Golden oldie

Last weekend hubs came back home and we met to go to a friends wedding. Specifically, he showed up at 3:29 for a 3:30 wedding. I hope I'm not rubbing off.

The wedding was beautiful and, as always, lots of fun to celebrate with friends. I'm starting to run out of dresses though. Pretend like you don't notice that I'm rewaring dresses 3 or 4 times. Just not top priority for me.

Between the wedding and the reception we snuck off to see my inlaws. They are great. They got me another pair of my favorite shoes that I have worn out. Those last two sentences are completely independent.

Sunday was the Plaza Art Fair, something I look forward to on my birthday weekend every year, and although we didn't get to spend much time there, it was lots of fun. Thanks especially to sister for the free food and drinks. Too bad I had to walk around with a drink in each hand and look like a hoodlum. But it was a great way to spend the afternoon of my golden birthday. I'm a golden oldie now. Ha.

Then Monday was all the hooplah. My sister, her bf, mom, and cousin threw quite a dinner party. See?
(pst... pardon the camera quality. I forgot my phone so I had to get these shots from my mom and sister)

Dinner in perfect 70 degree weather
Complete with my favorite wine, Pinot Noir
A pear arugula, cranberry, and all-things-lovely salad
Perfectly spiced pork tenderloin
Amazing roasted root vegetables. I have no other adjectives.
A bonfire. And Smore's. Of course.
Chinchilla cake. Yes, like the animal. Or like chantilly lace.
A sing a' long
And great quality time.

Cheers to the another year!



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distracted

No no no, I can't work right now. I'm busy.

Josh is singing to me!

Through my earbuds. But whatever...





.

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Oh Monday

Mack forgot to wake me up.
Woke up 15 minutes before a conference call with a potential client.

Had to tell them I can't help because I'm too busy.
Neither can the rest of the team.

Spilled coffee on my shirt while driving to work.
Cardigan can cover most of it I suppose.

Good morning, Monday. You think you're cute, doncha?

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1 Cor 10:31)
Do Monday to the glory of God. That's my goal for the day.

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learning to read

When did you learn to read? What made you learn to read?

No no no, I'm not talking about the "See Spot Run" kind of reading, I'm talking about what taught you to read. Was it an interest in your city so you started reading the newspaper? Was it a love for God so you just couldn't get enough of the Bible and commentaries? Was it an interest in sports so you started reading blogs? Was it one particular book or series where you had an "aha moment and needed to read more?

That one. That last one. That's my story. I'm sure I liked to read as a 3 year old, but then I decided to skip 14 or so years before I wanted to read a book. Why? Because I was on vacation in Cancun and needed something to do other than lay on the beach and try to sleep. That actually gets really old. I started to read that day because I have this thing built into me where if I stop moving for more than 15 minutes I start to twitch. No biggie.

Anyway, I was 17 when I read Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Loved it. Couldn't put it down. Weird.

I came home from the trip, bought Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, devoured it also, and so on with the remainder of the series. I even tried to read the first one in spanish, but I don't think I got past page 40 or so. Maybe I should pick that back up... Anywho, to all you people who think I'm crazy for raving about a book that is mainstream, about wizards, and written for children/teens, psahw on you! HP taught me to read!

However, I still don't read often. And non-fiction is still a challenge for me (although there are some wonderful reads out there). But few weeks ago I had several people going on-and-on about how great The Help is so I bought it. started in on it this week, and am loving it. I decided you have to be able to hear the voices as you read it so that can make it challenging for some, but I hear the voices in my head... the voices from the characters in the book, not just random voices, don't worry... anyway, it works for me.

 

So there you have it. That is what taught me to read AND that is why I've been neglecting my blog all week. Forgive me?

Your turn. Answer either one or the other or both:
What taught you to read?
What are you currently reading?

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pumpkin is for baking

In the fall, pumpkin abounds at our house. My best bud has a serious sweet tooth for pumpkin pie and pumpkin cake, and I have a Kitchen Aide problem so naturally we consume a lot of it. Last weekend I tried a new reskapee and it was definitely worth sharing.

You should know something though. When I bake I can go a little crazy with the substitutions. This is usually a combination of reactive
I don't have buttermilk, what should I use?
And proactive
It calls for how many eggs? Maybe I'll toss in some ground flax instead...

So while I never create my own recipes, I almost always adapt them to my own tastes. This time the crowd was pleased so I thought I'd share.

 

Pumpkin-Cranberry (or Chocolate Chip) Muffins

Makes 24 muffins 

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups wheat flour 
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 can (15oz) pumpkin
• 1 1/2 containers (9oz) plain greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 4 tablespoons canola oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup Craisins or chocolate chips (I split my batter and did half cranberries and half chocolate chips)

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and next 5 ingredients (though cloves); stir well with a whisk.
• Combine granulated sugar and next 5 ingredients (through egg) in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 3 minutes). Add flour mixture to sugar mixture; beat at low speed just until combined. Fold in cranberries or chocolate chips.
• Place paper muffin cup liners in muffin cups; lightly spray liners with cooking spray. Spoon batter into prepared cups. Bake at 375° for 25 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched lightly in center. Remove muffins from pan immediately; place on a wire rack.
• Set some aside to freeze. You'll want to eat them again later, I promise, and if you don't freeze them soon enough you'll accidentally eat them all. To thaw just put one in a zip lock bag and toss in your purse or man-bag and it'll be ready to snarf in an hour. 

Original recipe from Cooking Light.

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football and ice cream are good

Thanks for telling me what you love. I enjoyed it.

But you know what? I know there are more of you out there that aren't commenting... Creepers.

Ya know what else I love besides all the things I listed in my last post? My Jayhawks.

But mostly I just love going to KU games with my bestie.

When we got married 2 whole whopping years ago we got a lot of great marriage counseling. At some point along the way we learned that it would be important for us to find things that we both enjoyed and to foster those interests. And remember when we talked about spending our time on things that we value? Well that's true of our monies too folks. So when hubs decided to buy season tickets to KU football this year I swallowed the price tag and committed to it. Because we both love our second home in Lawrence. Sometimes we cry during the Alma Mater. Did I say we? I mean me. I mean I. Whatever...

What I'm getting at here, besides the fact that the game was stinkin ah-may-zing, besides the fact that the girl behind me asked how to do the fight song clap, besides the fact that it was a very long day, besides the fact that I have no idea what a first down is... what I'm getting at is that it is super-uber-important to join the people you love in doing the things that you both love.

So we watched our Jayhawks play football and shared in a celebratory late night trip to Sheridan's. And it was fun.

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what YOU love

Ya know what I love besides YouTube classics and flowers and Nutella and music and all the other wonderful things I tell you about all the time?

Gummy vitamins. They are like dessert and they are good for you. 

They could be better, but ya know, whatever.

 

Shatto milk. Root Beer flavored.

That my kitchen looks like a mess permanently. 

Not. 

I mean, I do not love it. 

Not that it is not permanently a mess. 

That's confusing. 

Ya know what else I don't like? Double negatives.

But I do like watching puppet sleep.

I also love the four seasons. Oh boise do I love 'em. All four of 'em. 

That why Kansas is perfect for me. 

Cause on any given day ya never know what you're gonna get! 

Kinda like chocolate :-)

But ya know what this post is about? Course you do. 

There is a title so you know this post is about you, not me.  

You tell me what you love. 

Here's the deal: I need you to rank your favorite seasons. 

For example, you could say:

Spring=1, Summer=1, Fall= 2, Winter= 2

This would mean that spring and summer tie for first and fall and winter tie for second.

Or you could say: 

fall> spring = winter> summer

This would mean that fall is better than spring which ties with winter but all three of those are better than summer.

Or you could say:

7(spring)+ 4(winters)= 3(summers)- 6(fall)

This would mean you're seriously messed up and that you're more confusing than double negatives. 

Do what you want, but just tell me how you feel about the fact that we just crossed the Labor Day mark and white pants are no longer allowed. Tell me how you feeeeeel :-)

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you tube

Ya know how most things remind me of songs? Like the phrase "once in a blue moon" or the stairs in the museum in Texas? Well sometimes things remind me of YouTube songs like Friday. A few days ago that happened. Someone at work said something that made me think of an old favorite: Montgomery Flea Market. Do you know that one? Oh you don't? Puh-leaze watch the first few minutes of this. It's so good!

Well then I was singing the song in my head and periodically laughing to myself out loud thinking about how my coworker would do a fantastic remake of this song when my bestie sent me a new you tube video and it reminded me of another classic. The Little Lad Dance. You don't know it? Its instructions on how to do the dance from the Berries and Cream commercial. Still no? Goodness you need to get out more.

First watch this:

Then watch this.

Okay. Good stuff, right?

Now please bear with me here cause this last one is for all you KU fans out there getting excited about the game on Saturday. You'll. Love. This.

I have no words.

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