A funny thing happened...

So, first of all PSYCH!!!


If you click the link below in the last post, I was all super serious about moving to another site and creating an awesome food blog, blah blah blah. Which I did and worked pretty well for a while. Then, I got burnt out and changed jobs and didn't have time to pour into new recipes and pictures and editing pictures and lengthy posts.


So, I'm not doing that anymore. And if you go to the 'new' website you get one link back to this older blog.


I think old is good. This is my VINTAGE blog. I'm happy with it the way it is.


I intend to only write things I want, so you can't really expect anything consistent like food, art or renovating posts like before. I think I'll just ramble a bit and enjoy spritz out some awesome words into a post. If that's not what you want to read, I get it. I only spritz for the enjoyment of spritzing.


So, now that we have that out of the way and I've began 3 lines with 'so', we can move on to important stuff, like my weekend.


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Let's start again....a funny thing happened.


So, there I was (ha, I worked in another 'so!') out shopping with my daughter. I call her 'the girl'. Or I did when I used to post all the time, which I don't. So, I thought I'd remind everyone i.e. myself. We bought her some new shoes to go with an old outfit (see, told you I like vintage) for a party with a friend this week.


Afterwards, we had some extra time, so I took her by the nail place to get pedicures. I thought it would be fun, and also important because she bought open toed sandals, and hello you gotta have cute toes.


Well, our normal place was too busy for a walk in, so we drove to a new place. The new place is closer to my house and actually ended up cheaper. SCORE! I thought it couldn't get better than this!


Then, The Fireman's (a.k.a. my dear husband) ex walked in. YIPES!


Actually, it wasn't that bad. She was fine. It was just weird. She tried to say hi and was polite. She eventually tried to tell me all sorts of stuff about my/our boys...Yes, it was weird. Especially when she acted like I had no idea how they were as kids....um....didn't they live with me exclusively for several years? But I kept my mouth shut. I know. Shocking.


She did slide in a jab about, "Well, I hope you like your nail color....*loaded pause*." Cause, ya'll, I picked a mossy green shade. I happened to LOVE it. I think it's really pretty on ma toes.


So, I just shot her a brilliant smile and said, "Yea, I know. I just love fun shades on my toes! Gotta do something fun for myself!" To which she replied, "Oh, yeah. Me too....just not today." and waved her boring burgundy fingers at me.


Disclaimer: Just so you know. I totally like burgundy. Maybe not for summer, but I don't judge...typically. I'm just having a catty moment.


Ok, I'm done with my catty moment. The pedicures were fun. I enjoyed being with the girl. I enjoyed the male nail dudes. Wait, did I forget to mention that? That was weird, too. But cool! They did a super good job!


I will actually likely go again. Even though there's always a chance I'll run into the Fireman's ex. It happens. I won't let it stop me. I roll with it.


The moral of the story: Be polite even in tough situations. Be the bigger person. Be catty afterwards. No, not really. Well, maybe a little really.

The Quest of Sensible Shoes

So, I have this question. Is it possible to wear sensible shoes and still look fashionable? It's possible that because I'm now past thirty that I'm getting 'old foggery' and worry about my feet. I wear high heels to the office and my feet and shins hurt every day. This could be partly because I have flat feet and have foot issues, but I ignore that in the favor of fashion.

Is it possible to still be fashionable?

I think so. I did some serious searching online and looking at pinterest's fashion pages. I got lots of ideas. A lot of it was breaking this idea in my head down that you couldn't look 'businessy' without stilettos. I'm starting to think I was wrong.

The fireman gave me some ideas too, cause men look at women. They know what they like.

He even said he'd go shopping with me last weekend, on Sunday after church. But since I knew I'd try on five kagillion pairs of shoes, I took a test run and went with the girl on Saturday. We stopped at a ton of places and tried on a ton of shoes. Her too, cause it's fun.

This is what  I came up with.

Just Chatting

The fireman took the youngest boy to see Ghost Rider 2 3D. I can't remember what the full title of the movie is. I think they had fun, but the fireman said that it wasn't as good as the first one. It was a little more 'insane', he said. Also, they retold a bit of the original plot. Strange.

I think it's really cool that he's taking time with each of the kids outside of the house. Of course, we try to have time with each of the kids, but to go out and do something together is pretty cool.

The girl and I stayed in Friday and watched DVR'd tv shows and played Racko....she rules.

Random Notes

It's been sunny and warmish the last few days.

Not sure what's going on with Mother Nature. Surely she's confused.

I haven't been doing much baking. I have approximately a week and a half left on my diet. I have 4 pounds to go to my goal weight. Yippee!!

After the fireman and I lost our holiday weight, we each decided to go down a few more pounds than our goal weight last year on the Dukan Diet.

My mom and dad are now on the Dukan Diet and are doing well, as is my sister! Go family!

So, I haven't been baking.

I haven't been cooking all that much either. The hubby's been grilling. It's been so nice outside! And then last night, I made Ham & Pineapple. It was good, by the way. I didn't eat any pineapple....

The fireman made twice baked potatoes for the girl, without the skin. I know, she's strange. She ate it all warmed up and melty in a bowl. Sounds kinda good, actually.

And I had a cold. Boo.

I tried Julian's Smart Carb bread last night. Our local natural foods store has it. It's net 1 carb per slice. It's loaded with dietary fibers from sprouted grains and seeds that are easily digested. I put a slice of it in the toaster oven with two slices of deli ham and a slice of swiss cheese and toasted it.

Oh, yum.

I will get back to the cooking/baking soon. The brick wall is coming along well. I'll be able to update with the backside soon! The fireman is crazy focused on getting it done. I'll probably work on it some tonight.

We're also working on reorganizing our pantry/freezer. It gets stuffed full and then we don't know what we've got in there. I don't like doing the whole, what's for dinner thing. So, we're making a list. A dinner ideas list and a 'what's in the freezer' list.

And just because I got her to sit still long enough. A picture of the kitty, Willow.

 We rescued her from a shelter a year or so ago. She's sweet, she's pretty. She's tiny, about 8 pounds.

She likes to sleep on our clothes.

Movie Night

So, last Friday night, the girl and I went to the local town's theater to see We Bought A Zoo.

It was really good. Really, really good. I maybe might have possibly teared up once or ten times.

And not in the 'it's so sad and depressing' way, but in the 'grabbing your heart and moving it way'.

That sounds like a horror movie. It wasn't.

We loved it.

I really love small towns. Have I said that before?

This was our little local Town Theater.

Right before we left for the movie, it started snowing. It started snowing hard. I considered staying home.

It was swirling and crazy.

Lovely

Snow, snow, snow

Snow again. We woke up with yet another day of white outside and wind blowing billows of snow around. Quite beautiful, if you ask me.

For other people, not so much. I know those that work in the snow don't enjoy it as much, but from the comfort of my office with my electric space heater under my desk and looking out my window at it, it's quite nice.

The fireman and I enjoyed some of our Moonshiner Burgers last night. We made 3 pounds worth for just the two of us. Yum! I can enjoy them tonight for dinner as well.

If you haven't tried them, you really should. They are amazingly good.

The Fireman

The Fireman, he left me this in my jeep this morning.

Hope it brings you a smile.

It definitely brought me one.....or twelve.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Happy New Year!

The fireman and I wanted to send a toast out to everyone.

This was from a local pizzeria.
Happy New Year!!

Christmas Recap

I really wish I could share photos from the Christmas Eve service from church Saturday night. The girl and I watched Christmas Hallmark movies from our DVR all day. Then, we got all dolled up and headed to church!

It was one of those candlelight services, and they read Mary & Joseph's story, and we sang carols between the verses.

It was beautiful.

It was magical.

And everything Christmas was about.

Christmas Dinner

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! I sure had a nice time. I haven't uploaded all of my Christmas Day photos, but stay tuned for those. What I did take pictures of to share was our dinner.

We made Ree's Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Drizzle from The Pioneer Woman. I made the drizzle with balsamic vinegar and sugar, reducing it by a little more than half. It was pungent, tart and sweet. I tossed some dried cranberries in with it too. They were crunchy from roasting in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper.

Fantasy Fudge

Does anyone remember this recipe? It's seriously old. It's one of those great recipes that you just don't mess with. So, I'm posting it in it's unchanged glory.

Decorating the Christmas Cookies

Decorating is always fun, it's also always messy.

I don't do a fancy, piped decorated cookie. I find these cookies are so good, they only need a light glazing of icing and a little colored sugar and sprinkles for decoration. Thick icing and piped in decorations would totally overwhelm these soft pillows of happiness.

Christmas Cut-Out Cookies

These cookies are THE CHRISTMAS COOKIE in my family. The golden goose of Christmas cookies. Every year, my mom made them. We would schedule it on the calendar. Cookie Day. We all knew what it meant. My dad would be off work and we would all take part of the cookie making process. My dad manned the ovens, making sure that the cookies didn't overbake.

My mom only brought out a small amount of dough at a time, because you have to cut them out while they are cold or they go all melty on you.

My sister and I stood around the workspace with aprons on, armed with floured cookie cutters. Flour was everywhere and when Mom said, "Go!" we furiously cut out cookies and got them on cookie trays before the dough got warm.

Sugar Cookies

These are my absolutely favorite sugar cookie.

There are tons of sugar cookies. Some are soft, some are hard and crunchy, some have spices, some are chewy.

These cookies are chock full of vanilla flavor, they are rolled in sugar and are light and sweet on the tongue. They are have a crunchy tooth, but are tender, think of a crumbly cookie.  I think it's due to the oil/butter mixture of fats.

They are also

Snow



Last night we finally decorated the Christmas tree. It was an odd affair. The boys decorated part of it, then the girl and I decorated part of it when I got home.

We were tag-teaming it since our schedules have been topsy-turvy lately.

Although I will promise good Christmas music was on and candles were lit. It's the little things...

Giveaway Winner & Christmas Sparkle

Remember this? My Christmas Giveaway?

We have a winner!!!

Comment #2 is Jana! Yay!

A Tale of Four Pies

On Thanksgiving, the fireman had to work. So, while we planned our own Thanksgiving with all the kiddos on Friday, the girl and I also planned on going to the fire station on Thursday for Thanksgiving with our fireman and his crew. He happens to work at a 6 man house. Normally, there is just the captain, the engineer and the backend guy. But since his fire station has both an engine (water) and a truck (ladder and axes), his house is larger.

More guys = more trouble. Whenever you get a bunch of guys in one place with time on their hands, you have trouble. Now, they have reports and chores and are fairly busy with calls (depending on the district of the station), but in a 24 hour shift, they still have time for mayhem.

So, Thanksgiving at the fire station can be lots of fun. Besides, being cooked for, served and cleaned up by a bunch of guys. Total win.

Date Night Dessert

So, Friday night, the fireman and I decided we needed a date night.

We decided on Chili's. Seriously, one of my favorite places. I ate chips and salsa till I burst, then tried to eat my Honey Chipotle Chicken Crispers. I haven't had any fried food in ages, and just CRAVED something fried. I also ate fries and was in heaven.

I really need to try to replicate that honey chipotle sauce. Amazing. They had a great Blackberry Margarita as well. Yu-um.

I was too full for dessert, although I was dying for the Chocolate Chip Paradise Pie. A big slice of chocolate chip bar with ice cream and drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauce. *sigh*

We couldn't decide on a movie to go see. Nothing looked that great. A few good things, but not 'theatre material'.
So, we ran by the video store and rented a few movies instead.

We ended up watching Love, Wedding, Marriage with Mandy Moore and Kellan Lutz. It was sweet and cute. I like Mandy Moore much better now that she is older. She's relateable and believable. And Kellan Lutz? Have you seen the guns on this guy? In a button down shirt, no less. Fuhgetabout it.

We also ran by the grocery store and I picked up some pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough.

Late night grocery store shopping is funny. It's funny when you're with the fireman. The store is mostly empty and he likes to ask questions of the fine folks working there.

Questions like, "does a candy bar count as dessert?" "What about chocolate oranges." Then he had to describe what a chocolate orange is. He meant the orange-shaped chocolate in a box.

Sometimes the grocery store ladies are funny and tease him right back and ask him funny questions.

Other times? They just look confused.

Anyway, I bought cookie dough. I know. I'm a sell out.

It is the only cookie dough that I can't find a good recipe for. I've tried it countless times, but nothing is as good. Must be the preservatives...

I did this thing with it. I know. It was baaad. But if this is bad? I don't wanna be good.

Halloween Wrap Up

My Halloween posting timeline has been a little behind, but I'm getting there.

Monday, my fireman worked and the boys were at their mom's, so it was just me and Da Girl. I left work early so that I could catch this.

Her 3rd grade Halloween party. Fun! They actually had pretty cool games.

Costume Fun

We really love Halloween at my house.

Costumes are thought out and planned. Halloween festivities and haunted houses are scheduled and marked on the calendar.

When we were invited to a Halloween party one of the other firemen put on, hubby knew he had to really go all out on his costume. One of the guys at the party dressed up as Jafar from Aladdin. You know, when he turned into a genie at the end, all red and scary?

Yes, super cool.

Anyway, the girl came with us as the boys had other parties they wanted to go to. She has a vampire costume and has worn it to two different Halloween events so far and decided to pull an old costume out to wear for our Saturday night party.