Year: 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone has a safe & happy & yummy! Thanksgiving!

I have so much to be thankful for this time of year, a fabulous family, great friends, a roof over my head, a husband who wants to give me the world, a {step}daughter who accepts me fully, and God in my life.  What more is there?

I got this in an email at work the other day and cracked up laughing so of course I’m gonna share it with you!

I know a lot of people have been back and forth on the whole Don’t forget Thanksgiving Day.  I don’t want it forgotten either, but if you put your Christmas lights up on your house while it’s still 70 outside and not snowing and the wind is howling, I think that’s just fine and dandy and smart!

Anyway I hope y’all have a HAPPY THANKSGIVING and now let the Christmas Holiday begin!

I get to make a turkey this year, how cool is that! 🙂

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It's begining to look a lot like…..

…. Christmas.

There I said it.

Don’t be mad at me.  Seriously, watch the tv ads, the black friday ads, the Christmas movies on Hallmark & Lifetime, the countdown to 25 days of Christmas on ABC Family, Christmas Vacation has been playing on CMT since October.

Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten Thanksgiving.  Nope, I was up at 5:15 this morning doing my homework, watching a cooking show, reading through my Turkey recipe, my stuffing recipe, getting a game plan in my head about how to get it all baked.  And then we put the turkey in to brining.

We aren’t going to my aunts this year so I volunteered to do the turkey since I’ve been wanting to make one for a while.  I mean, why not!  She’s a brinin away in the fridge outside!  Yes I have a fridge outside, it’s the pool fridge :).

So anyway we decided, or maybe it was me, I lose count, to make PW’s turkey from the Throwdown she did with Bobby Flay last year at Thanksgiving.  So this year I made sure to record that episode again so I could pick up some hints and tricks and tips.  I’ve never cooked a turkey before in my life.  She told Bobby Flay to brush up on all things Thanksgiving, so he had a professor come and quiz him.  Apparently Thanksgiving hasn’t always been the 4th Thursday of November, back during the depression they moved it up to the third week for about 10 years to try and help with Christmas sales.  I found it funny when Bobby Flay said something about this being the first commercialized holiday. haha 🙂

I heard one time it was called Black Friday because stores don’t red line (as in go in the negative) they have increased sales so they go into the black.  I wonder how true that really is….

Anyway I’ll quit babbling, come 3-4pm today, check with me to make sure I’m still awake and haven’t zonked out from hardly anyone being at work, and the fact that I’m NOT a morning person and I’ve been up since 5:15am.

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

btw, I read a really cool blog post yesterday over on Stef’s blog, you should check it out!  Stef, you’re awesome!

My Weekend

So our company is big in helping the United Way every year.  A couple weeks ago one of our departments was holding a silent auction and one of the items was a trip for 2 on the Showboat Branson Belle.  Oddly enough I had my cell phone on me, so I called hubs and told him.  We decided upon a dollar amount we’d spend and we actually got the tickets for cheaper!    I’d never been and neither had he so we weren’t quite sure what to expect….

Oh. My. Gosh. was it awesome!  Definitely want to go back.  This time, since we’re close to Christmas this was their Christmas show so I’m curious to see what say spring and/or summer shows are like, but either way it was amazing!

On our way to Branson we stopped in Springfield at a CVS pharmacy to look up Salma Hayak’s new line of make-up.  I heard about it so I wanted to try it out.  So far, loving what I bought!

Then we went and used our season pass to go in to Silver Dollar City just to see what the Christmas Celebration was all about.  That and our tickets for the Showboat Branson Belle weren’t until 8pm anyway.

You had to be there 1 hour early for loading.

I thought this was just too darn cute!  Yes those are fake geese 🙂

This is how you exit.

Here is the boat… or what my iPhone would capture of it.  I left my big camera at home and my point and shoot was dead.

It is a paddle wheel boat.  I got a funny video of that too… kind of like Hawaii where I stuck my tongue out…

This was up on the top looking back at the land.

This was after dinner.  Oh goodness dinner was awesome. We had bread with seasoned butter (garlic and spices… oh yum!), then a salad with sweet onion dressing, then Roast Beef with brown gravy (to die for), a Focaccia breaded Chicken, Mashed potatoes with white gravy & green beans… all fabulous.  To top it off we had a Lemon Berry Torte.  It’s a wonder I could even fit in my clothes Sunday morning… LOL.  Then you had the option of Tea, Coffee, Lemonade, or water.  All of it was so good!

Here we are out on the upper deck after dinner but before the show started.  Yes it was 40 degrees out and we didn’t have coats on, what’s your point?

Hubby wouldn’t look at me at first… LOL so ha! I showed him!

Hi, my name’s Nicole and I’m a dork 🙂

That’s the big wheel that operates the boat.

Back inside waiting for the show to start.

And like most places, they took our picture and then try to sell it to us.

Then Sunday we went to Table Rock Lake Dam.  It’s friggin ginormous!

Well hello… my arm got us all in 🙂

This was the fish hatchery and it looks like they had to put the cages on there so the turkey buzzards would stay out of their crop….

Then we went to lunch.  This was the wall at the restaurant.  I wish I was this talented.  I’d paint my whole house this way.  Ok maybe not my whole house and I’ll bet with that comment hubby is glad I’m not this talented 🙂

We’d actually never eaten here before.  It was excellent!

We love Bread with Olive Oil and seasonings 🙂

I got Chicken Pesto

Hubby got the Trio Sampler.

No neither of us ate everything either.  In fact I have enough for 2 meals (after I ate some for lunch).

When we were finished and full, the waitress came by and asked if we’d like more to drink.  We both declined.  Then she offered dessert.  Now normally we’d decline that too, but…….. she didn’t just offer dessert, no she started with the word Tiramisu.  Yeah, we were suckered in.  So then she brought it to us and I asked for more to drink.  Before she could get our drinks back, hubby and I devoured this.  Yes we shared but it was hard to share, it was that good 🙂

After we left there we went to Stonehill Winery to take a tour.  This was a cute set up out in front.

This was some of the old machinery used when Stonehill was started back in the 1800’s.

Then I got to come home and study for an Anatomy & Physiology test.  I so can’t wait until I never have to say that again, I’m just sayin! 🙂

Here are some interesting facts about Branson & the Showboat Branson Belle
Total Population: 10,500ish (a little smaller population wise than my hometown)
Visitors per year: 8 Million
The Wheel: 10’2″ tall and weighed in over 600lbs
It took 130 gallons of paint to paint the exterior of the ship
It only took 25 gallons to paint the inside of the ship
The ship displaces 95,062,500 cubic feet of water
The paddle wheels are 25′ in diameter
It moves at 12 knots or 8mph
The paddles turn 8 times per minute, 480 times per hour.

Bruschetta

Since the hubs and I have gotten together, we’ve exposed each other to new foods and new tastes.  Remember, we make each other try everything and poor Tbug has to try it “12” times… LOL :).  And no, I’m not that mean… I don’t count… but it keeps her thinking that even if she’s not crazy about it, if we have it again, she’ll at least have to try it.  Like I’ve said before tastes change over time :).

Bruschetta is one of those things that hubs had never tried, but since he’s been with me, he’s tried it and LOVES it :).

A couple weeks ago at Sunday Night dinner, it was Italian themed so he was like oooooo can we make Bruschetta?  I kind of already decided on making the Tiramisu Brownies, but I said sure why not.  Actually we took both.  But Hubs got on line, looked up a recipe, and made it all himself :).  Isn’t he so cute! 🙂

Tomato Bruschetta Recipe
Yields: serves many
Prep time: 10 min


Ingredients:
10 plum tomatoes, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Coarse salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
French or Italian-style bread slices
Traditional Aceto Balsamico (aged Balsamic Vinegar), optional

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix together tomatoes, 

garlic, 

basil leaves, 

lemon juice, 

olive oil, 

salt, 

and pepper; set aside. 



Slice the bread into 1-inch slices. If you’re working with a large loaf, you’ll then want to halve each slice again. 

 
Brush one side of each slice with extra virgin olive oil. (and seasonings, like we did, if you choose)

Place the slices oil-side down on a cooking sheet, and toast them in the oven until golden brown. NOTE: These can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container. Be sure to let cool completely before storing.
Either serve tomato mixture, room temperature, in a bowl with a spoon and lots of toasted bread slices, or tops each bruschetta with the tomato mixture and place on a large serving plate.  Try not to top too far ahead of serving, as the bread can get soggy.

 

Variation Ideas: 

  • For an extra-special taste sensation, drizzle the tops of each bruschetta with balsamic vinegar (use a dropper). So good!
     

  • Add some mozzarella cheese and sliced olive.

Bruschetta

by Nicole
Keywords: bake appetizer tomato garlic basil bread Italian French
Ingredients
  • 10 plum tomatoes, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3/4 cup fresh basil leaves, coarsely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • Coarse salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste
  • French or Italian-style bread slices
  • Traditional Aceto Balsamico (aged Balsamic Vinegar), optional
Instructions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
In a medium bowl, mix together tomatoes, garlic, basil leaves, lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper; set aside.
Slice the bread into 1-inch slices. If you’re working with a large loaf, you’ll then want to halve each slice again.
Brush one side of each slice with extra virgin olive oil.
Place the slices oil-side down on a cooking sheet, and toast them in the oven until golden brown. NOTE: These can be made ahead of time and stored in an airtight container. Be sure to let cool completely before storing.
Either serve tomato mixture, room temperature, in a bowl with a spoon and lots of toasted bread slices, or tops each bruschetta with the tomato mixture and place on a large serving plate. Try not to top too far ahead of serving, as the bread can get soggy.

Variation Ideas:

For an extra-special taste sensation, drizzle the tops of each bruschetta with balsamic vinegar (use a dropper). So good!
Add some mozzarella cheese and sliced olive.
Powered by Recipage

Porcupine Meatballs

Me: So do you ever think we’ll eat Porcupine Meatballs?
Hubbs: Do you want to?
Me: Do you think we will?
Hubbs: Well if you want to then sure.
Me: Do you like just plain meatballs?
Hubbs: Sure I do.
Hubbs: But where do you think we go about getting Porcupine meat?

Yes, this conversation seriously happened.

And he also went on line and found where you could buy Porcupine meat.  He even thought about buying some for me just so I could have “Real” Porcupine meatballs.  Isn’t he the sweetest 🙂

3 lbs hamburger
2 cups minute rice
1 cup chopped onions
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 cup evaporated milk

Mix all ingredients and shape into balls.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Next mix and heat sauce.

Sauce ingredients:
2 cups ketchup
2 Tbsp liquid smoke
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Pour sauce over meatballs.  Heat together until warm and serve.

Brain Study

Good example of a Brain Study:
If you can read this you have a strong mind:

7H15 M3554G3 53RV35 7O PR0V3 H0W 0UR M1ND5 C4N D0 4M4Z1NG 7H1NG5! 1MPR3551V3 7H1NG5! 1N 7H3 B3G1NN1NG 17 WA5 H4RD BU7 N0W, 0N 7H15 LIN3 Y0UR M1ND 1S R34D1NG 17 4U70M471C4LLY W17H 0U7 3V3N 7H1NK1NG 4B0U7 17, B3 PROUD! 0NLY C3R741N P30PL3 C4N R3AD 7H15.

 Happy Friday! 🙂





Day 204

Day 1-203 here

Day 204 – We went on our first alone trip together.

Day 205 – We bought his wedding ring

Day 226 – We had our first family photos professionally taken

Day 251 – On a trip to Kentucky his daughter asked why I was coming with them.

Day 258 – Our engagement photos were taken

Day 260 – I was drug wedding dress shopping

Day 274 – He made it a point for me to drive to Stillwater, OK to meet Pioneer Woman

Day 266 – We got our first dog together

Day 309 – We took possession of our house

Somewhere along the way we had a terrible fight.  The worst fight to date as a couple.  A day I’ve tried to forget.  Somewhere along the way it was so bad we almost just said screw it and went our separate ways, but we didn’t.  Real love is worth fighting for and fight for it we did.  Real Love Stories Never Have Endings!

Day 323 – We attended our first wedding together as a couple

Day 344 – Our house had to be finished for the big 4th of July Partay

Day 371 – On my 27th birthday we had our first Wedding shower.

Day 385 – My wedding party teamed against me and threw a surprise shower

Day 386 – We had a joint Bachelor/Bachelorette Party

Day 406 – Was the last day as single people

I meant every word "they" said!

You know… the trouble with a good country song is most times
they say how I feel… they just say it first.

So? Does it make me sound like an idiot when I quote lyrics?

I’ll love you till I die, you are the love of my life… and I’m
so glad you found me you are the love of my life… so put your arms around me..
I guess this is how it feels… when you finally found something real… my angel
in the night you are my love… the love of my life, everything I do I do it for
you, tell that someone that you love just what you’re thinking of if tomorrow
never comes, I’ll take you for a ride on my big green tractor ;), oh love oh
love oh the many colors that you’re made of… you heal… you bleed… you’re the
simple truth and you’re the biggest mystery, I love you more than you’ll ever
know, I don’t wanna be loved by anybody but you.

There is no end to the love I have for my wife. This next
set of lyrics pretty much sums her up.

(She’s Everything) “Brad Paisley”
She’s a yellow pair of running shoes
A holey pair of jeans
She looks great in cheap sunglasses
She looks great in ANYTHING
She’s I want a piece of chocolate
Take me to a movie
She’s I can’t find a thing to wear
Now and then she’s moody
She’s a Saturn “Elantra” with a sunroof
With her brown hair a-blowing
She’s a soft place to land
And a good feeling knowing
She’s a warm conversation
That I wouldn’t miss for nothing
She’s a fighter when she’s mad
And she’s a lover when she’s loving
And she’s everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
‘Cause she’s everything to me
She’s a Saturday out on the town
And a church girl on Sunday
She’s a cross around her neck
And a cuss word ’cause its Monday
She’s a bubble bath and candles
Baby come and kiss me
She’s a one glass of wine
And she’s feeling kinda tipsy
She’s the giver I wish I could be
And the stealer of the covers
She’s a picture in my wallet
and my unborn children’s mother
She’s the hand that I’m holding
When I’m on my knees and praying
She’s the answer to my prayer
And she’s the song that I’m playing
And she’s everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
I talk about her, I go on and on and on
‘Cause she’s everything to me
She’s the voice I love to hear
Someday when I’m ninety
She’s that wooden rocking chair
I want rocking right beside me
Everyday that passes
I only love her more
Yeah, she’s the one
That I’d lay down my own life for
And she’s everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She’s everything to me
Yeah she’s everything to me
Everything I ever wanted
And everything I need
She’s everything to me

Baby I love you with all my heart, when I screw up just
remember that. My love for you grows with each passing day and I just wanted to
take this opportunity to tell you that that’s what I’m thinking of, if tomorrow
never comes.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCjXaEbrLdw]

Why do I blog?

if you know where I found this, please let me know so I can credit it!

I would be lying if I said that sometimes I feel down, I guess you could say when I don’t get many comments.  I know it is stupid and I shouldn’t be writing for the comments, but sometimes I love the feedback.  The comments bring a smile to my face.  And I love when I can email the person back and tell them a little more about something (ie the bed) or I can say thank you (pretty much a lot of of them), I love to impart wisdom (haha),   Sometimes I actually like to impart actual wisdom (like nutrition class stuff) and of course funny stories are great (there’s a restaurant, or the infamous farting photo) sometimes I vent (like about my car speaker), and we all know I obviously love to cook (duh look here), etc.

I’m real.  I’m honest.  I’m me.

I read blogs and I see they have big numbers of followers and sometimes I feel down on my blog.  I wonder what I can do to get increased numbers.  I wonder what I can do to make people want to read what I write about.  I know I follow more blogs than the number who actually follow me and I definitely comment on more than comment on mine.  Then I wonder, why?  What am I doing wrong?

Then I think about 2 things… the loyal fan base (haha does that make you groupies?) I do have and I ask myself why do you write anyway?

I write some of this to remember things.  I write some because, well it’s funny.  I write some because I have an aunt who reads.  I write because I have a heavy heart.  I write because I have exciting news.  I write some of it because I just love to write.

I wish I could say I was like a lot of you and I got the reading bug when I was younger, but it didn’t really hit me until the first summer out of college (2005).  Yeah I have a lot of catching up to do with you guys!  Janet Evanovich and the Stephanie Plum series is what did it for me.  I’ve been hooked since!

But I have always loved to write.  I’ve had numerous journals, tried to write short stories and even took a short story writing class in college.  If you were to ask me what I truly want to be… my answer would be an author.  I want to write books.  I just haven’t quite figured out how to get there… yet.  But remember my quote I stumbled across a while back (found here)

“If it is possible I will do it .  If it is impossible, it will take me a little longer.”

I truthfully believe that quote.

In fact, I went to college the first time with the pursuit of an Agriculture Journalist degree, but then immediately changed to Agriculture Education because I figured I’d have a wider background in more areas.  But I did take the Ag. Journalist class in college.

See Writing is my passion I guess.  So some days I get down about few or even no comments, but I remember I do have my loyal readers and someday… someday I’ll be big… and you can all say you knew me when I was whining about no comments… LOL 🙂

I sincerely want to say Thank you!  I love you all 🙂  Now I’ll quite whining and no I don’t want any cheese with my whine!

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