*YAWN*

I am sooooo tired! This week has been a crazy one---I got sick, had to make an entire Thanksgiving feast (which took 3 days of prep-time), and I've been working at Nordstrom. My feet hurt, my back hurts, my throat hurts, my eyes hurt, my arms hurt (from playing the Wii), and all I really want to do is sit back and relax for five minutes. I'm hoping I don't have to go in today...

Thanksgiving dinner was fabulous---I was surprised everything turned out so well. The turkey was perfect and so was the company. I'm not so sure I'll ever do the WHOLE meal again, though. Way too much work!

I've been doing well on the Sugar Strike. Still going strong. I had 3 bites of pie on Thanksgiving, and felt sick afterwards, so I think that's a good sign...right? 

I DID IT!

I made it through week one of my sugar strike. It was surprisingly easy this time. I just made sure I had fruit on handy, and I was good to go. Week two might be slightly harder with Thanksgiving being Thursday...I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Don't Hate Me, But...

 I didn't like Twilight. Like, at all...

I know! I know! I really hate saying it, because I really tried to like it. It's just that the more I think about it, the more I dislike it. I didn't feel that deep connection between the main characters. I feel like whoever wrote the screenplay focused on all the wrong things. I thought Edward looked good, BUT I didn't like his acting style especially at the beginning--some things were just too cheesy. I almost got killed in the theater for laughing out loud on a few parts. Oops! Oh well! I still love the books. Like, really love them. Maybe I'll reread them now...

Hello, Cupcake!

                                              

 I got the coolest book ever! I have a feeling it will turn me into a cupcake goddess. Here's one of my favorite ideas for April Fool's Day: 

Aren't they amazing? I will make these soon...You should check out the book!

Mama Mia!

My friend, Chelsea, called me Tuesday night to see if I would go see Mama Mia! with her at the $1.50 theater. I've never had a desire to see it, but the thought of just going to a movie sounded nice.

WOW! I honestly think that it was the worst and most confusing movie I have ever seen!!! I'm glad Tuesdays are 1/2 off night, because I honestly think $1.50 would be paying too much. I'm glad I went with Chelsea, too, because I didn't feel bad for making fun of it, and she and I had a good laugh. A really good laugh. Especially when Pierce Brosnan was singing. 

Thanks, Chelsea! You made my night!

                                      

Barebunned Contessa

My husband is, I admit, a little weird. He comes up with new titles for the Food Network shows. Instead of Everyday Italian, he calls it Everyday Cleavage, because Giada is always showing hers off. Instead of Barefoot Contessa, he calls it Barebunned Contessa, and I have no idea the reason behind that one. Anyway, I'm not the biggest fan of Ina Garten's show, but her cookbook called The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook is awesome! (Thanks again, Paul, for the awesome Christmas gift---I have used it often throughout the year!)  If you're a hummus fan, here's the easiest and tastiest recipe:

makes 2 cups

2 cups canned chickpeas, drained, liquid reserved

1 1/2 tsp kosher salt

4 garlic cloves, minced (I like lots of garlic, so I usually use 5 or 6!)

1/3 cup tahini (sesame paste)

6 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

2 Tbsp water or liquid from the chickpeas

8 dashes Tabasco sauce

Place all the ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and process until the hummus is coarsely pureed. Taste for seasoning and served chilled or at room temperature. 

ps. I'm sure a blender would do the trick if you do not have a food processor.

Enjoy! OH! and if you want to make your own pita chips, just brush olive oil onto pitas, cut into wedges, sprinkle with cayenne pepper and back on a baking sheet at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, or so. 

Day ONE

Ok, my siblings and I made a pledge to give something up for 6 months to support my Dad (long story...). I am giving up sweets for 6 months, with the exception of a piece of pie on thanksgiving and christmas, if I feel so inclined. So here's to day one! 

No Place Like Home

Adam and I have made a very important decision: We are going to move back to Kansas City. The circumstances in which this decision had to be made are not quite ideal, but we are very excited to move "home".  Adam had a job offer for a company in China, but they are no longer able to offer him the position due to the economic situation---this seems to be the case everywhere. Although he has no job yet, we are hopeful that he will find something, and in the interim we will be surrounded by people we love. Can't beat that! 

Kansas City, here we come!

Where's Ruby?

I always check on Ruby before I call it a night, and this is how I found her. Hilarious!

Blood and Bones

We had a few friends over tonight, so I tried to get into the Halloween spirit---I made blood red hot chocolate and homemade marshmallow bones. mmmm...