Tuesday, December 31, 2013

The Happiness Project :: Week 45

Things have been pretty quiet
 on the ol' bliggidy blog over the last week. 
I've been enjoying the holidays with my family. 
Here's a few snippets of our awesome Christmas. 

 







    
 

Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The Happiness Project :: Week 44


We're busy over here, wrapping presents
and getting ready to go over to my parents' house
to celebrate Christmas Eve.

I just love the hustle and bustle.
You can feel the excitement in the air
as each gift is wrapped and topped with a bow.

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

    


Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.


Thursday, December 19, 2013

An Oldie but a Goodie :: I shocked myself by eating six dozen cookies in four days. Well, my husband helped, but the point is that the cookies are gone.



Originally posted 12/20/10

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I had big plans for this post.
Last week I went to the annual cookie exchange
at my mom's best friend's house.

There were so many scrumptious cookies
made by seriously southern women
and I intended to photograph the
beautiful cookies and include recipes

but...we ate almost all of them
before I had a chance to grab a photo.

So, you'll just have settle
for a picture of the empty basket
full of abused wrappings that
was once overflowing with cookies.

Also, I'm feeling lazy
(probably from eating so many damn cookies)
so I've decided to just share the recipe
for the cookie that disappeared the fastest.

It is oh so gooey and yummy.

Enjoy and sorry that I don't
have a photo of said cookie.

They sure were good when
 I ate them all up uncontrollably.

OATMEAL CARMELITAS



Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1810,158174-239199,00.html


Content Copyright © 2010 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.


1 3/4 c. Quaker oats


1 1/2 c. flour


3/4 c. brown sugar, packed


1/2 tsp. baking soda


1/4 tsp. salt


3/4 c. butter, melted


1 c. nuts, chopped


1 (6 oz.) pkg. chocolate chips


1 (14 oz.) bag caramels


1/4 c. water




Heat  oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. Combine first five  ingredients. Add butter, mix until crumbly. Reserve 1 cup for topping;  press remaining mixture onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 minutes; cool. Top  with nuts and chocolate chips. In saucepan melt caramels and water, stir  until smooth. Remove from heat and drizzle over bars, sprinkle with  reserved topping mixture. Continue baking 15 to 18 minutes or until  lightly brown. Cool. Cut into bars, store tightly covered in cool, dry  place.


In other news...
Koen pointed at my belly this morning and said "ball?"


Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Who knew that grits could change your life?


I'm completely obsessed with the 
Southern Living Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole recipe.
A lady in my Bible study made it for a pot lock recently
and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

If you see me in real life
and I have a far away look in my eye
it's because I'm dreaming of this casserole.
 
I just had to share the recipe with y'all.
It's just about the yummiest thing
I've had in a long while.

Southern Living Cheddar Cheese Grits Casserole

Ingredients

  • 4 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup butter 
  • 1 cup uncooked quick-cooking grits
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten 
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 cups (8 ounces) shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
  • Garnish: parsley sprigs

Preparation

  1. Bring milk just to a boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat; gradually whisk in butter and grits. Reduce heat, and simmer, whisking constantly, 5 to 7 minutes or until grits are done. Remove from heat.
  2. Stir in egg and next 3 ingredients. Pour into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with grated Parmesan cheese.
  3. Bake, covered, at 350° for 35 to 40 minutes or until mixture is set. Serve immediately. Garnish, if desired.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

The Happiness Project :: Week 43


We celebrated a little early birthday party 
for Griffin over the weekend and 
I don't mean to brag BUT
I pretty much came up with the perfect formula
for throwing the best party for a 9-year-old boy.

First, you buy a HUGE cookie cake.


Add to that, all of his friends and an indoor soccer arena.
If you put a ton of kids in a cage with two nets
and a soccer ball, they will have a blast.

The party pretty much takes care of itself.


Of course, adding an absurdly gargantuan pizza doesn't hurt.


Throw all of this together and
you will get yourself one beaming little boy.

    


Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.

Thursday, December 12, 2013

An Oldie but a Goodie :: A Cold Snap



Originally posted 12/7/11

We recently had a cold front blow through Georgia.
Temps got down to 32 degrees,
which is pretty chilly for folks around here.

It was just cold enough to leave
a blanket of ice on the world outside my door.

Photobucket

This made for grumpy conditions
inside my home each morning.
Between chasing the boys around
to squeeze them into big ol' coats,
gloves, hats, and mittens,
I would get a bit cranky.

The mad dash from the front door
to the chilly car was such a pain
and scraping the ice of the windshield
of my car was an unwanted
extra step in my already
rushed morning.

I would pull out of the driveway
with a scowl on my face
and damn the cold
as the heater in my car
tried to cough out warm air.

The boys would be marveling
at the patterns of ice on their windows
and I would barely hear how sweet
they were being in the curiosity.

I was simply too annoyed to see the beauty.

Photobucket

Then, as I unsuspectingly pulled
up to the exit of our neighborhood
and looked right to check the traffic,
I saw the most beautiful field covered in ice.

The winter sun shimmered on
the blanketed grass and
it looked like tiny crystals glowing.

Photobucket

How could I stay grumpy
when something so beautiful
glistened in the freezing air?

As I turned out of my neighborhood
to drive Griffin to his school
just up the road,
my heart took in all the beauty around me.

I offered up apologies to the winter air.


Wednesday, December 11, 2013

The Stay at Home Mom Chronicles :: Griffin's Grooming Kit

My days around here seem to run together.
Ordinary moments unfold around me daily
and I need to stop and relish in them.

One day, my boys will be out living life
and I will miss these everyday experiences.

So, I am taking the time to document
the simple moments that pass between us.
I'm calling this little collection of memories...

Photobucket

Griffin's Grooming Kit


My mom recently bought Griffin
his very first grooming kit
and it's been a huge deal over here.

Each morning, Griffin takes a moment to
spray on his Batman Citrus Scented Body Spray.

I had to teach him to spray it and walk through it
because he was applying about 20 sprays in one sitting.

We had a little talk about there being a fine line
between smelling fresh and smelling stinky from over-application.


 He's also very proud of his Citrus Scented Hair Gel.
Before school, he puts a glob of gel in his hand
and smacks it onto the front of his hair.

He then grabs his Batman comb and 
runs it through the gel, creating one smoothed down
and crusty spot on his head.


He refuses to use our trusty "No tears baby shampoo"
and has to wash his hair with his citrus scented shampoo.

It's so cute to see his little hair product
lined up in the shower next to mine.

My little guy is growing up, just a bit.

I know I'll always treasure the memory
of my almost 9-year-old boy's first grooming kit.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

The Happiness Project :: Week 42


Our Christmas tree ornaments 
make me ridiculously happy.

Each one holds a special memory.
I just love this nest my mom and Koen
made together last year, 
those little thumbprint chicks are so sweet.


Lately, I've found myself stopping
in front of the tree as I pass by
and reflecting on each ornament.


When we were decorating,
we couldn't find one box in storage
that held all of our non-breakable ornaments.

We searched high and low and finally gave up.
 I was sooo sad until I remembered
 where I'd put them the next day.
 

So, now I have even more of
 an appreciation to see them hanging.


I know that it's silly that
a grown woman gets so excited
about a Christmas tree


but I treasure the memories attatched
to each decoration


and love to have them
visit us for a short time each year.

    


Want to join me in my quest
to scout out happiness for a whole year?
Simply post a photo of something that
makes you wildly happy and tell us all about it.
Then, steal my button and include it in your post.
Don't forget to link up to Mr. Linky.


Monday, December 9, 2013

The Legend of Tomorrow :: Episode 3


When we last left the residents
of the sleepy town of Tomorrow,
Helen had just been given a vial of poison
to use on her philandering husband, Lovelace
and his suspected mistress, Mindy.


As she rode through the town square,
Helen saw Mindy up ahead
and in a fit of passion, kicked her horse into 
a frenzy and he barrelled through town towards her nemesis.


Her horse chased Mindy down a secluded alley
and trampled her to the ground.
She fell over without the slightest scream.

Corbin's baby would surely be lost now.

In a panic, Helen fled the Village of Tomorrow
and left Mindy alone, suffering in isolation.


Hours later, when Lovelace couldn't find Mindy,
he ventured out into the woods to see
if she'd escaped to clear her mind.

He wanted her to move to the town
of Yesterday with him with all of his heart.

He searched well into the night.


Meanwhile, Helen had fled in
such a hurry that she mistakingly
dropped the vial of poison in the snow.

Little Lucy Smith happened upon it
and thought that it was fruit juice,
drinking down the poison in one gulp.

Her knees buckled and she fell to the snow,
the world spinning as she tried to focus her eyes.

Even the ducks were worried about her.


The next morning, a crowd had gathered
in the town square at the request of Corbin and Trudy.

It was Mindy's birthday and they had organized 
an awesome party but Mindy never arrived to
hear them shout "Surprsie!"

It had all been a horrible mistake.


Helen and Lovelace happened upon each other in the woods.

She reached into her pocket for the vial of poison
and realized it was no longer in her pocket.

Lovelace pretended to be excited to see her
but kept one hand on the pistol in his pocket.
He would marry Mindy
even if it meant ending Helen.

Only one of them would leave the woods alive!

Tune in next time to find out...
Did Mindy lose Corbin's baby?
Would little Lucy Smith survive?
Could the guests return all of Mindy's birthday presents for a full refund?
Who survives in the fight between Helen and Lovelace?
All of this and more will be revealed on the next episode of
The Village of Tomorrow.

Thursday, December 5, 2013

The Legend of Tomorow :: Episode 2

When we last left Mindy,
she was seeking solace at The Hunter's Tavern
after seeing her ex-boyfriend, Corbin
tightening the laces on her sister, Trudy's ice skates
in the middle of the town square.


She knew better than to drink away her worries,
there was a slight chance that she was carrying Corbin's child.
Instead, she wandered over to the cafe and ate two pancake specials,
 with bacon, a side of hashbrowns, a biscuit, a slice of apple pie,
 and drank 6 cups of coffee.

She was always an emotional eater.

As she walked home with an upset stomach
and a broken heart, she happened upon Mr. Lovelace.
She took a step back, they had always loved each other from afar
but he was engaged to Helen, Mindy's arch enemy.

Mindy knew better than to get tangled up with Lovelace.
Yet, her heart raced beneath her heaving chest as they spoke.


Helen happened upon the two talking,
her heart stopped because she knew that
Lovelace had always carried a torch for Mindy.

As she hid behind a snow covered tree,
she heard the dreaded words escape Lovelace's mouth;

"Mindy, forget Corbin. You know that I've always loved you."


Helen's tears froze on her cheeks
as she hurried to the town medium, Zelda for advice.

She told her that the only way to stop 
Mindy and Lovelace would be to destroy both of them.

She gave her a vile of poison to do with what she saw fit.


Mindy had fled from Lovelace,
her heart was shattered by Corbin
and she knew she would never love again.

Lovelace came to her in the night,
declaring his love and begging her to run away 
with him to the town of Yesterday, which
was two towns over.

They could get jobs and live on love.


Meanwhile, back in the town square,
Corbin leaned in closer to Trudy
as they planned a surprise birthday party for Mindy.

He missed her so and Trudy was a great party planner.
The two spoke in whispers as they made plans.

It was all a huge misunderstanding.

Tune in next time to find out...
will Helen poison Lovelace?
Will Mindy move to the town of Yesterday with Lovelace?
Was she carrying Corbin's baby?
Would she find out about the surprise the party?

All of this and more will be revealed on the next episode of
The Village of Tomorrow.