Evidence of a Wonderful Husband.

On Tuesday, Andrew brought these to me at work. He said he gave them to me for being such an understanding wife, I think he gave them to me because he is a wonderful Husband.

Thursday night, he cooked me dinner. I got home from work, and this is what I saw. I am so lucky to have a husband who enjoys cooking, and cooks good.

Not just Germany - London Too!!

Yep, that's right. I'm going to London too! Since I will be over there for 10 days, Jennifer and I decided that it would be cool to take a mini-trip somewhere else. We will be in London for 3 nights! I am so excited! I have never been to Europe, and now I will be going to two different countries. We are still trying to find a hotel, but the airplane tickets are booked. Any suggestions on where to stay or what to do would be greatly appreciated.

Here is a list of what we are planning to see and do, so far:

• Sightseeing bus tour
• Buckingham Palace - Changing the Guard
• Big Ben
• The London Eye
• Westminster Abbey
  

On the Road Again

We found out last night, that Andrew will be traveling for work through the whole month of February. He will be in Martinsville, VA, working at the Liberty Fair Mall Chick-fil-A. This is just one step closer to him becoming a Chick-fil-A operator. I am so proud of him, and I know he will do a fantastic job in Virginia.

All Politics aside - Letter to Obama Girls from Bush Girls - Very Sweet

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Apricot Sheet Cookies

I went over to my Parent's house yesterday and Mom was still trying to get rid of some of her magazines, so I took all of her Paula Deen Magazines that she had. I found a recipe for Apricot Sheet Cookies and it sounded really good, and I had all of the ingredients at home, so this afternoon I made them. They were very easy to make, and very yummy. I thought I would share the recipe with all of you.

Apricot Sheet Cookies

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup all-vegetable shortening

1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup apricot preserves

confectioner's sugar (optional)

1. preheat oven to 350, pray a 9x9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray

2. In a large bowl, beat butter and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.

3. Add sugar and beat until creamy

4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Gradually beat in flour until combined.

6. Beat in vanilla

7. Reserve 1 cup batter, and spread remaining batter evenly into prepared pan.

8. Gently spread preserves evenly over batter.

9. Drop remaining batter by tablespoons over preserves.

10. Base for 30-35 minutes, or until golden brown. Let cool for 30 minutes and cut into bars to serve. Garnish with confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Easy Skillet Pimiento Mac 'n' Cheese

The other night, I tried a new recipe that I found in my Southern Living Magazine. It was really easy to make, and it was very good.

Here is the recipe:

1/2 (16 oz) package penne pasta

2 Tbsp. all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups low-fat milk

1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

1 (4 oz.) jar diced pimiento, drained

3/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

pinch of paprika

1. Prepare pasta according to package directions.

2. Whisk together flour and 1/4 cup milk. Add flour mixture to remaining milk, whisking until smooth.

3. Bring milk mixture to a boil in a large skillet over medium heat; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, whisking constantly, 3 to 5 minutes or until smooth.

4. Stir in cheese and next 4 ingredients until smooth.

5. Stir in pasta, and cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Serve immediately.

Scrapbook Night

Every Thursday, I get together with some girls to Scrapbook. I look forward to it all week long. It all started this summer, when I was talking to my neighbor, Abby. On a whim, she asked if I scrapbooked, and of course, I said yes. I just so happened to be scrapbooking that night, so I asked her if she wanted to come in and look at my different scrapbooks. That was the beginning of our scrapbook bond. A few weeks later, she was having a get together with some ladies from her church to scrapbook, and invited me to join them. We had so much fun that we decided to do it every week. There are probably a total of 10 of us, but not everyone shows up every week. So, every Thursday from 6-8 you can find me cropping, scrapping, cricuting, etc... Here are some pictures of what I accomplished last week. They are from Christmas 2008.

SNOW!

Well, all day yesterday, there was big hype about the snow that was supposed to come late last night. Well, when I woke up this morning, this is what I saw...

It was just enough to make things look pretty, but not too much where the roads were bad. I still had to go to work, which is fine with me. By lunch time, most of it was melted.

I love the snow. I grew up in upstate NY, where they have tons of snow all winter long. I really do miss it sometimes. Living in the south, this is about as much as we can hope for.

In-Laws are a wonderful thing

Look what my In-laws gave us yesterday! This is not their permanent home, but it will do for now. We plan on putting these on our screened in porch. We would keep them on the front porch, but we already have a pair, and they are a maple color. So, these don't go so well. Maybe we will put the maple ones on the screened in porch, and keep these on the front porch. They match the porch swing, and the railings. Oh, decisions, decisions....
Here is a picture of the rocking chairs that are currently on the front porch.
Which ones do you think look better?

Baby it's cold outside!

When I left the house this morning at 7:30 my thermometer said 15 degrees!! It's hasn't been this cold in a long time. I bundled up with my hat, gloves, scarf, and coat and headed out the door to work. Days like today, I wish I could stay in bed with a good book. That might be what I do this afternoon. On a more positive note, at least I'm not up in states where it is in the negatives.

A decision has been made

We will be spending our 5 year anniversary in Vero Beach, FL. I know, it wasn't even one of the options on the list. I would have loved to go to Hawaii, but it just wasn't going to work out this year. Maybe for our 10 year anniversary. We decided to go with Vero Beach, because it is somewhere relaxing, and not a 5 hour plane ride away. Also, If we need to cancel because of Andrew's job, it won't be a problem. We will be staying at Disney' Vero Beach Resort. We are part of the Disney Vacation Club, and this will only be costing us 98 points. Yes, we do things in points. It's much less sticker shock when you deal in points. Anyway, we have booked an Ocean View room, so I'm really excited about that. All these vacations I've taken, and we've never had an ocean view room. It will be so nice to wake up in the morning, and step out onto our balcony and see the ocean!! Only 122 days till Vacation!!

Look what I made...

Update: I made this out of vinyl sticker paper. I cut out the letters on my Cricut personal die cut machine. No, I don't have the ability to do the little people. I wish I did. I would love to do a monogram for anyone who asks. Just send me an e-mail katiebug810@hotmail.com.

I was able to make this monogram with my new Cricut Cartridge. Isn't it so cute?

I'm going to Germany!

No, not for our 5 year anniversary trip. I'm going by myself to visit my dear friend Jennifer, who moved over there a year ago. I am so excited about this trip. I have never been to Europe before, so this will all be new and exciting. I will be there for 9 days total. I leave on Thursday night, March 12th but don't get there till Friday afternoon, March 13th and then fly home on Sunday, March 22nd. I will be spending most of my time in Hamburg, but we are hoping to do a few day trips to other parts of the country. This is a Sisterchicks book in the making...

If anyone has any travel tips for the 11 hour flight, please share them with me. Or if you have been to Germany before and there is something I can't miss, let me know.

WOO HOO!!! Germany, Here I Come!! Only 63 more days!!!

Vacation Update

Well, I haven't decided anything yet. I've looked at plane ticket prices and that might be the thing that makes the final decision. To fly to Hawaii is around $1000 per person!! I'm sure the price goes up and down from there, but my parents have gone several times, and each time they pay around $800 per person. Costa Rica, Grand Cayman, Mexico were all around $500-$600 per person. The cheapest by far was San Diego. It was only like $250 per person.
Another thing is that Andrew's job can change in a moment's time. He could be given an assignment in Texas, or Florida, or Ohio, and then we wouldn't be able to go on vacation at all. So, I don't want to spend money on plane tickets, just to have to cancel them. Oh what a dilemma...
I will keep you all updated on what we decide.

Vacation...Where should we go???

Andrew and I go on vacation every May to celebrate our anniversary. Well, this year, it is our 5 year anniversary and we want to go somewhere really exciting. We have been to Mexico, Disney World, Hilton Head Island and on 3 cruises. We would like to go somewhere we have not been before.
Here are our options:
Costa Rica
Cabo San Lucas
San Diego, California
Hawaii - any island
Lake Tahoe
Cozumel / Mayan Riviera
Key West
Grand Cayman
We are part of a Vacation club, so the hotel part of the vacation is already paid for. That is how we are able to go to such exotic places. We just have to pay for the plane tickets to get there, and then excursionos/food while there. So I need your help. Where should we go??? Any comments, suggestions, ideas you could offer would be greatly appreciated.
Just to give you an idea, this is what we enjoy doing on our vacations...

Cricut Christmas

For Christmas this year, I really wanted another cartridge for my Cricut, and I also wanted a Monogram for the back of my car. Well, my wonderful Husband decided to get me a Cricut Cartridge that I could also use to make the Monogram for my car. I am super excited about being able to use this with all of my scrapbooking, and crafting that I do.

Also for Christmas, my sister Kelly, made me this cover for my Cricut. I had showed her one like this on ebay, and she figured out how to make one. She is pretty tricky when it comes to sewing. Thanks Kelly, I love my new cover!

Christmas Pictures

I know it's a week late, but I figured better late then never.

Andrew and I Christmas Morning

Andrew with his gifts

Me with my gifts (Can you tell I like MR. Goodbars)

Toby with his new Bed

Molly with her new bed

All the Kids on Christmas

Jalen

Andrew and I at my Parent's House