This commercial sends us into fits of giggles.  ”SHUT UP”!

First–I’m still working on things around here, so pardon my dust.

This weekend, I ventured to Raleigh with some awesome Charlotte ladies to attend the first annual #Fest. This year was BaconFest. Next year might be PizzaFest. Or CupcakeFest. Or CocktailFest. Or we could bring back BaconFest. The possibilities are endless. But y’all. BaconFest will be hard to top. First? SO.MUCH.BACON. (all pictures borrowed from our fabulous hostess Jill)

There was Bacon apparel.

 And the grand prize….Bacon Cape!!! I didn’t win–but I tied for first. I lost the name draw.

Such a fun time, and I really enjoyed meeting new ladies, and ladies I’ve only had the pleasure of twittering with.

My submission? Bacon Wrapped Sweet Potato Bites. (the orange things next to the red plates in the first photo). Here’s the recipe.

2 sweet potatoes–peeled

1 lb bacon!

olive oil

salt

Heat oven to 350 and cover a baking sheet with foil.

Cut each potato into half length-wise, then cut those in half, so you have quarters. Cut each quarter in half. Cut each of those in half. You should get 16 pieces from each potato.

Pour olive oil into a bowl and sprinkle some salt in there. (I used coarse Kosher salt)

Toss the potato pieces in the olive oil/salt mixture.

Cut the bacon slices in half.

Wrap each potato piece with a slice of bacon and secure the bacon with a toothpick.

Arrange on the baking sheet and cook for 45 minutes, turning once during the cooking.

Enjoy–but be careful–they are HOT right out of the oven.

**I think it would be fun to try these with cinnamon or brown sugar too. Or both!

(Pardon the crazy spacing. I swear I’ll figure this out.)

What’s your favorite Bacon recipe?

Anyone have any great sources or tutorials??

I gave up not working out.

My original intent was to workout every day. EVERY.DAY.

That hasn’t happened.

But? I have worked out 14 out of the last 19 days. Which is a hell of a lot more than I was working out…. (zero days…)

So far? I haven’t lost any weight. I attribute this to a faulty scale. And wine. And Girl Scout cookies.

However, I’m really enjoying my workouts. I’m not doing anything crazy–just walking/jogging and lifting weights–but I look forward to it. And I love to go to the gym in the morning. It gives me a jump-start on the day, and leaves my evenings free. For drinking wine and eating cookies. Maybe that’s the problem….

Anyway, I’m glad I started on this Lenten sacrifice. I think it will pay off, and I think I will continue it. Why? Because we got a new scale and I now need to lose 5 pounds more than I originally thought.

What did you give up for Lent?? Do you think I’m crazy??

If…we could have kids.

If…the mister had a salaried job.

If…we had a different house.

If…I had a different boss.

If. If. If. If.

Why am I not happy with the many blessings I/we have?  We have an amazing marriage. We are healthy. We have a nice home. I have a job–plus one on the side. We are so much better off than my friends who have burried loved ones in the last couple weeks. But? I’m just not happy. And I don’t know why. And I have no control of the “ifs”.

I need to start choosing.

Choosing better decisions.

Choosing to be happy.

Fake it till you make it, right?

Because it’s Friday, I want to be happy. Here are a couple things that make me smile.

Never gets old

It’s opening day. Here’s hoping for a three-peat!!

If you follow me on Twitter (@mrsandmister) you know that a close friend passed away today from cancer. He was only 54. To some of you I know that seems old. But it’s not. It’s just getting started. His kids are almost grown–the youngest is a senior in college. This is when he and his wife should be planning fun trips, to Europe, Alaska, wherever. They should be looking forward to grandchildren. They should be in their prime–taking pride in the wonderful children they’ve raised. Instead? We will pay our respects to a great man this weekend. And comfort his wife and children. And each other.

Hug your loved ones. Do things with them. Don’t wait until someday.

It might never come.

• I cannot believe it’s already February. 7 months until BIG BIRTHDAY MONTH.
• My sister gave birth to my sweet baby nephew last month. I held him when he was 55 minutes old. He’s exactly 32 days old today. My heart is wrapped around his little finger. Eternally.
• In 2012, I’m letting go of past regrets and forging ahead. The past is the past. The present shapes my future.
• Last weekend I got a pedicure with some great friends. I was asked when I was going to have kids. Saying that I’m not having kids? Felt right. I’m content with our decision. At peace. It’s right for us.
• This weekend we are travelling to see some friends of mine from my past. They are special people. The type that you can not talk to for years, and when you see each other, you pick up like no time has been lost. This trip is important, as it involves my friends husband dying from cancer. I.HATE.CANCER.
• I had my appraisal at my full time job yesterday. It went as expected. I have “lots of room” for improvement.
• My girlfriends and I are heading to the beach in 5 weeks. I CANNOT WAIT. I love the beach house, and I can’t wait to take them to my favorite places.
• I’m so thankful for the friends that blogging and twitter have both brought me.
• Oh–why I’ve been so tired??? A B-12 deficiency. Plus I need to exercise.
• So, I’m going to do the Warrior Dash in May. I better get busy training!!

So–what’s new with y’all? Any big Valentine’s Day plans??

Yeah.

That’s how I feel lately.

I’m tired.

I have no energy.

I used to be a morning person.

Now I struggle to get up in the morning

I hate my job.

Yadda.

Yadda.

YADDA.

BUT.

I have so many blessings.

My husband. A truly amazing man.

My family–which grew by one sweet little nephew this month.

My friends. Always there for me.

From the outside?

Life is good.

And yet…

I feel so…

BLAH.

Blah enough to make a dr appointment.

I don’t know what’s wrong with me.

But I’m ready to find out the answers.

And make it better.

Oh 2011.

How I cannot wait to see the end of you. You have been the least fun year in recent memory.

No, you didn’t bring infertility or infidelity.

But you brought the cancer.

And the jobless-ness. Still.

And the loss of friendships.

A demotion.

The news of friends marriages ending.

Friends infertility woes.

2011, you pretty much brought nothing good to the table.

2012–you listen here.

You.Will.Be.Better.

Because I said so.

Because I can’t do this anymore.

Because this is a significant birthday year for me, and I am determined to have a good year.

I have plans.

I will not write a post like this next year.

I.WILL.NOT.

I’ve already started on some of those plans.

So, 2012, I hope you are ready to deliver.

Because I have huge expectations.