My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalms 73:26

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Time to Face the Music

So I guess I'm in the beginning of a mid-life crisis.

My baby, my last born, is 18 now. You know.. I thought I would handle it well. WRONGO! Every time I look at her I just feel forlorn. I'm watching her grow and getting prepared to start her life. I know it's a good thing & I am so incredibly proud of her, but at the same time, I just got her back and it hurts.

Maybe I should re-start my book, or go to school – it's either something productive or chop my hair off, buy a mustang and get a boyfriend (OK not the boyfriend)


 

Vicki

Friday, December 25, 2009

The Blizzard of Christmas 2009

blizzardI opened my eyes to hear the sharp sound of ice hitting the roof on the morn of Christmas Eve.   By mid day, the storm had hit.  Wind howled, snow fell left to right, and the street no longer existed, we seemed to be alone on our street. 
My husband had to leave to take Nick to work early, and it took blizzard2only about 1/2 the trip for the storm to hit.  Leaving Nick at work, Gayle came home having mad as hell that Nick insisted, even though we were expecting the blizzard of the decade, to go to work and the phone rang.
Rob… on his way home ran off the road and into a ditch… a rescue mission was sent.  They got home, sans car, and the storm was white out.   
Finally about 2, Nick called, no business at Wal-Mart… worried to about getting home.. well we couldn’t go get him (white out – duh) so he had to wait until the storm lifted.  And it finally did and off Gayle went, along with Alissa, for a second set of eyes. 
Finally, they all got home and I was fully relieved. 
stuckcar2We ended up opening presents on Christmas Eve because for once in years we were all in the same place at the same time.
Fast Forward to Christmas Day:
stuckcarTried to get Robs car out, didn’t work: Here’s some pics

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

I’m Certifiable!

I finally got Red Cross/CPR certified today. It wasn't a hard class… mostly common sense, a few techniques.

The company I work for paid for my training, so it was nice. We had a lot of fun and I did enjoy. I think everyone should learn the basics.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Home made taco seasoning

2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt

A Slightly changed Ginger Molasses Cookie stolen from Paula Deen






This is Paula Deen's Ginger Cookies w/a little less sugar – and yes, of course, butter

¾ cup butter

¾ c sugar

1 large egg

¼ cup Molasses

2 c all purpose flour

2tsp baking soda

1tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

½ tsp cloves

½ tsp kosher salt

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Heat oven to 350, line cookie sheets w/parchment paper

Cream butter and sugar in one bowl, add Molasses and egg and mix completely

Sift all other ingredients together and add slowly to wet – incorporating a little at a time.

Put a little sugar in a bowl – roll dough into 1 in alls then roll into sugar. Place about 1 in apart on cookie sheet and bake 12 – 14 minutes.

Enjoy!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Decisions….

I have a decision to make at work and I really want to make sure I make the right decision.

Our office is divided into section that deal with different banks. I work for the section that deals directly with Chase. Well I have been offered to move to Barklays. The offer was made before and I decided against it due to some bad input I received from a couple of people, but now I don't know.

After being reoffered, I spoke to a couple others and they love it! My other concern was that if I take it, would that prevent me from being able to be considered to a better job? Well the supervisor said no… he'd never keep anyone from moving up.

I told him I'd let him know Monday – I am looking at rare to no bonuses, but the stress would be downgrades INCREDIBLY.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bars

I found this recipe online. I LOVE THESE!





For Cake Base:

2 sticks margarine (or butter if you want to indulge) -- softened

1 and 1/4 cups brown sugar-- packed

3 large eggs

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 and 1/2 cups flour

1/4 cup minced dried cranberries

1/4 cup quality white chocolate -- coarsely chopped

1/4 cup minced candied ginger


For Frosting:

4 ounce cream cheese -- softened

1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons butter -- softened

1 teaspoon vanilla

For Frosting:

4 ounce cream cheese -- softened

1 and 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons butter -- softened

1 teaspoon vanilla


For Garnish:

2 Tablespoons minced dried cranberries

1/3 cup white chocolate chips (e.g. Ghiradelli or Guittard) – melted

Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.

Beat butter and sugar together for the cake base, and add eggs/vanilla beating until fluffy. Sift together flour, ginger, and salt and then add to the butter/sugar mixture beating well. Fold in the cranberries, chocolate and ginger. Spread thick batter in pan and bake for about 20 to 25 minutes or until light golden.

When cake is cooled, mix all frosting ingredients together and spread a thin layer over the cake. Immediately sprinkle with the minced cranberries. Then use a cake decorating bag of melted white chocolate with a tiny decorating tip (like the size used for writing on cakes) and drizzle the chocolate over the cake.

Cut this into bars immediately because the white chocolate hardens pretty fast and makes cake cutting messy