The Southern Sass

Sickness

2009-03-19T14:57:00.001-04:00

As a mom, being sick is the pits. Over the last 7 days I've suffered from a severe attack of CuTS or Cubital Tunnel Syndrome and now I'm on day 4 of the flu. Why or why did I have to get on top of it.

My only saving grace has been my Country Boy. He's laid off right, don't worry, it's the life of a Boilermaker. Anyway, Country Boy has been taking pretty good care of me. Hopefully, I'll be back on my feet soon.

My New Love, Twilight Fan Fiction

2009-03-12T21:09:00.002-04:00

So, I've been a Twilight fan since picking up the first book last Fall. I read all four books with in about 40 hours. I saw the movie the Saturday it opened. A snow/ice storm kept me from making the 45 min drive to see the midnight showing.

Lately, I've been absorbed into the world of Twilight fanfiction. So much so that I am now writing one of my own.

Desperation is an alternative universe, all human story. Bella is a country music star and she's desperate for some normalcy. She moves back to her dad's and has to learn how to cope with fame, fortune and siblings. When she meets the guy of her dreams she thinks she'll finally have a chance at happiness, but things don't always go as planned.

So, hop on over to Fanfiction.net and check out Desperation! Be sure to leave me some love and happy reading.

He did it again.

2009-02-24T01:01:00.001-05:00

My oldest rugrat never ceases to amaze me. Tonight he walked into the county board of education and walked back out the County Spelling Bee Champion. He spelled "spurious" to win. This time he was going up against 7 other elementary school students and 2 middle schoolers, one of which is an 8th grader.

Next stop on the Spelling Bee circuit? Louisville, KY on March 14th for the Kentucky Derby Festival Spelling Bee, where the winner takes home a Grand Prize of $5000!!!

Wish us lots of luck.

Hunter-isms

2009-02-01T14:18:00.001-05:00

According to my oldest rugrat, "A world without football, is like a taco without meat!"

LOL!! I laughed my behind off. Not actually. Wish it was that easy, don't you?

Happy 9th Birthday, Hunter!!

2009-02-01T12:02:00.001-05:00

It completely throws me for a loop everytime I realize that I am now a mother to a 9 year old boy. It seems like just yesterday that he was a newborn cuddled against my chest sleeping. Which, by the way, was the only place the little snot would sleep. So, we spent the first month in the recliner. Him cuddled between my breasts sleeping. Oh, how embarassed he'd be if he knew this. LOL!! I think I just stumbled on a way to pull one of those totally humiliating motherhood moments on him when he brings home that first girlfriend.

Motherhood is an incredible journey. One that I wish everyone could be blessed to take.

Freezing temps and Water Pipes

2009-01-16T10:27:00.001-05:00

Never should they mix. It's not like if you mix oil and water. Then you might get a great dressing if you add the right seasonings, but with freezing temps and water pipes all you get is a HUGE mess. Well, unless you have luck and God on your side.

This morning I woke to no water. I was lucky enough that I got up when I did. I caught it just as it was freezing solid. So, I avoided disaster just barely.

FYI~When the temps drop below freezing, to help avoid disaster please do the following...

1. Open the cabinets under your sinks.

2. Leave faucets dripping.

3. Do NOT turn the vents off in your bath. Yes, I did this. I know it makes me an idiot, but my bath is the hottest room in the house and I was trying to force the heat into the other rooms.

Much love and unfrozen pipes,

The Southern Sass!

Twilight

2009-01-15T22:16:00.002-05:00

I love this series of books. I read them in such a quick succession that I've reread them NUMEROUS times to make certain that I didn't miss something. I've not done that EVER. Not even for Harry Potter.

I was deeply in love with J.K's Potter, but Stephenie's Edward is the stuff of a woman's dreams. He's the bad boy that doesn't want to be bad. The nice guy, that has a bad side, but it just makes you love him all the more.

I've recommended this series to so many people. Even my Country Boy is reading them. They are just so fantastic. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I'M BEGGING YOU!!! Please read them. They are really that good.

Much love,
The Southern Sass

Blogger Buddy

2009-01-15T15:07:00.001-05:00

Windows Sidebar has a new app. Blogger Buddy. I can post new blogs right from my desktop. I'm loving it.

Weight Loss

2009-01-14T09:13:00.003-05:00

Those two words strike fear/hope/exasperation in the hearts of men and women everywhere on a daily basis. There are few other two word phrases that scare a person as much. Maybe "I'm Pregnant", but that's for totally different reasons.

Back in the Fall I revealed to you all that my girlfriends and I were doing a Biggest Loser competition. Round 1's competition was over the first week of December and we all struggled through it. The Blue team, Nicole and Cathy, won with the highest percentage of weight loss. I can be proud of the fact that as an individual, I was the Biggest Loser. I lost over 8% of my body weight in those 12 weeks. It was hard work, but I got through it. With that said, Christmas came and along with it came about 7lbs!!

I was ready to cry when I stepped on the scales on January 6th for Round 2 of Biggest Loser, Oops Edition, but I sucked it up and I tried to make some healthier decisions and yesterday when I stepped on the scale I was down 3.6 lbs. Losing weight, to me, is the most frustrating thing EVER!!! Now, the reason I say this is because, LAST WEEK I HAD PIZZA AND OTHER VERY UNHEALTHY STUFF AND STILL LOST 3.6LBS!!!! I told you I tried to make healthier decisions, I didn't say I always succeeded. This past Fall, when I was trying to so very, very hard and was more perfect than not, I never lost 3.6lbs in a single week! So, what gives? Your guess is as good as mine.

As always, much love,

The Southern Sass

My oldest Rugrat

2009-01-12T14:55:00.018-05:00

Hunter is my oldest Rugrat and my only boy. He's a 3rd grader this year. He has a hard row to hoe. We expect a lot from him, but he always lives up to those expectations. Today was no exception.

A few weeks ago, he won his class spelling bee and today was the school wide spelling bee. Proud Mom that I am, I took along my video camera. Also, proud mom that I am, I'm going to subject you all to a elementary school spelling bee.

Well, after a week of trying to upload the video and not being able to, you will just have to take my word for it. HE WON!! He spelled "condensation" to beat the other 3rd graders and the 4th and 5th graders.

Enjoy,

The Southern Sass!!!

An Apology

2009-01-06T15:32:00.003-05:00

I'm sorry I've been missing in action since before Christmas. I'm working on a new post for you all. It should be ready before the end of the week.

I hope your Christmas and New Years were exactly as you wished them.

The Southern Sass!

Christmas Dinner Grocery List

2008-12-23T13:29:00.002-05:00

I know a few of you out there are making Christmas Dinner. So, I wanted to post our grocery list. Some things are listed multiple times, but it helps me out, so that I make certain to get enough of that ingrediant. Have fun in the kitchen, try new things and good eating.

1. Cinnamon Rolls
a. Milk, 1qt
b. Veggie Oil
c. Sugar
d. Active Dry Yeast
e. 9 cups all-purpose flour
f. Baking powder
g. Baking soda
h. Salt
i. Butter
j. Sugar
k. Cinnamon
l. Powdered sugar
m. Maple flavoring
n. Coffee
2. Roasted Turkey
a. Stuff to Brine Turkey
i. 2 gallons water
ii. 2 cups apple juice
iii. 1 1/2 cups kosher salt
iv. 2 cups brown sugar
v. 2 garlic cloves, crushed
vi. 5 bay leaves
vii. 3 tablespoons black peppercorns
viii. 1 tablespoons dried rosemary
ix. Peel of 2 oranges
b. Stuff to Roast Turkey
i. Brining Bag
ii. Brine
iii. Turkey
iv. butter

3. Mashed Potatoes
a. Potatoes
b. Butter
c. Cream cheese
d. Milk
e. Lawry’s
f. Pepper

4. Stuffing
a. PW’s cornbread
b. Crusty French bread
c. Onion
d. Low sodium chicken broth
e. Butter
f. Celery
g. Fresh parsley
h. Dried basil
i. Fresh rosemary
j. Thyme
5. Turkey Gravy
a. Turkey Organs
b. Turkey Grease from Roasting Pan
c. Flour
d. LOW SODIUM Chicken Broth
6. Sweet Potato Casserole
a. 4 Sweet potatoes
b. Sugar
c. Milk
d. Eggs
e. Vanilla extract
f. Brown sugar
g. 1 cup pecans
h. Flour
i. butter
7. Oven Roasted Asparagus
a. Asparagus
b. Pepper
c. EVOO
d. Kosher salt
8. Blackberry Cobbler
a. Frozen Blackberries 6 cups
b. Sugar
c. Lemon juice
d. Lemon
e. Flour 2cups
f. Salt
g. Baking powder
h. Shortening
i. Butter
j. Egg
k. Milk
l. Vanilla Ice Cream
9. Cranberry Sauce
a. Can of cranberry jelly
b. Orange Juice
c. Pure Maple Syrup (not pancake syrup)
d. Cranberries
e. Cranberry Juice
10. Angel Food Cake
a. Angel Food Cake
b. Cool Whip
c. Crushed Pineapple
d. Strawberries
11. Rolls
a. Flour 9 cups
b. Sugar
c. Milk
d. Baking powder
e. Baking soda
f. Veggie Oil
g. Salt
h. Active Dry Yeast

So, there you have it. My Christmas Dinner Menu and the ingredients needed to make it. UGH. I hate the grocery store.

Happy Holidays,
The Southern Sass!!

Do the Truffle Shuffle!!!

2008-12-19T18:20:00.007-05:00

In anticipation of the extended family's Christmas Dinner on Monday, I've made truffles. We live a bit of a ways away from the rest of the family so I always make a dessert. Something that travels easily. These truffles/cake balls certainly fit the bill. I made Red Velvet Truffles and Oreo Truffles. I did deviate from Bakerella a bit. I just drizzled the bark over my truffles instead of fully coating them. What's the difference? Well, mine need to be refridgerated cause otherwise they get kinda mushy when warm for a long period. Still edible and still very good, just sticky. I did an oops though and had to come up with an alternate idea. I only bought 1 package of bark instead of 2. OOPS!!

These truffles are a fairly simple process and I grabbed the ideas from Bakerella. Just click the links above and you'll get her fabulously posted recipes. I just love her baking ideas and vow to give a few of the more complicated posts a try of my own.

Living Rooms

2008-12-17T20:33:00.001-05:00

In my search for my personal style, I've run across a few living rooms that I, L-O-V-E, love.

I love this room. The windows are awesome, as are the fabrics and furniture. This chandelier is magnificent. I love the fireplace, too. This one seems very tranquil, but I think the grays would be depressing after awhile. I really like this one, but Country Boy says he hates the artwork. I kinda hafta agree.

How you like that southern rednecky phrase? LOL!!This one just doesn't seem finished to me, but I like it. It just needs SOMETHING!!

I don't care for the flowers on the ottoman, but otherwise, not too bad.

I love this one. Those chairs look so comfy and I'm salivating over the rug. I want it now.

I've also found a few that I hate.

The chair in this one reminds me of Big Top Pee Wee's chair or Blue Clue's chair.

NO THANKS!!This one is horrid, in my opinion. It looks like someone threw up orange juice all over the place.

All these pictures came from BHG.com and they even sell some of the items in the pictures. So, go check them out. I did. The rug I want is $450. OUCH!! That one will have to be put on hold for, um, EVER!! I'm too frugal to spend that much on something my kids are going to spill juice all over. LOL!!

So, there's the living rooms I like. So far, that is. I'm sure to find more in the days, weeks and months before our move, so I'd love to see pictures of your living room or even pictures of living rooms that you'd love to call your own. So, post them in the comments or on your blog and link me to it.

Happy Holidays,

The Southern Sass

A Kentucky Dinner Staple

2008-12-17T19:25:00.006-05:00

Pinto beans, fried potatoes and cornbread. YUM!!!

A dinner that southern moms turn to on busy days. Especially, if you have this...

A crockpot is the way to go on busy days. I love mine. Overlook the greasy fingerprints on the stainless. That's what happens when you fry bacon and pour the grease into a stainless crockpot. Why do I love this crockpot so much? If you can see the writing on the lid, it's the Stay & Go model and it's spillproof. Just latch it down, unplug and go.

The only thing that would have made this meal better is this...

Collard Greens!! UMM UH!!!

Now we're talking!! Collard Greens are the DEVIL'S WORK!! I love them.

Kimba's Holiday Open House IS TODAY!!!

2008-12-16T14:39:00.005-05:00

Kimba over at A Soft Place to Land is having a holiday open house TODAY. Be sure to stop by and check it out. She's even giving away some prizes. YAY!! I seriously want one of her tablecloths. They are too cute. Maybe I'll win one? LOL!!

Anyway, get your blogging butts over to A Soft Place to Land and tell Kimba I said HEY!!

Schedule? What's that?

2008-12-15T12:46:00.003-05:00

Why is it when I have LOADS of things to do, my darling little pooper decides it's the perfect time for a nap just as we are getting ready to leave the house? It never fails. She does it to me nearly every time I have an appointment or need to be somewhere. She throws a fit and begs to go "nigh nigh", but on days we are home she won't take a nap to save her life. LOL!! Kids, gotta love 'em.

OMG!! THEY WERE FABULOUS!!

2008-12-11T19:03:00.005-05:00

Picture borrowed from Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman

The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, has Cinnamon Rolls that are to die for. I mean it. They are absolutely the best Cinnamon Rolls EVER created. I posted the link before, but because they are so absolutely wonderful I've added it to this post as well. To quote my dearly departed grandmother, "Lawdie mercy. Those are so good that your tongue will beat your brains out trying to get just a bite."

My hat's off to you, Ree, The Pioneer Woman. You sure know cinnamon rolls.

BTW, my crew devoured them so quickly I had to borrow a pic to show you all their awesome yummy goodness.

The Pioneer Woman

2008-12-09T20:11:00.012-05:00

Ree Drummond is a Godsend. I'm cooking my very first holiday meal and I want it to be the best meal anyone has ever had. So, I've turned to Ree's website, The Pioneer Woman, for tried and true recipes from a down to earth homemaker, like me. As much as I can claim to be like Ree. Oh, how I wish I were more like Ree. I'll just have to live vicariously through her website. So, with my deep dark secret wish to be more like Ree revealed here's my Christmas Day menu.

Christmas Breakfast

Christmas Dinner

Creamy Herbed Potatoes

Sweet Potato Casserole

Oven Roasted Asparagus

Cranberry Sauce

Rolls

Desserts
Blackberry Cobbler

Christmas Rum Cake

Christmas Cookies

So, there you have it. What The Southern Sass is cooking up for Christmas Dinner. This year we'll be celebrating on Christmas Eve, so our kids can open presents as home and know what it is to celebrate around THEIR Christmas tree. I'm so excited to be celebrating at HOME this year. I'm excited to have them run into our bedroom and jump on our bed, excited to see if Santa came. That's all I want for Christmas. To cook for the family and see my kids faces in front of our tree on Christmas morning. Oops, Christmas Eve morning.

Here's hoping that y'all get all you want for Christmas!!!

Kimba's Holiday Open House

2008-12-09T10:42:00.005-05:00

Kimba over at A Soft Place to Land is having a holiday open house next week. Be sure to stop by and check it out. She's even going to give away some prizes. YAY!! I seriously want one of her tablecloths. They are too cute.

I love Kimba and A Soft Place to Land. Her blog is always so creatively inspiring and full fun easy ideas to bless your home. Add her to you blogs to read list. You won't regret it.

Happy Holidays,

The Southern Sass.

One of THOSE days

2008-12-08T20:39:00.002-05:00

Have you ever had one of those days? You know the one I'm talking about. Where absolutely NOTHING goes as planned and bad news is the only news you get. Today was that day for me.

I overslept and was told the middle rugrat has 4 cavities. It was her first dentist appointment. OUCH!!
The cable guy shows and spends an hour lounging in my chair doing the same things I did and then leaves after telling me that I'll have spend untold amount of time with my laptop HARDWIRED to my modem and I'll be fine. UMM, YEAH RIGHT!! I'm still not able to maintain a steady internet connection. It's starting to get very annoying.
I called a store to check the status of the middle rugrats Christmas order and was told the product was unavailable and could take up to 28 days to ship.

I did, however, manage to get a workout in. YAY!! Here's hoping tomorrow is just a bit better in the bad news department.

New SpringWidget

2008-12-08T18:30:00.001-05:00

Give Thanks

2008-11-26T10:37:00.004-05:00

As Thanksgiving is only a day away, my mind turns more fully to the things I'm thankful for. God and life has been really good to us this year, so there's much to be thankful for.

I'm also trying to establish a few traditions in my young rugrats' lives. At dinner this year, the older 2 rugrats will be telling what they are thankful for. I'm hoping to get the whole extended family to take part in my new Give Thanks tradition.

Then, on Black Friday, I'm taking the rugrats out shopping. Only this year we won't be shopping for ourselves. We'll be picking a Christmas Angel and shopping for someone less fortunate. With the state of the economy, I believe that those of us that can afford to be generous should. I urge everyone to be generous this year. If you can't do so with your wallet, then be generous with your time. Food banks and shelters are overwhelmed at this time of year. I'm sure they'd welcome a few extra sets of hands.

My Give Thanks List

My Health~I'm healthy and happy.
Work~As all you know, Country Boy has a new job and it's slowly bringing forth the changes we were hoping for.
Home~While it may not be MY home, I'm thankful that we are able to put a warm, comfortable roof over our heads. A home of my own will come it God's time.
Country Boy~I love that man. More and more everyday. I'm thankful for the last 10 years and look forward to the next 10.
The Rugrats~Kids are kids and misbehave, but they are awesome kids that I love more than anything.

So, there's my list. I have a lot of other things I could add, but thats the just of it. I'd love to hear what you all are thankful for and what traditions your family observes during Thanksgiving.

Happy 10th Anniversary

2008-11-14T06:50:00.004-05:00

Today is my 10th wedding anniversary. It will also be the first weekend my husband and I since before our 8.5 year son was born that we've gotten a hotel room and stayed over night away from home for no other reason than to spend some much needed quality couple time together. When I told this to a girlfriend of mine, she nearly fell over in shock.

I think we deserve it. LOL!!

Dining Rooms

2008-11-07T10:36:00.008-05:00

While, I would never call myself a decorator or designer, I do consider myself a pretty good mimic. So following yesterday's post of Dream Kitchens, I've moved on to my second favorite room. The Dining Room. I have to say I LOVE a well put together dining room. I'm looking forward to having a separate dining room. It's on my list of requirements for the new house. Along with the dishwasher, but I promise I won't go there again. LOL!!
A "formal" or separate dining room is, in my mind's eye, a must for family gatherings and holidays. I want to set the table in beautiful dishes, cutlery, fabrics, flowers and candles. I want to sit at the end of a long rectangular table and look at the faces of my loved ones enjoying a fabulously delicious meal. It's long been a dream of mine and I'm determined to find just the right room to mimic, in my case. Here's my favorites that I've found so far.

Versailles by Ameri

Rate My Space

I'm not sure where this one came from. It was just in my Dining Room idea folder. I love the textures and coolness of it.

I really don't care for this room overall, it's just too americana country for me. What I love about it is the wall treatment. It's an argyle look. Very interesting, in my opinion.

Pottery Barn

Pier 1 Imports

Fine Dining without Reservations
*It's the 7th room in the studio

Pottery Barn

Haverty's

Rate My Space

At least I think that's where it's from.

Now, don't ask me which is my favorite. I really haven't narrowed it down, but I'd love to hear your thoughts on the ones here or post a link of your own.