Tear Jerker....MUST Read

This is such an inspirational story, be sure to grab some Kleenex!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/preps/story/1085692.html

Coffee, Tea, or Ice Cream Anyone?

Nothing beats a good mug. Recently I have had an obsession with mugs and the multifaceted appeal of them. A good, strong mug can be used for coffee, tea, ice cream, soup, etc., the list goes on. Take a gander and some of the caaaaauuuute mugs I found and let me know creative ways that you use them!

This set is perfect for the holidays! A warm cup of clam chowder would be delightful in this mug! VIEW

Wouldn't these make great stocking stuffers?!?! I just adore these. VIEW

Seriously, how cute are these? I would just love to drink my morning tea out of such cheery mugs! VIEW

Classic and I LOVE the colors! VIEW

Music to my Heart

I am in LOVE with John Mayer's new Battle Studies CD. I LOOOOOOOVE John (yes we are on a first name basis) and his music. I must admit, we had a bit of a falling out after he broke Jessica's heart, but he won me back over with this album release. It is a MUST HAVE CD everyone should put on their Christmas list.

Will I ever read again!?!?

Ever since I completed the Twilight series, I have not been able to "get into" a book. I find myself wondering why I cant get that "I don't care if I only get 2 hours of sleep, don't even THINK about talking to me right now, I will give up my social life in a heartbeat just see what happens next," spell that the Twilight series put on me! I recently learned about books by Emily Griffin. I orderd two of her books and I just cant wait to get them in my little hands! EEEEEEEEEEK!!!! I'm super excited about a new series to start, but a little scared that my Twilight obsession has completely ruined me FOREVER!

The first book: And the Second:
Wish me luck!!!!

Man-Flu

From the VERY reliable source Urban Dictionary, "Man Flu" is described as:

The condition shared by all males wherein a common illness (usually a mild cold) is presented by the patient as life-threatening. The patient will exhibit the standard symptoms (such as an overwhelming desire for compassion) while simultaneously rejecting any and all efforts you make to placate him.

To see an actual case of the "Man Flu" click here.

What prompted my Man Flu entry today you ask? Weeeeell, a VERY clever 6 year old that I know heard her mom use the term this weekend when describing why her boyfriend did not attend a weekend get together. The mom (my boss) stated "he's not here today because has the man flu."

Yesterday when the "man" arrived at after school care to pick up the very clever 6 year old, she yelled "ewwwww he has the man flu" and proceeded to run and hide under a table. The teachers then looked at the "man" with confusion and he explained that he had been sick over the weekend.

Once the man convinced the very clever 6 year old and the teachers that it was safe for her to leave with him, he asked her where she heard the term "man flu." Without the slightest bit of hesitation, the very clever 6 year old then threw her mom under the bus and stated "that's what mommy told her friends this weekend."

Oh kids, they never miss a thing!!!!

Perfect Pumpkin Cream Pie

This is a no fuss, deeee-lish pie that is perfect for fall get togethers, comfort foods or movie nights in! I cheated and bought pre-made shortbread crust that you can find in the baking aisle. For the filling you will need:

8 oz softened cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin1 pkg.

(3.4 oz.) vanilla instant pudding

1/2 cup milk

1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or allspice)

2 cups frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided
Cinnamon

Beat cream cheese and sugar, add pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, milk and vanilla pudding beat until smooth. Add 2 cups cool whip and beat for 1 min. Spoon into cooled crust. Add remaining whip cream on the top and sprinkle with Cinnamon. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours. Enjoy with a yummy cup of Russian tea per my dear friend over at Wrapped in Raffia!

Waaa-Laaa, doesnt it look so scrumptious!?

What gets you through your work day?

I don't know about you, but aside from my fabulous co-workers, PANDORA gets me thorough the day! I love how I can create a station and get a variety of songs played. It keeps me plugging along throughout the day with a smile on my face! Ohhhh the it's the little things in life.

So whats your "just get me through this day" vice?

INCREDIBLE RED

Nothing beats a good glass of red wine! Peachy Canyons Incredible Red Zinfandel has become one of my favorites! Its smooth, light, refreshing annnnnnnnd most of all AFFORDABLE! With the economy now days, who can afford to spend a fortune on a bottle of wine? This wine wont break the bank at only $12 and even better, it is carried by most grocery stores. So the next time you are in the mood for a great glass of wine you know what to get! Enjoy :)

Pumpkin Shortage...WHAT?!?!

That's right guys, its true. There is a canned pumpkin shortage! I was happily roaming the aisle of Harris Teeter this afternoon, collecting the ingredients to satisfy my craving for a pumpkin pie (I cant fail to mention that I am in no way shape or form a baker, so this was an unusual task). My basket was loaded up with everything needed, but for some reason I could not pin point where the canned pumpkin was? I looked up and down the baking aisle, the canned veggie and fruit aisle. I even checked out the displays in the front of the store. I thought I was going crazy, I just couldn't find the pumpkin goods anywhere! Giving in to my need to be "Ms. Independent" I asked the nice man (I had stormed by about 4 times at this point) that worked at Harris Teeter where the heck the pumpkin goods were being held hostage. He then proceeded to look at me like I was the craziest person on earth and stated "miss you aren't gonna find any canned pumpkin at any store around here." He further explained that because of the weather they were having trouble getting canned pumpkins shipped out or something bla bla bla. To be honest, by this point I had tuned him out. My only concern was "GREAT now I have to go back and put all of the ingredients that I DID manage to find back on the shelf!" The moral of the story is to stock up on canned pumpkin because you never know when there will be a shortage! Who would have thought.......

Burrrrr Soccer!

Andrew and I had the bright idea to join a co-ed soccer team (cute right?). WRONG! I don't know what we were thinking by joining a team that plays Monday nights in October-November. While most of you will be snuggled up WARM on your couches tonight, I will be running around outside for a 915 game, yes that's right, 915! I have a feeling that we will need to defrost when we get home tonight so pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease send warm thoughts our way :)

Thanks!

PS. I recently read the Book Running with Scissors. Its shocking, unreal, real,sad and completely out of control. I HIGHLY recommend it!

Pumpkin Tidbits

• Last years world record for pumpkin weight was 1,262 pounds!


• Pumpkins are rich in Vitamin A and potassium. They are also high in fiber.


• Pumpkins were once recommended as a cure for freckles and as a remedy for snakebites.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds:

1 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds2 teaspoon melted butter or oil salt to taste
(1.) Preheat oven to 350. (2.) Clean off any major pumpkin fibers and strings. (3.) Toss seeds in a bowl with melted butter or oil, and seasonings of your choice. (4.) Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet. (5.) Bake, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.

Curried Pumpkin Soup:

I love love love soups and this savory, creamy light soup looks delightful! For an extra creative touch, serve the soup out of small hollowed-out pumpkins. You will need:

large onion, finely chopped

1 cup celery chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 Tablespoons butter

1 - 29 oz. can pumpkin puree

4 cups vegetable (or chicken) broth

1 cup water

1 Tablespoon curry

3 Tablespoons brown sugar

½ teaspoon cumin

¼ teaspoon pepper

1teaspoon salt

2 dashes nutmeg,

¼ teaspoon thyme

1.Heat the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery and garlic. Cook until the onion is translucent, about 10 minutes. 2.Add the pumpkin puree, vegetable broth, water, curry, brown sugar, cumin, pepper, salt and nutmeg (everything else but the thyme). Reduce the heat to moderately low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. 3.Transfer the vegetable soup to a blender (working in batches) and puree until smooth. Add the thyme and taste for additional seasoning. 4. Ladle the soup into bowls and serve.
* May need to thin out the soup with additional water (especially when re-heating).

I cant wait to try this yummy soup out!

Flash Forward

For those of you who have not seen the show Flash Forward, I HIGHLY recommend it! I know I may be a little late in the game, seeing as how the show has already been playing for 3 weeks, but you can catch up on ABC.com (the link below). I was tired of being out of the loop when all of my co-workers were recapping episodes so I gave in and watched the first one online last night. I'm telling you, this show is a MUST SEE!!!!!!

PS. I dont know if you all are like me and have trouble finding a something to watch that you annnnd your man like, but this is truly a show that will keep you BOTH capitivated!

http://abc.go.com/watch/flashforward/235637?partner=rm&cid=KNC-rm+flashforward_title_fall_launch+google+flash_forward_abc

DC for the weekend

I am still in the process of recovering from a fun filled weekend in DC. Andrew had a good friend that got married and Rachel turned 25! Aside from the massive city rat (yes, thats right a rat the size of a small dog) that crossed our path on the walk back to the metro and the expensive bar tabs, we had a great time with great friends! Its always nice to get away for the weekend, but I must say "home is where the heart is" and its nice to be back!

Tomato Tart

This is such a yummy and simple side dish! You can make it as is or doctor it up a bit, but rest assured, you wont be disappointed.

Ingredients:

1 pie crust(I use the rolled up kind in the refrigerated section)
2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 TBSP. fresh basil, chopped
2 - 3 med. ripe tomatoes, sliced into 1/2 inch slices (I usually use two tomatoes)
1 1/2 TBSP olive oil
salt and pepper

Fit piecrust into a 9 or 10 inch tart pan with removable bottom. Trim off excess pastry along edges. Generously prick bottom and sides of pastry with a fork.

Bake at 400 degrees for five minutes.

Sprinkle cheese evenly over pastry, and top with 2 TBSP of basil. Arrange the tomato slices on top, brush with oil, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle rest of basil on top.

Place on a baking sheet, and bake at 400 degrees for 35 - 40 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Serves 8.

Spread the Word

Spread the word to end the word: Our language frames how we think about others.Help eliminate the use of the R-word in everyday speech.
http://www.r-word.org/