i die

i want to get married again just so i can wear this dress in white. 

from

i want to find somewhere to wear this. 

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i want to have a personal trainer and an assistant to slap my hand when i eat oreos so my body looks like theirs. 

i want that number 5

modern family is bomb.com.  julie bowen's house in real life is also bomb.com.  it was featured in instyle like a year ago and i still think about it every once in a while.  i have been looking for that chanel number 5 forever... i love block letters as decor.  i would settle for a big T if i could find the right one. what i don't like, is words or phrases on the wall in cursive (love, together, family....).  it reminds me of walking through Bed Bath and Beyond in circles.  or seeing a picture of a college freshman and her bff in a frame in her dorm that says "laugh" in silver.  like you care, but it is huge pet peeve. always has been.

i really love this room

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yes

from

no

seriously?

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i probably offended someone (if anyone reads this) who currently resides in a house with cursive wall decor or has frames with quotes.  i'm sorry,  i feel bad about it. just a personal opinion.  also not a fan of those inspirational posters you can get in sky mall magazine.

Recipe: Bread Pudding

family fave

1 loaf french bread or cinnamon swirl bread or hawaiian sweet bread or challah...
1 qt whole milk
3 beaten eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup raisins (optional)
2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tbsp butter

sauce:
1 stick butter
1 cup sugar
1 beaten egg
splash of vanilla

step 1: heat oven to 375
step 2: tear about loaf of bread and mix with milk well. let soak in milk for 45 - 60 min.  add beaten eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and raisins.
step 3: in 13 x 9 in pan, melt butter in oven. once melted pour pudding in the pan and bake for 1 hour.
step 4: mix ingredients for sauce in a double broiler.  serve over pudding slices.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Three Bean Chili

This has lots o ingredients but is easy - the slow cooker does all the work.  great for watching football games with large crowds.

1 lb ground beef - browned and drained
1 lb grounf turkey - browned and drained
3 bell peppers chopped (green)
2 onions diced
4 garlic cloves minced
2 cans chicken broth
1 can butter beans rinsed and drained
1 can black eyed peas rinsed and drained
1 can garbanzo beans rinsed and drained
1 can navy beans rinsed and drained
1 4 oz can chopped green chili
2 tsp chili powder
3 tsp ground cumin
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp paprika
1-2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

mix all together - put in slow cooker or crock pot on low for 8 to 10 hours.  enjoy!
note: navy beans are hard to find.  white beans will work well.

Recipe: Sweet Potatoes

Thanksgiving Tradition - none of that marshmallow crap!

3.5 lbs yams
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup melted butter
1 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp nutmeg

topping:
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup flour

step 1: heat oven to 350
step 2: boil the yams - mash together when done.  blend all other ingredients.  stir together topping and set aside.  put the potatoes in dish, spread with topping and cook for 35 min.

how to throw a dinner party...

i know they are over, but i love the holidays.  i love the food, the friends, the family, the booze, the lights, everything.  walker and i had a small dinner party.  it was as my mother would say, a sussess.  no pictures of food.  really need to get better at this part!

hosts- i did most of the work.

step 1: menu - plan it out, a week in advance, if you are trying something new, study the recipe like your SAT's.  remember timing is everything.  at first i went with beef tenderloin.  went to the store to get it and had a panic attack.  this thing was two feet long. if i F this up, dinner is ruined, people would talk about this for months.  let alone it cost what some peoples rent in Alabama is for a month.
final menu:
bacon wrapped filet mignon
potato leek gratin - recipe here
brussel sprouts cooked in bacon grease
apple walnut salad
bread pudding - family recipe

ps - invite friends who can cook.  joshy = helper

step 2:  invite your friends.  tell them what to bring.  this is a hard one for me.  I opted for - "don't worry about we have the food taken care of approach..."  after my 8th trip to the store, the realization that i can't cook three things in the oven at once, and after my bank account was drained....  I began to resent my friends I invited and really wanted to call in sick.  my fault. lesson learned.  of course, in the end it all works out and is well worth the stress.  this group is great.

step 3: invite your brother.  he is always down for a free meal.  and brings the entertainment up a notch.

step 4: eat. drink. eat.  laugh.  sussess. guest showed up at 6:30 and left at 12:30.  Taboo was played.

working on flash - taking a class on this camera