're not only worth their weight in gold, they're also pretty valuable in terms of their height, too.

A costumed docent at the National Museum of American History told a story about how the first flag was made.

A beautiful night for baseball at the Nationals stadium.

DC - Day 3

Didn't have much hope for the day when we awoke to find a bill under the door with instructions on how use the video checkout feature on the tv. The only problem was, we aren't checking out until Friday. But, we got it straightened out and moved forward with what ended up being Food Network Day for the most part.

We started out in the Georgetown area to visit the National Cathedral. The architecture is stunning. The outside is lined with gargoyles that help direct rainfall off the building. We wanted to take a ride on the C&O Canal in a mule-drawn boat, but there is very little in the way parking and so we chose to forego that activity and drive north to Baltimore instead. We intended to pass by the Naval Observatory on our way out to see the Vice President's house, but we decided to head in a different direction and got to see where the Obama girls go to school.

In Balitmore, we saw Camden Yards (home of the Baltimore Orioles), M&T Stadium (home of the Baltimore Ravens) and walked around the Inner Harbor. Next, and this is the most exciting part for us, we went to Charm City Cakes and saw Duff's scooter chained to the bike rack outside. You can only get inside by appointment, but Madalyn and I were so excited to know the Duff and Geof and Mary Alice were behind that black plastic watching us snap our photos!

For those of you concerned that he might not, Kevin got his wish and we stopped by Mother's Federal Hill Grille and he ordered the Heart Attack on a Plate. I must say, that deep-fried, cheese stuffed hamburger was quite tasty. The bartender was so impressed that we made a special trip for the burger.

To end our Food Network lovefest, we had cupcakes for dessert from CakeLove (owned by Warren Brown of FN's SugarRush). The kids had Cookies & Cream. Kevin had the new Red Velvet flavor, and I had a chocolate cupcake with strawberry icing. The only bad thing about the experience was the Barack Obama cut-out standing up in the corner.

Madalyn got her wish to swim, we watched the water show in the atrium again, and we are going to rest up for another busy day tomorrow.