18 and life...you got it.

18 years.  18 years of marriage.  If I were to look back 18 years ago on the day we got married, I don't know that I could see this far in the future.

We were married in Reno.  My uncle Tom told us if we went and got married he would pay for everything.  He was taking his work staff anyway - so he invited us to join them.  He, my Aunt Pam, and a couple of his employees attended...Don (I think) is the voice in the background on my video asking what my name is :)  How special.

We already had a 10 month old son at home (yes, we are sooo conventional!)  We were just happy to be married - so we could conform ;)  

Brayden stayed with my parents for 5 days while we went away - they called it the Brayden, Banana's and Barney adventure!!!  We won money the morning of the wedding and just knew it was going to be good luck!

John left a message to Brayden at the end of our wedding video...

A few notes about the attire:

John is wearing his bartender work uniform.  I am wearing a dress I had in the closet.  Shockingly one with a jean vest.  The ring I am wearing is courtesy of my dear friend...long story.  The bouquet is from a friend's wedding (former friend).  

 

18 years of marriage.  We have grown so much.  Literally.  GROWN.  Ok, figuratively, too.  We love each other more and more everyday and feel so lucky to have found each other (thanks again, Tami!) Our marriage is not perfect - but it's perfect for us!!!  Happy Anniversary baby!!!!!

We had a wonderful reception a bit later - thanks to my mom.  

I think I ended up drinking straight from the champagne bottle...probably because I was wearing corduroy shorts with tights.

And 10 years later...

I think I ended up drinking straight from the champagne bottle...

And 8 years later...

I plan on drinking straight from the champagne bottle...

Soda Cracker Candy

I pinned this on Pinterest a couple of weeks ago (or days)...and have been meaning to make it.  It sounded sooooo easy!  And as I've said before, I'm all about easy!

First, I lined a cookie sheet with tin foil - shiny side down (that's what the recipe said).  Funny, after all of my baking experiences, I didn't know there were 2 different sides.  I then took Soda Crackers and lined the pan. (It's about a sleeve + 3 crackers).

Then in a pan on medium-low, I put 1 cup of butter (2 sticks) and 1 cup of brown sugar.  I stirred and stirred and stirred unto it came to a gentle boil.  I took out the spoon and for exactly 3 minutes, let it boil.  Like this: 

After 3 minutes, I poured the mixture onto the crackers.  I always use a wooden spoon when making stuff like this - I used the back of my wooden spoon to spread it around, and tapped the pan a couple of times to even it out.  Then put it in a 400F oven for 5 minutes.

After I took it out of the oven, I immediately poured a little over a cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips over the top.  I let it sit for 5 minutes -  

And sit...

And sit...notice the crackers got a little misaligned when they were in the oven.  The bubbling popped them up.  That made no difference.

After waiting 5 minutes, I spread the chocolate chips evenly.

I then put them on a cooling rack, and then put them in the freezer.  Chocolate always seems to hold better when I put it in the freezer.  I then took it out and broke it into pieces.  I honestly was not convinced it was going to taste very good - but boy was I wrong!!!  Here is the finished product! 

If I make this again, I might double the toffee part, but just as they are, they are delicious!

Recipe:

1 cup butter (no substitutes)

1 cup brown sugar

Enough soda crackers to line a cookie sheet

1 - 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with tin foil, dull side up.

2. Place soda crackers on foil so they are touching.

3. Over medium-low heat, melt butter and brown sugar.  Stir constantly until it reaches a full, gentle boil.

4. Once it boils, remove spoon and let boil for exactly 3 minutes.

5. Pour sauce evenly over soda crackers.  Use back of spoon to spread if needed.

6. Bake for 5 minutes.

7. Remove from oven.  Sprinkle chocolate chips, on top.  Let rest for about 5 minutes until chocolate chips are melted.  Spread with the back o a spoon.

8. Let cool completely.

9. Break into pieces

Recipe by Little Dairy On the Prairie at http://www.littledairyontheprairie.com/soda-cracker-candy/

Observations

I'm going to start adding to this when I notice funny, ackward, not funny...pretty much just Observations...here are a few to start:

When Michael Bolton is singing on top of a car in the snow on that one commercial, he looks like that one DEA agent from the movie "The Heat".

The commercial that speaks about Soma Intimates (clothing) throws me every time. Aren't Somas a prescription medication? Didn't Corey Haim O.D. on them? Who was the genius behind that name choice?

Does anyone else get uncomfortable when the grinch speaks? In general? The most recent commercial with Mario Lopez advertising the show "Extra" makes me think that no amount of money could convince me to talk to the grinch. His voice is the voice I use when I'm making fun of people I don't like.

I'd be funnier if I could remember the names of people, places or things.

How to make PERFECT chocolate chip cookies!!!

Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 c. Butter Flavored Crisco

3/4 c. Sugar

3/4 c. Brown Sugar

1 tsp. Vanilla

2 eggs

2 1/4 c. Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Salt

1 bag Chocolate Chips (I use Nestle)

This pretty much is the TollHouse recipe - with a little tweaking and tips and tricks, in order to make the perfect cookie every time!

Cream the Crisco, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla.  

If you don't know how to do that - take the back of a spoon and press down, again, again, and again until it is mixed together (just until combined, don't overmix).  Then add vanilla and stir.  Add eggs, stir.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt.  

Pour the dry mixture into the "wet" mixture little by little (you should dump around 3 times), stirring each time.  Yes, that's right STIRRING, each time.  No beaters allowed here!  I just use a regular spoon (the bigger one)...it's probably used for something like soup so we'll call it that...the soup spoon. Anywho!  After you don't see any dry mixture (and this will take some elbow grease, but will be soooo worth it), dump in the chocolate chips.  Make sure to ask your kids if they want a taste beforehand, though, hehe.  My kids like cookie dough without the chips. We haven't died from salmonella YET (I hope I didn't jinx myself)

Next, grab a spoon (I use a Pampered Chef scoop - the medium sized one) and put the cookies on your Pampered Chef baking stone.  If you choose another pan, I can't guarantee the perfection.  If you don't have one - seriously, get one.  You will NOT be dissapointed!  

Bake @ 375F for 12 minutes the first batch, then 11 1/2 minutes the following batches.  The nice thing about the baking stone is that you can accidentally forget about them and they don't burn.  Yes, they are a little crispier - but still totally edible!  ORRRR...don't forget about them!  

And voila!

Cupcake Idea

Because I've finally started using my blog - there will be things that have happened in the past that I will be posting on here now.  I was so at a loss at my son's graduation, trying to figure out what to do for a cake.  I didn't want to spend an exorbitant amount of money, that I know.  I looked through my house and on Pinterest to see if anything caught my eye - and realized that cupcakes were the way to go!  I found a cute idea where you use peanut butter chocolates and chocolate squares to look like a cap. Like this:

Then realized that I didn't have a cupcake tower...now what to do?  I remembered that I had a couple of cake stands..and voila!

I was really please with the outcome!  It's amazing how much money can be saved when you put your mind to it!!!!

Just wondering...

When you put gas in your car, do you envision having to stop it from rolling by holding onto the gas nozzle?

Have you ever mistaken a gas leak for the Texas Toast you forgot about in the oven?  

Have you ever gone through the car wash and thought your car was on fire because of the "steam" coming off the hood?  

Have you ever thought your house was on fire because the neighbor was using their woodstove?

Have you ever thought your house was on fire because someone had a burn pile two houses down?

Have you ever started your car in the morning to warm it up and thought that there was so much "smoke" coming out of the tailpipe that someone must have put an egg in it?  

Have you ever been in a drive-thru and had your window down and heard a terrible noise coming out of your car?  And then you paint a whole scenario of how how you are going to afford to fix it, only to find out it was the 1980 rx7 behind you?

NEW- Have you ever received something in the mail to the wrong people at your address and thought it was laced with something that could potentially kill you? When you are driving it to the mailbox to send it back...do you feel like you are smelling funny things and it is eating away at you?

Just wondering...

Bacon Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms!!!!

OMG.  These are DELICIOUS!  And so easy!  That is the only way I cook.  Easy peasy!

Bacon Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

8 Oz. Bacon (1/2 package)

1/2 Sweet Onion (I prefer Walla Walla ;) )

1 minced garlic clove

16 oz. white button mushrooms

4 oz. cream cheese

1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese

Salt & Pepper

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.  Using scissors or a sharp knife, cut raw bacon into small pieces.  In a large saute pan, over medium heat, cook bacon until nice and crispy.  While bacon is cooking, remove mushroom stems from caps and chop stems into small pieces.  When bacon is done, remove from pan and set aside; reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease and pour the rest from pan.  Saute onion until soft about 5 minutes, scraping up any brown bits on bottom of pan.  Add chopped mushrooms stems and garlic and cook a few minutes longer.  Reduce heat to low.  Add cream cheese and Parmesan cheese and stir until cheeses are melted.  Add reserved chopped bacon and season to taste with salt and pepper. (mixture can be made, cooled, and stored, covered, in the fridge for up to two days.) Remove mixture from heat and stuff each mushroom cap generously with mixture.  Bake at 350F for about 20 minutes or until mushrooms are soft and filling is nice and hot.

Bacon Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

Butterscotch Krispies!!!!

Butterscotch Krispies

2 c. Rice Krispies

2 c. Miniature Marshmallows

2 c. Cocktail Peanuts (I didn't quite have 2 cups, it still tastes great)

1 c. Peanut Butter

1 bag Wilton melting chocolates (white)

3/4 bag Butterscotch Chips

Mix the first 3 ingredients.  In a microwave melt the 2nd 3 ingredients (40 seconds at a time until melted). Mix it all together and voila!  Put tablespoonfuls on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper.  I then put it in the freezer (this time around I put one in the freezer and one in the fridge).  Totally fail proof!   And DELICIOUS!  Just ask my belly!

Butterscotch Krispies

Pumpkin Bread!!!

I made this tonight. It's a delicious pumpkin bread recipe! Here it is:

Pumpkin Bread 

3 c. sugar
3 1/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
2 rounded Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice
4 beaten eggs
1 c. salad oil
1 c. Water
2 c. pumpkin

Sift dry ingredients together in large bowl. Add eggs, salad, oil, water, pumpkin and mix. Bake in lightly greased and floured Bundt pan (I use an angel food pan) and a medium loaf pan @ 325° for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours.  Test for doneness and cool on rack.

Cream Cheese Glaze:

4 oz. Softened cream cheese

1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
3-4 Tbls. Milk (to desired consistency)

Beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in powdered sugar. Stir in vanilla and enough milk for desired consistency.

Pumpkin Bread

Yum Yum!

This is my life

John has always taken me out of my comfort zone. For example, we have spent the day looking for a 400.00 car. We have stopped at payday loan places to see if they have any cars, seedy neighborhoods (ok, seedy here is unkempt lawns), side streets...and stopped at every used car lot. Every one of these things is out of my comfort zone...but alas, I play along. Wanna know why?

The reason he is looking for a $400.00 car is because his wife is a total wimp and he knows she doesn't want to drive to the train station. He says he doesn't care what it looks like as long as it gets him there...and more importantly he prefers it looks as bad as possible so no one will jack it while it's parked.  He doesn't care! GOD I wish I had that trait. But here I sit in a payday loan parking lot hoping that no one sees me and thinks I'm getting a payday loan.  When I grow up, I wanna be just like him! 

Dear Facebook...

Every time I go on Facebook, I am bombarded with people's posts in my News Feed that are sometimes so utterly ridiculous it takes me back to the days when we got to CHOOSE who to associate with.  There is a reason there are "groups" of friends.  There is a reason people have personality styles and some fit and some don't.  Facebook goes against every bit of this.  I am forced to read things that people post that I would never associate with in real life (yes, I've hidden people, .  Not because they are not good people, but because we have different personality styles, interests, etc.  ETC.  ETCCCC.  I opened a Facebook account in 2008 - and trust me, I was as excited as you can get.  But through the years I have become bitter and angry (ok, that's a little dramatic, I'm not ever bitter and angry), but annoyed.  Yes, annoyed more sums it up.  I have always prided myself in being a very friendly person.  Yes, maybe not always genuinely, but for the most part, very friendly. I like most everyone.  That doesn't mean I need to be friends with them and listen to them talk batshit crazy.  Right?  I mean I really don't think life was intended to make you be stuck in a room with 640 people with 250 different personality styles, religious beliefs, intelligent levels, maturities, interests, beliefs in general, right? Shouldn't that be set aside for family and class reunions?   The problem is I feel like a big ass if I delete anyone on Facebook.  I would hate to have someone dislike me in person.  The thought of that is too much for me.  Maybe this post will solve that problem for me ;)

Please know - if you think I'm talking about you, I'm not.  It's always that way.  Remember, I have 640 people to choose from!

So now that I have come off looking like a total jerk, be honest with yourself...you know you've thought the same thing!

Daddy-O

When my boys were little, they called their dad "daddy-o". I loved how endearing it was. They would follow him around and talk and talk and talk.  John was never a thrown in the air, wrestling kind of dad. He was just a sit and listen kind of dad. The kids thrived on that! Now that they are older they have dropped the "o", but continue to follow him around. Fisher hasn't stopped talking since John got home. It warms my heart so much...(Ok, I'll be honest, I MAY be a little jealous because he is monopolizing all of his time...hehe)

Did I mention that since John has been home, he put his fake tooth in my jewelry tin, put his dirty coat on my purse, and put his dirty bag on the bed...on my favorite scarf.  Oh, I have missed him so!!!!

Just something I've been thinking about...

1) When someone tells you about their child, nod and smile, and make them feel special.  Even if your child has done better (in your eyes).  Or you know someone else's child who has done better.  Trust me...a little restraint will go a long way.

2) When someone tells you something their boyfriend/spouse does that is fantastic, nod and smile, and make them feel special.  Trust me...a little restraint will go a long way.  (Do you see a pattern?)

3) When someone tells you that their spouse is going to be working out of town, comments like...

    I could NEVER be without MY husband.

    MY husband would do whatever he could to make sure he has a job locally.

    I just don't see how someone could do that to their families.

    My husband and I can't be apart for a MINUTE.

    How are the kids going to take it?

    Isn't that going to be hard?

...are never good.  Especially if you have been divorced 3 times, have been with your significant other for       less than 10 years, or you just overall exude asshattery.

Just something I've been thinking about...

Trimming the Tree?

I love decorating the tree - I mean LOVE it.  Too bad no one else in my family does.  Sooo...every year I get the obligatory photo:

 Brayden likes it so much - he decorates the BACK of the tree.

He is celebrating Movember to its fullest - I hope he knows tomorrow is December 1st!

My nephew Connor found this ornament for me years ago - it was  the sweetest gesture, he remembered that it matched my other ornaments!!!

My dog, on the other hand, didn't know how special it was to me...she chewed it up (shhhh...don't tell Connor).

My mom gave me all of her ornaments about 15 years ago (maybe more).  I decorate the tree the same every year.  I LOVE the ornaments that she gave me.  They are so beautiful!  This is a spray starched hand sewn/knit/crocheted (which is it?) bell.  So pretty!

 You can guess who this ornament belongs to...

I have no idea where this one came from...but I love it!!!

 I think my mom fashioned this tree topper - Two love birds :)

Something I threw together with some leftover ornaments...

 Finished product!!!!!

Isn't this the cutest stocking?  Thank you to my mom again :)

 Fisher lost a very special substitute teacher, Mrs. Ferguson recently.  When I was going through the ornaments I found this ornament that she had made him - he loved Red Cardinals.  So precious!!!