Eleven and Five

Holy cow!  It's been 11 days since I've posted on here!  It's not because I don't have anything to say, it's just that I have a hard time writing the words that are in my head down onto paper or onto this blog. 

I have tons to talk about, though, so don't worry (in case you were!)  My sister and I had high tea at her local tea room and I took lots of pictures, so I'll be blogging about that soon.  Also, I visited with my mom (LOVE) and my boy (YAY) a couple of weeks ago.  I got to meet the people that own the Italian restaurant where he works and also the new girl "he's talking to" (which is teen-speak for dating, or something.)  I don't want to dwell on how sad I was about the break-up with the last girlfriend.  Let's just say...I cried...but lesson learned...don't get attached until the engagement ring goes on the finger.  ;)  (which I hope is many years from now, but whatever.)

Moving on.  While I was at my sisters,, I ate my way through her pantry.  And, I ate my fair share of the Lucky Charms that were purchased to lure the leprechaun into the trap.  Needless to say, I gained 5 pounds (SHUT UP) and I'm thinking it's all migrated to my 'spare tire' area because I suddenly have one again.  ugh.

Oh, and could you do me a favor?  If you are reading this, could you look over to the right, scroll down, and click on the 'follow' button?   It would just make me feel important.  And we all need to feel important every once in awhile.  ;) 

Have a happy Monday!

Another One Gets Away

Every year on St. Patrick's Day, my two nieces set a trap and try to catch a Leprechaun.  It never seems to work, but he does seem to get scared and drops some prizes for each of the girls...as well as wreak a bit of havoc in their house.  This year, he turned the milk green.

My niece Allison helped me make the following two videos.  My other niece Aubrey demonstrated the Leprechaun trap.  Then, I sat down with Aubrey and interviewed her about her experience with the Leprechaun. 

Aubrey and Allison with their loot from the Leprechaun.  Not quite a pot of gold, but pretty close!  :)

List

1. When staying in a hotel after driving all day, opt out of the first floor.  People are rude and are noisy even at midnight. 
2. I'm going to have jet lag and I didn't fly anywhere.  I started yesterday in Central time, I woke up in Eastern time and tomorrow is daylight saving time.  Help.
3. Another reason to opt out of the first floor?  Crying babies at 7:11am while eating breakfast (apparently outside my door).  SERIOUSLY?  
4. I can't wait to see my boy today!  
5. I'm excited to visit with a good friend who I rarely get to see, but I do talk to her on a daily basis.  GIRL TIME!
6. I miss Scott.
7. The sun may actually shine two days in a row.  
8. My prayers go out to all of those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis. 

Two Great Books....

I've mentioned before that I enjoy reading.  Sometimes I like to read fluff, but most of the time, I like to read something that has substance to it.  I belong to a book club with some wonderful women and we all take turn choosing a book each month.  March was my turn to choose and I chose One Thousand White Women:  The Journals of May Dodd by Jim Fergus.  One of the things that completely fascinated me about this book is the fact that it was written by a man, but in a woman's voice.  Click on the link and you can read the synopsis of the book.  It's a beautiful piece of historical fiction and I highly recommend it. 

Saturday, I started (and finished!) the book Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez.  This book was about the relationship between the slave owners and their enslaved black mistresses.  Click on the link to read the full synopsis for this book also.  It's a fascinating, and heart-breaking read. 

Do you have any good books that you would recommend? 

Roasted Vegetables

One of my favorite ways to prepare vegetables is to roast them.  If you've never tried them roasted, please give it a shot.  Roasting vegetables brings out their natural sugars.  It also brings out a totally different flavor.  And before you say that you don't like vegetables, try them cooked this way.  I thought I didn't like cauliflower, but I love it roasted!  Trust me!

Yesterday I used sweet potatoes, yellow bell pepper, broccoli, and cauliflower (I bought a bag of fresh cut up broccoli and cauli from the produce aisle and threw in a couple of pieces.  I plan on roasting the rest of the bag tonight.)

Cut the large vegetables into bite sized pieces (peel the sweet potatoes first, of course).  Put all of the veggies onto a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle on some sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper.  Put the baking dish into a preheated 450 degree oven and bake for 20 minutes. 

If you haven't tried roasted vegetables, I urge you to do so.  If you have tried them, what are your favorite veggies to cook this way?

Wordless* Wednesday

*Not really wordless as I cannot blog without talking.  That's just how I am.  However, I needed to take a picture of our hall bathroom sink for posterity.  This stuff all belongs to The Boy.  All of it. 

I took a picture of it because what I saw almost made me speechless.  Almost.

Mmmmm....CAKE!!!

The boy is home for spring break.  I'm doing everything humanly possible to spoil the heck out of him while he's home.  At 5:30 this morning (I KNOW!) I decided to bake a cake.  (It's now 7:40am and I'm ready for a nap, but since I have to work today, that isn't going to happen!) 

I love those community cookbooks that people contribute recipes to and then sell for charity.  I got this recipe from a community cookbook.  Some people may call this Hawaiian Wedding Cake, some call it Aloha Cake.  I call it Heaven.  ;)

You start off by baking a yellow cake according to the package directions in a 9x13 baking pan.

Once the cake is cooled, beat an 8 oz package of cream cheese until it's creamy.

Add to that a small box of vanilla instant pudding (and please, spill some on the counter so that I'll feel better about myself), along with a cup of milk.

Stir in a 20 oz can of drained, crushed pineapple.  Then, think to yourself, hey!  This is fruit, so go ahead and lick the spatula at 6:30am because fruit is good for breakfast, right?  Spread this on top of the baked and cooled cake.

Then, open a very large container of Cool Whip (I know...that stuff is fake whipped cream and if you can't get over that, then I guess you could make your own whipped cream...whatever floats your boat.  I happen to love Cool Whip in small doses.)  Anyway, spread the Cool Whip over the pineapple layer.

Cover the cake with plastic wrap and put it into the fridge and try to stop yourself from eating 1/2 of it for breakfast. 

It's been awhile since I've baked a cake and I absolutely love cake.  In fact, I love cake so much that I've been known to buy a box of Zebra Cakes and eat the entire box for dinner.  Maybe.

Go ahead and make this cake.  Your family will love you.  Your hips?  Not so much.