RANDOMNESS #1 - We're having trouble with our second Senior Photo Shoot of Katie. On Monday, the weather threw us off schedule and yesterday a fever (Katie's, not mine) cancelled our plans.
(I was more than willing to go, but Katie couldn't get rid of the flushed cheeks, black under-eye circles and half-closed eyes. I just don't think she tried very hard.)
This is from our first (and only) Photo Shoot. It will have to do.
RANDOMNESS #2 - Part of Austin's birthday gift to Melia was a little shopping trip to Charming Charlie to help her pick out a new purse.
After lunch yesterday, they headed to the best purse/accessory store on the planet and found this pretty bag.
Melia said Austin actually picked it by himself. I didn't ask if she helped or not... but I'm thinking she might have pointed him in the right direction.
RANDOMNESS #3 - Roxie decided she wanted to go shopping yesterday, and since we haven't been in awhile, I jumped all over that request.
She drove and I settled back in the passenger seat, closed my eyes and felt the sun's warmth on my face.
I have recently discovered closing your eyes while riding with your kids is much like closing your eyes while riding a roller coaster. It's much more enjoyable if you don't KNOW you are about to go upside down, loop-the-loop or careen around corners at 95 miles per hour.
Ignorance is indeed "bliss."
And obviously Roxie wasn't too concerned.
I'm posting a Christmas tree picture BEFORE Thanksgiving. Do NOT tell Mikie.
RANDOMNESS #4 - Mike and Roxie are headed to JSU tonight to watch the JSU Women's Basketball game with Austin.
Austin misses a lot of Roxie's games because of school, but he loves basketball as much as his sister, so they should have a fun night out.
Quotable Quotes
"If you're not prepared to lose every friend you have over a board game, you're not playing hard enough."
I really, truly believe this with all my heart.
Blog Linkage - Go to www.kellehampton.com and read the post entitled "Reindeer Labels" dated November 17. If you are planning a Christmas Party for your kiddos, having a Reindeer Food Bar is a GREAT activity. Check it out.
Chocolate Cobbler
Pinterest strikes again! Not one, but TWO, Pinterest recipes have been provided for you this beautiful Monday morning.
You will need the following:
Cobbler Layer
2 sticks butter
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 1/2 cups self-rising flour
1 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 cup milk
Chocolate Layer
1 cup sugar
6 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 cups boiling water
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a 9" x 13" glass baking dish, melt two sticks of butter in the oven.
3. In a bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, vanilla and milk.
4. Once the butter is melted, pour the batter over the butter, but do not stir.
5. In a separate bowl, mix the cocoa and remaining sugar.
6. Sprinkle cocoa and sugar mixture on top of batter. Do not stir.
7. Pour the 2 cups of boiling water on top of that. Do not stir.
8. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes. Serve warm. Great with ice cream.
Really, really easy.
Really, really delicious. (Hello, Thanksgiving Day Dessert!)
Cranberry Cream Cheese Spread
You will need the following:
1 (12 ounce) package fresh cranberries
1 cup white sugar
1 cup apricot jam
1 cup chopped pecans
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Combine cranberries with sugar in a 2 quart baking dish with a lid. Stir well to coat all the berries. Bake in the preheated oven (covered) for about 30 minutes (until the cranberries pop and release their liquid).
3. Remove from oven and stir in the apricot jam and pecans.
4. Refrigerate overnight to blend the flavors.
5. To serve, allow the cream cheese to come to room temperature and pour cranberry mixture over the block of cream cheese on a serving dish. Serve with buttery round crackers or small pretzels.
Behold! New Thanksgiving Dish Number TWO!
New-to-Me Christmas Ideas
1. Create a CD, Pandora station or iPod playlist with your favorite Christmas songs. Have it ready as background music for all the other fun stuff you're going to be doing this season!
2. On Thanksgiving afternoon, start a new tradition of making Christmas ornaments. Imagine trimming your tree when your kids are teenagers and looking back at those little ornaments you made so long ago!
3. Have a Minivan (or SUV) Express! Watch Polar Express. After putting kids to bed early (but before they fall asleep), gather them up and present them with their Golden Ticket while the Conductor (Dad) whisks them off to the car for more lights, Christmas music and milkshakes. (Oh, how I wish I could do this NOW!)
4. Ask the grandparents if they would like to take the kids shopping for Mom and Dad, while Mom and Dad enjoy a dinner out during the busy holiday season.
5. Attend a Christmas play or musical production put on by another church.
6. "Elf" your neighbors and friends! (We are SO going to do this. I'm going to make sure everyone has a tacky "Elf" hat and we'll bake treats to leave at friends' and neighbors' front doors. I'm going to make little tags that read, "You've been ELFED!")
Have a truly magnificent Monday. I'll be back bright and extremely early Friday morning. (I'm going to post BEFORE I leave for Black Friday!) I'll have Thanksgiving pics, Weekend Happenings, Randomness galore and much, much more.
Take care, and I'll talk to you Friday.
Sincerely,
The Enchanting Belinda
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