Sparkin' up a fast one

I have a new best friend. Not by choice.  

We have been spending a lot of time together, even sleep together.  

My back pain is back in full swing again after being clear for a year and a half...But I have been doing my physical therapy exercises and praying for a quick response.  

Needless to say I feel 60 years old.  It is pain I wouldn't wish on anyone. But I am glad I have a new best friend to help me through. 

He's got my back, if you know what I mean.

This ice pack is my other new best friend.  I feel like I am going on a mission somewhere when I have to velcro it on.  

*I was supposed to have a tough girl look on my face but Nat made a comment right before she took the pic and it threw me a little off guard.

*Thanks Dad for introducing me to them.

On another note I am really getting used to these 3 day work weeks.  When we were driving home from a friends this morning we seriously had to think hard to figure out if it was Friday or Saturday.  Thats a good feeling. Must be what retirement is like.  Count me in!

Change

I know I know Christmas has passed. I am done looking at my fake Christmas tree and dollar store decorations too!  TGI "F" !!  I will get working on a new template.

My current desktop pic that I made for meeeeself...

really likin' the quote right now 

Bob's Photoshoot

The term "cool cat" was not able to be defined until Bob was born.  The definition is one word in the dictionary.  

Bob.  

He knows he's cool and that's ok. 

I am not a fan of cats but Bob is my exception.  It is truly an honor knowing this guy.

Brothers are meant to not be understood

You know you have a 15 year old brother when you get home and the entire front entry way smells of axe and now you smell of axe.  You also know you have a 15 year old brother when he is driving your Jeep and singing out loud to Maroon 5 on the radio and knows every word. You also know you have a 15 year old brother when the bill on his cap is so straight it is actually curving the other way.  You also know you have a 15 year old brother when he forgets something in your jeep when you drop him off at a friends.  All in all, brothers are not meant to be understood.

I am glad I have a 4 day weekend both this week and next! Thank God for paid Holidays!

The early bird-just doesn't quite know how to sleep in

My body does not allow me to sleep in right now.  Come 7 am I try and force it but my mind just races and kicks me out of bed! I figured this was a good excuse to finally get my laundry done,  cook my EGG IN THE HOLE, and play some guitar.

So by 9 am I had accomplished all of this and more. I still have one more load I am saving for later.


The "more" part deals with something I shouldn't share visually with you but, I AM!


OK, maybe I am not, I must have deleted the picture from my library.  You are welcome for not ruining your desire to eat lunch or dinner! When a shower has to wash three girls with longer hair we try our best to keep it from going down the drain but it is an impossible feat. So every few months we must unscrew the drain and unclog it.  The picture really explains everything so I am a little bummed I can't find it!

Aaaaah Tadaa??

There is potential. 

Can you guess what we were trying to make?

These above are Nathalie's who has already whipped up a blanket and a pouch.  She's a natural.

and this is mine....
The stitch was supposed to be an even circle right on the edge of the fabric,but that is way above my level right now. I found that out after it was too late to turn back. (The first 3 cm turned out ok at least!!)

Tomorrow we are having our Christmas lunch at work with a 3-course meal and the final stretch of our 5-week long secret santa.  Then I am having a few friends over for dinner.  I have about 4 loads of laundry to do and this is my way of putting it off.  When you have a fully stocked wardrobe you can go a month+ and still have shirts to lend out. I realize this is a problem but they all still fit and my fashion is very neutral so a tan or black shirt is the same tan or black shirt from 5 years ago and no one knows!

Egg + Bread = Egg in the hole

I have a favor to ask each of you.  You will thank me for it later.  Please go make one and see for yourself.  You will most likely moan from it's goodness just as much as I did when I first tried one.  Dipping my toast in my egg is so over.

I hope you find as much joy as I do when you crack the egg and nestle it in the center.
P.S. I just made one for dinner


Recipe from Pioneer Woman:

Ingredients

• 1 slice Of Your Favorite Kind Of Bread
• 1 Tablespoon Butter
• 1 whole Egg
• Salt To Taste
• Pepper To Taste

Preparation Instructions

With a biscuit cutter or the rim of a glass, press a hole in the center of the slice of bread.

Next, heat a skillet over medium-low heat and melt a Tablespoon of butter in it. When the butter is all spread out, place the piece of bread in the skillet and crack the egg straight into the center of hole.

Cook for at least 30 seconds or so before attempting to move the bread or things could get messy. Sprinkle the egg with salt and pepper to taste. After about a minute, flip it over with a spatula and salt and pepper the other side.

Now move the whole piece of toast around the skillet, soaking up all of the glorious butter. Let it cook until the yolk feels, to the touch, still soft without feeling over-jiggly. Here’s the key: golden brown toast, white (not brown/burned) whites, soft unbroken yolk.

(Picture taken in Winona)

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Grandma! - here are the pictures I promised.  

I tried to go to Sarah's last night but when I got outside and saw that the snow was almost half way up my garage door I didn't think it was worth trying to get the jeep out.  So Nat and I had a snowed in Saturday night-which was probably much needed even though I hate the feeling of missing out on something.  I guess I missed out on apartment bonding  early this morning as people (including Nathalie) were all getting their vehicles out of the lot for the plow.  Rules are you have to be out by 8:15 or you will be towed.  (makes me glad I have the garage)  I am waiting patiently to get out-it is not a good time to have pretty much no food.  I tried making the 8 tater tots I found in the freezer last night but somehow burnt them to a black crisp in a matter of 9 minutes. I didn't even know that it was possible to burn food with 2 directions. 
1-put in preheated oven 
2-take out after 25 minutes


I had to resort to malt-o-meal...

Happy Sunday!

Chriiiiiiiiistmas Liiiiiist

I am sitting here trying to think of a Christmas list for all of you.  I am thinking really hard while drinking my night tea and searching online.


Every year I tell myself I am going to start making this list in April, thinking that I might be able to have more than 4 things on it... but I always stink at it.  I have pretty much everything I could ask for right now.  Except for a few things that I would buy for myself....and items/gadgets I have already told some of you.


Buy me some tea or coffee! I will drink that.


I have a dentist appt. tomorrow morning! I may lose sleep over how excited I am and you know that is nothing but the absolute truth.  I will be sure to spend an extra 5 minutes getting my chops extra clean tonight.  Oop-- our Christmas tree can't find it's equilibrium and it just tipped over again. (it is just so big) It scares the crap out of me EVERY time.


I can't believe there are 19 days left until Christmas. Goodnight love you all! 

Decisions decisions decisions

Want to know what my life looks like in a picture with three words? 






I am really getting a liking for adding text to pictures! On another note us roomies bonded in the bathroom last night. Our toilet decided it wanted to keep on running and running until there was water everywhere.  But we are golden now. 

High Maintenance Me

I have had just about ENOUGH. The hard water we have is killin' my hair and complexion.  I practically walk around looking like this all the time.  Ok I don't but I actually feel like I am high maintenance for once.  If you know any tips please let me know.  

Animal Abuse

Oh Christmas Tree

Mom~I think I beat the family tree this year...can you guess which tree is in our living room?

It is ridiculous that the entire tree didn't even fit in the picture.

 Nope not this one...

 Not this one either...

It is just a tad taller than yours! 

(I grew a ton over Thanksgiving)

The Day Before Turkey-Day

The weather was mighty bad in Winona on Wednesday so Nat and I were stranded in town.  We decided it wouldn't be worth our luck to try to get home on the skating rinks that were once roads but it would be worth it to prepare our stomachs for the big meal the next day.  (my two meals).  We made homemade stuffed pastries and pasta el dente with exquisite cheese.

It took a lot of work in the kitchen but it was worth it!


****Disclaimer-I know it looks a lot like pizza rolls and kraft mac n'cheese but trust me its really not.


ok it might be.

I got me a Treasure Chest

Wanna see my new TREASURE CHEST?


I hauled it in and assembled the legs all by meeself.  Arrrr.

My birthday gift has finally arrived!  I'd say this is a piece of furniture that I will have for the rest of my life and fill with all sorts of gorgeous pieces. I am really excited to see this thing get cluttered over the years.  


I don't have it all organized yet but if you are stumped on what to get me for Christmas...


earrings = defualt


By the way tonight is my chance to have faith in making tuna burgers again--here goes nothing for some dinner.

PANINININININI 101

Nat has a commercial panini press that she uses quite a bit and always strikes my curiosity....I decided to try it out.  Well the real reason I decided to try it was because I completely burned my tuna burgers. Don't ask me how-I have made them enough but it just wasn't my night to eat tuna burgers I guess. I wish I would have taken a picture of the smoke we had in our kitchen.  We had to open the patio door and turn on the fans. The sad thing was that I was standing at the stove the whole time.  


Anyways, I had all the fixings to make a boring turkey sandwich and I am so glad I didn't go down that route.  I started with mayo and Italian seasoning...

Then some oven baked ham and provolone cheese...

Then the press... it is actually very heavy.

Then I topped it with my staple (garlic salt) and WALLA!

It was so good that my mouth is watering looking at this picture. It might come in handy when I open up a coffee shop with a laundry mat attached when I am 46. There will probably be a bar hooked on too. Who wouldn't want to participate in happy hour while doing their laundry?

Can't take it!

These need to get to the dentist! This is the longest I have ever been away.  Not like me at all...I have been researching dentists in town and know a few good ones from when I shadowed all over.  I am making an appt Monday to get these babies cleaned!  I know you all think it is sickening how excited I get.  I am sick of using my handmade tools to keep them up to snuff, (pin tacks) don't tell anyone.

p.s. you have my permission to use this picture as a your computers desktop. No need to ask.

6 months = 1/2 year

I can't believe 6 months have passed since these pictures were taken.  I also can't believe I have been in the working world for 6 months. I feel pretty lucky to have a job.

Cuddos to the JEEP

This thing is a just a treat...

Isn't this beautiful?