Baptism Sugar Cookies

Guys, It’s truly been a bit since I’ve decorated Sugar Cookies. The last ones I did for anyone were the Ladybug/Steampunk. They were done at the same time. Then… I haven’t done any until Easter when we tried a different recipe. By the way, I like my recipe better when it comes to decorated sugar cookies. Those we tried around Easter mounded up and then sunk. Not so good on the decorating storefront.

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The Duck Race

If you’ve been paying attention to the weather around the country any this week, then you’ll know the Midwest was supposed to get hit with a HUGE potential of Severe Thunderstorms/Tornadic weather. I woke up this morning to a HUGE bang of thunder. I always say that all we need is a good thunderstorm and all trees just blossom BAM! Yup, I was right.

The other thing to note is we’re on baby watch 2018. No… not me. The horse’s sillies. One mare is 1 week overdue and the other is about 2 weeks out. With crappy weather like this, I halfway expected to walk out and find 2 babies on the ground. So far, notta.

But there is a light rain going on and by the time I was done feeding critters, I’m kind of soggy. Which reminds me of a day not too long ago that I got soggy. Let me explain…

Jared carrying me to shore on his back. Tori walking along side.

The Duck Race

A couple weekends ago we were helping out with Trails for Kids. One of the events to raise money is the Duck Race. We sell little toy ducks that float for $2/each or 3 for $5. Then we go to Sugar Creek, the creek that runs right alongside the campground. We dump them in, and the winner wins half the pot of money collected. Easy enough, right? Sure… (more…)

Just at Your Fingertips

Every so often it feels like something is just at your fingertips but also just out of reach. The saying is always that if one door closes another door opens. Or how about, if it isn’t meant to be, something else better will come along. Those are the things I’m hanging on right now anyway. But at the same time, I guess I’m okay with it all. I don’t want to go into many details right now. In time I will, promise. And I’m the jerk who gets mad when people do this, but right now… that’s where I am. Just enough information to intrigue someone and make them say, what gives, but not enough information to actually fulfill that question.

Shame on me for being a hypocrite.

A story

So here’s a story that is constantly rolling around in my head.

I went to Church one Sunday and the preacher was discussing a couple from a previous church placement. They were an elderly couple that he always remembered. They always held hands or he had his hand around her shoulder. She always had her head on his shoulder. He said at first he was taken back by so much affection shown toward each other while in Church. (more…)

Steampunk Sugar Cookies

Steampunk Sugar Cookies

Steampunk? I didn’t even know such a thing existed. I guess I’ve fallen out of the loop or something… I don’t know.

One day last fall I got hit up about making 4 dozen steampunk sugar cookies. I had to go google what in the world that was. It’s like corsets and balloons and clocks. That type of thing. All dark colors. So Google and the gal who was ordering the cookies told me. I thought, Okay, I think I can manage that.

I decided that I could make flip flop cookie cutters into hot air balloons and I could make a swimsuit top into goggles. And of course gears and clocks could be done on circles. Easy peasy.

I quoted her a price. She never actually said, yes she wanted them… but at the same time she did. It’s really confusing. So I went to making the 4 dozen steampunk sugar cookies. I hit her up about picking them up twice and never got any more words out of her. So I wound up with 4 dozen steampunk sugar cookies that I didn’t know what to do with. (more…)

Ladybug Sugar Cookies

I was going back through all the sugar cookies that I completed last fall and realized there were 2 sets that I didn’t blog. This was one of my absolute favorite sets. A girl I went to high school with that I am distantly related to hit me up and asked me if I could do ladybug sugar cookies. I thought about it and was like, well, of course, those would be not only easy but extremely cute! Heck yeah.

I was so pleased with how they turned out. Absolutely adorable! These were some of my absolute favorite cookies

Nicole & Julia Project

Haha… that title doesn’t really have the same meaning as Julie and Julia. Oh well… it sounds good, right? Please tell me it sounds good. Don’t worry though, I’ll never be able to cook my way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Why? Because that book totally intimidates me!

They say that you should do things that scare you every once in a while. Well, I can tell you, this book scares the ever-loving crap out of me. I wish that I was a chef. I want to be one so bad. In fact, I want to write a cookbook. Although recently someone told me that cookbooks are becoming a thing of the past. I guess I would agree with that, but at the same time, look at all the cookbooks on the market. If you walk through a bookstore (which also seems to be becoming extinct) there is usually at least one row if not 2 or 3 filled with cookbooks. Every shape, size, cuisine, and more.

I own more cookbooks than I can recall right now. Some are still packed up from our move over a year ago. That makes me sad. Someday that will change but for now, that move was still a good thing for us…. even though it has been faced with its challenges. Truthfully I should go through my cookbooks and scale back a little maybe. Maybe not. I haven’t fully decided on that thought either.

But that cookbook.

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The Original PW Cookbook

Yesterday’s post got really long, really fast… so I thought I’d discuss the cookbook incident today. You know, in a separate post.

When the initial cookbook came out, it was back in 2010 (technically late 2009, but I went to the signing in 2010). I remember because I drove to Stillwater, Oklahoma to get it signed and meet her. My husband and I were due to get married that year. Oddly enough I had to tell her all about that. Like she cared. haha. But this, this is how I remember 2010. (more…)

This is What It’s All About

Earlier this fall… yes, it’s still fall… you know tomorrow starts the Winter Solstice, that’s the shortest day of the whole year. From there we’re going to be gaining light!! Anyway… back to the fall… We had our annual Chili cookoff to raise money for deserving Children whose families have fallen on hard times for whatever reason.

I always refer to those who help with this project as Santa’s Helpers because who couldn’t use a helper? So, Santa’s helpers have been busy at work, getting applications, reviewing them, and trying their darndest to make sure kids have a fabulous Christmas no matter what the circumstances their family faces are. But here’s the thing…

They needed a place to store the presents bought, wrap the presents, and have a pickup point for parents. But the other day someone broke into that warehouse and stole at least $300 worth of gifts. WHAT? Sad, but true. (more…)

Hallmark Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving table

I saw a friend posted on Facebook yesterday (I think it was) a question asking if everyone had that perfect, Hallmark Thanksgiving Dinner. Then she asked what about those who had no one. I am paraphrasing. I guess I never really thought about it truthfully. We have Thanksgiving whether it’s my extended family or just my close family, either way, we celebrate it. In 2011, hubby and I made our first Thanksgiving meal. Prior to that we just attended Thanksgiving at family’s house.

I always had a goal to make a turkey. In 2012 we made our first Bacon Wrapped turkey. Yum! I think having a turkey is the only “traditional thing” we do. We play with sides. We play with turkey recipes. We’re not traditionalists. I remember one year at my aunt’s house she said we were having a “grown-up” Thanksgiving meal. It was good, but the only traditional part was having a turkey. I wish I was into taking pictures that Thanksgiving (as I am now) so I had a memory of what we actually had… I remember steamed green beans, roasted potato chunks, and that’s about my recollection of that menu.

But… do we have that Hallmark Thanksgiving Dinner? Good question. Here’s what Thanksgiving looks like at our house, give or take….

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DEMA entrance at the Orange County Convention Center

Talking/Feeling like an Idiot

DEMA entrance at the Orange County Convention Center

While we were in Orlando, gosh 2 weeks ago, I had an opportunity to speak with a lot of professionals in the SCUBA diving industry. Not only did we stop and have a visit with our SCUBAPRO Rep, Scott, but we spoke with guys from SDI, the SCUBA diving group that we are certified through.

Plus, Deb paid a little extra for the two of us to be able to sit in on any and all session conferences. Let’s just say, I spoke with diving professionals from all over the world. I remember Australia, Denmark, Fiji, Mexico, and some places I can’t even remember.

Deb and I played a game for the opportunity to win a trip to Fiji. I doubt I won that… especially because it’s been two weeks and they haven’t notified me. They did contact me through email to tell me about some really great packages they offer. We’ll add that to my bucket list along with Greece. I want to go to Greece, so why not dive while I’m there.

I hit up the dive master’s that we dive with in Cozumel for pictures (he’s owed me since May), a recipe (which he rattled off but I couldn’t write down so he said he’d email… still waiting), and told him I wanted a sponsor for the underwater photography festival in April (worth a shot, right?).

But the one thing that really bothers me is… When I was talking to one of the guys from SDI, I felt like a complete moron. When I walked away from the conversation I felt like I was trying to impress him with my blog/SEO/etc knowledge that I probably don’t have.

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