Susan Godfrey - Geek Chic

I just fell in love with this fun Kit by Susan Godfrey named Geek Chic. This kit is so fun! I just loved using this kit. Make sure you stop by Susan's shop, pick up Geek Chic and do some other shopping while you are there: SUSAN GODFREY SHOP

This is one of my favorite pictures of myself in Maui Hawaii just a few weeks ago when we were in Hawaii to Celebrate the year of our 20th Wedding Anniversary.

This layout was so fun for me. I have always wanted to scrap about our silly Self Portraits:  Ron loves to take self portraits of us. I can’t count how many he has taken in the last 19 years. Some of our best pictures are these silly self portraits. I get the biggest kick of out them.
My comments usually include: “Don’t drop the camera” and “Did you get us”. Strangely enough they almost always turn out cute.
This one we took on our trip down the road to Hana in Maui on our Hawaiian vacation.  

A Recipe gone way good!!!

One of my favorite shows that I DVR or watch if I can is Mad Hungry. I love love love this cooking show. Over the last seven years my cooking has gone from making traditional recipes to walking right straight out of the box and I must say....I am pretty good at it. Just ask Ron.....yes some will say "Ron will eat anything" but when it comes to cooking I make him be brutally honest, and he has only hated one meal of mine :) 

First of all if you love to cook, visit the Mad Hungry Web Site: Mad Hungry there are amazing easy to prepare dishes. Yeah some are kind of fancy but most are made with stuff you have right in your cozy home kitchen. 

SO you don't have to watch the show. It is on the Hallmark Channel, but really go the website for recipes. Lucinda Scala Quinn is amazing. If you are my age, this is not your Momma's cooking, but it is close with a twist now and then. I have learned ALOT from Lucinda.........first and foremost. COOK SLOW the amazing recipes she makes are quick but also encourage you to let the flavors of all the spices and flavorings engulf your food. 

I have went from thinking and concentrating on cooking to really enjoying making food that my family and friends love. 

Tonight I made this along with half pieces of Rosemary Steak made on the Traeger Grill.  Ron and our friend Justin enjoyed it very much. They wouldn't lie to me. If you don't have Baguettes for the sauce in the bottom of the pan use french bread or any other bread. We actually had left over Biscuits from Breakfast and I cut those up and it was devine. I also made broccoli and rice as a side. 

SIDENOTE......DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE MAKE THIS RECIPE USING PRE COOKED SHRIMP........the shrimp my cook from a raw state and take in the amazing flavors.

My last little tip....I used a half a tablespoon of Tony Casher's Cajun Seasoning and it was perfect........ 

Mr Jim's Louisiana Barbequed Shrimp

Ingredients

• 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
• 3 garlic cloves, minced (1 tablespoon)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons), rinds reserved and sliced
• 1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 11/2 teaspoons hot sauce, such as Tabasco
• 1 pound (about 30) medium to large shrimp, peeled, heads (optional) and tails on
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• Baguette, for serving

Directions

1. Heat a 12-inch skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Add butter, and cook until melted and foamy. Add garlic, rosemary, and lemon juice and rinds. Stir in Worcestershire and hot sauces, and bring to a simmer.
2. Season shrimp with salt and pepper; add to skillet. Cook until pink and firm to the touch, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with pepper. Serve with baguette.
   
   

   Here is what mine looked like:

   

    Here is what Lucinda's looked like.....now remember she was in a TV studio and her lemons were turned sideways :) 

   

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Susan Godfrey - City Spring

I created these two layouts using the beautiful and fun City Spring Scrap Kit by Susan Godfrey. Visit Susan's Website: www.susangodfrey.com for this kit and for her other beautiful kits. Here is the link to her store: SUSAN GODFREY SHOP

This first layout is one that I did about the flowers Ron gave me for no reason. Here is my journaling:             Ron brought me home these beautiful flowers for absolutely no reason. I was totally surprised and very grateful. They were so pretty and colorful. They totally made my day. What was cute about it was, Ron told me that he told the lady to make something fun, bright and cheerful like his wife and this is what she came up with. I loved them!!!  2-25-2011 

This second layout was just a fun one I did featuring Ron's first tropical drink in Maui. It was so pretty I couldn't resist taking a photo of it! 

Some days are questionable....

and some days are just plain great. Today was a great one. It was so nice out and I was so happy to be able to do what I wanted to do on this beautiful day. I got a ton of stuff done on my to-do list and most of them outside which made me very happy!

I got to hang one of my first loads of clothes in 2011 outside to dry. I finally got a set of Christmas lights and garland thawed out enough to put away. I managed to set up and straighten and test my poor solar lights around my deck after being covered in piles of snow. I got to clean out one of my vehicles and load some stuff in it for the weekend today instead of tomorrow when it is freezing cold again.

and at 6:08 there come the NW wind and that was the end of the beautiful day :(  BUT every nice day is one day closer to more nice days........so much for this.....we are grilling inside!!

Flower Surprise

Ron came home today with this beautiful bunch of flowers for absolutely no reason at all. It was such a sweet and welcome surprise because it was so gloomy and crappy out. Ron told me he told the lady at Hyvee to make up some flowers that are bright and cheerful and happy and fun like his wife, well something like that, that is pretty close to what he said :) and this is what she made:

While Ron was surprising me with Flowers, we were surprised our friend Mark with Super at Shaky's for his 50th Birthday. Our lake friends are so awesome. Mark's wife Trish planned the whole thing and he was surprised, he had no idea. The whole weekend was spent celebrating Mark's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK!!! Here are a few photos that Ron snapped of the event. 

Cuddle Time....

is everytime Cheerio comes in the house. It was cold outside and Cheerio didn't like it one darn bit!! So as soon as he came in the house he headed straight for the heated blanket. Yes, I admit it. Sometimes I actually turn them on when he goes outside so they are warm. Can you say spoiled rotten little dog? This particular day he managed to make himself quite a nest in my blanket that my friend Cindy gave me. I guess a checkered flag blanket would be his favorite considering he was named after the Sponsor of my favorite NASCAR driver. So here is our little prince all nestled in his little nest.

but now you see why it is so hard to not let him do it. Who can resist THAT face?

I never knew....

that four years could go so quickly. That what seemed like an eternity was gone in a flash.

Wrestling has been a part of my for a long time. It started with my brothers, went with my Best Friend Tommy and ended with my Nephew Sheldon.

I am not sure my heart will heal from this loss. Not the wrestling loss but the loss of my little star in a sport I love. This is an end of something very special for me.

I was going to try and top the last Football post but I am not sure I can, because I keep bawling.

After all those years, all those matches, all those meets, all those medals........it came down to this. Maybe those six state qualifiers that got my Brother one of the coaches down on the floor was meant to be. Dad and Sheldon.............this just broke my heart....I cried for 10 minutes after this. I was so glad Ron was there with me to control my hysterical bawling........

I can't do it....I thought I could but I can't........I had all this stuff I wan't to say and it comes to this..............

I LOVE YOU SHELDON! I am so proud of you! A four year state qualifier and one outstanding young man. 

To my friend Julie....

Happy Birthday. I hope your day was wonderful and special. You are one of the special people that make my life better............PRAISE the lord we found Duncan Lakes. I love ya girlfriend.

Happy Valentines day and Happy Birthday...

First.....Happy Valentine's Day to my favorite Valentine Ron Stock. I love you more then ALOT of things. I am so proud of you and happy to be your Valentine.

and the a big Happy Birthday to our friend and Lake Neighbor Lee. We love ya Lee. So glad you had the key to our place or there would be no us :) 

Hands down....

Nothing ticks me off more than this...............

Yesterday I was in Target picking up a few things that I had planned on ordering online. I do not like when a cashier has to question every one of my items that I set on the belt. I had the SAME THING happen at JcPenney's before Christmas. Yesterday, I purchased what I consider to be some very straight forward items. Keep in mind that Ron and Santos were waiting for me outside in the vehicle. Check my crap out and let me go.

Here's the first item:

Cashier: "What are you going to use that bag for?"
My actual Response: "My other one is ripped and torn and the handle is coming off, I need to new one"
How I really wanted to respond: "I plan on robbing the local liquor store and this is the bag I am going to use to carry out my cash and booze"

Here is the Second item:

Cashier: "Are you going to use these towels?"
My Actual Response: "Yes, I have been waiting and waiting for them to go on sale, my husband really wanted some oversized towels"
How I really wanted to respond: "No I am going to take them home, cut them up and use them to bind and gag the family down the street"

AND FINALLY the kicker....and why in GODS NAME would you seriously ask someone this:

Here is the Final Item:

Cashier: "Are these all for you"

ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! REALLY COME ON......I seriously about fell over dead!!!

My Actual Response: ".....(Insert awkward silence).........."
How I really wanted to respond: "No I am handing them out to my neighbors as Valentine Day treats you freakin moron!"

You know who I felt sorry for............................................




The poor lady behind me who had Hair dye and KY Intense Warming cream :)

Quietude

I was recently named to Susan Godfrey's Creative Team at www.susangodfreydesigns.com. Here is the link to her wonderful kit: QUIETUDE I used her beautiful Quietude kit to create these two layouts. The first one about my beautiful 104 year old Grandmother and the other one about my precious little dog Cheerio. 

Good bye Nightcrawlers.....

Today I feel as if I have lost an old friend. The infamous Nightcrawlers bar is no more. Tragedy struck today and it burned to the ground. I can't really count how many times Ron and I would stop by here on the way home to Saint Edward from Grand Island, that is always the way I prefer to go to GI is through Worms. I remember stopping her one night after Christmas shopping with our friends all day. It was our typical stopping point after the stress and hum drum of four days of Husker Harvest Days. I remember having a land auction just down the road and Ron and I stopping there to buy the buyers a celebration cocktail. We hauled loads of Portable Restrooms there and enjoyed going there for numerous celebrations and gatherings. You don't really appreciate something until is gone...........good bye old friend.....you'll be missed........

What a NASCAR girl does in off season.....

She stalks anything that mentions her driver :)

NASCAR Offseason is not my favorite time of the year, but Thank goodness for the Numerous amount of NFL games, College bowl games and such that can keep me occupied at least for a month or two. So even though we all know how my favorite NASCAR driver got what I consider to be one of the biggest S*** jobs in NASCAR, I absolutely laugh my butt off every time I watch this commercial.

 My Favorite NASCAR Commercial

Clint is genuinely fun and funny guy. Trust me. I spent an evening hanging around him and he was indeed was funny dude. He has such a great personality. I think that is one of the MANY reason I picked him for my driver.

Here are a couple of screen shots from the Commercial, for when I print my blog book.......

I am looking forward to seeing my driver in February racing in the Daytona 500. Enjoy your off season cause you deserve it.........

Another last........

I really dislike lasts...............

Last home wrestling meet for my boy. Hate it.....

Musings on resolutions, goals and other new year promises.......

I have never been one of those New Years Resolutions type of people because I believe that just because it is a New Year, why should we put a ton of pressure on ourselves to stop or start doing something that we haven't done for the last 10 New Years. I can count more than 10 people that I know that make a "resolution" to do something and never make it past January 10th.....and that is no kidding. There are some who make it a few months, half way or nearly 365 days, but I can count the those who don't then the those that do.......

BUT it wouldn't be the New Year without making at least some promises to myself. My New Years thinking has changed to making small steps. Small little resolutions that end up in big payoffs........We put way too much pressure on ourselves by saying "I am going to lose 30 pounds by Summer"; I am going to "spend less than a certain amount out dining out"; I am going to exercise 50 minutes 7 days a week". We need to be realistic in our thinking.....and maybe just maybe for a change thinking small is better.

For example: I would LOVE to every single photo of mine in a book or scrapbooked, that is NOT going to happen, certainly not overnight, but by taking small little projects I can get more of my photos off my hard drive and out of storage boxes and out where family and friends can enjoy them.

Another example: I would LOVE to get rid of all the excess "stuff" that clutters up my life. Personal possessions are wonderful but if they no longer or never did add anything to add to my life why should I cling onto them??? So small steps, like spending just an hour a week de cluttering one little project...OH the rewards at the end of the year. That alot of weeks and alot of clutter gone!!!!

SO this year instead of making these big resolutions I am taking type steps to improve my life.

I guarantee you I will not stop enjoying our monthly fun Pizza night just because I think I have to lose 50 pounds in 30 days, that's just not realistic. I will not go out and start walking 10 miles each day because I want to get healthy, but I will do small intervals every day to get exercise. I will not tear into my house and spending two months throwing stuff out.......but I will examine what I really need and what I really don't.

I get so tired of hearing people say "I have to lose weight this year", "I have to get everything in my life organized this year". "I am going to stop smoking this year",  "I am going to stop spending so much money on trivial things" instead TRY little baby steps, it worked for me last year and it is going to work again this year.

That's great but the reason resolutions fail? Because they become a job and not something we consider fun that will improve our lives. Here's to 365 days of taking little steps.........

The curious case of the Lighted tools......

My Brother George just wanted to buy some nice gifts for his family, but they ended up just making us all laugh, giggle and apparently break out in sword fights. It started off with one and ended up with five..........men with one....and then there was one girl with one.  I think these, screwdrivers, magnets, wrenches.......

The first three and their......toys, I mean tools!!!!!!

And then there were four:

AND Then there were five and their toys......

And then there were six, including one girl!!!!!!!

Uncle George's and Dad's gift...........ROCKED and was fun!!!!!!

Additional photos for 2010 Christmas Letter

My beautiful niece Alicia's special Wedding day and before......I love you so much Alicia. I am soooooooooooooooo proud of you. These are extra photos of her special day in addition to my 2010 Christmas letter. You are beautiful, wonderful and special..............