crazyland

Bucket Filler

2009-11-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

We have been counting our blessings all week long, and have much to be grateful for! However, there are some who, for whatever the reason, have to rely on the generosity of others.

Today, donate food to the local food bank.

There are many ways you can do this.
Most grocery stores have either food bags you can purchase, or donations that you can make. We all have enough that we CAN donate to the local food banks.

MUSIC TO COOK BY

2009-11-25T05:29:00.001-07:00

I spent some time yesterday getting my playlist ready for "the day of cooking". It's some of my favorite songs that are great to sing along with and soothing to chefs ears.

I added the playlist to my blog so that I could just park on here and listen away. If you scroll all the way down to the bottom of my blog and you'll see the new tunes. You've probably never been all the way down there before have you? It's pretty cool. There's music. And photos. And labels. Everyone needs labels.

Or you could just click this handy dandy link to go directly to the play list. I'm nice like that, aren't I?

Happy Listening, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-24T21:06:00.000-07:00

You want it, You got it. (Toyota)

2009-11-24T11:24:00.003-07:00

Wasn't that how that commercial went? Don't blame me, my fingers made me type that...

Anyway, several of you commented that you wanted that recipe for my Nestle Toll House Pie. And, even more of you emailed me for it. Seeing how I don't want to be typing the same thing over and over again-- 20 times over-- I thought I would just post it here.

I never make my own pie crusts. I suck at it, it takes too much time and I have other important things I need to be doing... Like blogging. I always buy the deep dish crust, and depending on how thrifty I am feeling will get either the Marie Calendars deep dish crust or the generic Wal-mart deep dish crust. I like them both, honestly. But, the Marie Calendars one seems to be flakier and it bakes better.

The number one thing you need to know about this pie, is that you can not cheat on it. If you do, it just doesn't taste the same. How do I know? Cause I'm a cheater, and it didn't work out so well with this recipe.

Nestle Toll-house pie

2 eggs, beat until white and foamy
1/2 C Sugar
1 C margarine, melted AND cooled *do not skip the cool down. It ruins the pie. Yes. I speak from experience*
1 C chopped pecans *i usually do 1/2 cup*
1/2 C flour
1/2 C brown sugar
1 C chocolate chips
1 Deep Dish, pre-made crust

Melt butter and set aside to cool. (I usually put it in the freezer. By the time I'm done with the eggs, the butter is nice and cool) Beat eggs until white and foamy. Mix everything else together, folding in the chips and nuts. Pour into a deep-dish pie crust. Bake at 325 for 1 hour. Top with ice cream and hot fudge. (you can re-heat the pie for like 15 seconds per slice. It tastes better hot...)

Enjoy!

This is actually my favorite pie AND I am the only one that likes it in my family. Sweet, eh?

Two of my favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

2009-11-24T08:52:00.001-07:00

My sister-in-law is a friggin' genius in the kitchen. No lie. The 2nd time I ever met her (after we had been married for 3 years) she made us a Thanksgiving Dinner. It looked like she had hired Martha Stewart to prepare and present our meal. It was beautiful. The table was incredibly set, our place settings were decked out and the presentation of each dish was just beautiful to look at! She had thought of everything... right down to the edible flowers for each side dish.

I kid you not.

Jefe's mom is the exact same way. She has this way of walking into a room and knowing the perfect ways to decorate. I stressed for days about the table decorations for this years dinner. After a sleepless night stressing (totally not kidding) I called my Mother-in-law. She brought down decorations, table cloths and place settings and within 10 minutes my table looked like it was meant to be in a Mid-West Living Magazine.

I keep yelling at my children to "step away from the table" because I want to keep the beauty around as long as is humanly possible.

My sister-in-law also makes the best stuffing I have ever tasted. I beg her yearly to make the stuffing and then I gorge myself on it. I have tried to make it myself, but its just not the same. She has even started making me my very own batch of stuffing for Christmas.

Can you say Unhealthy Relationship with food?

She also makes the most amazing Autumn Walnut Salad and it totally rocks my world. (repeat after me: Unhealthy Relationship with food) But in my defense, there is nothing better for me than eating good food, with the people I care about.

Isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about?

So, without further adieu:

Cornbread-sausage apple stuffing

12 Tbsp sweet butter (1 1/2 sticks)
2 1/2 C finely chopped yellow onions
3 tart apples (Johnathan and wineasp are good), cored and chunked. Do not peel.
1 pound lightly seasoned bulk sausage (the one with sage is best)
3 C coarsely crumbled cornbread (preferably homemade)
3 C coarsely crumbled whole-wheat bread
3 C coarsely crumbled white bread (french or homemade)
2 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried sage
salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 C chopped Italian parsley
1 1/2 C pecan halves

Melt half the butter in skillet. Add onions and cook over medium heat until tender and lightly colored. Transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Melt remaining butter in same skillet. Add apple chunks until lightly colored, but NOT mushy. Add to mixing bowl with onions. Cook sausage then add to mixing bowl, saving the juices from cooking the sausage. Add the remaining ingredients to the mixing bowl and combine gently. Cool completely before baking. Spoon into a casserole dish, cover and set inside another casserole dish. Pour hot water around the sides of your stuffing pan--until it comes halfway up the sides. (it really is important to do this-- it helps the stuffing to not dry out). Bake for 30-45 minutes at 325, basting occasionally with the cooking juices you saved from cooking the sausage.

yield: 12-14 servings.

Autumn Apple & Walnut Salad

2 Granny Smith apples - chilled
2 Red Delicious apples - chilled
1/2 C sherry vinegar, or more if needed
1 C chopped celery
3 scallions (green onions), cleaned and cut diagonally into 1/2 inch pieces. (lets be honest, shall we? I totally cheat here, and just cut those babies up. See why my SIL's presentation is always better than mine? I'm a cheater!)
1/2 C shelled walnut halves
4-5 tablespoons of walnut oil

Wash and dry apples. Core and chop, but do not peel. Toss in the bowl with the sherry vinegar. Add celery, scallions and walnut halves, and drizzle with 4 Tbsp of the walnut oil. Toss again. Taste and correct seasoning-- adding more vinegar and up to 1 more Tbsp more oil as necessary, and serve immediately.

*as a side note, this is really good served with spinach!*

yield: 4-6 servings

*What are some of your favorite recipes for Thanksgiving?*

Bucket Filler

2009-11-24T06:41:00.002-07:00

Did you know that there are actually people who have to work on Thanksgiving? It's true. There are. Gas station attendants, hotel clerks, airline employees, Blockbuster employees, Police officers, Fire fighters, Doctors, nurses... the list goes on and on... Life keeps on going, even when there is a holiday.

Today, you are going to buy several packages of these chocolates. Then, you and your family are going to identify who in your community will be working on Thanksgiving.
This is WAY more fun if it is someone that you don't know.
On Thanksgiving Day, you are going to go and deliver these chocolates and say
"Thank you for doing your job!"

Trust me on this one. Your family will love it!

*we delivered last year some chocolates to the blockbuster kid, the gas station attendant and the police officer sitting in a parking lot! We also do this for Christmas*

What are YOU thankful for?

2009-11-23T09:45:00.001-07:00

Bucket Filler

2009-11-23T06:39:00.001-07:00

In my old neighborhood, I always took my friends this yummy Toll-house Pie. It really is to die for. It started out that I had to buy more pie shells than I could use, so I started making extra pies and giving them away. It became a little addicting. I love to show up on peoples door 1-2 days before Thanksgiving with a pie for them, and when they ask why? I say "Just because."

When you are planning your menus for the food festival this week... plan for an extra pie to give away.

I promise you, it will be an addicting feeling and you will want to keep doing it!

Bucket Filler

2009-11-22T06:30:00.001-07:00

Simplify! Simplify! Simplify!

Pick one area of your life and simplify.

From now on we are going to Live Simply and Simply Live

Sunday Devotional

2009-11-22T05:43:00.000-07:00

Bucket Filler

2009-11-21T06:28:00.001-07:00

Dessert is my favorite part of the meal. I have been known to order dessert first when I go out to eat. Sometimes the people I am with get embarrassed... but I always tell them life is too short to not eat dessert!

Today, invite someone over for dessert.
You never know, you may make a new friend!

MMB's Holiday Giveaway

2009-11-20T10:48:00.003-07:00

So. You know that other place I hang out? My other gig? Dood. You need to go check it out. We are doing giveaways every single day with amazing Etsy shop owners.

(except next week, coz you all need to be cooking, not blogging).

Every day there will be two giveaways until the middle of December. TWO! We chose shops that sell some of our very favorite things!

So far, there have been 10 Etsy/Mom Shops featured:

White Lace Designs

Butterfly Blankets

Laken & Lila's shop

Bluetm

Spaces for Faces

Lambourne Photography

krize

monsoons & mangoes

Sweet Cake Bake Shop

Shabby Band Designs

We're also giving away a Jillian Michaels Wii Game and a Wii Fit Plus Board.

I KNOW! Crazy, huh? We still have about 20 more shops we will be featuring with giveaways. Crazy exciting! It's all in an attempt to encourage people to think Mom Shops this holiday season. Rather than give your cash to Wal-mart, Target or even Old Navy-- think Etsy. There are such amazing shops and things you can purchase. I love Etsy! Seriously love it!

Hurry now, and go enter. While there's still time!

Also, take the buy handmade pledge and
remember to shop Etsy this holiday season!

Random randomness and then some tunes

2009-11-20T07:12:00.000-07:00

"If you had a choice between pie heaven and regular heaven, I'd choose pie heaven. It's probably a trick, but if it's not, Mmmmmmm boy." — Jack Handy

About this time of year, that Adam Sandler song up there becomes our family anthem. Jefe wanders around the house singing "Gobble gobble goo. Gobble gobble giggle. I wish turkey only cost a nickle." It's time for some serious loosening of the belt, people.

Turkey, potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes and pie. Oh my.

I thought a Thanksgiving play list would be in order, but sadly, there just aren't that many thanksgiving songs. If you know of any others that aren't listed, let me know. I'll add it.

*****

We're having our first round of Thanksgiving this Sunday. Jefe's siblings and Mom are heading on over for the annual food festival. I really love Thanksgiving. My sister-in-laws favorite thing I make is my bacon wrapped water chestnuts. Seriously people. If you want to be the star of the event, you need to make these. Your guests wont leave the platter. I'm totally not kidding when I say they are to die for! TO DIE FOR!

Everyone tells me, "Oh. I make those. They're OK."

Uhh. No.

I have to shake my head and lovingly put my hand on their arms, then I shake them silly. You don't make MY chestnuts!! No one does!

But friends, neighbors and blurkers, come closer.

Closer.

Seriously. Get up here!

For the first time in history, I am going to share my secret recipe on how to make chestnuts that leave your guests begging for a triple batch every year.

Bacon Wrapped Water Chestnuts

1 can (8oz) whole water chestnuts, drained
1 package (16oz) bacon, sliced in half
6 Tbsp chili sauce or Ketchup (chili sauce is better)
3 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp Dijon Mustard (regular mustard works too)

*I always double my sauce, and that uses the entire bottle of chili sauce. *

Wrap each chestnut with 1/2 slice of bacon and secure with a wooden pick. Arrange bacon-wrapped chestnuts in a single layer in a shallow baking pan (i use a 9x13). Broil until crispy, about 5-7 min. Drain well*.
Blend chili sauce, brown sugar and mustard. Spoon sauce over each bacon wrapped chestnut.
Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
Yield: 30 appetizers**

*I never drain because I'm lazy and the pan is hot.
** I typically triple this recipe. If I don't there would be dog-fighting over the chestnuts. They are that good!

You're Welcome.

*****
Thing 3 (Ya-Ya as Moxie likes to call her) and I are going to hit the Nutcracker tomorrow. Our local little ballet troupe puts it on every year up at the local college. It is an outstanding show, with a live orchestra even.

We make an event out of it. We get all dolled up in our finest. Attend the ballet and then go out to eat. Last year she requested McDonald's as her fine dining experience. (gag) This year however, she requested "Apple Barrel." I'm thinking she couldn't decide between Apple Bee's or Crackle Barrel. We shall see where our stomachs lead us.

*****
Three more practices for my early morning choir and then we're done. DONE I say. Don't get me wrong, I love doing it. I just hate waking the kids up before Dawn had a butt-crack and listening to them moan about the injustices of me making them sing.

Whatever.

When they're old and have kids of their own, they will reflect back on our time together in Choir fondly.

At least they better, dang it.

*****
The basement is done with carpet and everything. Except now? The kids are afraid to go play down there alone.

I remember as a child being afraid of my parents basement. We would bound down the stairs, then pause at the bottom, while we reached just our arms around the corner to turn on the lights. Then we would run at mock twenty all the way down the hall to our bedrooms. If my Dad's office door was open, that was distressing, because then I would have to figure out how to close that door without looking at the window that was placed so rudely in front of the door.

What was I afraid of?

Seeing Michael Jackson's Thriller eyes looking back at me from all the various windows. Makes perfect sense, doesn't it?

I still to this day, when I go in my parents basement, do a mad dash to the end of the hall. You know, just in case Micheal's scary yellow Ghost-eyes are staring through the window.

*****
Whenever I am needing some new music to listen to, I head over here. I am a total blurker over there, but seriously? This gal has the best taste in music around! Her taste is impeccable, and I always love her play list choices. I promptly write everything down so I can download them for my very own to have and keep and lovingly play.

She also does a giveaway every month for a mix cd of her monthly play lists. Seriously fellow music lovers, go check out Passionistas blog. You will never want to leave!

*****
Do you think I use the word seriously enough?

Because seriously?

I love that word.

*****
My random 10 today is courtesy of Passionistas current November play list. I am loving it! Go get these songs. You will love them too!

Have a great weekend. I am cleaning like I'm ten Merry Maids all hyped up on crack. I have an entire house to clean, a playroom to move (to the scary basement), decorations to gather, and enough food to feed 16 people to make.

I'm tired just thinking about it.

Good thing I bought that extra 12 pack of Diet Coke and 3 bags of chocolate. That will keep the crack-induced-Merry-Maid-cleaning frenzy going. Don't you think?

{{did you post your random thoughts or songs? link up so we can all visit!}}

Catch ya on the flip side!

1. Blue Skies - Noah and the Whale
2. Spilt Milk - Kristina Train
3. Goodwin - Brooke Waggoner
4. Made for Glory - Landon Pigg
5. Dying Day - Brandi Carlile
6. Beautiful Day - Miranda Lee Richards
7. I Am A Storm -Adam Agin
8. Satellites - Matthew Perryman Jones
9. As Much As You Lead - Lex Land
10. On The Stage - Kate Walsh

Bonus: Rescue Me - Seth Wood

Bucket Filler

2009-11-20T06:26:00.001-07:00

Do you have a favorite notebook?
Today you are going to carry it with you.

Each time you feel an emotion-- that's good-- You are going to write down what it was that caused you to feel this emotion.

Did you feel love, peace, happiness, contentment, amazement, or joy?
Write it down.

At the end of the day, you can count all the things you have to be grateful for!

Actual Conversation

2009-11-19T07:49:00.004-07:00

ima10cow - We're all going shopping after Thanksgiving and going out for Breakfast and Lunch. Want to come?

Me: Uhh... I hate early mornings, standing in lines in the cold.

ima10cow: Well... Your other sister wants to park her RV out in front of Old Navy and sleep there. Then, when people start showing up we can run out and get in line. We'll each take turns standing in the cold.

Me: Wuh?

ima1ocow: Yeah. I know, huh? Parking the RV out front of Old Navy? Isn't that just the most redneck thing you have heard of?!

Me: OH! AND! We could totally take our portable firepit with camping chairs and set that up at the entrance too. That way the person whose turn it is to stand in the cold really won't be all that cold!

ima10cow: Maybe we should make posters and hang them up on the side of the RV that says: "We were first! Nee-ner Nee-ner Nee-ner! Don't you wish you were US?!

Me: Oh my gosh! That's awesome! If I'm anything at all it's totally tacky. Count me in!

My Dad: I'll go. Do you think I can get a water heater on the early bird special?

Bucket Filler

2009-11-19T06:22:00.002-07:00

Subconsciously we are all competing, in some form or another, with each other. Why do we make ourselves sick competing against strangers? It's dumb I tell you.

Today we stop.
No more comparing. No more competing.
We will just be grateful that we are who we are!

Wordless Wednesday

2009-11-18T06:28:00.005-07:00

Bucket Filler

2009-11-18T06:16:00.002-07:00

"Ignorance gives one a large range of probabilities". - George Elliot

The military has a code that they live by-- a "need to know" code. If you don't need to know, then they don't tell you. That is a great way to live your life. We don't need to know every stinkin' detail of every single person's life... it just creates drama.

Today, start living by the military's code... on a "need to know" basis.
Ignorance really IS bliss!
Besides, it will give you freedom like you have never dreamed!

Tuesday Trailers

2009-11-17T11:41:00.001-07:00

Steve Carell? Yes please.

Bucket Filler

2009-11-17T06:14:00.002-07:00

If you don't love it, live without it!

All too often we think we HAVE to buy something (my son is notorious for doing this) and then we never use it again... all in the name of consumption.
Today, adopt this as your new mantra: If I don't love it, I will live without it!

Bucket Filler

2009-11-16T06:13:00.000-07:00

"A perfect treat must include a visit to the second-hand bookshop." - Virginia Woolfe

I have a favorite second-hand bookstore that I like to haunt.

I get all giddy when I venture inside this lovely shop.

Have you found yourself a good second-hand bookshop?
If not, put finding a fabulous one on your list of priorities!

Bucket Filler

2009-11-15T06:11:00.001-07:00

November is typically skimmed over when it comes to holidays. We are on light speed for Christmas to come... yet we should be taking the time to think daily of our blessings.
Starting today, write one thing
(Either in your notebook or on your blog)
that you find yourself being grateful for.

Notice how it changes your attitude.

Sunday Devotional

2009-11-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

Bucket Filler

2009-11-14T06:09:00.002-07:00

Did you know that lack of sleep contributes to heart attacks?
Tonight, go to bed early and see if you don't wake up feeling better!

Random randomness and then some tunes

2009-11-13T06:28:00.000-07:00

It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man. - Jack Handy

Someone asked me if I had missed "all this time blogging" how is it I have been able to post every single day? Let me tell you. There is a handy-dandy feature called Post Ahead. If you look at the bottom of the box you are writing your post in, there is a blue, underlined phrase called "post options". Click that and a new box will open up under your post. On the right side of that box is Post date and time. You can change the date to be anything you want... If you change it to the future, then your post will post at the date & time specified.

When I was so sick back at the end of September, beginning of October, I wrote up all the bucket fillers until the end of December and scheduled them to post in the future. I wrote up a bunch of other random posts, and then literally walked away from the computer. It's actually quite liberating.

I love blogging. I love reading blogs. Yet, its so easy to get sucked into the blogging vortex. You know the one I'm talking about, right? The one where you emerge 4 hours later and wonder what the crap happened to all that time? With the kids and me being sick, I just didn't have that kind of luxury.

Besides all that, I think I have totally lost my freaking mind. I am on the Elementary and Junior High School PTA Board. I write the newsletter for the Elementary school and I'm planning a Career Day for 1,000+ JR high students. (wanna come speak? email me. I need 48 presenters)

I'm also planning a wicked awesome event for MMB that I think will rock your world when I announce it.

Then, I teach choir to seventy-five third-sixth grade students every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30-8:45am. For Free. And, yes. I do drag Moxie, Thing 2 and Thing 3 along with me. (much to Thing 2's horror) Then there are all the other regular mothering & household duties that come with having four children that range in age from teenagers to babies, a dog, a house and a husband.

THEN.

I've been having some personal problems that I have had to deal with, on top of everything else. Isn't that always the way it is? When you are crazy busy, your personal life tends to fall apart? Yeah. That's the story of my life.

So, with all that in mind, I had to make a decision. I've had to walk away from reading blogs for a little while. Just until I can I get back on top of my life that has spiraled totally and completely out of control.

So.

Yes, I have been absent from the blogging world. I know it doesn't look like it, but I have. I am missing you all terribly. I love peeking into your world and seeing the wonderful things you are doing. I have some crazy funny stuff that I am swirling around in my brain for posts as well.

Lets hope life slows down here, and does it soon.

*****
Glee has a soundtrack now you can buy. Did you know that? I have downloaded the entire thing onto my computer. Sadly, I know the harmonies to every single song and I sing a long like the total nerd that I am. I'm a 40-ish woman whose favorite show is a show about a bunch of hormonal, high school misfits that sing everything they are thinking. There's totally nothing wrong with that right? I mean, everyone lives their life in a musical, right?

I really do wish that I could break out into song and dance when I have a point to make... It would make that point so much more effective, don't you think?

*****

Have you seen the new lead singer for Journey? It's this little Asian guy that sounds exactly like Steve Perry. I had to do a double take when I saw who it was singing. That guy has some pipes on him and dude. He sounds just like the old lead singer.

It made me fall in love with that band all over again.

*****
When you sing songs, do you ever get the lyrics wrong? Boy, I do. All the time.

When I was a kid I thought the lyrics to Open Arms by Journey were "I need you Tuesday." not I need you to stay.

The song As I Have Loved You? Yeah. I sang it for YEARS as "by this shalmenno" (which I know is totally not a word). I remember thinking for year, what the crap does shalmeno even mean? It wasn't until I was an adult, teaching the song as a chorister that I realized what the words actually were.

What lyrics have you totally pooched before? Or, am I the only one that has ever done that?

*****
Have a wonderful weekend. I will be chill-axing in my newly finished basement. We get our carpet put in today and a new king sized bed delivered. Boo-yah!

Catch ya on the flip side!

1. Butterflies - Sia
2. Just Like Heaven - The Watson Twins
3. How Am I To Be - The Watson Twins
4. Something Good This Way Comes - Jakob Dylan
5. Over My Head (Cable Car) (live) - The Fray
6. Don't Think I Don't Thing About It - Darius Rucker
7. Somebody To Love - Glee Soundtrack
8. Keep It Loose, Keep It Tight - Amos Lee
9. Halo/Keep Walking On Sunshine - Glee Soundtrack
10. I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

Bonus: Don't Stop Believing - Journey