Christmas has come and gone...

So much to say....and no one is listening...

It's been a few days - Christmas holidays have come and gone....today I am removing evidence of Christmas cheer from my house...baking...and doing laundry...and cleaning - attempting to multi task them all at once...why cause I am super talented like that..he he
(**Note** today seems to be a run on sentence kind of day as well!!)

I finally signed up for Instagram, now to figure out how to use it...

Follow me at: 

Instagram (go ahead click it I dare ya)

I think we all had a great Christmas. Was able to spend it with my two sons, my daughters were not able to make it (missed them lots!) As usual not a picture was taken with the exception of one of the Mo-man on Christmas Eve...um why is that I want a better camera?? 

I really wish this blogger thinga ma jig had more options to chose from...maybe it is operator error (lol)

Recipe for today: Adapted from Peanut butter cookies! 

Ingredients

1 cup butter (softened)

1 cup peanut butter

1 cup white sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 

(ran out of AP flour so used 1 cup AP + 1 1/2 White Whole Wheat Flour)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

also added milk chocolate  mini chips to half the batter

Directions (my adjustments are highlighted)

1. Cream together butter, peanut butter and sugars. Beat in eggs.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir into batter. Put batter in refrigerator for 1 hour.
3. Roll into 1 inch balls and put on baking sheets. Flatten each ball with a fork, making a criss-cross pattern. Bake in a preheated 375 degrees F oven for about 10 minutes or until cookies begin to brown. Do not over-bake.

Outcome: So yummy good!! But I made them too big! oopsie!

**update** due to large size had to add a minute more to bake time which dried out the cookies a little.**

Moving on - received in the mail yesterday denial for another job, no reason given other then another candidate has been selected. Emailed the perspective employer and asked for feedback and was only told that someone had applied with a college degree therefore I was not selected, nothing for me to improve upon. To say the least I am very disappointed.
 Seems that the following picture says it well I am having such a hard time remaining positive. I know that there must be a reason for this. I would like to say that my faith got me through but I am not really sure that saying that would be an honest statement considering I am not overly religious nor do I practice the faith I was baptized into. And then something on going I cannot seem to get past I just feel like the black sheep or the out cast if you will. Sure my actions could be blamed for this however long before that whole mess that occurred this spring I felt that way. I just dont fit it in where I want to. I have never felt included or like one of them. Oh sure I am tolerated - but to sum it all up I just don't fit the mold like everyone else. 

 

Aside from all this: I finished a book, Impaired - click the links Initial Review, Final Review, to see what I have to say. I know you just can't wait to hear (err - read my thoughts) I also had my car in the shop (ouch), And I have decided that I really REALLY need to do something with my fugly hair that is now 50% thinner then it was a year ago prior to my sleeve surgery. And I need to break the chains in regards to my OCD skin issues, tired of my face looking like crap and it always hurting why can't I stop?? Oh look squirrel....

On the upside, my car is happy again, I have a new book I am totally engrossed in, I have a job interview on Wed Jan 2, court on the third (grr) and I woke up above ground today! 

Don't forget to check out the funny page I updated it! 

  

It's Hump Day! Plus a recipe....

I have been meaning to come back and post - I have no excuse other then laziness! I am still under employed! (Have been on several interviews but because of the holidays everything is on the back burner) And yes Christmas is still coming.....aaah!! I also want to mention this whole thing with the event in CT is just too much for me to wrap my little brain around! My heart, love and whatever else I can offer go out to the people that have been effected by this senseless tragedy! Love and Light!

Last night we took Mo to volunteer at a shelter to feed the homeless. What a great opportunity! Our kids are so privileged today - they (actually all of us do) take so so much for granted. I am not sure that these boys (the entire football team, 9-11 year olds) really was able to comprehend what we were trying to do - but my hope is that they will take this with them into their lives and have a heart for all people regardless of gender, preferences, life style, and material things owned, borrowed or otherwise. I plan on incooperating this event into a yearly thing for our family! We could all as a human race stand to give back (even if it is just a little)

Ok off my box!

That being said still have a lot to do for Christmas!

OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!

Menu to plan, grocery shopping, baking, and will need to wrap the remaining few presents (that have yet to come in the mail...insert woman running around shrieking here...OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!)

Also  I tried a recipe I found on the web or maybe it was Pinterest..either way I doctored it and made it my own and it was wonderful! See below for details.... Since I can no longer find the original recipe used, after a search I found this similiar recipe. Please click the link to view.

image borrowed from All Recipes

Ingredients I used:

4 skinless, boneless chicken breast (I actually used 3 double breasts)

1 (.7 ounce) package dry Italian-style salad dressing mix

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (softened - I let sit out for a few hours)

1 Family size can condensed cream of chicken soup

1 small can chicken broth**

dried onion bits (would be really good with chopped onions but the boy does not like them)

Minced garlic (couple spoons full - love me some garlic!) 

Served over Pasta (Egg Noodles)

Directions

• Put all ingredients EXCEPT the cream cheese and Pasta in the slow cooker, cook on low 4-5 hours.
• Add cream cheese mix into the mix as much as you can and cook on high for another 1/2 hour or until heated through and warm. (Cream Cheese was still a little chunky for me)
•  Remove Chicken from crockpot and cut into strips, cubes whatever you fancy!
•  I used a hand mixer and whipped the broth/soup/juices in the crock pot(This step removed the cream cheese lumps_
• Now put the cut up chicken back into the crock pot, stir and replace lid. 
• Prepare pasta 

Serve over the pasta - we ate in bowls but culd be done on a plate! Enjoy yummy goodness!

** 1/8 cup margarine recipe called for this I substituted with can of chicken broth**

***the original recipe I viewed also called for mushrooms and cream of mushroom soup which I omitted - again something the boy does not like)*** 

Final Thoughts:  

Would definitely make this again, super yummy and super easy...it was a WIN WIN in my eyes!  Next time I make this think I will try biscuits as opposed to pasta...wonder if you can do them in the crockpot as well? 

So what should I make this week ?  

You know:

So today...

I know that I need to be grateful for all that I have. But sometimes it is so hard to be all the things I pretend to be. You know: pleasant, loving, kind, etc. etc... So to try to boost my mood. I am not going to let the little things bother me...You know: stupid shit people say, the judgement that people (especially family) pass on you - when they have never walked a mile in your shoes. The fact that Christmas is here..it is my favorite holiday and this year just does not feel like Christmas. It makes me sad...I know I need to be grateful for what I have - I need to be grateful that I woke up this morning. (Does it matter that all I want to do is go back to bed and pull the covers over my head and eat chinese food and cookies all day?)

Today I am going to be

Today I have a job interview - I am grateful for that =)

To boost my mood I am going to list the following things

10 things I am grateful for (in no particular order)

1. My kidlets and their kiddies
2. The husband
3. My Mom
4. The internet
5. Thrift stores
6. Books
7. Olive and Chunk you know: they love me no matter what)
8. Satellite TV
9. Everyone I know and love has their health (you know:even the ones that judge me)
10. I am not a bitter person (you know: in spite of it all)

 

10 things that make me happy (in no particular order)

1. Shopping
2. My Ipad
3. Books
4. Funny animals (OK all animals)
5. My kidlets and their kiddies (especially when they come to my tiny house to spend time with me)
6. Movies
7. Coffee
8. Christmas Decorations
9. MAC make up, COACH purses, Uggs and practically all Boots/Shoes
10. Getting that pat on the back (you know the one we are not supposed to want or expect)

Tomorrow is a new day and I am going to live today like it is my last, after all it is 12/12/12. 

Wish me luck on my interview, leave a comment, make yourself at home

Love and light

Kelly

It's that time of YEAR!

So Christmas is still coming and coming fast. As you can see it is a source of great anxiety, in regards to family, gifts, kids, what I can and cannot due. The guilt that is associated with all of it....on top of all that I received a notice in the mail that as of Dec. 29, 2012 anybody on extension for unemployment is cut off, unless legislature changes something. This is not good! As a result of all this I think I am in the middle of a crisis! Oh wait everybody is in the middle of a

 

 What is everyone going to do as of Dec 29? How are we all going to survive, as it is I have a stack of bills I am afraid to open (I know that's not helping) and less then 57 in the bank. And then to turn the focus from me what about the rest of the people in the world - have you seen the empty houses that are all over. The cost of food, utilities and gas? Really come on legislature - help those of us that are really trying to find work, I have been sending out no less then 20 resumes a week (my average is 35-40), with the holidays it has been rough! There are not that many ads...I have decided that if nothing pops up by the 29th I am going to have to go to retail. Now don't get me wrong that is not a bad thing but I have not worked retail since I was a teenager...

Ok off to start job hunt Monday...but first a shower! Otherwise it will never happen and I will just walk around looking like this all day

I may have learned a thing or two

It seems I may have learned a thing or two...or is too...

First I learned how to add clickable tabs! Yay me...

I have been successful in adding pictures...

I have found someone else's blog I am absolutely obsessed with, I have been reading it all day - I am attempting to post a link (I have done this once before - but the jury is still out on etiquette - hoping I am not stepping on toes). Anyway I have had my head stuck in her blog for most of the day it's awesome - you should wander over and take a looksie!

 Kammy's Korner

I'm telling you she has awesome stuff!!! Everything and I mean EVERYTHING totally rocks! Furniture, baskets, great deals, etc etc etc

Ok I think I mentioned I wanted to try to post something useful as well....today I am going with a recipe from the internet that I tried. It turned out ok, not so sure I will make it again!

Here we go

...it was a toffee, bark, some sort of candy recipe...  

link to the original recipe

Picture from the web - mine looked nothing like this

Ingredients:

• 1.5 sleeves of saltine crackers
• 1 stick (4 oz) butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups chocolate chips

I doubled the brown sugar and butter for the toffee because I used a sheet pan.

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil and spraying the foil with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Arrange the crackers in a single layer on the baking sheet so that there are no empty spaces in between them. Crush any remaining crackers into small crumbs and set aside for now.
3. Place the butter and brown sugar in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir while the butter melts, and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. Once boiling, carefully pour the sugar-butter mixture over the crackers on the baking sheet in an even layer, trying to cover most of the crackers. If you miss some spots, don’t worry as the toffee will spread in the oven.
4. Bake the toffee crackers at 350 degrees for five minutes, until the toffee is bubbling all over. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for one minute.
5. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the hot toffee, and allow them to sit for one minute to soften and melt. Once softened, use an offset spatula or knife to spread the melted chocolate over the entire surface of the toffee in an even layer. While the chocolate is still sticky, sprinkle the top with the reserved crushed crackers.
6. Refrigerate the pan to set the toffee and chocolate for about 30 minutes. Once set, break into small uneven pieces by hand, and enjoy! Store uneaten saltine toffee in an airtight container for up to a week.

After my attempt was not quite turning out like the recipe on the web - I investigated.

Here is what I found out:

• Probably should have baked at 400 degrees for approx 5-7 min
• The toffee should have boiled for about 3 minutes
• Not sure if this made a difference but I used mini chips, and I did put them in the oven for 2 min
• Refrigerate for about an hour to set 

My version - looks nothing like the web picture!

Verdict: Eh...

This still was not the recipe I was looking for so my search is still on! I am looking for I believe it is a bark, one of my previous co workers brought it in at Christmas time a few years back, no it was not any form of peppermint. It was delicious, she had said she would give me the recipe but never did, the only thing I remember her saying is how incredibly easy it was to make. It was chocolate, and a little on the hard side, and so yummy good! And it really looked similiar to the web picture - oh well one of these days I will find it!