I am anxiously awaiting the first major snowfall of winter, but it looks like that may not come anytime soon :( The temperatures are nice and frosty, so why not let us enjoy the sights of winter as well? I guess good things come to those that wait, so I better just wait! But you all know me, and being patient isn't always my strong suit!
This year will be the first Christmas that my dear friend Tracy will not be here to share with us. She recently moved North and we certainly will miss her cheer. I could go on for hours about our wacky holiday memories...driving in circles in Indianapolis, making crazy gingerbread houses, on and on! However, this will also be the first year that my Great-Grandma will be involved of all of the holiday cheer since she is now residing with my parents. Nothing says lovin' like a Christmas morning in our household :) My brother won't be here until after Christmas, so I think we certainly have first dibs on all of his gifts, ha ha. Just kidding!
I need to finish up a couple of cheesecakes before next week and then I am going to do a mad dash to start/finish my fudge and cookies. We are having lots of get togethers after Christmas, so it will allow me some wiggle room to catch up. My sweet husband already gave me my KitchenAid Mixer (yay), so there is no excuse for the lack of yummy baked goods :)
Well, I hope you are all enjoying the Christmas spirit and gearing up for a beautiful New Year. God Bless!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Is ole' man winter losing his grip?
After days of frosty temperatures, we are receiving a sneak preview of springtime weather! 50 degrees, minimal wind and a sprinkle or two of rain! I certainly love the weather, but it is reeking complete havoc on my sinuses. I am in the mood for a decent snowfall and a fluffy white Christmas...it has been a few years since we've had the perfect yule tide weather :) Seeing snow on the ground makes me want to bake, sip hot cocoa and sing Christmas songs until I drive my family up the wall. I'm sure these mild temps will not last long and ole' man winter will make his triumphant return!
We did celebrate Christmas on Saturday with family at my great-grandma's annual party. She will be turning 90 this year and we'll continue our holiday cheer with a celebration of her birthday this weekend. I'm in charge of making the cake (along with the hubby), so I guess I better get all of my stuff together. Half chocolate, half vanilla with wedding cake icing...mmmm, I am making myself hungry. Maybe I should make her a little cake that she can eat all by herself, just like they do for little kids. Use your hands, stick your face in it, who cares?!? Grandma Great is super and 90 years is quite the accomplishment, so whahoooo!
Steven and I will be sharing our 5th Christmas together this year (where did the time go) and spending it in our new home :) I've already broke-in the kitchen with lots of party mix baking, thanks to my brother, and soon with fudge and cookies! I found a wonderful recipe for a chocolate mint fudge that looks fantastic and just is begging to be cooked and popped into my mouth ha ha. I'm also going to try to make some fiesta wedding cake cookies for my Dad. I also want to dip pretzels and oreos, but we'll see if I still have time :)
Well I hope that everyone is enjoying their Christmas time!! God Bless.
We did celebrate Christmas on Saturday with family at my great-grandma's annual party. She will be turning 90 this year and we'll continue our holiday cheer with a celebration of her birthday this weekend. I'm in charge of making the cake (along with the hubby), so I guess I better get all of my stuff together. Half chocolate, half vanilla with wedding cake icing...mmmm, I am making myself hungry. Maybe I should make her a little cake that she can eat all by herself, just like they do for little kids. Use your hands, stick your face in it, who cares?!? Grandma Great is super and 90 years is quite the accomplishment, so whahoooo!
Steven and I will be sharing our 5th Christmas together this year (where did the time go) and spending it in our new home :) I've already broke-in the kitchen with lots of party mix baking, thanks to my brother, and soon with fudge and cookies! I found a wonderful recipe for a chocolate mint fudge that looks fantastic and just is begging to be cooked and popped into my mouth ha ha. I'm also going to try to make some fiesta wedding cake cookies for my Dad. I also want to dip pretzels and oreos, but we'll see if I still have time :)
Well I hope that everyone is enjoying their Christmas time!! God Bless.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Wow...am I a little behind or what?!?
Well, I am sorry that it has been months since I have been on here to blog. Life in general has been fairly hectic, but I sincerely need this outlet for talking and sharing. Well, here is a bit of a recap from the past couple of months!!
October: My dear friend, Nicole Davis, was married the first part of the month and I was honored to be the Matron of Honor. She chose to use several shades of pink and had a very nice day. I also was ill for several weeks and spent a lot of time resting and trying to not spread my cooties to the rest of the family! The rest of the month was used for working in the house and getting things ready for fall/winter.
November: More housework being completed! New windows, paint and a finished bathroom :) Steven and I hosted my mom's side of the family for Thanksgiving, but there were very few of us there due to work and sickness. I was very happy that my brother and his wife were able to join us and even attend Tina's big 5-0 party! We rounded out November with lots of holiday decorating and I am sure it will continue even until Christmas...I love to decorate and make each room as festive as possible.
December: Well, our first "large" snowfall happened today (Dec 7th) and we received about a whole half-inch!! It looks beautiful, but the roads are slick...US 27 is kind of like an ice skating rink. We also had an outdoor water valve break, so the side of my house looks like some scary ice cave...oh what a morning!
I hope that each and every one of you are having a very blessed holiday season. Remember that there is no Christmas without CHRIST!! God Bless!
October: My dear friend, Nicole Davis, was married the first part of the month and I was honored to be the Matron of Honor. She chose to use several shades of pink and had a very nice day. I also was ill for several weeks and spent a lot of time resting and trying to not spread my cooties to the rest of the family! The rest of the month was used for working in the house and getting things ready for fall/winter.
November: More housework being completed! New windows, paint and a finished bathroom :) Steven and I hosted my mom's side of the family for Thanksgiving, but there were very few of us there due to work and sickness. I was very happy that my brother and his wife were able to join us and even attend Tina's big 5-0 party! We rounded out November with lots of holiday decorating and I am sure it will continue even until Christmas...I love to decorate and make each room as festive as possible.
December: Well, our first "large" snowfall happened today (Dec 7th) and we received about a whole half-inch!! It looks beautiful, but the roads are slick...US 27 is kind of like an ice skating rink. We also had an outdoor water valve break, so the side of my house looks like some scary ice cave...oh what a morning!
I hope that each and every one of you are having a very blessed holiday season. Remember that there is no Christmas without CHRIST!! God Bless!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
S-U-C-C-E-S-S...that's the way we spell SUCCESS!!
After two rummage sales, my mom's Memory Walk team made more than double their goal...yay!! We had a lot of fun and several generous donors, so thank you to everyone that supported our cause! Our first Memory Walk is next Saturday at IU East in Richmond and will be lots of fun as always. I'll be on the campus Wednesday and Thursday to start getting things set up :)
Steven and I have also decided to set up a booth at the Winchester Mardi Gras from October 7th-10th and will be selling all kinds of sweet goodies and coffee! We're currently toying with the menu, but homemade NY style cheesecake is top on the list! We'll be selling it by the slice or you can reserve an entire cheesecake (yum). All profits are being donated to the Alzheimer's Association!
I hope everyone is getting a chance to enjoy this beautiful weather and soaking in these last few days of summer!
Steven and I have also decided to set up a booth at the Winchester Mardi Gras from October 7th-10th and will be selling all kinds of sweet goodies and coffee! We're currently toying with the menu, but homemade NY style cheesecake is top on the list! We'll be selling it by the slice or you can reserve an entire cheesecake (yum). All profits are being donated to the Alzheimer's Association!
I hope everyone is getting a chance to enjoy this beautiful weather and soaking in these last few days of summer!
Monday, August 10, 2009
Remember When...Rummage and Bake Sale
On Labor Day weekend, my family will host a rummage and bake sale in order to raise funds for their respective Memory Walk teams!
Rummage Sale: All proceeds will be given to the Alzheimer's Association. We'll have a wide-variety of items (clothes, books, furnishings, etc...) thanks to the generosity of our friends and family!
Bake Sale: Mmmmmm wonderful homemade goodies that will be available for sale...again, all proceeds going to the association. Also, my husband will be selling his DELIGHTFUL New York style cheesecakes and they are worth every calorie! $20 per cheesecake and $10 from each will go to the association.
We are currently pinning down a location for this event and I will keep everyone updated! If you would like to make a donation, please email me at nicole.fields@alz.org.
Rummage Sale: All proceeds will be given to the Alzheimer's Association. We'll have a wide-variety of items (clothes, books, furnishings, etc...) thanks to the generosity of our friends and family!
Bake Sale: Mmmmmm wonderful homemade goodies that will be available for sale...again, all proceeds going to the association. Also, my husband will be selling his DELIGHTFUL New York style cheesecakes and they are worth every calorie! $20 per cheesecake and $10 from each will go to the association.
We are currently pinning down a location for this event and I will keep everyone updated! If you would like to make a donation, please email me at nicole.fields@alz.org.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Must find my inner-crafter!
After perusing through the projects at the fairgrounds over the weekend, it brought back so many fond 4-H memories. The smell of the foods project crafting in the kitchen or the living room filled with poster boards...it was always fun! I learned to wrap gifts out of unique materials and absorbed myself with the history of Wicks Pies in order to participate in the Randolph County Heritage; a project that I had also utilized for the Indiana Junior Historical Society. I'm a self-admitting procrastinator, so staying up until midnight the evening before a project due-date was not uncommon in our household!
So now I am inspired to find my inner-crafter and bring all of my supplies out of storage! Finish my scrapbook, make a floral arrangement for the living room or work on the snowman pillows that I have wanted to complete as Christmas presents...the possibilities are endless. Though, I do promise to finish painting within the house before I start taking on any major projects!
Well now it is time to get crafty with Memory Walk, so it is back to work I go :) Have a blessed day!
So now I am inspired to find my inner-crafter and bring all of my supplies out of storage! Finish my scrapbook, make a floral arrangement for the living room or work on the snowman pillows that I have wanted to complete as Christmas presents...the possibilities are endless. Though, I do promise to finish painting within the house before I start taking on any major projects!
Well now it is time to get crafty with Memory Walk, so it is back to work I go :) Have a blessed day!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Whirl-Wind Summer
Wow...the length of time in between posts has become terrible and I apologize! I have been so busy with work, projects and the house that I have neglected my blog. Anyway, the house is getting closer to completion and we are very excited to move in! I'll miss the serenity of the country, but I will not miss the lingering chemical smells from the fields and the large hog operations that are all around us. It may take us some time to adjust, but we are ready! Steven has also recently interviewed with Ball Memorial Hospital, so there may be changes all around. Please keep him in your prayers as he continues to advance in his nursing career.
With the pending move, it is time for me to start going through all of my kitchen gadgets and see what I am keeping and what can be donated or given to family. It will also give me the opportunity to see what needs to be at my fingertips and what can be stored. So if you are looking for some off-the-wall kitchen utensil, especially if it is from Pampered Chef, let me know ha ha! Speaking of the kitchen, I am very excited to use our new stove! I like to show it off to anyone who comes to see the progress on the house...am I pathetic or what?!?
In closing, I thought that I would leave you with a recipe to one of my favorite summer dishes!
Greek Pasta Salad
1 lb spiral pasta (tri-colored pasta adds great flavor); cooked, drained and rinsed with cold water.
1 cup Greek Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
1/2 cup Feta Cheese Crumbles
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped black olives
Add all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss to coat all ingredients with dressing. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes prior to serving. Tastes great as a main dish or accompanying a grilled chicken breast. Enjoy :)
With the pending move, it is time for me to start going through all of my kitchen gadgets and see what I am keeping and what can be donated or given to family. It will also give me the opportunity to see what needs to be at my fingertips and what can be stored. So if you are looking for some off-the-wall kitchen utensil, especially if it is from Pampered Chef, let me know ha ha! Speaking of the kitchen, I am very excited to use our new stove! I like to show it off to anyone who comes to see the progress on the house...am I pathetic or what?!?
In closing, I thought that I would leave you with a recipe to one of my favorite summer dishes!
Greek Pasta Salad
1 lb spiral pasta (tri-colored pasta adds great flavor); cooked, drained and rinsed with cold water.
1 cup Greek Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
1/2 cup Feta Cheese Crumbles
4 Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons chopped black olives
Add all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and toss to coat all ingredients with dressing. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes prior to serving. Tastes great as a main dish or accompanying a grilled chicken breast. Enjoy :)
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