A Dash and A Pinch

Mama Kat always has some great writing prompts, and the nice thing is that there is enough of a range that if you are married, single, parents, not parents, old, young, in-between, sharing today or sharing years ago...you can always find one if not two or three or four prompts that would be an option.

A prompt option this week was:  If you could change career paths now and be anything you wanted to be…what would you be and why?

If you've been reading my blog, well, ever, then you know that I would be a chef. A pastry chef to be perfectly clear. 

There is something so absolutely absorbing about baking. I lose myself in whatever it is that I'm making, whether it's a *gasp* box mix or from scratch. I honestly prefer to bake from scratch. Otherwise it's too easy; and by that I mean I have less time to lose myself. 

When I have time in the kitchen to bake it is one of the most relaxing pieces of my day. I had a moment the other night that turned into the realization that I can start to call myself a baker. Girls night in and brownies were needed. I pulled out the baking books to find a recipe and everything was way too complicated. We needed chocolate and we needed it pretty freaking quick. So I used trusty old Pinterest to find an easy brownie recipe. 

Now, hang on. I know you're thinking "What makes her think she can call herself a baker from following a pinterest recipe for easy brownies?" Well, the thing was I didn't have everything the recipe called for....including the right size pan. 

In my head I thought "I can totally wing this". Then I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best since I was making these for everyone. I sorta kinda almost doubled the recipe, threw in some cinnamon to make up for the lack of vanilla and a mix of special dark and regular cocoa. 

Seriously they were the best brownies I have ever made in my life. And I've made a lot of brownies. A lot. They tasted like box mix brownies - the chewy, fudgey kind. Usually homemade brownies that I've made in the past taste more like cake in texture and taste. These totally rocked my face off.

They made me believe that even if I'm not a baker by trade, I just may be one by choice.

Link up, you brilliant bloggers!

Sunday Social: The Internet/Technology

I totally missed Sunday Social last week and I'm so glad to be back. It has been one of those weeks. I'm just happy that usually I only have one of those weeks rarely! Now on to the topic of the week

Technology/Internet...um, yeah. I am not the first person in the know when new things come out. But I'm not the last either! I lament the changes that Facebook forces upon us along with my friends. But I wouldn't necessarily know how to make it better either. And when my computer at work doesn't do what it's supposed to my first instinct is to throw it out the window. Luckily our windows don't open wide enough, or I would be out of a job by now.

1. What is the first website you log on to each day?

It's a tie between Facebook and Blogger. 

I know, what could have possibly happened on Facebook in the 8 hours I was asleep? Sometimes A LOT. But most days not much in Facebook world. 

Blogger, though, is always hopping. I think I must have a good mix of blogs that post in the morning and in the evenings with a sprinkling in the middle. Usually there is something new to read whenever I check Blogger.

Pinterest is closing in as a bronze medalist though. I've been in the Pinterest mood this week. I blame it on all the awesome tug at my heart fall pins.

2. Give us some funny websites you visit that we need to know about

If DH was posting this he would say Reddit or CollegeHumor. I don't check anything funny other than the blogosphere. Sigh. Does this seal the deal that I have no idea what's cool anymore?

3. Pinterest or Facebook? Why?

Despite what I said in #1, Pinterest might win out. And here's why. I love Facebook for keeping in touch with my friends. But I despise Facebook in an election year. And then you add in all the posts that are from Pinterest? I might as well just go to Pinterest. At least then I can look at the pictures and pins that interest me without having someone else's political or social views shoved in my face in an offensive way. I'm all for free speech, but be respectful people! Don't put it out there if you would call me intolerant for having the opposing view stated in the same manner. I actually have to block friends because I can't STAND the constant barrage of opinion that is really inflammatory. After November I'll unblock them and we can all talk about Christmas.

4. Twitter or Instagram? Why?

I'd have to go with Instagram because I don't have a Twitter account. I know, I know. I'm living in the dark ages! 

5. Favorite youtube video...post it!

Hands down.....

6. Biggest online pet peeve?

This is a hard one...the fact that no one has invented the scratch and sniff screen? Think of it....look at the picture of that amazing dish and be able to smell it. Yep, that's my biggest pet peeve, something that is impossible.

Next week's questions:

What was your favorite trip/vacation/activity this summer?

Favorite outfit look of the summer/clothing item?

What is one thing you wish you had gotten to do this summer?

Favorite Song of the Summer?

Favorite movie/tv show of the summer?

Maybe It's the Lack of Sleep

I'll apologize now if I'm a little non-existent in the blogosphere this week. I'm just not feeling it. Ever happen to any of you talented bloggers???

Maybe it's the lack of sleep. It was a busy weekend!

Friday night DH and I went on a date. Now, this is not uncommon. We go on dates a lot. Like, he calls me early in the week and asks me to go on a date. How sweet is he? We've gone on a lot of dates, and this Friday we went on the same date we originally went on right after we met. Well, along with a detour or three. And while the mexican food was still great and the drinks were still wet your whistle good, we had this wet stuff that falls from the sky....I think the rest of the country calls this "rain". It wasn't raining when we went into The Flying Saucer but it sure was when we left!

At first we were sad to be so sopping wet.

But then we realized that a little walk in the rain could be fun.

Saturday brought an early morning after a late night, cat adoptions and a field trip for Henry. He spent the weekend at DHs. They spent time bonding while I went and volunteered for Classy Cats. Classy Cats is a no-kill shelter and pretty much rocks. So if you have an extra bajillion dollars hanging around torturing you with it's presence, feel free to donate to them! Henry wiled away the hours being entranced by the cows on Minecraft and occasionally chewing on DH's feet. We also introduced him to the sun. See, my and Roomie's house is quite dark. There's not a lot of direct sun and in the summer it's super hot inside if you leave the blinds up. Couple these facts with small shallow windowsills and Henry had no idea of the sunny spots to be used.

We opened up DH's blinds and Henry sat perched staring into the backyard. He couldn't believe his eyes. And then he decided he'd love to sleep in the sun, thank you very much.

He loved it so much that he slept long after the sun went down and we were watching The Hunger Games.

This meme makes me laugh and then it get's stuck in my head and then I question my priorities in life and then I laugh again. It's a vicious cycle.

(Courtesy of http://peetatoast.tumblr.com/post/24773832896 via Pinterest)

I got sidetracked. Back to the lack of sleep. Henry typically sleeps in the laundry room, but since he was on a field trip he was allowed to sleep in the bedroom. Which meant behind my knees, on my feet, against my ribs and most sleep-depriving....in my face. I woke up to find him staring at me and purring like a mad thing. It's sweet but so loud it woke me up. Seriously? And in between all of that he managed to give me a heart attack by knocking the cup and toothbrush into the sink which of course led me to think the Martians were attacking. I'm not very logical when awoken suddenly. Last week I left the weather radio plugged in and it took years off my life when it blared a 90dB warning signal at 3am because of flash flooding. I couldn't figure out why the house alarm was suddenly SO LOUD. Again, the first thought was that we were being attacked. We're sweet girls, I don't know why I expect to be attacked by aliens.

Clearly Henry also needed some extra sleep as he spent most of Sunday sacked out in various spots.

It was another early day today. Henry went to the vet's to become a eunuch. Sigh. He was not happy about being the carrier and I was trying to not break into tears at the thought of leaving him. I actually did cry. I'm going to be a horrible mother someday...not the beat them with coat hangers kind of horrible, but the unable to be strong and brave kind of horrible. Henry looked a little like he wanted to comfort me. And he's a cat. That's just pathetic.

Clearly I needed to make some rocking S'more bars to ease my pain and suffering.

(The recipe was courtesy of www.loveintheoven.com but this picture is mine. I wouldn't want anyone to think this passes as presentable for her!)

So, showkids, if I get some sleep then maybe I'll post more than I think I will. But if I'm a little light on the posting it's because I'm snuggled under my comforter and I've beat my alarm clock into submission.

Is That A Yeti or a Poodle?

Mama Kat's been keeping me honest this summer. Well, here is one more example of my honesty.

This week had some great writing prompts and I chose the biggest fashion mistake I've ever made. Just one? I'm already breaking the rules and giving you two options for your viewing pleasure.

When I was little all I wanted to have was curly hair. My mom had curly hair, my older brother had curly hair...why couldn't I have it to???? My aunt was a hairdresser and she often permed my hair to within an inch of it's life. But those darn perms always fell out soon after. I mourned my curls, I wanted to wail and gnash my teeth and rend my garments. Yes, I wanted to be Esther, if she'd had wanted curly hair. As a last dirch effort to make my dreams come true, my aunt gave me a spiral perm. Who needs Walt Disney when I have an aunt with mad skills? From what my chemically processed brain can remember the spiral perm shouldn't have worked. A normal perm didn't work, so why would a spiral? I'm sure there is more reasoning behind it, but that's all I can dredge up from those days spent inhaling hair products.

This is what I ended up with. 

I was the human poodle. Seriously. And it stayed that way for months. I vowed to never touch a permanent again. 

But nothing compares to this lovely Heidi ensemble.

 Is that me or a Yeti? I love that my hair is bigger than my entire best friend. And why in the world was I wearing a dress to play in a dirt pile?  I remember I loved that dress though. All I needed was a flock of goats and a kindly grandfather to be Heidi incarnate. 

I can finally say, my hair has been my biggest fashion mistake. I can't take full credit for this, but I do feel somewhat responsible. I'm not sure what I did to tick it off as a child, but after 30 some odd years it has calmed down and forgiven me. Maybe I'll look good into my 60s?

Link up, get the skinny, and find some new groovy blogs to follow!

Where I Come From

Erin at Shades of Gray and a Pinch of Pink is one of my newest blog obsessions - Erin, I mean that in the least stalkerish way possible, pinkie promise - and she had the fantastic idea to learn more about where we all came from instead of where we are now. Behold, the Where I Come From link-up! That should be accompanied by trumpets and revelry. Commence, please. 

What are the biggest attractions in your area?

My hometown doesn't even have a red light, so "attractions" don't really exist.  We do have stop signs, so there's that. There are 2 traditions where I'm from that really does make me love my hometown. I'd consider them attractions. The first is the county fair that happens every September - the Big Knob Fair. It's small and the rides are probably riddled with tetanus. But you'll see everyone you grew up with while you eat an elephant ear and sip a lemonade. 

The second attraction is one that happens on graduation day. All of the graduates who are farmers or who's parents farm drive their tractors to the high school when we have graduation practice. These are not lawn mowers but impressively large and immensely expensive tractors. It's a sight to see, for sure. 

What's the average Saturday night like?

In the hometown, hanging on the front porch with friends. If it's during the summer months then the yard sparkles at times during early evening. It's the lightening bugs, you see. They don't exist here. I miss them every summer.

What sports teams does your area root for?

Seriously? Near Pittsburgh? The only NFL team to have six rings, that's right....the black and gold. The Steelers! But even more near and dear to my heart are the Penguins. My boys on the ice. Who needs that stuck up Ovechkin???? Not us, we have Sid the Kid and Malkin. My heart is broken that Staal has been traded  to the Hurricanes. I'll wear my jersey until it falls apart.

*I think there's a thing called a "baseball" team, but I have no idea. The Parrots maybe? Oh wait, it's the Pirates....yeah.*

What kind of home-cooked meals are served?

Pierogies, which are pockets of dough filled with mashed potatoes and cheese. Then you fry a ton of onions and bacon, fry the pierogies in the grease and it's heaven in your mouth. 

Haluski, a noodle/cabbage/onion deal that's all fried in butter. 

Um, we like fried meals? It's the Eastern European heritage that runs rampant through the hills.

Do you have restaurant chains that aren't anywhere else?

King's and Eat-n-Park. Typical diners where you can go 24 hours a day. But the place I miss the most is Sheetz. At Sheetz you can get shmuffins, shgas, shbananas and shcoffee, to name a few things. Seriously though, I miss Sheetz. It's a gas station chain that also has made-to-order everything. They're open 24 hours a day which means that when you have a 2am craving for an english muffin sandwich, otherwise known as a shmuffin, it magically appears!

What's the scenery like? Mountains, desert, beaches?

It's very green, hilly and curvy. The kind that makes DH a wee bit carsick. Not the green part. Yep that sums it up.

What kind of activities did the kids in your neighborhood play?

My brothers and cousins used to play War at night. They'd ride their bikes and sneak through the woods with air rifles trying to mangle one another. I was the only girl. I stayed inside out of the line of fire.

What about style - prim and proper, casual country?

Farm casual? Is that a style? We're very rural. Funnily enough, I never felt like I fit in, even when the "look" was jeans and sweatshirts in high school. You can't get more laid back and yet I still felt uncomfortable.

What animal gets hit on the road most frequently?

Deer and skunk are probably tied. The smell of skunk actually makes me homesick, that's how often it happens. I'm weird though - it's genetic...my grandfather had a pet skunk that lived under the porch when he was a kid. If deer had a smell then maybe I'd be better able to determine the roadkill ratio between the two.

What kind of music blasts through local radio stations?

Country. Country. Country. And some pop. But mainly country.

I hope y'all enjoyed learning a little bit about my small (not kidding y'all) hometown. Link-up and learn me something about yourselves!

Curiosity Might Maim the Cat

I was sitting a couple nights ago here watching Henry play with a toy I bought that day. It's a little ball that lights up on one side every time you tap it. He is intrigued and can't figure it out. He alternates between attacking it head on and then sitting on it and acting surprised by his light-up behind.

I want to have the same curiosity that Henry has. He is amazed by every toy and item that we give him. He loves drinking straws, milk caps and milk tabs, his crinkle tube, the toy mice and most weirdly the plastic screws from the entertainment center. He'll play with a stinkin' screw for an hour until he loses or hides it. Henry doesn't have a huge sense of fear. Curiosity just may maim this cat before it's all said and done. He's almost been stuck head first in the kitchen chairs, he's attempted to climb the walls and last week he seriously contemplated scaling the kitchen chandelier to attack a spider on the ceiling. Lately he's been more afraid or wary than he used to be. He's a mere 4 months old and his fight or flight instinct has kicked in. He used to be all fight. Now I see glimpses of a grown Henry who will judge a situation and choose to fight or flee. A Henry more like myself, only with more hair and a penchant for cat treats.

I think we all had that same sense of curiosity and adventure when we were little. But I want to keep that. I see that hunger in DH's eyes still and I want to match him in that. I want to be intrigued by the little things, to pursue the unknown, to ask continual questions.

I want to risk being scratched, singed and maimed in order to keep my curiosity.


Thanks Shell for allowing me to admit that I want my primordial sense of curiosity to re-emerge.

Liebster! Liebster! Liebster!

The fantastic Heather at Cookies for Breakfast has gifted me with the Liebster Award! Per Heather (and she knows everything, fo' realz) "The Liebster award is given to upcoming bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers. The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome."- Adrian (Adrian Loves Owls)" So maybe Adrian is the know it all? Hmmm...anyway, I'm so freaking honored to be given this award. I'd like to thank the Academy...oh, wait, er.

So the way it works is I nominate 11 blogs and ask 11 questions.






 I also have to answer the 11 questions that Heather came up with. Oh, and I pulled the Liebster graphic from google images and it linked me back to http://bettesmovieblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/liebster-blog-award-that-is-how-you.html.

Heather's Questions....I feel like I'm on Inside The Actor's Studio!!!

1. If you could hang out with one reality TV star, who would it be?

Ooooh. This is a hard one. I want to say Snooki because she needs some edumacation about things. Like peeing inside. But then I’d feel like I had to “mother” her. Or Khloe Kardashian? Except Kris really gets under my skin. It’d have to be just Khloe and I.

2. What is your current goal as a blogger?

To be who I am in real life in my blog. It’s easy to cultivate this uber cool girl who has it all together, but that’s the biggest load of hogwash ever. See, I just proved it. Who says “hogwash” that’s cool?

3. McDonald’s or Wendy’s?

Wendy’s for sure! I ate a lot of McDonald’s in undergrad. It was the hangover food of choice. I think my roommates and I kept their stock pretty high, especially Junior year. It wasn’t my finest year, but it was full of greasy goodness. Now though, I can’t eat it much or it makes me a little sick. Psychosomatic maybe? I ate it when hungover therefore my body thinks it’s hungover whenever I eat it?

Plus Wendy’s makes great chili.

4. What’s the craziest thing you’ve done on a night out (alcohol-induced or otherwise)?

My college years are restricted since my fam reads this here blog. Probably the last tattoo I got. I went with the BFF and picked out what I thought was a small tattoo of a Celtic sun with a star between the points. The thing ended up being much bigger and I’m pretty sure I swore like a sailor while he was inking over my overies. If my future Wee Ones come out all tatted up, you’ll know why. And then last year I was informed that it’s the Pakistani flag symbol if you take the celtic knots out of the sun design! So now I’m inadvertently supporting specific Middle Eastern countries???

5. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?

Arabella. I don’t know why. She sounds like a woman with long legs and impeccable style?

6. Favorite Saturday Night Live skit/character? 

There is an old skit called The Leatherman with Jimmy Fallon and Brit Brit – that’s Britney Spears for those of you not in the know. I don’t know why I loved that skit but I think I may have sprayed something out of my nose when I saw it. Nothing has lived up to it since. In complete honesty though I don’t watch SNL very often. I feel like growing up in the 80s I got gypped. All the great comedians were before I was old enough to understand, or at least my being allowed to stay up late enough to watch. Then when I was old enough SNL kinda sucked. C’mon, y’all were thinking the same thing!

7. Share a link to your favorite recipe of all time!

I don’t have a link to my mom’s brain or that’s what I would do! Some of the things she made that I love are chicken braid, ham and potato rosti (she uses cubed potatoes and farmers cheese with the ham), her homemade mac and cheese, potato soup, salmon patties, dilled cucumbers and her biscuits.

8. What’s one thing you are dying to add to your wardrobe right now?

A pair of gorgeous Frye knee high leather boots. Oh, can I also have the legs to go with them? Arabella does.

9. What is your best quality (personality/physical/whatever)?

My eyes are my best physical feature. I’ve always loved my eyes, which cannot be said for my other features. I didn’t really feel comfortable with who I was until I was in my mid-20s. But my eyes were always something that I thought was pretty darn good about me.

10. What is your guiltiest TV pleasure?

Keeping Up With The Kardashians. I know. I’m hanging my head in shame over here. If it makes any of you feel better, I consider them the shining example of how not to have a life, except for Khloe and Lamar. I really do love her!

11. What is your guiltiest food pleasure?

Snowballs. The Hostess kind that are full of sugar and chemicals. I heart them. DH surprises me with them when I’m having a really really bad day week.

OK, so now I need to nominate 11 fabulous bloggers!
1. OliePants
http://oliepants.wordpress.com/
2. Shades of Grey with a Pinch of Pink  - Erin has more than 200 followers but I absolutely love her blog!
http://shadesofgrayandapinchofpink.blogspot.com/
3. Blog by Bre
http://blogbybre.blogspot.com/
4. The Baby Is Fine - Mo makes me crack up and wish I were wittier with my words.
http://thebabyisfine.com/
5. A Day in the Life
http://cgcavallaro.blogspot.com/
6. Because My Life Is Fascinating
http://hilljean.blogspot.com/
7. Life According to Amanda
http://lifeaccordingtoamanda.com/
8. A Little Something For Me - I know that Kristen has way more than 200 but since it's not actually listed on her site, I can pretend that she's just this hidden awesome jewel that you should know about!
http://www.alittlesomethingforme.com/
9. We're Living a Full Life
http://werelivingafulllife.blogspot.com/
10. MaMe Musings
http://mamemusings.blogspot.com/
11. My Life as a Chic Country Cowgirl Bride
http://www.chiccountrycowgirl.com/

Sorry about all the links! Blogger is trying to sabotage me and it keeps linking my websites to the graphic at the top. Sigh. And right after I was given an award. Go ahead, Heather, take it back.

Ok, so now my questions...duhn duhn duhn.
1. What's your favorite cereal to eat either as an adult or when you were a kid?
2. What was your undergrad degree in or what did you want to get a degree in?
3. Which season is your favorite?
4. What sound do you hate (I had to sneak some James Lipton in here!)
5. What is your least favorite thing about an election year?
6. What is one item of clothing that you love that you own?
7. If you were stranded on an island what are the three things you would want to have with you?
8. What is your favorite part of the day?
9. Did you have a security item as a little kid? 
10. If you could only read one book ever again, what would it be?
11. If you've ever lived with a roommate, what is/was the best thing about it?

Alright you spunky showkids, go knock 'em dead!

New Legs!

I'm sorry but I can't stop laughing at this....


Courtesy of http://9gag.com/gag/4806865 via Pinterest

A Weekend Update

DH and I attempted our first Mod Podge centerpiece. It turned out good, as far as the Mod Podge goes. The rest of it wasn't as good as we had hoped. But have no fear, there are ideas a-brewing in my and Momma A's minds.

We watched The Godfather this weekend. DH had never seen it. I had the pleasure of introducing Don Corleone and family, going to the mattresses, leave the gun and take the cannoli, and Maunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday to DH. 

We went to the gym, as usual. I finally gave in and weighed and measured myself after 6 weeks of Advocare. I've lost 5 pounds and a half inch everywhere! I was a little terrified to look at the numbers since I'm so influenced by what I see and not how I feel. 

I was on my way home tonight, talking to my momma and noticed some fierce lightening in the distance. I had an aha moment a couple years ago when I was standing on my balcony watching a storm roll through. It reminded me, at the time, that God is always around me always. The storm those years ago underscored in a physical way how He surrounds me. He was everywhere tonight then!

First the rain came, then the power flickered again and again and again. Then the wind hit. Puppy was whining and Henry was acting weird. The wind was so strong that the house was shaking. It wasn't the train's a coming tornado sound, but it was awful. Literal shaking of the walls. At that point I grabbed the cell phone, the quilt, pillow and animals. We all spent the next 20 minutes in the bathroom, Puppy and I in the tub shaking. Me trying to stay calm, she trying to not pee on me. Henry ran around like an orange loon and attacked the toilet, leaped into the sink and then bit Puppy on the nose. Right about then the lights went out and stayed out. I called DH in a panic and prayed that we didn't have a freak tornado or a cat-dog fight.

All in all, after the rain passed and the sun came out, I was once again reminded that God is all around me. In the rain, the wind and the sun. I can only pray that I listen more closely in the future and He doesn't need to remind me quite so loudly.

After the fact, I found the wine in the fridge. Why didn't I think to grab it along with everything else? If it wasn't so wet it would have been a nice night to sit outside. I guess the 25 degree drop to 72 degrees was the silver lining of the storm.

I hope y'alls day was less eventful than mine was!

Sunday Social: Food Glorious Food

I am so sad, y'all, that I missed last week's social. I heart fall. I adore fall. I would run away and elope with fall (Sorry DH!). Fall is by far my favoritist season. But last weekend we were in San Antonio with DH's family, so I was MIA for all the great fall posts. 

Have no fear, though...I'm back! And the topic this week is also near and dear to my heart. Food.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Oh I love and hate this question! My first thought is mashed potatoes, homemade of course. But then I think what about bread? And cheese? And beer? It's a food, right? Can I pick a category of food? Thank you, I'll just have carbs. Any and all carbs. In this hypothetical world, though, I'm guessing that since we can only eat one thing that the one thing will not ever cause us to gain weight, right? Cause friends, I'll be as big as a HOUSE if all I eat are carbs!

What's your guilty pleasure/comfort food?
Doughnuts. I can eat a dozen glazed doughnuts easy. Nope, you didn't read that wrong. Cake doughnuts are my favorite but I can only eat four or five at a time since they're heavier. Just because I CAN doesn't mean that I DO. Um, so all the girls from work are not allowed to comment here. Let's pretend that never happens.

The Canadian Healthcare from Hypnotic donuts. It's amazing. Courtesy of:
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/pSZz8-G7xIUPbcGx4osgew?select=e2LKSN4Bj4oTb784U9XiGA#e2LKSN4Bj4oTb784U9XiGA

What's the weirdest/craziest thing you've ever eaten?
I think I may have tried pickled pigs feet as a kid. Not sure though. My grandmother was Czechoslovakian and made a variety of pickled foods to eat. My uncles would eat pickled pigs feet and pigs knuckles on New Year's Day every year when we grew up. I'm sure I tried them at some point. DH has eaten fried crickets. Since I'm engaged to him, can I claim that? 

What foods do you avoid at all costs?
Beets. People, listen up. Beets taste purple. Admit it, you all think they do but I'm the only one who will say something. Purple. Liver because my mom tricked us one time and told us it was steak. Yeah, sure. Not unless that steak was bad. Haggis. This hasn't yet been a problem, but DH and I have a trip coming up and something tells me that we'll be offered some haggis along with a wee dram. So I'm just preparing now to avoid it, the haggis that is.  I'm a planner like that.

What meal reminds you of your childhood?
Potato soup and homemade biscuits. My mom was a SAHM for most of the time growing up. My favorite memory is of walking in the door from school, the snowflakes still stinging my cheeks and feeling like I'd entered a giant cloud of bread. She often made bread from scratch and biscuits were always from scratch. Whenever there was soup there was biscuits or bread and cheese. I'd never thought about it until DH and I had beef stew the first time. I cut a bunch of chunks of cheese and ripped into a loaf of fresh Italian to go along with it while he looked perplexed. I assumed everyone ate these things together. 

Anyway, potato soup was a staple growing up. It was a hearty but not rich soup that had parsley and bacon or ham in it, and sometimes cheese melted through. The pot seemed gigantic when I was little but there was never very much left over. In the days that we used food wisely, it was a meal where we could eat until our little kid bellies bulged and we rolled away from the table.

I never learned how to make it. Mom, that can be my wedding present! Teach me how to make your soup.

Share one of your favorite recipes and the story behind it.

One night DH and I were jonesing for some Mexican, and we started looking through a cookbook that my bible study bought for me before I moved to Texas. Everything in the book sounded amazing but required a lot of forethought and work or special ingredients. We decided that we'd try making the enchiladas. I think the recipe called for roasting the chicken ourselves which led to us thinking "Rotisserie chicken, naturally!" and from there we chucked the book. It was a risk but really the worst that could happen is we ended up going out to eat if it was awful. They turned out to be freaking brilliant. You can jazz these up or down depending on what you like and how much heat you can stand. Substitute jalapenos for the chiles or salsa for the Ro-Tel!

DH and I's Easy Chicken Enchiladas

1 rotisserie chicken

1 regular can each of Ro-Tel, corn, black beans 

1 small can chopped green chiles

1 bag fiesta cheese or mexican cheese mix

1 jar or can of enchilada sauce - whatever flavor floats your boat

1 bag tortillas...flour work best for rolling but corn taste just as good

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Shred your chicken and add the contents of all the cans, drained. We usually leave a little bit of the rotel juice, but not much unless you want really wet enchiladas. Mix in a handful of the cheese to help it all hold together when you bake it.

Lightly oil a 13x9 pan or spread a spoonful of enchilada sauce in the bottom to help the tortillas not stick. 

Take a tortilla, swirl a little enchilada sauce on and fill with as much mixture as needed. We usually use about enough that it's sqooshing out the ends when we roll them. You'll have a LOT of the mix, so feel free to use as much as you want. Roll the filled tortilla and place seam side down in the dish. We jam as many as possible in, even along the sides. 

Cover with enchilada sauce to your liking, cover with as much cheese as you like and cover with foil. Bake for thirty minutes.

We eat the leftover filling by itself while waiting for the enchilada's to bake. it's also great in scrambled eggs in the morning. For those of you watching what you eat, according to Spark recipes they're roughly 130 cals using the corn tortilla - 3g fat, 12g carbs and 15g protein.

Next week's questions:

1. What were you like in Middle School/HS?(pictures)

2.  What were your favorite past times?

3. What songs were you obsessed with?(Backstreet Boys anyone?)

4. What fashion statement do you look back on and cringe?

5. Who was your celeb crush?

6. What were your favorite tv shows/movies?

Come link up with Neely and Ashley's Sunday Social!

Good Morning, Good Morning

If my momma is reading this then she's thinking the same thing I am....


If this is not the first thing you think then I suggest you reorganize your priorities in life.

I've always been a morning person. The downside of being a morning person is that my morning has started earlier and earlier as I've gotten older. So now sleeping in is roughly 7:30. When did that happen? Anyway, a normal morning starts around 5:30. I stumble to the kitchen hoping that Puppy didn't decide the carpet looked an awful lot like grass in the middle of the night. I'm greeted by a muddled yowling from the laundry room as Henry makes his morning presence known. He hates not being in the know, which translates roughly into "HEY! WHO'S OUT THERE? LEMME OUT? PLEASE?" As soon as I open the door he runs out and purrs like a madman while tripping over my feet. All I can think about is coffee and all he can think about is being scratched behind his ears. Self-absorbed cat. Once the illusion of caffeine is in the air I can finish the routine. Shower, where Henry makes himself known and then jumps in and lays in the water that's left once I get out. I swear he's part dog. Working in a clinic has it's advantages....grab some scrub bottoms and a t-shirt and I'm ready to go. Back into the kitchen and throw some soy or almond milk, a banana and some frozen fruit into the Ninja. Warn Henry and the Puppy that it's about to get real in the kitchen. Shake in a Nalgene and coffee in my Starbucks mug and away I go.

Mama Kat's glimpse into real life.

Happy

I'm happy. There, I said it. Happy.

Does anyone else get a little freaked when things are all going well and it looks like smooth sailing ahead? I do. I think we're trained as a society to always be looking forward to what comes next. It's a very rushed feeling. "Well now I'm happy. What don't I know I'm missing? Surely there's SOMETHING BETTER!"

And boom. We're unhappy. Because we don't know how to enjoy what we have. But don't let me presume that y'all are unhappy or unable to enjoy what you have. Maybe it's just me? Just sometimes?

Right now, though, I'm happy.

Because...

....I'm watching the season premiere of Bunheads and I've missed Amy Sherman-Palladino. A lot.
....I managed to fit in a work out even after being stuck in traffic for an hour.
....I have the man God planned for me and he is amazing and terrific and the bees knees.
....I have a fluffy orange cat who is crazy and thinks my feet are toys.
....I have a pastry class coming up in a week. I'm dreaming of butter and rolling pins and waking up with the smell of sweet pastry and cherries in my nose.


I know there's more that I'm happy because of, but I'll leave it at that.

Thanks Shell for letting me pour out my happy full heart.

Six Degrees

This weekend DH and I discovered that we can waste hours playing Six Degrees on a road trip. Initially we were going to play Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon, but realized that as prolific as Mr. Bacon is, neither DH nor I are old enough - eek! - to remember anyone else in his movies except, well, Kevin Bacon. Unless you're talking about Mystic River, then I can get somewhere. Sorry Kevin. I really do like you. *Oh wait! I just realized that Kevin Bacon in Tremors gets me to Fred Ward which leads to Reese Witherspoon in Sweet Home Alabama!*

Anyway, we played for a couple hours each way and came to some conclusions.

1. If you can link an actor to Batman, you have accessed a cheat code. Like in a video game, the cast of Batman will let you link to almost 60% of the rest of Hollywood. In essence you've just jumped up six levels and suddenly have a chest full of diamond bricks kind of cheat code. Because everyone has been in Batman. Except....

2. Cheat code 2 - The Avengers. Again, a big group but not the same group as Batman. And then there's...

3. Inception. Which pretty much covers the rest of Hollywood, barring Julia Roberts.

4. The only cheat code better? Get to Samuel L. Jackson. He pretty much can get you anywhere.

Anyway, DH is a master at making the direct connection while I tend toward more obscure films and it takes me twice as long. He says that I'm a genius because he uses the same connections over and over. We're road tripping again before too long and think we should maybe come up with a list of people to pair since we started to run out of matches and we also tend to forget who we picked to link.

We spent the weekend with my future MIL and Stepdad and their puppies.I'm looking forward to becoming part of another family. Specifically DH's family.  It was a great weekend. We drove along the river in New Braunfels and spent a couple hours in Gruene. Pronounced Green for those of you not from Texas. It's where "Michael" was filmed and we grabbed a couple beers in The Gristmill which is where John Travolta spread his wings. 

It was a perfect movie ending kind of weekend.  

Cross Country

One of the scariest moments of my life was when I took a job in the Deep South. I was getting ready to graduate, I was full of expectations and hope about a new job, I had a boyfriend who was going to move to the same area...life was good. But scary.


Three years and a couple months ago I did something that a lot of people say was brave or cool or something they didn't think they could do. I packed up my graduate apartment the week after graduation and prepared to make my way in the world. Five states away. Where I had visited exactly two times - once to interview and once to find an apartment.


On a side note, if you're ever looking to get rid of most of your belongings, pay attention. First, apply for positions all over the country where you know no one. Second, take a job five states away from where you currently live. Third, realize that there is no way you can afford to hire a moving truck, have your family drive the truck while you drive you car and then pay for your family to fly home.  Four, realize with a sinking heart that the only way to do this is to ship your books via post office,  put what fits in the car and buy all new furniture once you get to your new city. Five, look at your very small very old two door car and go buy a bigger more reliable car. I guarantee that this will result in you jettisoning 95% of your belongings. By the time I was packed I couldn't even fit the Brita in my car. 


The couple days before leaving for my lonely drive to Texas was accompanied by bouts of crying, stress over what I could actually get in my car, spending sweet time with friends and returning to my childhood home for a last few precious days with my parents and family.


I think I've never been as scared as when I pulled out of my parents driveway to begin the three day drive. I pushed back second thoughts and tears for hours the first day. I kept up a pretty good front until I reached Texarkana on my second day. I had driven nine hours that day through a very gray and rainy Tennessee and Arkansas. I got to my anonymous hotel that night and lost my mind. The tears flowed and I questioned my decision to move so far away from everything and everyone I knew. I wanted to turn around and head home. But instead I went to bed, woke the next morning, did a sprint through Ikea for furniture and headed further west.


In retrospect, this was the perfect place for me to be. I love Texas, thank Heavens! I love my job...most of the time. And that boyfriend? He also got jettisoned. He couldn't fit in the car. 


Linking up with Mama Kat! Click on her button below and share some blog love with the other's linking up!