Posted Friday, November 13, 2009 10:48 PM
All right girls, I need some ideas here. I subscribe to two cooking magazines (Taste of Home and Everyday Food). I pull recipes from them all the time, and, as a result, some of them are getting pretty beat up. (Not to mention splattered and dripped on... I'm a messy cook.) Can you think of any way I can keep them somewhat together and protected? I really don't feel like copying all of the recipes onto cards or into the computer, plus I like having the magazines in case I want to try a new recipe from an old issue. Right now they're just tossed into my cookbook cupboard over the stove. Thoughts?
(Oh, and speaking of recipes, my latest magazine has a double-chocolate cranberry cookie recipe and a jam-filled cream cheese cookie recipe in it. I may have to give those a whirl this weekend.)
Posted Saturday, November 07, 2009 1:28 PM
The best things about grocery shopping on Saturday mornings are the free samples. Today, I got to try a cheese spread on crackers (yum) and some wine! It almost makes up for the hassle of navigating through Walmart with a million crazy people.
Almost.
It's a gorgeous day here - and probably our last one until April or May of 2010 - so I'm going to get off the computer and enjoy it! Happy Saturday everyone!
Posted Wednesday, November 04, 2009 11:20 PM
I don't have a ton of time to do a real update, but I figured I'd share my funny moment from dinner last night.
I don't buy wine often, or hardly ever. Andy doesn't drink, and I don't need an entire bottle to myself. Well, I decided to try a new recipe this week (grilled chicken, scampi style), and it called for about 1/2 a cup of white wine. So, I figure, I'll pick up a bottle of something cheap and call it good.
I came home from Walmart (classy place to go wine shopping, I know), with a $3 bottle, and put it in the cupboard. I go to use it, and am shocked to discover it has a cork instead of a screw top.
Do you think we have a corkscrew? No... I had to run around the house to find a pocket knife with one on it, all while the pan that I'm supposed to be adding the wine to smokes on the stove!
Seriously people, I bought a $3 bottle for a reason! I was fully expecting a screw cap!
(OK, it may not be as funny reading it, but it was amusing last night.)
Posted Monday, October 26, 2009 9:39 PM
We had SO much fun this weekend. It was great to spend some time with the other couples from our class, and we got to spend some time together as a couple too. In fact, we got a chance to go kayaking together. It was the first time either of us had tried it, although we've both gone canoeing before. I think we may have found a new hobby. It was a lot of fun - even though I spent a little while going in circles until I got the hang of it!
And yes, it was a little chilly... notice the winter hat and gloves. Ah, fall in northern Wisconsin!
I need to stop by the Verizon store on my way home from work tomorrow. On Friday, the earpiece speaker quit working. The only way I can hear someone on the other end of the call is to have the phone on speakerphone, which is more than a little aggravating. The crazy thing is, this is my "replacement" phone - the screen went dead white earlier this summer. I don't think a phone that's five months old should have the speaker crap out. I'm two weeks away from my "new every two," so part of me is wondering if they'll just let me pick a new phone. I guess we'll see what happens.
Well, I should get the kitchen cleaned up and plan out the menus for this week. I'm thinking pork chops tomorrow, and then broccoli corn chowder on Wednesday, but I need to nail down the rest of the week.
Have a good night girls!
Posted Thursday, October 22, 2009 10:26 PM
Tomorrow after work, we are throwing some overnight bags in the car and heading about 3 hours north to a cottage for a weekend retreat with several couples from church. We're really looking forward to it. Rumor has it that we'll lose cell phone reception about 30-40 miles before we get to our destination; it'll be interesting to see if the GPS will blank out too. (Never fear, we have "real" directions on paper too...)
It'll be nice to have a weekend away. If the weather is nice we can go hiking and maybe canoeing. If it's not, well, then, we're taking board games and I'm sure we'll have tons of fun visiting with everyone. Of course, it's going to make tomorrow just drag by at work. Hopefully I can stay nice and busy so the time will go by quickly.
Random story from work: one of my coworkers took a customer's order over the phone. When she asked who he'd like the order confirmation sent to, he was like, "Babe." She says, "Excuse me?" And he says, "Well, my name's Gabe, but everyone calls me Babe. Babalicious." We get some weirdos calling in...
Posted Monday, October 19, 2009 8:45 PM
Here we go, proof that if I can make a blanket, anyone can!
I had a great time making these with everyone Saturday, and now, I think I'll be able to tackle making smaller blankets for Andy's nieces for Christmas.
Posted Friday, October 16, 2009 6:29 PM
Ah, thank goodness it's Friday. It's been one heck of a week at work. They had a new phone system installed, which means we finally have voicemail. It also means that they've assigned people to be the primary phone people. I think this is wonderful, because I was told when I interviewed that I wouldn't need to answer the phone much, just when it was really busy. However, there are a couple employees who spend most of their time slacking off, so it meant I had been answering more and more. Well, with the new phone system, my phone doesn't ring unless all of the "first line" people are either away from their desks or on the phone. It's been great; I've been able to get so much done. Unfortunately, now that the phone people actually have to answer, they're doing nothing but complaining.
What COULD I possibly be doing, upstairs, at my desk, if I'm not answering the phone? Never mind that I had a huge project due today... and then the catch-up from everything that had taken a back burner while I finished said project. 
Oh well. I don't have to go back until Monday.
I'm getting together with some girlfriends tomorrow to make those fleece tie blankets. I'm not very crafty, and I have no sewing skills, so hopefully it goes all right! Even if my blanket's not the best, it should be a good time. I'll try to remember to take some pictures of it.
Enjoy the weekend, everyone!
Posted Monday, October 12, 2009 9:53 PM
Honestly, sometimes I just want to reach through the computer and shake Andy's sister-in-law. She's all gung-ho on getting all three brothers together (and the respective wives/girlfriends) at Thanksgiving to go rock climbing. I sign into my e-mail, and *BAM* she's messaging me.
"What day are you free at Thanksgiving for rock climbing?"
"Tim wants to know so he can set his schedule."
"We need to figure this out."
It was just one right after another, and I haven't even talked to my family yet about when we're supposed to see them! I would love to go rock climbing, but calm down people! (And I'm a little annoyed because the sister-in-law, Kim, has said repeatedly that Andy's middle brother, Tim, is her favorite. He's just "so involved with the kids." Add in the fact that Tim now has a girlfriend that she wants to impress, and she's going over the top.)
I know I shouldn't let this bug me, but it's just getting to me tonight. I have other people and plans for my long weekend besides fitting in to her perfect little schedule.
Argh. Thanks for letting me vent.