I'm Not Dead Yet

I know that it has been a long time since I have posted, I mean really posted anything. Time gets away from me as I keep up with my 4 kidlets (2 big and 2 little), and as I study. Did I mention that I am studying to become a Medical Transcriptionist? Well, I am. And it dominates a lot of my time. Time that I don't have after running the kids around, doing laundry, planning delicious meals (did anyone see where the # to Little Caesar's went??) etc. And, truth-be-told, I like to hang out with my kids--since they are home from school, and all.

So my days this summer have been pretty cool so far. Some chores in the morning, swimming, and watching NCIS. I guess I lived under a rock, or was watching something else, because this show is awesome and there is LOTS of it. Yeah, me!

But it has been brought to my attention by Steffi that she misses my blog. Wow. She reads my blog? I think that she might be the only one who does, but alas I mustn't let my reader down!

So, don't throw me into that cart. I'm not dead yet.

Sometimes words just make me laugh. All of a sudden an english world won't sound so anymore, and I will bust up.

Today it was a spanish word.

Gigante.

Say it in your head. Say it aloud. Now say it in your best Antonio Banderas accent!

See. Told ya.

Gigante.

Ba hahahahah!

Mind Your Mother

It's not that I am a tree hugger.

I like modern conveniences very much.

I do, however, firmly believe in being a wise steward over our earth.

I recycle.

I donate.

We eat leftovers.

I go through phases of buying natural products (why can't these things be cheaper??)

I appreciate the beauty of the earth and really want my kids and grandkids to enjoy it, too.

So, that being said, Happy Earth Day.

Mind Your Mother by Aur(or)a on Polyvore.com

Twiggy

Twiggy by Aur(or)a on Polyvore.com

I have always loved Twiggy. 

I used to pretend to be Twiggy. 

When I was twiggy myself, it was much easier than it is now.  haha

I once remember doing a photo shoot in a graveyard in London, Ontario for my friend who had a college photography class. 

I think that I was draped over a tombstone. 

How does cool at 17 seem so macabre at 40-ish?

I also remember doing many, many photo shoots for my roomate who had a photography obsession. 

Sometimes I stumble upon those pictures.  I will have to scan and post someday.  But for now, you will just have to use your imagination.

So Long Fred

I had a fibroid on my uterus. His name was Fred. He has taken up residence somewhere else.

Phew!

A Pressing Matter

The joys of being 40. They really are endless. My latest experience is best characterized by the cartoon below.

I Am Absolutely Sure

Most days I have a long fuse. My last trip to the library was not one of them.

Is anyone else out there like me? After a handful of days things that normally belong somewhere else, to someone else, or parts of something else seem to become a part of the landscape of the room, counter, table...

The books-and-movies-for-free thing is great. It is just too long. You see, if I have a book for a week or two or if I have a movie for a night or two I have no problem at all remembering to return it. I have been burned many times by owing fines to the library, so I am now particularly vigilant about returning our library materials.

Enter Irony.

Feeling somewhat proud of myself for remembering ALL of our books and ALL of our movies and ON TIME, (I know that they were all there because I counted the books as I dropped them individually into the slot--I also counted the DVDs-- even opening them to be sure that each one actually had a DVD in it. Been there, done that) I started to check out our family's latest haul.

Sarcastic Checkout Clerk: Are you planning on returning Aristocats?

~long fuse, instantly gone. spark, flame, ignition.~

Irritated Aurora: I returned it. (aside to cringing daughter) I knew this would happen.

Them: Maybe you thought you returned it.

Me: Nope. I have done that before. This is NOT one of those times. I am absolutely sure. You see, I counted the books. And the DVDs. I even checked them all. Twice. I returned it.

~clerk checks the back at my insistence. Nothing.~

Me: Well, now what? I returned it.

Them: We can flag it so that you won't have a fine and it will give you a few weeks to go home and see if it is there.

Me: Or for you to find it here since I returned it!

Going home. Indignant. Frustrated at the sarcastic clerk, the stupid library system, the world in general. Spewing frustration at my 16-year-old who keeps telling me to "chill." Honey, with these raging hormones... I WISH!!

Me: (to 14-year-old who was not at the library): Blah blah, jerk, blah blah, typical, blah blah, I am absolutely sure...!

14-year-old (warily pulling DVD out from beside the TV): Is this it?

Me: Ack!!

Shoes

So the thought of spring always makes me want to buy fun shoes. I don't know why, but besides boots, I HATE fall shoes. This year I boycotted and didn't buy any. So, yeah, I kind of wore my boots or my tennies most of the time.
The sun is shining, and I am thinking that a new pair of shoes is on the horizon.

My True Destiny~

You Are Chocolate Chip Pancakes

You prefer sweet and rich foods. You shy away from anything that's overly bland or unnaturally fat free. It's not likely that someone would find low fat cheese or sugar free cookies in your kitchen. Instead, someone might find a pan of brownies baking in the oven or warm popcorn covered in real butter.

What Kind of Pancakes Are You?

So why again do I post about food? {even the quiz I take is foodish...}
Oh yeah,... trying to watch what I eat!!

Forty, Schmorty!

So sometimes life pulls mean tricks.
First you are young. You know nothing about being older.
Then you find out about being older and no longer wish to be young. In the quest for older you don't give adequate respect and admiration for your young self.
Then when you get older you are joying in the youngness of your own young ones.
Then one day you find out that your young ones are getting older, though they think that they aren't old enough and wish to be even older, at the exact moment that you realize that you ARE older and now you wish to be young.

I was born in 1968. That makes me 40 years old. Holy Moly! I can't believe it. Hmmmph!

Well even though I am old, I have tons of people who aren't willing or ready to put me out to pasture, and who showered me with delightful gifts all week long!

Gifts from Hubby and Family on Thursday. Breakfast in Bed on Saturday. A Homemade Mexican Fiesta on Sunday. Many gifts dropped off and mailed throughout the week. A homemade raspberry creme cake on Monday. And a wonderful afternoon lunch today. Yay, me! Thank you everyone! (you know who you are) :-)

In true aurora-fashion, I don't have many pictures. But here are just a few.

Some of the Birthday Bunch at Macaroni Grille

The rest of the Birthday Bunch -- yes a grainy picture due to the fabulous fire behind us!

I look like a big magenta blob crowding out poor Kristy!

My super-spectacular Raspberry Creme cake. Hubby is amazing. I might even be eating a piece right now... you never know. ;-)

And a yummy nap like a cherry on top!

...I think this 40 stuff might not be so bad after all.

What Have You Done?

I got this from Holly's blog.
The things I have done are in italics and highlighted in bold:

1. Started my own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown my own vegetables (with mild success...)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Europe 1984)
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice (it was a water taxi- but I am counting it!)
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors (Greece)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught myself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke (at houses- not at a Karaoke club)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt (No, I haven't-- and there is a funny story behind that... just ask my husband...)
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had my portrait painted (by my grandfather- it hangs in my room)
48. Gone deep sea fishing (yeah, with as much as I like fish, you can imagine my excitement)
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris (okay, we were on a budget- been there; not to the top)
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain (no, and that is a shame...)
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (Yes, for my mom- she owes me; I passed out!)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square (it is on my list of things that I really, really want to do!)
74. Toured the Everglades (yes, and another funny story will be posted about that!)
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (several toes; some toes more than once; I am awesome like that!)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican (we were outside- I am counting it)
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House (as a young child)
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating (yeah, right)
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous (Sean Hannity is the coolest!)
92. Joined a book club (do I read the books? not always)
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

If you want to play along, go ahead!

Gee Thanks!

Special thanks to my sweet friend, Summer at The Crooked Curve for giving me this delightful award! What a fun way to finish off a super-crazy day. I heart her blog, too!
And do you know how I came to find her blog? Well, let me just tell you...
We were at Girls' Camp and I just knew that she looked familiar. Since I knew that I would remember meeting a girl with a beautiful name like Summer, my only other reason for knowing her would be if I happened to have seen her in BlogLand. So I asked her if she had a blog, and she confirmed that she did! Strange, don't you think? I was a lurker on her blog. :)
Anyway, you have to stop by because she is an amazing baker and has such delicious looking things that I am always meaning to try. Check out yesterday's Orange Juice Cake recipe. Scrump-dilly-icious, I am sure. I am trying it this weekend!
Wow, a quick re-read let me know that I sure was rambling!

As a recipient of this award, there are rules to follow. I have to answer the following questions with one word answers and one word only! Then I must pass it on to seven others! The questions are as follows:

1. Where is your cell phone? Purse
2. Where is your significant other? Upstairs
3. Your hair color? L'Oreal
4. Your mother? Talented
5. Your father? Funny
6. Your favorite thing? Classic Movies
7. Your dream last night? Crazy
8. Your dream/goal? Write
9. The room you're in? Family Room
10. Your hobby? Blogging
11. Your fear? Sharks
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Italy
13. Where were you last night? Church
14. What you're not? Organized
15. One of your wish-list items? Wii Fit
16. Where you grew up? Canada
17. The last thing you did? Put kids to bed
18. What are you wearing? Capris
19. Your TV? Panasonic
20. Your pet? Pepper
21. Your computer? Mac
22. Your mood? Good
23. Missing someone? YiaYia
24. Your car? Toyota
25. Something you're not wearing? Shoes
26. Favorite store? Hobby Lobby
27. Your summer? Fantastic!
28. Love someone? Lots!
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Last week

The bloggers that I'm nominating:
Lauren
Nicole
Jamie
Lisa
Aubri
Chel
Chell

Now, for you recipients of this award, here's the deal:
* Display your award.
* Link back to the person who gave you the award.
* Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
* Put links to those blogs on yours.
* Leave a message on the blogs of the people you've nominated.
* Enjoy your award!

Snowed Under in a Heatwave

After an amazing amount of things to prepare, pack, gather, shop for, travel, unpack, organize, teach, repack, clean, tidy, shop, camp, unpack, chill, repack, travel, holiday, visit, unpack... I think that you get the idea...
I am sitting here with a stomachache and a headache. I can't move.
I want to catch up on everyone's blogs, de-junk my house, deep clean everything that I own, but alas, I sit.
Hmmm....

Celebrity Collage

Thanks to Ally at Laughadaisy for this amazingly fun blog activity!

All you have to do is upload a photo of yourself, and it will analyze your features and display your celebrity look-alikes.

Here is my celebrity collage. Give it a try. You know you want to!

MyHeritage: Celebrity Collage - Dynasty - Family pics

100 Things About Me

Okay, so this is my 100th post!
{actually, I have to confess, it is about # 105... I have been trying to work on this list for DAYS!}

And to commemorate it, here are 100 Things About Me.

I will not be offended if you skim- Holy Cow! 100 is a lot!



1. I love my family.

2. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

3. Missionaries knocked on our door and taught our family about the gospel.

4. I have an amazing husband. He loves me tons, and I am still not totally used to it.

5. I have 4 fabulous kids. They truly bring me joy.

6. I was watching live coverage in high school when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded.

7. I am deathly afraid of sharks!

8. I am deathly afraid of the ocean.

9. I was once on a TV game show with my mom. It was called Bumper Stumpers. We didn't win. We got watches.

10. I love roller coasters!

11. I am years and years behind on my scrapbooks!

12. I love to dust the house with Murphy’s Oil Soap.

13. I have a dent in my head from forceps!

14. I was born in Canada, eh?

15. I love to eat ice cream in the morning.

16. I love road trips.

17. Disney World is one of my favorite places.

18. I am not a fan of doing laundry.

19. I put way too much soap in the dishwasher and washing machine. I know that I do this. I don’t know how to stop. It’s like I say to myself, ‘okay, that is enough’ and I always have to add one more squirt!

20. I love bubble baths.

21. Twizzlers are amazing-- even if the red-dye gives me migraines.

22. Love, love, love Cary Grant. I know that he is dead. This doesn't make me love him any less.

23. I would love to take a cruise. See #7 and #8 for why this is an impossibility.

24. I have been to the Louvre. The Mona Lisa is much smaller than I ever would have guessed!

25. I have seen Buckingham Palace, the Tower Bridge, Covent Garden Market, Hyde Park and Picadilly Circus and many other wonders in London, England.

26. I have seen the ruins of Pompeii in Italy, the Acropolis in Greece and Tulum in Mexico.

27. I was in Florida when Hurricane Andrew hit. It was supposed to hit us, but thankfully for us, it went south. I was pregnant with our first child at the time and was supposed to go to the hospital because I was over 7 months preggie. I didn't want to go, so I didn't tell my hubby so that he wouldn't make me go.

28. I always thought that I was going to marry Prince Andrew. True Story.

29. I heard the awful sound of the Space Shuttle Columbia burning up on re-entry of the atmosphere over Texas in 2003. I was laying in bed in the morning hours and heard a huge bang sound-- I didn't know what it was. Later in the morning it was all over the news how the Shuttle had broken apart all over Texas.

30. I love the group U2. I have loved them since I was about 15. I have never been to one of their concerts! This is a crime.

(edited to add that my sweet hubby bought me U2 tix for our anniversary! we saw them in Dallas in 2009!)

31. I love classic movies.

32. I was baptized a Mormon in 9th grade.

33. I once ran the mile in 5:59.

34. I am half-Greek.

35. I am also half geek!

(being married to a tech-savvy guy has rubbed off- but just a bit!)

36. I am obsessed with spelling. Seeing words spelled incorrectly makes me nuts! I sincerely hope there are no spelling errors on my blog. Mortifying.

37. I love Date Night with my sweet hubby. {these are not in order, Johnny!} I look forward to chatting and holding hands.

38. I am very shy. Most people don't believe this. It is true.

39. I used to make and sell cakes. I'll have to dig out the pictures and post some.

40. I waitressed at a Chinese restaurant before college. Would you like egg rolls with that?

41. My first job was at Frontier Fruit & Nut Company in the mall. It was a bulk store. On my first day I was having such fun that I didn't want to go home. This soon wore off. :)

42. I have a Green Card.

43. I was a Biology Lab Assistant @ Ricks College.

44. My hubby and I met at a Young Single Adult dance in Miami.

45. He proposed on the beach.

46. We had a 24-day whirlwind romance; then we were engaged for 4 1/2 months.

47. Alligator was served {as a side dish} at our Wedding Luncheon. No, I did not choose this.

48. I have had braces twice.

49. I had my first child naturally. This was a mistake.

50. I had my second child with the joy of an epidural. This was much better.

51. With my third child, my epidural wore off. This was a total bummer.

52. I had my only 'I'm-in-labor-let's-get-a-sitter-and-get-to-the-hospital-false-alarm' with our fourth child. This was really embarrassing. {but then again, we are talking about childbirth... how embarrassing can that really be?}

53. I saw Purple Rain when it came out in the movie theater. There were lot's of Prince look-alikes there. It was something I will never forget.

54. I met Mick Hucknall from Simply Red. We were invited back to the hotel. We didn't go.

55. I still have my original Michael Jackson Thriller album. Purchased in 1983. My children said, and I am not kidding. "He was black?!?"

56. I love to lay on the beach. See #8 and #9 for why I like to stay on the beach.

57. I was a chair-side trained dental assistant.

58. I was a chair-side trained orthodontic assistant.

59. If I ever went back to school it would be to become a Dental Hygienist.

60. I rarely paint my fingernails.

61. I always paint my toenails.

62. I love going to Macaroni Grille on my birthday because I love to hear them sing, 'Tanto Amore a Te.'

63. I am a worrier.

64. Right now I am worried that I won't be able to think of 36 more things to list.

65. I am also worried that no one will read down this far on my list. This should make me feel less pressure. It doesn't.

66. I know every word to 'Paradise By the Dashboard Light' by Meatloaf. This is not something that I am proud of. I didn't know what it was about when I memorized it.

67. I can juggle. Toss me a few oranges the next time you see me and I will show you.

68. I worked at Bloomingdale's in Boca Raton, Florida. Dah-ling.

69. I was extremely happy when Andre Agassi married Steffi Graf.

70. I love to look things up on Google. The challenge of finding things is heart-pumping fun for me! ☺

71. I have never been stung by a bee.

72. I don't eat fish. I don't eat seafood. If it swims, I am not going to eat it.

73. One hundred things is a lot!

74. Is anyone still reading this?

75. We are still living in our first house. We had it built in 1993.

76. I was thrown over a small waterfall when I was a teenager. My best friend and I got all banged up and nearly drowned. I told my mom about this last year. ☺

77. ☺☻♥♦♣♠•◘○€ Look at all of the symbols I can make! Oh yes,... # 78 I get distracted easily!

78. I just checked and my passport is 12 years expired! {note to self: Aaahhh!}

79. I love to eat!

80. I love to eat out!

81. I immigrated to the U.S. on my hubby's birthday. I was his imported gift. ♥

82. I love a quiet, clean house.

83. A loud, messy house? Not so much.

84. Yesterday I made some AMAZING oatmeal-banana muffins.

85. I am grateful to have a testimony of Jesus Christ.

86. I am thankful that the missionaries taught our family the Gospel.

87. I love getting flowers for no reason.

88. I like to decorate kids' bedrooms.

89. I love to decorate kids' birthday cakes.

90. I love Christmastime.

91. I will be 40 this year. Boo Hoo. (edit: this was posted in 2008!)

92. I have creative urges that I don't really know what to do with. I hate it that I am so busy a lot of the time.

93. I love blogging. It makes me feel better because my journal and scrapbook have fallen by the wayside.

94. I have made many Bloggy Friends here in BlogLand.

95. I won a Chili Cookoff at church when I was a newlywed. This was funny because people had

been cooking their chili for days, and I just threw mine on as a last-minute decision before the social and won a Blue Ribbon!

{this has no reflection of what goes on in my kitchen... just a funny, ironic moment}

96. I love going out to lunch with friends.

97. I enjoy a really good book. Preferably in a bubble bath. Yes, many of my books have water damage...

98. I love hot, sticky Rice Krispie treats.

99. I am somewhat clumsy. Right now I have a giant gouge on my arm, a blister from the iron, and a paper cut.

100. I have a habit of needing to read all billboards and signs. It really bothers me when I miss one. I have not yet turned around to read one. I have definitely thought about it.

My 1950's Name

Did you ever wonder what your parents would have named you if you lived in a different decade? Well, here's your chance to find out!Enjoy!

Your 1950s Name is:

Frances Darlene

What's" your 1950s Name?

Okay, I may not be crazy about my 1950's name, but I would love to get my hands on that adorable dress and handbag!

Word of the Year

As Seen On TipJunkie--

Thanks to the Inspiring Blogs of Great Women, I have thought a lot about what I would like 2008 to be for me.

I am a busy mother of 4 great kids; they range from a Freshman in High School to a busy, meddlesome Toddler. With a lot of irons in the fire, I often feel like I am just skirting the edges of what 'needs' to be done.

I am trying to make healthier choices; I am trying to organize my house (thank you Executive Homemaker for all of your great charts etc.); and I am really trying to love and blossom at all of the things that I am involved in.

I have decided that my Word of the Year will be:



The Sunny Side:
Choosing a word to help me focus my energy on has been a really neat experience. I don't really write down my goals, and for me this has been just that!

Calling All Divas!

Okay, I don't know that I would call myself a diva, but I can dream, right?

I guess it is only fitting that I would be a 1950's diva since I love all of the classic movie divas. I mean, who wouldn't want to be Tippi Hedron, Eva Marie Saint or Sophia Loren?

You are a 1950s Diva

High heels, pretty dresses, classic makeup... You're a feminine beauty who knows how to play up her assets!

What Decade Diva Are You?

The Sunny Side: Somewhere out there, I have been called a Diva!

I Love Cheating!

Do not get alarmed, I have not lost my mind. (well, that is definitely up for debate...)

If there is an easier, faster way to do something... I will try to figure it out, and if you know about it, I want to know about it.

This weekend we had a dinner party with some of John's work friends and their families.

This is not us, but let's pretend it was this luxurious!

It was loads of fun. However... I had to confess that my delicious (if I do say so myself) lasagna :) was a total cheater recipe! And, in my excitement I said that I would post my recipe for all to enjoy. Now, I would have preferred to be thought of as a fantastic cook, using age-old italian recipes from my hubby's italian ancestors, but... there it is.

We love lasagna around here, (that could be part of my weight problem, but that is for another post!) but who has that kind of time? I mean, besides the time, who wants to wash three pots after dinner, either?

Tried the 'no-boil' noodles-- gag me. Totally mushy and grainy. Yuck! So, I invented my own process. I can have the lasagna on the table in 50 minutes. This is not a joke, please to not attempt to adjust your monitor.

Sweet Basil Lasagna

1 lb. ground beef
1 bottle Classico Tomato Basil spagetti sauce
1 can tomato sauce
1 large tub of cottage cheese
4 cups shredded mozzarella or italian blend cheese
1/2 box lasagna noodles
salt
pepper
basil
parmesan
secret ingredient: 2 cups VERY HOT WATER in a measuring cup

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Brown ground beef; salt and pepper the meat; add spagetti sauce and tomato sauce; bring to a boil and turn off.

In a 9x13 glass pan layer:

meat sauce (just a bit to cover the bottom of pan)
lasagna noodles
*pour some hot water down the center of each noodle*
meat sauce (1/2 of it)
cottage cheese (half of it)
2 cups mozzarella
sprinkle with basil and parmesan;

Repeat the layers a second time
Discard remaining water

Cover with foil; bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for 5 more minutes or till cheese is a bit browned.

Voila!

At the party, one of the runaway dishes of the night was a delicious apple dip dessert, so I would like to post it, too.
It is from my sweet friend Kelly. It is another super-simple recipe that is magically delicious!

Caramel Apple Dessert Dip

Wash and slice lots of apples; do not peel. She used Fuji, but she says that Red Delicious are yummy too.

2 (8-oz) packages cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 jar Smuckers caramel topping
Chopped pecans

Mix the cream cheese and the sugar (I presume with a mixer; I forgot to ask)-- correct me in the comment section, Kelly!
Spread the cheese mixture into the bottom of a glass pie pan, or any pan with sides.
Cover with the caramel topping.
Sprinkle with the nuts.
Garnish with a few apple slices (sticking up in the middle so people know what to do)
Serve beside the bowl of apples as a most delicious dip.

Enjoy!

If you have any crazy-easy recipes, please share!

The Sunny Side: Yummy stuff is easy to make, and people think that you are super-awesome! :)

And So It Starts...

Another January, and as soon as it hits I am thinking, 'I want to lose 10 pounds by Valentine's Day.' (not that I only need to lose 10, but... it sounds valiant, right?)

The problem? I am a lazy dieter. I can't stand counting, weighing, journalling.
I'd rather not eat at all than have to count it.

Problem #2? Voracious appetite late in the day. I won't even go there, folks, cause it isn't pretty. Let's just put it this way. I love food.

Problem #3? I am in the vicious circle of being too tired to exercise, and yes, I am well aware that I will get energy from exercise-- being aware of the right thing to do doesn't necessarily make it any easier.

Well, today I threw out tons of candy, froze some cookies and got all sorts of other junk out of the kitchen. That is my first step. One small step for me, one large step for my eating plan.

In the meantime, I wonder what is in the fridge? Pathetic, I know.