Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Dancing With The Stars

With all the hype about Dancing With The Stars, Pops and I have considered taking dancing lessons. We thought it would be fun to do, plus it would be nice to have the skills when we go to weddings and parties. I am such a critic of other dancers, I don't know if I will actually be able to do it.

We recently took a little lesson. If you want to see the results, click here. Pops and Lolly getting down.

IF YOU CAN'T CONNECT TO THIS SITE - KEEP TRYING, WE ARE VERY POPULAR AND IT IS BUSY QUITE OFTEN.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Great Thanksgiving Week

We have just finished a fantastic Thanksgiving week. I think this was the best ever. It started last Sunday when Pops and I flew to Las Vegas to celebrate our anniversary. 29 WONDERFUL YEARS. YES, 29!!! I can't believe it. It seems just like yesterday when we met in drivers ed.

This was our 8th trip to Vegas since 2002 and probably our best. (I was thinking about this and decided that it is only right that your last vacation be your best - that just means they get better and better). We usually go straight to the hotel, but this time, I gave in to Pops desire for years to go see Hoover Dam. He really wanted to go to the Grand Canyon, but I drew the line at Hoover Dam. We rented a car and went to the dam, had breakfast at Bob's Diner (really good) and then drove around Vegas and went to Red Rock Canyon.

This is our first time to rent a car and drive around and I was very impressed. There are some really nice areas outside of the strip. We returned the car a few hours later and then took a cab to the Bellagio. Next time we rent a car, we will remember to go to the gas station and fill it up. We forgot until we pulled into the garage and they charged us $6.99 a gallon to fill it up. He originally was charging us for 11 gallons, but I talked him down to 8. The gas cost more than the rental.

The Bellagio is by far my favorite hotel in the world! I still love it. We laid out by the pool, had massages, facials and pedicures, ate lots of great food and saw Menopause, The Scinta's and KA. The best meal we had was at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill. It was so good. We came home about 10:00 Wednesday night, just in time to get up and start cooking for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is always a great time with our family. Janelle and Jacob came home for the weekend and Kayla was home from college. We are a very close extended family and when we all get together there are 30+ people. There is always a domino tournament going on and this year the Gainer's hosted a Monopoly tournament that went on all weekend. We are so blessed to have such a great family.

Pops and I finished out the weekend by eating at The Porch Saturday night. We had eaten so much "fancy" food all week that we decided to scale down some for our anniversary. The Porch was delicious. It will be added to our rotation. It is upscale home cooking. We started with the sliders which were chopped smoked brisket on a slightly sweet homemade roll with BBQ sauce, coleslaw and a pickle. I could have eaten that as my meal. I had a Green Goddess Caesar salad with Parmesan Crisps. Pops had the Shrimp and Grits and I had Short Rib Beef Stroganoff. It was all good. The noodles in the Stroganoff tasted homemade. We ended with hot Apple Cobbler. It was a really good meal. I can't wait to go back.

I have done a little shopping, mostly online and made some tags for my gifts. There is lots more to do, but I feel good that I have finally gotten started.

Happy Anniversary Pops. I can't wait to spend the next 29 with you!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Count Down To Christmas Calendar





I took a class last week to make this calendar. I thought Landrie would have fun counting down the days to Christmas. This ended up being way more involved than I ever imagined. The class was 3 hours and I am estimating it took closer to 12 hours to get it finished.
You start on the 25th day before Christmas and each day you replace a numbered ball with an ornament.

New Collage


Here is my latest collage. I put this in my remodeled hall bathroom. I probably have one more to do. Jordan got a new job (with an office - whoo hoo) and she wants one for her wall. We will probably have to be a little more conservative than her hot pink and black with feathers.

Thursday, November 1, 2007

Cookie Recipes

Are you looking for some cookie recipes for the holiday season? Just click on the name of the cookie below and the recipe will pop up. Enjoy.

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms