Red, Cream, Turquoise, Brown???

There are many things I wish I knew when I was getting married, but one particular one is:

1. Register for Fiestaware b/c it is microwave safe, oven safe, and dishwasher safe.

Instead I registered for these:

Laurie Gates "Anna" - I think they are beautiful, BUT they were NOT chip resistant or microwave safe. (They can tolerate a few seconds of microwave, but after a bit they tend to send lines crackling through them as if they are going to break). I had the black dinner plates, white salad plates and black bowls. Love the salad plates... the dinner plates are all chipped and cracked though.

I had no idea that one day I would really wish I'd registered for Fiestaware. Well, I'm asking for some for Christmas from our family, but I can't make up my mind on a color! My mom says, white.... because that is what she likes and thinks that any color would be crazy. I loved my black plates and I also have a very bright green individual salad bowl that is wonderful and wish I had a ton more of. So to color or not to color?

Round or Square?

I like square... but I like the colors of the round ones.
I like the red or turquoise.... my house is very gray, black/white, some reds/purples.

So what do you think??

My version of chili

I was once told that chili was supposed to be made from everything left over in your fridge - beans, various meats, veggies, etc.

Most of my meals are really not from recipes and I have a hard time making them again, and this one is not any different... But I wanted to inspire you to create something out of nothing and share it with me b/c I do need actual recipes with lots of specifics for things to turn out right.... even sometimes that doesn't work.

Since I came home from my momentous grocery trip I had to use up any leftovers that were moments from spoiling...yum.

Here is what ended up getting cooked:

1 to 2 green bell peppers - chopped

1 random quantity of black beans (we always have these in the fridge for such an occasion)

1.5 or so cups of brown rice

1/2 a container of sour cream

shredded cheese

I stirred this all together and cooked it in the oven for about 30 or so minutes and it was amazing! I'm sure there is a specific recipe to add a few more things to make it better, but I loved it. It was wonderful with corn chips. Ben wished it was 'hotter' but from the man who eats habañero peppers in everything I let that go in one ear and out the other. I love new recipes so anything you would like to leave as a comment is greatly appreciated!

Its removable.

At Amber's surprise party, my friend Beth and I were in the restroom washing our hands when Beth says, "Your hair looks fabulous tonight!" I was a little shocked.

I then proceeded to take my hair off and hand it to her. Her eyes started to water a little and her mouth dropped to the floor. Yes.... my hair was bought at a kiosk at the mall.


Here she is after making me take it off for our table. I bought this hair piece 3 years ago as a backup for Ben and I's wedding day. My hair stylist was not worth a fourth of what she charged and couldn't get my hair up to do anything. So I went to the oriental lady at the mall and bought a hair piece that matches my hair color perfectly! I actually don't wear it too often unless my hair is a disaster and needs to look decent in about .5 seconds.

Not Me Monday

It was NOT me who gained back all my 4 pounds and maybe more.... or maybe not. It is not me who had to eat Kashi Go Lean 40% fiber cardboard cereal this morning because of not gaining back 4lbs. And it is not me who had to eat lettuce for lunch and not me who will continue to do so all week. I told you the treats of Christmas would not get to me. No more baking for me.

A reenactment

Operator at NBCC: "National Board for Certified Counselors, how may I direct your call?"

Me: "Well, I'm not sure really since I'm calling to find out if my results have been sent in the mail for the exam I took 8 whole weeks and 2 days ago back in October. Can you help me with that?"

Operator at NBCC: "The department that handles that request is running on a 2-week delay due to an illness. Your results will be mailed out as soon as possible, thank you for understanding."

Me: "UGH..... Well, is there anyway to tell which results have been sent out?"

Operator: "Your results will be mailed out as soon as possible and no further information is available."

Me: "Are you sure there is no..."

Operator: "Yes ma'am, I am sure, you will have to wait for your results they should be mailed within the next 2 weeks if they haven't already."

Me: "Ooookkkaaaayyy...... thanks."

Happy Birthday Amber!!!

My great friend Amber has been contemplating starting a blog for sometime and I hope she will comment to this post w/ her new blog site that I know we'd all love to read!!!

It is her birthday today so some of us from the counselor education program at UAB tried to plan a surprise dinner party for her (which was much harder to plan w/ adults). Well, Amber was the second person to show up, so as she and I walked to our 10-top and she asked if anyone else was coming, I said, "Maybe! Surprise!" HA! I didn't tell her exactly who was coming though, but I think she had a great night anyways.

Happy Birthday Amber, we're all waiting eagerly on your new blog.

PS - isn't this cake amazing?!
It is from a local bakery, Edgar's, it tasted just as good as it looked. Yum!

I need a pantry.

While waiting for Ben to turn the power back on in our den, I thought I'd update with my LONG overdue trip to CVS & Publix this morning. It was reported that the Publix Penny item was hot chocolate, but when I got there it was Kraft BBQ sauce (that I already have 2 or 3 of in my 'pantry', ugh...) Which brings me to WHY I need a pantry.


I had not grocery shopped in 3 to 4 weeks, we were completely out of butter..... try planning dinner by starting with, "what doesn't need butter...." Ben was out of all his lunch supplies.... the poor guy has eaten turkey sandwiches and a yogurt every day for over 3 years and is still keeping on.... so I can't complain that all he asks for is some cheap-o turkey and a yogurt a day. Well, you'd think my shelves would be bare after that, but that is just the problem. I have no room!!!! My shelves are full. They're full of spices and cereal and sugar, flour, corn meal, cream of mushroom soup. So there is no room for the real food we actually eat daily


I thought about where this was all going to go on my way home from Publix and almost convinced myself that Ben needed to go out as soon as I got home to buy the 8' x 12" pantry cabinet at Lowe's. One look at the budget and that thought was squashed. Maybe I'll ask for it for Christmas. (I never dreamed the day would come that I would ask for a cabinet for Christmas)...

So the totals for today are.......
Spent: $172 - yikes... however I think I bought over a months worth of food, a ton of toiletries, Christmas wrapping supplies, candles and kitchen necessities.
Saved: $160 - wahoo! AND I still have $6 extra bucks to CVS. So I nearly spent as much as I saved, but if I didn't put off my shopping for over a month I should have done better.