Halloween Fun

This weekend was incredibly busy, and I loved every minute of it! Thursday night was a blast handing out candy to at least 200 trick-or-treaters.  I thought I had enough candy to go around, but I gave out with about an hour left in the night!  Oh well- off with the porch light! 

Pixie and me ready to give out candy!

 Friday night we went on a double date with our good friends Andie and Derrick.  We went to view the pumpkins that the architect students create at AU. 

Then, Saturday night we went to a Halloween costume party!  I promise we meant no offense, but we went as Chilean miners.  We figured since they had a happy ending it was OK to honor them with our costumes.  On the plus side, my costume cost one dollar, because all I had to buy was a little face paint!



Trick-or-Treat Tips for Pets

Halloween 2009

I'm going to start this blog off with an apology.  I'm sorry all I talk about is animals...but that's where my life is right now.

Like I told you Monday, tonight is Trick-or-Treat night in my town! I am sooo excited!! It's been pretty rainy here, so I hope that clears up before tonight! With all that being said, I thought I'd share this email newsletter about Halloween safety tips for animals.

Tips to Help Keep Your Dogs and Cats Safe This Halloween

 

Halloween is meant to be fun, but it can also be frightening, especially for skittish pets. The items and activities we associate with the holiday — candy, costumes, trick-or-treating — can spell trouble for dogs and cats if you aren't careful. To help ease any pre-holiday anxiety, we spoke with veterinarian Dr. Sandra Sawchuk, who offered her tips for making Halloween enjoyable for your furry family members.

• Keep your pets inside. Sawchuk speaks from experience on this one: Her father lost his poodle one Halloween when the dog went running out the door after some costumed kids came by. "The constant trick-or-treating, coupled with excited kids in funny masks, can be frightening for some dogs," Sawchuk tells PEOPLEPets.com. "And if your dog is territorial, the situation can be dangerous for people on the other side of the door, too."

• If you have a pet who normally lives outside, bring him in, and be sure to keep a close eye on cats, too. "There's the belief that on Halloween, someone's going to abduct your black cat and use him for a satanic ritual," she says. "I don't know how often that happens, but any cat can be at risk of being startled and [then] bolting on Halloween, especially in a busy neighborhood. "

• Use flameless candles. Sure they look cute lighting up your jack-o'-lantern, but candles are obviously dangerous to curious dogs and cats, who could accidentally knock lit pumpkins over. "You don't want your pets burned or your house starting on fire," Sawchuk says.

{Ok- I'm probably not going to abide on this one. -K}

• Store candy out of reach. "Everyone's always concerned about chocolate, but a wad of anything sweet, sugary and fatty going through your dog's system can cause vomiting and diarrhea too," Sawchuk warns. "We've had dogs swallow suckers before, and the sucker sticks get stuck in places they don't belong." Be sure the candy you're handing out is in a safe place, and that your kids don't leave candy within reach of your pets, either.

• If your dog does ingest a large amount of milk chocolate — one ounce per pound of body weight or more — seek medical attention immediately. "It doesn't take many little Hershey bars to add up to that," Sawchuk says.

• Since cats don't generally go for candy, you don't need to be as vigilant with them. But if you have a cat who has tried to eat sweets in the past, make sure he can't access your treats.

• If your dog must go outside, stay with him. Depending on your dog's temperament and the amount of traffic in your neighborhood, it may be acceptable to take him trick-or-treating, Sawchuk says. But be sure to keep your pup on a leash, and hang back from people's front doors.

• "Sometimes, people will have a family member hiding near the door to scare kids," she explains. "Your dog may get protective if he suddenly thinks you're in danger — it can be frightening." Be sure to keep your leashed dog away from unfamiliar kids, too; they may not know how to handle pooches properly.

• Only put costumes on willing dogs. "Most dogs hate dressing up, and putting a costume on them makes them scared," Sawchuk shares. "It's just not fair to the dog." Regardless of how tempted you are by cute Halloween costumes, if you know your dog well, and know he doesn't like dressing up, avoid trying to do so.

{Trust me- Pixie loves costumes. -K}





 Happy Howloween!

Parade Day

The house was transported today, and it made it in one piece! It went straight down the middle of town.  I went outside my office and took pictures as it came by as if a parade were passing through.  Be gentle with your thoughts...it needs a lot of T.L.C.

On another note: Stephen was not pleased with his pumpkin because it fell in, so he made a new stencil and carved a new pumpkin.

Happy Halloween!!

Spooks

- by Sandra Liatsos

There's a goblin at my window,

A monster by my door.

The pumpkin at my table

Keeps on smiling more and more.

There's a ghost who haunts my bedroom,

A witch whose face is green.

They used to be my family,

Till they dressed for Halloween.



Stephen's AU Stencil







Happy Halloween!

I am so excited for Thursday to get here! That is when all the kids will go trick-or-treating in my town.  Last year was my first Halloween experience with passing out candy, and it was so much fun! I had so many kids show up! Thankfully, a neighbor had given me a heads up so I was prepared.  Now it's time to get prepared again.  I'll have a few people over and cook dinner, and we'll all hang out while passing out candy! Such a fun night!

I also want to share the pumpkins Stephen and I carved Friday night.  He knows how excited I get about stuff like that, so he surprised me by making these stencils for us! He's the best! :)

Prop B

I have had the urge to share with you something that is close to my heart.  I get emails daily about this, and I have given all I can give.  So, I wanted to make others aware, and if it touches your heart maybe you'll want to contribute as well.  I'm talking about puppy mills.  This is something that means a lot to me, because when I hear about them or see pictures I can't help but see my Pixie there.  She was rescued from a puppy mill situation, and taken to the humane society (that's where I got her).  I love her dearly, and she is the best dog I could ever ask for.  However, she only likes about 3 other people, she's terrified of big men, she's extremely protective with food and bones, and I'm not exactly sure how she is with children.  When someone wants to pet her, she runs, and it makes me feel like everyone thinks I did a terrible job raising her.  I do know the truth though, and I know that I didn't get her until she was about 6 months old and so I can't undo the damage she had in the first part of her life. I can continue to introduce her to new situations and hope that she comes out of this fear.  She has come such a long way!

 Anyway-  Missouri is the largest state for puppy mills, and they are trying to pass a law.  Read below the facts.  How can we help outside of Missouri?  Well, they are using their donations to make TV commercials to show during shows such as Oprah, DWTS, and other big name shows to help spread the word. If you can't give, I understand, but I just wanted to share this information.  I had no idea about puppy mills and the cruelty that goes on in most/some of them until Pixie. 

This is their latest email newsletter.

The Kansas City Star and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch have endorsed a YES! on Prop B. We all agree: Dogs like Legs deserve a better life.


This is Legs, pictured below, just before she and 91 other Yorkshire Terriers were rescued from a substandard puppy mill in southwest Missouri in February 2009 by the Humane Society of Missouri.


She was missing teeth, and had endured severe dental disease, skin infections, and bone and joint disease -- too much suffering for a Yorkie at only eight years of age. And unbelievably, some of the dogs that were rescued with Legs even had to have limbs amputated because the blood supply to their legs was cut off by their terribly matted hair.

Unfortunately, there are dogs similar to Legs suffering in puppy mills in Missouri at this very second. But if a new law gets passed by Missouri voters on Election Day -- called Proposition B -- these dogs won’t have to suffer any more.


Prop B is a measure that will appear on the Missouri state ballot in just 11 days. If passed, it will stop puppy mill abuses by establishing common sense standards for the care of dogs, such as clean food and water, adequate space and exercise, necessary veterinary care, and rest between breeding cycles.


But this law won’t magically get passed on its own. Puppy millers and agribusiness groups have mounted a fierce campaign to defeat it, and we are running short of the money we need to air critical television ads and deliver our message to voters in all 114 counties in the state.


Will you make an emergency contribution today to communicate our message to Missouri voters to pass Prop B and help save thousands of dogs from the suffering endured by Legs?


Today, thanks to a long-time foster parent, Legs has been rehabilitated and adopted by a loving family. She never again has to worry about a life devoid of love and care. Will you help us ensure that other dogs get this same chance at a better life?


At puppy mills in Missouri, dogs are crammed into small and filthy cages, denied veterinary care, exposed to extremes of heat and cold, and given no exercise or human affection. These puppy mills are cruel and the way these dogs are treated is wrong. Prop B will finally turn around Missouri's reputation as the puppy mill capital of America, and make a difference for hundreds of thousands of dogs in the nation's top puppy mill state.

We have just 11 days left to reach Missouri voters through our TV ads, get out the vote efforts, leafleting, and other efforts -- please donate today to help all the suffering dogs like Legs.

Sincerely,


Barbara Schmitz
Campaign Manager

Missourians for the Protection of Dogs / YES! on Prop B

http://yesonpropb.com/

Mum's the Word

I wanted to share my fall decor with you!  This is my house with my new scarecrow...I just love him! Question: my mums are starting to die.  Can anyone help me with this?? I'm thinking that they may be too big for their pots, would that kill them? And yes, I try to water them...do they need water everyday?  Or did I just buy old mums?  What is a mum's lifespan?

I also want to give an update on the house...the site is being cleared where it's going to go.  It will be moved either Monday or Tuesday!

Cider

So yesterday was a boring post, I know.  Today, I want to tell you about one of my simple pleasures! Apple Cider...it's one of those things that makes me so happy.  I love apples when they've been cooked.  Not that big on the raw fruit, but when cooked and mixed with sugars, cinnamon, etc it's the most wonderful thing.  I had my first mug of cider last night; just the perfect way to now officially start the holiday season!  When I'm warming a lot of it, I love to put it in a big pot on the stove and put cinnamon sticks in it and cut up oranges and let it all marinade together.  It's the best kind of potpourri! 

Now for all you over 21 fans...add a dash of a dark liquor and you have a nice hotty toddy!

Makings of a Millionaire

Ask me if I am planning for my future.  My answer is yes!  As weird as it is to think about, but in 41 years I will be 65.  If I have to work throughout my entire life, you better believe I'm going to at least be through at 65! So, I decided to make sure that is going to happen... well my dad pretty much set it up and took me. But either way,  I went and met with a financial advisor and started "planning for my retirement".  So, the reason I'm mentioning this to you is because you might want to start planning ahead also.  Like my dad said to me, "You will be thanking me when you're older."

Weekend Update

Friday night we went to the Eagles concert and had a blast! We were forever away from the stage (because there was about 50,000 people there and it was open field, first come first serve), but they were fantastic! They sounded just as if we were listening to their album. 

Also, they got the roof off the house! It's ready to be moved.  My parents just have to now prepare the spot in which they plan to move it to. We're hoping to get it moved this week!

On another note: my granddaddy had to go to the ER Saturday night with his leg hurting.  He says he's ok now, but they've taken him to see a specialists.  There are no broken bones, so they are thinking it's his nerves.  Prayers are appreciated!!

My One Fan

This is a shout out to my one fan...Emma Cook! She has her own blog- everyone should go check it out! She's always giving great advice on coupon clipping, baking, sewing and sweet stories about her family!  She's also giving a freebie out right now! Everyone go over and check out her blog! http://emma-crazycooks.blogspot.com/

Game Time

Let's play a game...it's called "If you read this blog, leave a comment!".  Most of the time I feel like I am either talking to myself or having a conversation with my mom in a round about way. (Because I know she reads it. Thanks, Mom!)  So, I'm wondering if there is anyone out there, or am I wasting my time?

Nostalgia

My parent's have a new hobby!  Their latest obsession is with a really old house.  My 90 year old granddad's grandparent's house (I think that's how many generations it goes back).  And, what are they doing to this house? They are planning to move it about 30 miles to their side yard.  Their ultimate goal is to restore it to its former glory and create another living space with outdoor kitchen, etc. For this to be done, the roof, chimney, and add on back rooms are going to have to come off.  The house was originally two bedrooms with a hall in the middle.  (That is what it'll be again once completed.)  Later, a kitchen and room were added on to the back.  So, the back two rooms have now been ripped off, and they are working on the roof.  So, I thought I'd share a few photos of their progress. 

side view

                                                                  Granddad working :)

                                                              Dad on the roof

front view

We hope it's going to make it through the move.  It is going to be a long process and a lot of work, but I think once completed we all will be very pleased! Stay tuned...

Good News!!

The Chattahoochee Humane Society is going to remain open!

Here's the story:

http://www.wtvm.com/Global/story.asp?S=13208486

So, it's just a quick, short fix, but the word has definitely gotten around and maybe the locals will remember to help out the Humane Society! We all need to do better at remembering to help local charities. 

Here is their website, and you will find a list of needed supplies. There is also a "donate" link on the page.  Let's not have this worry again in six months!

http://www.chatthumane.org/

Clarification

Let me clarify myself.  I never said that I don't believe in euthanization.  I agree, sometimes it is in the best interest...sometimes.  But, the mass murder of all these animals is sickening.  I know there are some very good pets in there, that could have very happy lives.  If one animal gets adopted, I feel I have done my part.  If you don't like what I have to say, don't read it! I know there are thousands of opinions and views, and this is mine. Thank you.

Speak for those who can't

I've been waiting a while to have something to blog about.  Well...guess what!  It's animals again! I got news today that our humane society will be closing its doors in 9 days (September 30)!!!! There are currently 65 animals there that need adopting...or they will be put down.  Again, first I cried.  I thought about going and adopting a pet or two, but then thought it through. I knew that I wouldn't be tough enough to go in and pick one and deny the others knowing their fate.  That would be too hard.  So, I decided to do something else about it.  I have contacted several other no-kill shelters and rescue organizations asking them for their help.  Any help.  A few have gotten back with me so far.  Please pray that some quick actions will be made, and some if not all the animals will be relocated, adopted, and saved!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Today, I have someone picking me up a pumpkin at some farmer’s market in Georgia.  I’m finally starting to get excited about fall! Fall is one of my favorite seasons, but it’s hard to get in the swing of things when it’s still 90 something degrees! If it would just cool down 10 degrees I won’t complain, promise! Anywho- I’m getting a pumpkin today. Let the fall decorating begin!!

I just want to share the goodies I made this weekend for a football party.

Oreo Pudding Goodness
1 package Oreo cookies

8 oz package cream cheese
1 ¼ cup powdered sugar
1 small package chocolate instant pudding
1 ¾ cup milk
8 oz tub Cool Whip, thawed


1. Finely crumble Oreo cookies in food processor. (I put them in a zip lock and crushed with a rolling pin)
2. Soften cream cheese and add powdered sugar, beating with mixer until well blended.
3. In a separate, larger bowl, mix instant pudding and milk until well blended. Add this mixture to Cool Whip. (My variation: I didn’t read the instructions until after I made my pudding. I used the 2 cups of milk the box calls for. So here I just added the already made pudding to the Cool Whip. I also had a large container so I “eyeballed” about half of the large Cool Whip container.)
4. Blend in cream cheese mixture to the pudding mixture.
5. Starting with crumbled Oreos, layer cookie crumbs and creamy mixture ending with cookie crumbs.

I didn't end with cookie crumbs, and I refrigerated overnight at this step.  The next day I put football shaped Oreo cookies on top.

Cream Cheese Jalapenos

I took jalapenos from my granddaddy's garden, cut the ends off, and split down the middle.  While wearing rubber gloves, I scraped the insides out. Then, I filled the insides with cream cheese, and wrapped about 1/4 to 1/2 of a piece of bacon, depending on how large your jalapenos are.  I secured with a toothpick. I placed them on a large cookie sheet and baked them for a good 30-45 minutes.  This depends on how well you like your bacon cooked.  Then I turned my broiler on hi and broiled them for another 2 minutes.  Careful, they will burn easy.

Both are very simple and delicious recipes! Enjoy!

Stephen and I enjoyed the Auburn football game Saturday together.  These are a few pictures from that day!

Broken Heart

Today I have a broken heart. Yesterday I was in my kitchen baking cookies for my neighbors when I heard Pixie growling/barking out the window. She is very territorial when it comes to her yard. She does not like anyone/thing to walk by. Well, I look out the window to see, and there he was. A pitiful black medium sized mixed dog. I could see every bone in his body. He could barely walk because his hips were hunched over. I panicked. I freaked out. I cried. When I came to I went outside to feed him, and he was gone. Walking down the street just a wagging his tail. I called to him, but he never even acknowledged me. I was too late. I feel extremely guilty, but maybe it was a blessing. He could have been sick or mean (doubt that). I could have gotten attached, and then lost him? Who knows? Because of my contributions to organizations like the ASPCA, World Wildlife Federation, and the Atlanta Humane Society I get emails daily with pictures of mistreated and starving animals.  But to see it first hand in my front yard?  It tore me up.  I didn’t call the police because they would have taken him to the shelter which euthanizes…I just couldn’t do that. That pup taught me a lesson though. Even when I feel like I have been dealt the worst hand and at the end of my rope, I should still wag my tail. Isn’t that just a like a dog? To be near death because of starvation and still just happily walking down the road wagging his tail. We should all be more like dogs.

Stand for something or you’ll fall for anything. I ran across that quote the other day, and it put a huge burden on my heart. Now, I’m not going to go and tie myself to an oil rig or burn my bra, but I do want to do more than just live my day to day life. I want to look back and be proud of what I have done for others. This is in no way to brag about what I have done. I just want to get some of you thinking about others, too. It doesn’t matter what you choose to support, but support something. Times are tough right now, but I promise you have it better than a lot of other people, and you will be rewarded in some way, sometime. No charity is too small or unimportant. No gift is too small or unimportant. We all have callings to help different organizations, but choose one. Even if you don’t have much to give, choose something and donate a little. Every little bit helps, seriously. And I promise it will give you that “warm fuzzy feeling” that we all secretly yearn for.  If one person reads this and they donate, then someone/something has been helped!

I guess it’s time I share my masterpiece from cake class! I have to give props where props are deserved…everyone has given me a hard time, but Kroger made my cake. I made the decorations since it was DECORATING class. Andie and I felt quite silly because the other class members decorated theirs with intricate little flowers and such, but that is just not something I have time for in my life. Seriously, it took us like two hours to make four one night…that will never happen again! But, I can cut out circles and shapes, so that’s what I did! I was quite pleased with the way it turned out. Friday was Stephen’s birthday so I decorated my cake for him.

Happy Birthday, Stephen!

Puppy Tested and Approved

I have now tested the “Peanut Butter Puppy Poppers” on 5 different dogs, and they all love them! Even my mom’s picky eater, Beamer, came back begging for more. I will definitely make these again, and I definitely suggest you trying them for your canine companions!

Happy Birthday Martha!

Today Stephen’s dog, Martha, is 1 year old! So, in honor of her I decided to make her some homemade cookies (dog friendly of course). The recipe was super simple, just 4 ingredients, and they were really fun to make. I bought bone shaped cookie cutters a while back, but I haven’t gotten a chance to use them until now. I let Pixie be my taste tester, and I think they’re a winner. I wouldn’t suggest people eating them though….trust me- not very tasty!

 

“Peanut Butter Puppy Poppers”

2 cups whole-wheat flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 cup peanut butter (I used smooth, but your choice)
1 cup milk 
    *I also added about 1 teaspoon of honey just to sweeten it a bit

-Preheat oven to 375. In a bowl, combine flour and baking powder, mix well. In another bowl, mix peanut butter, milk, and honey (if using). Work at the wet mixture with a whisk, it’ll come together in a about 2 minutes. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix well. Your hands will be the best method for this. Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead. Roll dough to about ¼ inch thickness (mine may have been a little thicker because the dough tends to start breaking a bit while rolling) and cut into shapes. Place on a greased baking sheet and bake for about 20 minutes….the recipe says they may burn easily so I baked them for 16 minutes, then let me sit in the oven while turned off for about another 2-3 minutes. They came out perfect!

Isn't it funny?

Isn't it funny how last week I felt terrible…congested head, runny nose, the works. It went away Friday afternoon. Monday morning it's back. Strange, but thank you head cold for knowing when to go away!

Head Board

I still need something to add to the bedding, but I love my headboard!  It was very simple to make.  (Especially since my dad made it for me :) )  Sorry it took so long to get pictures up of it; he made it probably 2 months ago!  All you need is plywood cut in the shape you want, foam, spray adhesive, batting, material, and a staple gun.  Stick the foam to the board with the spray. Make sure you have spray that is suitable for foam. Pull the batting over the board and secure with a staple gun in the back, then repeat with your material. 

A Good Effort

Found something out about myself lately. I don't have an eye for flowers, nor am I meant to be a florist. I went to my third flower class last night, and I did not have a good experience! First of all, I figured out that most of the people in that class (other than the ones who actually own a flower shop and are professional florists) wait for the teacher to come to their station and make the arrangement for them. Well, I didn’t want to do that! So, I started along with my flowers. Once the teacher made her way to me, I got a “well you might as well go on with it”. Apparently there was no helping me. I told her I liked them and went on with it. Once I was done (like 10 minutes later…I don’t see why it takes some people 2 hours to make an arrangement! I don’t have that kind of time or patience!) I sat back and thought it was pretty. I mean keep in mind that I'm not trying to sell this to anyone. Anyway, at the end of the class the teacher then proceeded to go around the class holding everyone’s arrangements up to show and go on and on how perfect and pretty they are. She got to me last… I asked her not to, but she insisted. She held mine up and gave me “a good effort”. Then she told the class how it should have been done. Needless to say, I was fighting back tears this whole time! They came later of course. This taught me a very valuable lesson. It showed me how it feels to not "get" something, so I need to be more patient and understanding with other people. It also reinforced the importance of constructive criticism. I ended up giving my flowers to my mama because she was not feeling well, and she loved them! Her and my dad both told me how pretty they are! That was all I needed to hear. I don’t think I’ll be going back next week.  I don't want to be a quitter, but life is too short to continue something if it's not enjoyable. I'll just stick to my fresh cut flowers stuck in a vase!

I’ve done it again! I’ve made my schedule so completely busy, I don’t have time to breathe. I really do wish there were more hours in the day…wishful thinking… I do this to myself, so I can’t blame anyone. But, I enjoy keeping myself busy. I get bored pretty easily just sitting at home. So, I joined another class. This time I’m taking a cake decorating class at Hobby Lobby. Apparently it’s the third class in a series of three. I was supposed to start with the first one obviously, but it was on a Friday night. That was never going to happen! So, I started with fondant and gum paste. My friend, Andie, joined me, and we had so much fun! This is a 4 session class, so I only have 3 more sessions. Each session lasts 2 hours. We made a bow and started learning how to make flowers. I have to keep up with this stuff (and not let it break) for the next month. Each week we bring back what we did previously and add to it. In the end we will have a finished product. This is what mine SHOULD look like when all is said and done. We shall see!

Water for Elephants

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a fantastic book; I am so excited for the movie to come to the big screen! (the book has me talking in their terms now) It's a historical novel about a young college student Jacob Jankowski.  (later to be played by Robert Pattinson- yum!) He's 23 and preparing for his finals as a Cornell University vet student.  Because of events (I won't spoil it for you) he runs away and joins a traveling circus. There's drama, action, romance...it's great.  Read it.  Reese Witherspoon will play the leading lady; however, as I was reading I imagined Rachel McAdams playing her part. So, we shall see how that turns out.  There is some language and vulgarity, but just enough to make it interesting!  I can't wait for a circus to come to town!

Trash to Treasure

I have been looking for a new dresser for my bedroom. I have looked around and even thought about purchasing a new bedroom suite, but at this point that’s not really what I need to do. Also, looked around at places like Big Lots and such, but it’s always hit or miss! My mom and Granddad found these two pieces at Ruth’s Flea Market somewhere in Welch, AL, and they are just what I need! They were victims of a house fire. They made it out with a few bruises, but after a little elbow grease they are beautiful! We got the two pieces for $120.00. They are Ethan Allen, and just missing one drawer. They had a lot of smoke damage, but most of it cleaned right off. You can barely tell they were ever in a fire! So proud of this find!

This has been an extremely busy week! It’s been a good week; one filled with new and exciting things and the excitement of packing for vacation! Tuesday night, I became a student again! That was interesting…I enjoyed signing up for a class because I wanted to and not because I had to! I started a floral arranging class at Auburn University. Now, I am officially an Auburn Tiger! This class will meet on Tuesday nights for 5 sessions, and we will learn the fundamentals of how to arrange floral arrangements out of stuff in your yard and for more professional reasons. I’m mostly looking forward to learning more about different varieties and types of plants and flowers and especially names. This week she showed us how to take what we have in our yard and mix it with different things to make a nice arrangement. Pictures will follow once we start actually making stuff. I have to miss next week, but my teacher said I could come early the following week and she’d show me what I missed! I think I will learn lifelong lessons from this class, and I’m really excited about it! It was strange to have that feeling in the pit of my stomach Tuesday night…you know, the one you always got on the first day of school! I enjoyed it!

Wednesday night was exciting as well. My dad joined me for pedicures! I had given him a gift certificate for Father’s Day, and we decided to use them right before our beach trip. He enjoyed it so much. I knew he would! I got him the works, so he got all the special treatment.  Everyone in there was extremely impressed that I have such a great daddy. And I must say I do! He’s the best! After pedicures, my parents came to my house to help me rearrange furniture. My dad helped me make a headboard out of fabric, so I was very anxious and ready to get that hung! We did a total switch on the beds. It seems like a simple concept just swapping the beds, but it was a little tougher than I thought! It was fun though, and I can’t wait to get everything made up! I really like how my house is coming together!! Later, I’ll post pics of the bedrooms and the headboard.

Just an update on my week, next week I’ll be in Hilton Head with my family! So far, we have planned a kayak excursion and a shark fishing trip! I’m so excited!!

It's Sew Time!

This is my latest craft; I’m trying to learn how to use the sewing machine. So yesterday I went to Hobby Lobby, (I will never go on a Monday again…just passing that tidbit along) and I picked out some fabric. Last night, my mom helped me figure out the shape, and she showed me how to pin everything, cut it out, and get prepared to sew! For my first piece, I’m pretty impressed! It’s not perfect. I need to figure out a better way to actually hold it on Pixie, but that’ll come. I really need my grandmama here to show me. But, it is what it is, and I’m sure she’s watching down guiding my mom’s and my hands!

We interrupt your program…

I work a good 30 minutes from home, but with that there are some perks. The city my office is in is in the city I grew up in, the city where my family still lives. So, the perks: I get to take my dog to my parent’s in the morning (just as if I’m taking my child to day care) that way I can let her out and play with her at lunch, and I also get to eat lunch at home with my dad and sometimes I even stay for dinner, too! It really works out for me. I don’t ever have to buy any groceries, so maybe it balances out on the gas I have to buy. My mom is a school teacher which means she’s at home in the summer. This has another perk, because this usually means that she has a lunch made for us by the time we get there. Well, one lunch last week my granddad joined us, and we were enjoying our, I don’t remember , chicken salad maybe, any who, we were enjoying lunch talking about the garden, life, etc., and my mom breaks in with this oh so urgent news. I mean I would have thought she was announcing the next big thing. After this whole conversation we had, I’m going to break it down in highlights for you. If you ever have an armadillo problem, just put out bubble gum. There, that’s what the exciting news was. We have a farm house, and apparently some armadillos have been digging huge holes around it, so I guess to them this was good news, but it just sort of made me giggle. I have no idea how it works, but they went to check and no more armadillo holes. She said just to spread around a few pieces of cheap style bubble gum (the kind in big tubs are Sam’s). I hope I have been able to help someone by sharing this important piece of information. And remember, armadillos are one of God's creatures, too. So please try the gum method before the gun method...Happy chewing!

It's still Edible!

I try not to be a wasteful person. I have to say, I’ve gotten a lot better since my college days…*cough*cough* since I’ve started paying my way. I’ve even gotten some of those reusable shopping bags- if only I could remember to actually take them into the store with me… Last week on my shopping trip I decided to buy some strawberries. They were buy one get one free, so I had to get them! They were a deal, and I can justify that! I had about a third of them left getting ready to rot in my frig. So, I decided to figure out something to do with them. I found a recipe for a strawberry sauce, and I thought I’d give it a try. Now, the recipe called for all the strawberries that they put in those little plastic containers. Remember, I only have a third, so I figured I could play with the ingredient amounts and come out with a nice strawberry sauce to hopefully put on a cheesecake I said I was going to make. To say the very least, I am not a mathematician, I did well in school, but once I got to college I did whatever I could to take the bare minimum…I’m talking pre-cal here people! Apparently, my measurements were off- the sauce has a very strong vanilla flavor. I haven’t tasted it today after it cooled, but tasting it yesterday I think it should be ok, not perfect, but still edible. That’s what I love about cooking. I’m not getting graded on it; if it comes out terrible- so what?! It’s either still edible or it needs to go in the trash. There are no set rules (except for baking). You can play, mess with, and mess up. It’s ok and encouraged to try different things and change recipes. I can take a perfectly perfect recipe and make it my own! Sometimes it comes out just plain wrong, but sometimes you end up with a perfect accident! God bless!

What are some of your perfect mistakes? Let me know!

Still Edible Strawberry Sauce
-My ingredients: Strawberries, Vanilla, Sugar, Water

-With this amount of strawberries: I used 1/4 cup of sugar (should have used about half of that); 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla (should have used about a 1/4), and about a Tablespoon of water.

-Next, mix all ingredients in a pot and let boil on medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally

-I mashed up my strawberries while I stirred. You can blend this, but I left mine chunky.

strawberries cut in half

my ingredients

4th of July Goodies

I hope everyone had a great and safe 4th of July weekend! I also hope everyone remembered this weekend wasn’t only about lake, food, fireworks, etc. Brief history lesson: In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved by the Continental Congress thus setting the 13 colonies on their way to freedom. Basically, this is America’s birthday! Happy Birthday, America!

Last Thursday night we had a few friends join us to watch the fireworks show from Stephen's house. Luckily, we could see them perfectly from his front yard. So instead of piling out to the high school with everyone else in the town we decided to invite others to his house. I wanted to share this quick dip recipe that I used to put out for friends. It's as easy as it is quick and cheap! I got this from a dear friend's mother back in high school and have loved it every since.

No name dip

1 block cream cheese

1/2 jar of salsa dip

Allow cream cheese to come to room temperature. With hand mixer, mix the two together. Top with shredded cheese and refrigerate overnight for best results. Serve with tortilla chips.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to go to the lake with Stephen and his family. Of course, I didn’t want to show up empty handed, so I’m going to share the simple recipes (and tips) I took along with me.

The first recipe I decided to make was Rice Krispies Treats because everyone loves a Rice Krispies Treat! From past experience they can be a little difficult on the stove top. I can remember making them with my cousin years ago and having marshmallow fluff attached me to as if it were spider webs from all corners of my body! This time I used the microwave and my mama’s stirring arm and they were super simple! We used the recipe on the box and added just a few little touches.

Rice Krispies Treats
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons butter
1 package regular marshmallows
6 cups Rice Krispies

Variations on ingredients: I used about 4 Tablespoons of margarine, 1 pinch of salt, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.

Directions:
To melt your marshmallows in the microwave I took a large bowl (TIP: spray with cooking spray first!) and put the margarine, salt, and vanilla in the bottom followed by the marshmallows. I cooked it for 1 minute, 45 seconds, stirred then put back in for another 30 seconds.

Pour in Rice Krispies in two batches and stir. (TIP: spray your spoon with cooking spray as well!)

Next, I took a 9X13 baking dish and lined it with wax paper and then sprayed with cooking spray. Fill the baking dish with your treats and take another piece of wax paper (sprayed) and spread out the treats evenly. This is basically just pressing down and molding your treats into the shape of your baking dish. Allow to set. I allowed mine to set overnight then cut into small squares and placed little American flag toothpicks in them! Great treat! The biggest tip I can share is cooking spray is your friend!

The second treat my mom and I made was the stuff I discovered to be called Cornflake Candy. I never knew this stuff had a name but always loved it! It is another very simple yet satisfying recipe.

Cornflake Candy
3-4 cups Kellogg's Cornflakes
1 cup Sugar (white granulated)
1 cup Light Karo Syrup
1 cup Peanut Butter, I used creamy Jif

Directions:
First heat your pan to medium, add sugar and syrup; stir for 2-3 minutes. Next, add your peanut butter and stir until it’s well incorporated.

After this has come together, mix in Cornflakes. I continuously added a handful at a time and found that I used about 3 ½ cups of Cornflakes.

Lastly, spoon out about a tablespoon size onto aluminum foil. Let cool.

I placed these on a red plastic platter and snipped a few zinnias from my mom’s garden, and I was off! Everyone enjoyed these treats, and they didn't break the bank or take up an entire afternoon. It goes to show that you don't have to be a gourmet chef or spend lots of time and money. Sometimes it is the littlest of gestures that make the biggest impact!

Happy July, and God bless you and America!

Adopt

Today I’m going to share my feelings on rescued pets. I can NOT stand to hear the words, “I don’t want a rescue” or “I don’t want a pound dog” or even worse “Something must be wrong with it, if it’s in the pound”. Those kinds of comments make me want to slap the silly out of people! I admit there was one time I thought I needed the perfect little overly priced pup to fit into society, and well, we see how that turned out. She was the cutest little thing, who bit me all the time (still have a scar on my lip…thanks, Milly), smart, but a little bit of a brat. Rest her sweet soul, and I cry every time I think of her, but she was a bit of a brat. When I got Pixie, she was pitiful. She absolutely needed me, and I can honestly say that if I had not have rescued her she probably would be dead right now. She has the sweetest soul. If people would realize what all is out there to adopt. Pixie is from a puppy mill which means she was raised to be one of the expensive little “designer breeds” (Malti-poo, thanks to Jessica Simpson for making those popular) to be sold in pet stores for ridiculous amounts of money, and she is not a rare find in a humane society. If people would only look, there are thousands of “designer breeds” and even pure breeds to be rescued. Not to mention, they come with all their shots and even spayed or neutered, and Pixie came with a microchip. Pixie was about six months old, so I believe that she was being kept to be a mommy dog to put it nicely. I am so thankful that she was rescued before she ever endured any of that misery. It breaks my heart to think about this time last summer she was stuck in a tiny over filled cage in the heat of summer probably in some hot barn somewhere. This is her first summer to fully experience. She loves running and rolling around in the grass, chasing birds and squirrels, and eating flowers. It warms my heart to see her expressions and truly see it in her face how grateful she is for everything she has. After I got her and still to this day, it is precious to see how proud she is of her dog bed, toys, and treats. I cannot explain to you the love a rescue pet will give. Animals that need rescuing are just like homeless children who need adopting. It has nothing to do with them, it was just the situation they were dealt.
Words of the Pedigree commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5v5Ui8HUuN8
Shelter dogs aren’t broken; they’ve simply experienced more life. If they were human, we’d call them wise. They would be the ones with tales to tell and stories to write. The one dealt a bad hand and responded with courage. Do not pity a shelter dog- adopt one.

It’s cool to adopt!! Check out who else loves a rescue dog!

Twilight stars:
http://www.peoplepets.com/news/dogs/nikki-reed-s-pit-bull-was-on-doggie-death-row/1?xid=email-peoplepetsdailytreat-20100630-297947

http://www.peoplepets.com/news/celebrities/first-look-kellan-lutz-dog-kola-s-pet-adoption-ad/1

True Blood Stars:
http://true-blood.net/2009/09/24/anna-paquin-stephen-moyer-host-a-night-of-emotion/

Oprah:
http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Adopt-a-PAWS-Pet

Pixie’s Success Story at the Atlanta Humane Society http://www.atlantahumane.org/adoption/success/pixie.asp

Famous example of bad case from pet store: http://www.peoplepets.com/news/celebrities/kelly-cutrone-gets-a-new-puppy-for-daughter-ava/1