Get your craft on

Tiffany showed us how to make the cutest crafty pumpkins. I got in on the action too late and must out on the linky love, but had fun just the same.

You can go here to see the how to. I did not own a glue gun (for shame) until I saw this post, but went to Jo-Ann Fabrics and used my 40% off coupon and got a pretty nice one for just $6. It has two settings (why, and how do I know which one to use), and can be used cordless for up to 5 minutes. Which is perfect, because just the other day I was complaining how annoying it is to drag the corded glue gun around. I mean have you tried to get under the sink and fix a pipe with a corded glue gun?

Well, heres the thing. I am kind of addicted. I can't stop using it. I am just looking for things to glue. For the record, just because it seems the remote is "glued" to your husbands hand, does not mean he will actually let you glue it to his hand. Geez, I am just trying to be helpful.

I am off to find some more stuff to glue. Hope you like my creation!

Writers Workshop

Option #4
I debated back and forth on the letter to someone I miss, and something that I could do that would be a little more light and fun. The letter would have definitely been to my mom. The past 16 years without her have seen so much joy and sadness, that I would love to write to her. Today though, I just don't have it in me and I went with easy going. The letter though, it may come soon enough.

10 Things I Believe In


1 I believe that there is a right and wrong way to load a dishwasher
2 I believe it is impossible to be too nice
3 I believe you should practice what you preach
4 I believe you should think before you speak
5 I believe all grocery stores should double coupons
6 I believe that things like Christmas, Disney World and birthday parties are truly magical when seen through the eyes of a child. We have not been blessed with children of our own, but had the honor of waking up this past Christmas morning at my brother and sister in laws house with our two nieces. I have always loved Christmas, but it was so fun seeing the excitement on Christmas Eve and joy the next morning.
7 I believe people who enter the 10 items or less line with more than 10 items should have to put back items until they get to ten items.
8 I believe its OK to be 31 and want to sew, bake, and cook on the weekends.
9 I believe life is way too short to live with regret
10 I believe you should always remember to thank people, let them know they are appreciated, and be grateful for the people in your life.

One last thing...I know in my heart that man is good. That what is right will always eventually triumph. And there's purpose and worth to each and every life.
That's one from Ronald Reagan (no political affiliations referenced here, I just really like this quote)

Baked Oatmeal....Wisconsin Style

With some Italian coffee on the side.

This was really really good, and definitely a great choice for cool fall mornings. Not that we have those in Florida.

Ingredients
1 3/4 cups water
1 cup rolled oat
2/3 cup milk
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions
1 Butter 1 1/2 quart casserole.
2 In medium saucepan, bring water to boiling.
3 Slowly stir in oats.
4 Return to boiling; reduce heat.
5 Simmer, uncovered, 2 to 3 minutes for quick cooking oats or 5 to 7 minutes for regular oats, or until most water is absorbed and the oats are tender, stirring occasionally.
6 In a small bowl, whisk milk and eggs.
7 In another small bowl, combine brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and 1/4 tsp salt; stir into oatmeal.
8 Fold egg mixture into oatmeal mixture.
9 Pour oatmeal mixture into prepared casserole.
10 Bake, uncovered, in 350 degree oven 30 to 40 minutes, or until center is just set and sugar crust forms on top.
11 Cool 30 minutes.
12 Serve warm with fresh fruit, if you like

Where in the world is Carrie

Want some clue on where I was?

Were you all wondering? Did you miss me?

Well, the truth is, first I went on vacation. I needed it...really really needed it. And it was - AMAZING!

OK, I am sure you give up.

Maine, and then Cape Cod. We stayed with friends who fed us well, let us kick back and relax, and were the most amazing hosts. I would highly recomend getting some friends in these areas. I would rent our friends to you if you would like. Be warned though, you will get use to the treatment and the snap back to reality isn't fun.

25 more!

Remember this post?
Well, if not, brush up. You are about to learn 25 MORE things about me

1 I hate when people are late. OK, you shouldn't hate. But I strongly dislike it

2 I really strongly dislike when people interrupt

3 My middle name is Ann

4 I had scoliosis as a teenager and had to have surgery to correct it. The surgery made me grow 2 1/2 inches. So, basically I grew 2 1/2 inches in a matter of about 12 hours

5 My husband proposed with a fortune cookie he made himself. It said "You will live long life if you become my wife"

6 I love grocery shopping

7 I believe there is a right way and a wrong way to load a dishwasher

8 I am extremely blessed to have all 4 of my grandparents still in my life.

9 When I was little I had a pretend friend named Amy

10 I can't work unless my desk is clean, neat and tidy.

11 I make lists for everything.

12 If I mess up when I am writing the list I have to start over

13 I love to read. Always have been a bookworm

14 I worry too much about what people think of me

15 I worry to much in general

16 I love lip gloss. I buy them all the time. Its odd really

17 I never go in the ten items or less lane if I have more than ten items. Not even with 11 items.

18 I have 4 nieces and 4 nephews

19 My friends kids call Jim and me Uncle Jim and Aunt Carrie, which gives us 5 more nieces and 3 more nephews

20 I can say the alphabet backwards

21 I live in Florida and I don't know how to swim

22 I take after my mom in the way of not writing down recipes (until now). I am working on it.

23 I get angry when someone gets in my way in the kitchen (MY kitchen)

24 I took three years of Spanish in high school and all I can say in Spanish Hello, How are you, Where is the bathroom, and My Name is Carrie

25 I think I am boring, because I am running of things to post about. The next 50 are gonna be tough. I may have to get creative.

To my blogging buddies

I'm taking a break...a short one. Just a week! Things to do, places to go, people to see.

I am trying the auto - post feature, so there will be fun stuff, but I won't have much computer time. Please don't think I am ignoring you all. I promise to spend my first day back catching up and commenting. The mail can wait, bills can wait, the blogging buddies can not!

Also, I sure hope I don't get in trouble for missing Writers Workshop Wednesday. : )

Apple Fritters

Disclaimer: I can't be held responsible for any diets crashed, pounds gained, etc. I maintain that the apples in these make them healthy.

When we moved to Florida from Ohio, I thought that winter would be the hardest. While seeing Santa in shorts, and noticing that the Christmas tree tents had fans that misted cool water on the trees to keep them alive was odd, I actually didn't miss the snow all that much. We went back to Ohio for Christmas, had a little bit of snow, and I was satisfied. Besides, what is more fun that calling your friends from a patio as you eat lunch watching the boats float by in ocean while they are out shoveling for the second time in one day.

No, Fall was hard for me. Sad really. I LOVE fall. I LOVE football, and something about football makes me think Fall. I want to throw on a pot of chili, put on my Browns sweatshirt, and enjoy the weekends. I could take Fall weather all year. I love seeing leaves change colors and wearing sweaters and jeans. I love the smell of fireplaces going, and seeing piles of leaves in yards. Cut to Florida. There is hot and there is hot and humid. I really enjoy being here, but I wish I could have Fall down here. And people....68 degrees one day of the year IS.NOT.FALL. When it "drops" to 55 in the middle of the night, again that IS.NOT.FALL. The point of all of this is that if were still up North, I would have saved this recipe for a Saturday morning. I would get up, get the paper, run some errands, make apple fritters, but some comfort food in the crock pot and settle in to watch the Buckeyes! Instead, I am in Florida and I threw caution to the wind (the Florida wind that never blows around orange and green and golden leaves) and whipped them up this weekend.

These things were delish. I had one for breakfast, ok one and a half. I may have even had one for a snack in the afternoon on Sunday. Its all a little fuzzy now.

I haven't quite mastered the frying in oil thing (my thighs are pumped about that by the way), so I think I got it too hot. The outsides got pretty dark, but I had no choice or the insides would not have cooked up.
The dough/cakey part reminded me of funnel cakes my mom use to make as a special treat.

Apple Fritters (otherwise know as diet killers)
5 apples (your choice, I used red delicious) peeled, cored, and chopped
1 1/2 C flour
1/2 C sugar
1 egg
1 tsp baking powder
1 C milk

Beat all ingredients except apples together. Fold in apples.
Pour 1/4 C into heated oil and cook till golden brown. Again, my were REALLY golden, but the oil was a little to hot.
Let cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Enjoy with a loved one and then hide the leftovers and enjoy in secret.

A letter to me

09-03-2008
Assignment #2

Dear Ten Year Old Carrie-

Stop being such a brat to Mom. I know its a phase and for ten years you have been her sidekick and companion. I know it about a year it will change and you will be her friend again, but this time that you are going through right now needs to stop. Let her sit with you on the couch and watch TV, let her be excited about your life. And don't just let her - want her to, embrace it. Not every girl is as lucky as you. When you are 17 and the boy you really like says he wants to go the prom with you and then a week later tells you he doesn't want to go anymore - in the high school cafeteria in front of all of his and your friends, and when you are 21 and the boy you think you love breaks your heart, and when you are 26 and the boy you ACTUALLY love and were suppose to be with and you endure your first miscarriage, you will really really want her be your side. The trouble is, she won't be able to be there. Then there will be the times that you want to call her with your excitement...The perfect guy proposed, something hilarious happened at the grocery store, etc. etc. Again, she won't be able to be there. So knock it off and appreciate her.

Dad is an amazing man. Say this over and over again, because right now you think he is a complete dork. The thing is, he kind of is. He is by default, because he is your dad. He could be the coolest guy in the world to every other 10 year old girl, but since he is your dad he isn't. Yes he doesn't really know how to dress, but neither do you (and you will never quite grasp that one either for the record), and he has an El Camino that you are completely embarrassed to be seen in, but still. Don't waste a moment not seeing how amazing he is. He doesn't need to prove it to you. He will, in fact, he already has. Be nice to him. One day he will be the guy who leaves you gifts on Valentines Day when you don't have a boyfriend and all your friends do. He will the one that takes you shopping every year at Christmas and buys you a gift that no one else knows about but you two. He will be the one who proves to you over and over again what you should already know. He is an amazing man, father, person.

Your big brother isn't that bad. He is 13, your 10. I am pretty sure there is a rule written that older brothers are not allowed to like their little sister. I know you want him to "like" you and not pick on you, but even when you are 31 he will tease you a bit. Also though, when you are 15 and in the deepest stage of denial ever, he will the one to get you through. He will be the one who is legally, but not emotionally an adult, and yet he will do the most adult thing ever for you. He will go to your high school and find all your teachers and tell them that you are going through a rough time, that your mom is sick and you don't want to deal with. He will tell them to go easy on you, to understand that you are privately struggling. He will make sure you don't know he had these conversations. You will find out, on accident, and your view of him will change forever. As an adult he will become your friend. He will marry an amazing woman and will give you two nieces who you cherish and adore more than words can describe. So, yes, today he is mean, and annoying, but that's just how big brothers roll, and when you both grow up he will be the one you want on your side when the chips are down.

Don't worry so much what others think. Really, just stop. Kids are mean, teenagers are even more mean, and they keep picking on you because you react. Its mean, petty, and immature, but it is just the way it is. Don't give them the satisfaction. Don't try so hard to change it, because you can't. It isn't like it is in the movies, and most of the time it only makes it worse. Look around you and see who your friends. Hold on to them. Worry about them. Ignore the rest.
ps on this one: You will learn to love yourself, marry an amazing man, have wonderful friends, and want to laugh in all their faces one day. You will want to, and deserve to...but you won't.

Again, stop trying so hard. Be who you are, who you want to be. No matter what you have, how you look, and what you can do, chances are you will be able to find someone who is better if you want to. Someone will always be thinner, prettier, more popular, more talented, etc. Embrace you, love you, challenge you, define you. You will look back and see what a waste it was trying to change and be someone you weren't. And you will wonder who you were really doing it for in the first place.

Finally - HAVE FUN. Before you know it, there will be bills to pay, a job to attend, groceries to shop for, etc. Embrace the now. Enjoy the now. Because it will be only a memory sooner than you would like.




btw...loyal readers. I have not lost sight of why this blog was started. Recipes are a coming. Every Wednesday though, expect Writers Workshop Wednesday