Oh The Carnage!

Remember last year?

I do.

Spring has sprung

which means flowers are blooming

bees are buzzing

and I have blood all over my carpet again.

No sign of the bunny corpse this time.

Maybe the dog ate it.

Life is grand.

Holly

Good Riddance

Oh 2011, you were a difficult year for me.

I won’t miss you.

I didn’t like you from the get go.

There were some great things you did give me.

A trip to Ruidoso.

A trip to California.

Making new Blog friends.

All good things.

But there were some icky things about last year too.

And I don’t care to repeat them.

So I won’t.

Nuff said.

The New Year brings me hope.

Weight Watchers.

Better, healthy relationships with friends and family.

A boob lift.

Possibly doing some volunteer work.

Did you see that up there?

You know I’m just kidding.

I would never do that.

Because I just don’t have time to volunteer.

Right now I’m sitting here enjoying a cup of strong coffee.

Our dog cried all night because of the fireworks.

I think we slept 3 hours last night.

I was so tired of the whining at 2:00 am.

I think I may have cried a little.

The holidays have worn me out.

I’m ready to get back on a normal schedule.

Find my routine.

Looking forward to this New Year.

With higher hopes.

And higher boobs.

xxx-ooo

Holly

The Post Where I Tell You I'm Not Dead

Bet ya’ll thought I was dead, huh?

Well, Merry Christmas and call me Lazarus.

In the true spirit of Christmas and all things Holy,

please excuse my absenteeism.

I have no real excuse other than I just didn’t feel like blogging.

And when I set my mind to not doing something,

I am a freight train;

there is no stopping me from not starting something.

I was unstoppable in my not blogging.

This attribute of mine goes well beyond my ability to hold out on blogging.

I’ve been known to be steadfast in my not doing many things.

Like Showering.

Since the invention of dry shampoo and Febreeze, is it really all that necessary?

And Dieting.

You should see my ability to not diet, it’s unparalleled.

And Exercising.

My butt shaped couch cushion can attest to this.

But I am back.

And life is grand.

And Christmas is right around the corner.

Did you know that?

I feel a certain responsibility as a blogger to let you all know that.

We’re having a nice quiet, stress less Christmas around here.

The shopping is done.

The gifts have been wrapped.

Christmas dinner will be easy and almost everything can be prepared ahead of time.

My Christmas gift this year is that my Dad and Sally will be with me.

I can’t remember the last time we spent Christmas together.

They have moved back from New Mexico to the Phoenix area.

My all-time favorite brother Jon will be here too.

He’s my only brother but if I had 237 brothers he would still be my favorite.

But if I had 238 brothers, it would be a tough decision.

I love him because I get to make fun of him.

And he chases me.

And I scream.

And he sits on me and tickles me.

Yes, I am 46 years old.

And of course my beautiful children will be here.

Have a Blessed Christmas!!!

I know I will.

xxx-ooo

Holly

Nobody Has Done it Better Than you, Daddy.

Remember taking me to Scotty’s for Rootbeer floats?

Remember when you held me while the doctor

burned the warts off my finger?

Remember how I stole your car when I was 16 and lied about it?

Remember when you closed the trunk on my head

and it almost made you pass out?

Remember when you would cry with me after you spanked me?

Remember when Kelly and I used to run around the house

after getting out of the bathtub wearing only towels as capes

and singing the Batman theme song?

Remember going to Indian Princess meetings with me where

they named you Big Thunder and I was Little Lightening?

Remember taking me on “date night” to the ice skating rink?

Remember when you went out of town and I filled the Jacuzzi

with a jumbo box of Mr. Bubble?

Remember driving me to the indoor pool for swim practice

at 5:00 am every morning before school?

Remember when you would put Santa’s ashy footprints

by the fireplace for us to find every Christmas morning?

Remember when you built us that playhouse in Kokomo?

Remember how it was my job to sit behind you

in the car and rub your neck on long drives?

Remember how we went to Luby’s after Mom died,

and we told stories about her and laughed and cried?

Remember when I gave you the Mumps?

I remember too, Daddy.

Happy Father’s Day.

I love you!

Roo

xxx-ooo

Happy Birthday Baby!

Today is my husband's birthday.

Yesterday I made a birthday card and took it in to his office for everyone to sign.

That thing at the bottom is a fishing sinker tied with netting.

I also made some Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes for everyone at his office.

These are super easy to make and were a big hit.

Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes

1 box of yellow cake mix
ingredients on the boxed mix
1 can (20 oz) pineapple rings or chunks
Juice from canned pineapple
brown sugar
butter

Preheat oven to 350.  Spray your muffin pan with non stick spray.  Into each cup of a 12-cup muffin pan, add 1/2 tablespoon of unmelted butter, then evenly sprinkle 1 tablespoon of brown sugar over the butter. Place the pan in the oven until the butter melts, about 3 minutes.

Halve each maraschino cherry, then cut the pineapple rings into small pieces. Place a cherry half in the center of each cup and lay pineapple pieces around the cherry. Press the fruit gently down into the butter-sugar mixture, then set the prepared pan aside.


Mix yellow cake according to directions on box with one exception.  Instead of using the full amount of water called for, use 3/4 cup of the pineapple juice from the can and then add enough water for the desired amount.


Pour the batter into the muffin pan and bake the cupcakes until they're lightly browned, dry around the edges, and pulling away from the pan a little, about 22-25 minutes.


Transfer the pan to a rack to cool for 5 minutes. Use a butter knife to carefully loosen each cupcake from the edges and bottom of the pan, then place a cookie sheet over the top. Invert the pan, turning the cupcakes out onto the cookie sheet, then transfer them back to the rack to cool completely. Serve the cupcakes at room temperature. Makes 18-24 cupcakes.

Today the two of us are going on a picnic to the lake.  Just a nice quiet day.  The temp is supposed to be close to 80 degrees so it should be a nice day.

Happy Birthday Honey.  I love you!

Holly

xxx-ooo

God Bless you One and All!

Greatest man in history, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime, yet they crucified Him.. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. Merry Christmas Everyone!

Holly

xxx-ooo

Microwave Peanut Brittle

I've been making this candy for years and it's a quick and easy recipe.  Makes a nice gift.

It's really important that you read this recipe all the way through before you start.  You have to move pretty quickly because the whole thing sets up really fast.  I make sure I have everything measured and ready to go before I begin.

Here's what you need:

1 c. sugar

½ c. light corn syrup

1 c. spanish peanuts
⅛ tsp. salt
1 tbsp. butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda

I use my 8 cup Pyrex measuring bowl for this because it has a handle and it's much easy to pour out using the handle when it's hot!  And Man, Oh Man, does it get hot!


Butter a cookie sheet and place in an oven warmed to 150 degrees for about 5 minutes. This will help the peanut brittle to spread easier.


Combine sugar and corn syrup in a glass microwave safe bowl ( I spray mine with Pam first so it's easier to clean up). Mix well and microwave on high for 4 minutes.

Remove bowl and stir, add peanuts and salt and stir again. Place back in the microwave for 3 minutes.

Stir in butter and vanilla and microwave for 1 minute.

Remove the bowl and stir in the baking soda and immediately spread thinly onto the cookie sheet.

Cool and break into pieces. Store in an airtight container.

Cook the full amount of time or the brittle will come out chewy.



 

 

 

Keep out of reach of husband if you're giving these as gifts.

 

Holly

xxx-ooo

Remember what I told you? Forget it.

We tell our children:

"Don't talk to strangers!"

"If a stranger offers you candy, what should you do?  NOO!!  You run and scream and find Mommy!"

A stranger is never allowed to touch you!"

And then we do this to them:

Is it just me or is this a really weird tradition?

Holly

xxx-ooo

Attempt at Creativity

It's been busy around here the past few days.  Baking yummy stuff, cleaning the house, and work has been a little more hectic than usual.  I decided to try to be crafty again.  Yes, I know.  You don't have to say it. 

My sister and I talked a few months back about how creative and artistic our mother was and our father still is.  We decided we didn't get that gene.  I'm not going to let that stop me though.  I want to CREATE!!  I decided to make my own Christmas cards this year.  If they all turn out really ugly, I'll send them all to my sister.  She would appreciate the effort, anyway.

I'll show you just a few for now.  Also, if you are really crafty, please move on to the next blog because I would rather you didn't see these.  My first attempts:

They may not be perfect but it's keeping me out of the bars.

Holly

xxx-ooo