Happy Birthday to my Big Sis!

Today is your birthday, Holly, and I hope you have a great day! I just want to say thanks for always being such a good big sister to me. I couldn't have wished for a better one. I love you very much and again, have a Happy Birthday! I can't wait to eat some yummy cake. Yay! Feel free to hop on over to her blog and wish her a Happy Birthday.

Our Little Visitor

This is Oscar! I know some people who aren't too fond of pugs (Arthur included), but I think his little squished puppy face is adorable. I mean, c'mon, who doesn't love puppies?!? You're crazy if you don't! I had a rough day today-people were getting on my nerves. So it really brightened up my day when one of our member's brought in their little puppy today. He was so sweet and relaxed. Sometimes I do think I'm working in the wrong profession, I need to be around animals. I think I'd be much happier doing that. Something to think about...

Stuffed Mushrooms Galore!

Here are the mushrooms I was so excited to make. I mean look at them, the mound of seasoned goodness, sprinkled with melted cheeses. Don't they just look scrumptiously to die for?!? MMmmm, good and super tasty??? Well, they're not! They were disgusting, blech!!! I took one bite and spit it right back out. I'm not much of a seafood person, and the taste of clam was overwhelming. You should have seen me chopping those little clam babies up. I almost gagged a few times, all in the name of cooking. I thought I'd at least get to enjoy the fruits of my labor. :( The ones at the Olive Garden are great, and they make them with clams as well. For some reason though, these were just too much. If you love clams, then this could be the recipe for you. Tonight was not my night; I'm bummed. Another cooking disaster! At least Arthur kind of likes them (he's probably lying to me). Did he just spit one in the toilet? I think he did. Hmph! Can dogs eat clams, I wonder???

Copy Cat

Lately I've been on this Olive Garden kick. I just can't seem to get enough of it these days. This is sad, but last night I dreamt of their stuffed mushrooms. So, naturally, I have been craving them ALL day long, and I won't be satisfied until I get them. Rather than take a little trip over to Olive Garden, I was able to locate a copy-cat recipe (on cdkitchen.com) of these particular stuffed mushrooms online. They also have rave reviews (and taste just like the real deal); I will have to try them out tonight. I have my grocery list and I'm ready to go!!! Here's the recipe in case any of you happen to LOVE them the way I do. :) And you better believe I will be posting the results soon. Wish me luck!

Ingredients:
12 fresh mushrooms
1 (6 oz.) can clams (drained and finely minced)
1/4 c. clam juice for stuffing
1 green onion, chopped finely
1/8 tsp. garlic salt
1/2 tsp. minced garlic
1 tbsp. melted butter, cooled
1 tsp. oregano leaves (some reviews suggest using less)
1/2 c. Italian style bread crumbs
1 egg, beaten
2 tbsp. finely grated Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. finely grated Romano cheese
2 tbsp. finely grated Mozzarella cheese
1/4 c. finely grated Mozzarella cheese, for garnish
1/4 c. melted butter, for topping
Freshly chopped parsley for garnish

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Wash and remove stems from mushrooms, pat dry. In mixing bowl, place clams, onion, garlic salt, minced garlic, butter and oregano. Mix through and blend thoroughly. Add Italian style bread crumbs, egg, clam juice and blend. Stir cheeses in clam stuffing and mix well. Place clam mixture inside mushroom cavity and slightly mound the mixture.

You should be able to stuff between 8-12 mushrooms depending on their size.

Place mushrooms in slightly oiled baking dish. Pour butter over mushrooms. Cover and place in oven for about 35-40 minutes.

Remove cover and sprinkle freshly grated Mozzarella cheese on top and pop back in oven just so the cheese melts slightly. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Voila!

What Olympic Sport Are You?

Keeping in the Olympic spirit, I thought I'd post another quiz that I got off of my mother's blog. I have to agree with this one,too. I love archery!!! Love it, love it, love it!!! It's too bad I've only done it a couple of times in my life. Girl's camp and junior high school. I think I was pretty good at it, if I do say so myself. :)

You Are Archery

You are a bit of a traditionalist. You like old fashioned things with deep traditions. You also like to see the result of your accomplishments right in front of you. If practice makes perfect, that's fine by you. You like to practice a skill.

What Olympic Sport Are You?

Butterflies and Books!

Yesterday I received a couple of birthday presents in the mail. How exciting!!! Not just one present, but two. It was like my birthday all over again. So let me just say thank you to both my sister and my best friend, Nicole. I love my gifts!

My sister had gotten me a Live Butterfly Garden; she's had one before and really enjoyed it. After I received the supplies and little enclosure for the butterflies, I sent out the coupon for my live caterpillars. And I was so happy to see that they finally arrived yesterday. Over the next couple of weeks or so, they will grow larger, turn into chrysalides, and develop into Painted Lady Butterflies.

Here they are, the little wormies, eating their poop-like food. Behind them, is their net-like enclosure that they will live in once they turn into chrysalides. I can't wait!!! I'll post pictures as they develop.

Now onto my second gift of the day. Nicole sent this really sweet book to me, I Like You by Sandol Stoddard Warburg. It's the cutest book and really describes our relationship to a tee. Nicole, you can be the crocodile with the doily on its head, I'll be the crazy lady in the hat, okay?!?

I thought that these pages near the end were perfect, except what's up with the look on that camel's face (it looks like he wants to hurt someone). But seriously, it's exactly how I feel about you, Nicole. It reads, "I would go on choosing you, And you would go on choosing me, Over and over again"

"That's how it would happen every time, I don't know why". Yes, Nicole, if I had to do everything all over again, you will always be my best friend!
Thanks again, girls. I love both of you very much!!!

Happy Birthday, Taylor!

Today my little brother turns 14! Eeeek!!! I still remember when you were a baby; I still remember changing your stinky little diapers, too. Those are not so pleasant memories, lol. You have always been such a vibrant crazy little kid, and I love you for it. You can always make me (and everyone else around you) laugh. I hope you have the bestest birthday eva! Happy 14th, bro!!!

My Twilight Character Results?

Which Twilight/New Moon Character are you most like? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Edward You are Edward Cullen, a very hot and amazing vampire who can play the piano amazingly well. Sometimes you care too much about those you love and your gallant intentions often get in your way, but it all works out in the end! (usually) Edward 60% Isabella 50% Rosalie 40% Jacob 40% Alice 20%

Take the quiz and find out which character you're most like!

Me No Likey My Pork Chop

This afternoon I thought I'd try a new recipe. It didn't go so well. I got this Italian Porkchops recipe from a website that had really good reviews. Maybe it's my oven, maybe I overcooked it, but one thing is for sure- it is not a recipe I'll be making again. Notice the burnt cracker crumbs on that chop. Yuck! Thankfully my mashed potatoes tasted delicious, as always.

My new monitor

Arthur and I have been wanting a new flatscreen monitor for a while now. We were still rockin' the old school monitor, you know, the one that weighs like a hundred pounds and takes up all the space on a computer desk. Ugh! Finally our old monitor gave out on us (happy dance), and I was FORCED to buy a new and much better one. Yay! I guess I'll call this my birthday present to myself. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TARA!!!

Introducing the Twilight Blog

Thanks to Cindy, we now have our very own Twilight blogpage. You can view it at: twilight-to-breakingdawn.blogspot.com. For all you die-hard fans, you won't be disappointed. Everyone is already doing their best in making this blog everything it can be. :) If you haven't read these books, you must. They're so good; I'm finding myself dreaming of Edward these days. Yes, corny, I know. I can't help myself. I've never been into reading so much, but these books I couldn't put down. The author, Stephenie Meyer, truly did an amazing job writing these. I also recommend her other book, The Host, though it may take a hundred pages or so to start to get into the whole storyline. But it does get better, and I really loved that book as well. Well, what are you still reading this for. Hop on over to our Twilight page already. Go on now, git!

Big Birthday Bash!!!

This weekend I had the privilege of spending my birthday weekend with most of my family (my dad wasn't able to be there :(). I drove up Friday night, to get my last book of the Twilight series at Wal-Mart at midnight. Saturday, my mom, sister, youngest niece Cali, and I went to Olive Garden for lunch. It was so delicious! Thanks Mom!!! We then came home where I was soon quarantined while they prepared the most awesome birthday party, or concert? shall I say. When they were FINALLY ready for me (I had fallen asleep upstairs actually and didn't mind at all), I came down the stairs to the sounds of Hannah Montana blasting through the living room. Rather than a tiara, I received a Hannah Montana headset to wear during the party, I loved it Holly. I almost wore it to bed last night even, then decided it might be painful. After the chocolate cake, funny tasting ice cream, and presents, there was karaoke. I only sang a couple of tunes, which was a good thing to all who were there. :) Good times! We then finished the night with an evening swim. The swim was nice and relaxing, minus the whiff of dead animal nearby. We thought about looking for the carcass, but then thought better of it. It's better to let it rot in peace, as I always say. Always...cause I'm always finding rotten carcasses. We finished my "birthday" day with some good ole Balderdash. My family always gets a kick out of that game; we can come up with some crazy stuff, and I always laugh so hard at the definitions we come up with. I could so go for another round right about now, but alas, I am at work yet again. poo. And Sunday, my grandmother, grandfather, uncle Randy, and aunt Cindy came over for hamburgers and hotdogs. It was great that we got to spend time together, though I may have been reading while we socialized. C'mon, it's a good book, I couldn't help myself. Later that night, we played Sardines. For those of you who've never played that game, it's basically hide-and-go-seek backwards. One person hides, and everyone else seeks. When you find the hidden person, you hide along with them; the last person who is left will find everyone else crammed into the hiding place like sardines. :) It's a fun game that we like to play. It was sad to see my mom and brothers leave yesterday morning. I miss them already. Thanks guys for such a great weekend and for making all my dreams come true. I've always wanted to be Tara Montana for a day. It was great!

Me, Cali with cracker, and Holly in front of Olive Garden after our delicious lunch. I just love their stuffed Chicken Marsala. I highly recommend it!


Notice how my mom had leftovers to take home. I did not. I was too freakin' hungry and ate like a P-I-G, seriously.


Here's the kitchen as the festivities began (music in the background). Napkins galore!!!


The cake made me crack up. Holly is just so creative isn't she. She cut out my face and pasted it over Hannah Montana's while my mother decorated the rest of the cake. Good job, ladies!


I LOVED my headset. Ella loved it more. Whenever we got to the karaoke part of the evening, she wore it and sang like she was truly giving her own concert. She was so cute.


Ella, Aubrey, and myself posing for a picture.

The Release of Breaking Dawn!

I had originally pre-ordered Breaking Dawn, until my sister convinced me that it would be much more fun if she, my mom, and I went to Wal-Mart at midnight (Aug. 2nd) and wait in line for the book. So I cancelled my online order, and drove up with them and her friend Melissa for some much needed fun. Thanks Holly for deciding to do this, it was fun! The above picture, though slighly blurry, is of us waiting in line for our books. Notice our pretty stickers and Breaking Dawn buttons. :)

The line wasn't that long, which was nice. Here are all the Twilight fans ahead of us in line waiting for their much awaited final book of the Twilight series. At the point, I was feeling slightly giddy.


I let my emotions take over, holding back my screams. Finally, I have the book!!! By the way, I'm more than halfway through it now. It is sooooo good!


Here we are at home, all of us reading a different book of the series. I'm on the final book (book 4), my mom is on New Moon (book 2), and Holly is on Eclipse (book 3). Yeah, I know, it's pretty corny, but the picture was too great not to post. lol

It's official, I'm an old fart!

My birthday celebration began yesterday, thanks to my wonderful co-workers. I love you guys! They "surprised" me with a beautiful cake and giftcard to one of my favorite stores, that's right-Victoria's Secret. Yesssss!!! Unfortunately, I didn't think to take a picture of the cake before I dug into it, oops. Here's the cake, just a couple of minutes after the madness began. Lucky for me, I'm not working today.




This is the beautiful cake Arthur got for me today to celebrate this horrible day, the day of my birth 26 years ago. Ugh! I can't believe I used to get excited about birthdays, now I dread them. :( At least this Baskin Robbins ice cream cake was delicious. I very much enjoyed eating it, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it for days to come. Thanks Arthur, you're the best!


I know I look a bit psychotic in this picture, but that's kinda what I was going for. Psycho birthday girl ready to cut her cake. "Hurry and take the picture already, geez!"


Chloe and me on my "special" day.