Weekend Plans

After a week (fine, five long days) of feeling amazingly gross - I'm finally starting to feel better!  HURRAY!!  I hope none of you get this stomach flu.  It isn't pretty...

To celebrate feeling better, I'm thinking I might get a manicure on Saturday.  Not just any manicure, but an OPI Axxium manicure.  Have you heard of it? We all love OPI, right?!?!  Well, their gel manicures are so much more fabulous.  They DON'T chip!!!  Like...EVER!! (Almost!)  I got my first gel manicure right before Christmas and despite running around, shoveling, washing countless dishes, typing all day, and generally being rough on my hands - this stuff is still holding on for dear life.

Sure, the nail growth shows.  But, dang, I LOVE my manicure still.

And on Sunday I get to go here!  So excited!! A few sips of wine, a little shopping and some silliness with three fabulous ladies.  :-)

I'm sure that I'll have a few new wines to rave about after being there!

What are you planning this weekend?

Shop Til You DROP!

I hope that everyone had a fabulous, filling, fun Thanksgiving!  Mine was awesome.  :-)  Carbo loading potatoes and stuffing was a good idea, right?  I needed energy for shopping.

Here's where some of you are going to think that I'm absa-blooming-nuts or that I'm utterly genious.  (By the way, both are entirely true...)  Here is the Black Friday schedule that Kirstren, Heather and I used.

10 PM          Brush teeth and clean car
10:20            Leave for Kirstren's house
10:30            Pick up Kirstren
11:10            Arrive at Heather's house
11:15            Prep coffee to-go and get pep talk from Heather's hubby. 
                    His words of advice?  "Don't get stabbed, girls." 
11:40            Get in line at Toys 'R Us.
12:45            Get rained on in line at Toys 'R Us.
1:58              Successfully leave Toys 'R Us.
2 AM             Time for cupcakes and Christmas music in the car!
2:20               Old Navy - Hello, 5 dollar PJ pants!
3:30               Kohl's - I accomplished half my Christmas list here.
4: 45              Target - Easily the best organized store I was in all night.
6:10               Wal-Mart - Easily the least organized store I was in.
7:40               Breakfast with the ladies and a re-cap of our night.
9:30               BED!!!

Did you partake in Black Friday shopping?  Did you have to stand in line to get into more than one store?  Find any great deals that everyone should know about?

Where's The Poop?

The lovely Heather and her hubby threw their son a birthday party today.  (Happy 4th Birthday, dude!!)  As you can imagine - there were a multitude of kiddos playing inside and outside.

At this point, I should let you know that Heather has a fabulous bulldog - Shelby.  Well....nature must have called for Shelby soon before the party and the "present" she left in the back-yard was...well, it was found by a little boy.

Which, would have been a "eww" story all on its own, normally.  However, this little boy not only found the poop, but stepped in it - tracked it up the rungs of the jungle gym - around the little treehouse - and then smeared it down the slide.  He did try to clean it up off the slide...with his butt!!  Fine, it wasn't on purpose. But he did have poop ALL over his butt when he came in the house. 

A few other kids found Sheb's little present too...but not nearly as that boy.  It makes for an memorable party, right?

Bowling In Style...

I don't know if I've divulged this before....I bowl.  Not well, but I bowl.

Last year, I was the permanent sub on my cousin (Lady) Kirstren and her best friend (Queen) Heather's team. (BTW, I have a royal monicker too...feel free to guess what it is) I think I bowled more times than the woman I filled in for. But that story is better left alone.

This year - I get an actual spot on the team.  I mean, I'm happy just to get a night out with a few of my favorite peeps, an excuse to people-watch, and my weekly fix of MaryLou's News coffee - but I'm really happy that I get to participate on a more frequent basis.

That means I need to buy bowling shoes.  I know you're laughing at me (and I don't blame you), but I was really excited to find something cute.  I was READY to have to look online for hours - far and wide.  Um...not so much.  The first website I stopped on had what I consider to be the height of bowling fashion (or geek chic; your choice).

Aren't they cute?!?!

Tuesdays At The Table - Corn n' Bean Bake

I know I said this last week...but how in the world are the holidays upon us already?!?!  I'm not ready.  Make them slow down.  Or better yet, stop the train until I catch up!

OK... so that isn't going to happen. Sigh.

Last week I put a new spin on mashed potatoes.  I like our traditional green bean casserole... but everyone is reading the back of that French's Onion Rings can and making the same exact thing.  I want to be just a little different this year. When I saw this in November's Taste of Home; I had to try it.

Corn n' Bean Bake

1 package (16 oz) frozen french cut green beans
1 can (15 oz) whole kernel corn, drained
1 can (11 oz) consensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed Ritz crackers (about 12 crackers)

In a large bowl, combine the beans, corn, coup and 1/2 cup of cheese.  Spoon into a greased 2 quart baking dish.  Top with crackers and remaining cheese.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 35 minutes.

What's cooking in your kitchen?

Tuesdays At The Table - Rich n' Creamy Potato Casserole

Hi ladies!  The holidays are coming fast and furious.  It's amazing how fast this year is flying.  :-)  I was bowling last week (it's geek chic; trust me!) when my friend Heather asked if I could share a side dish or two in the coming weeks. 

Your wish is my command, Heather! *snicker*  The holidays aren't the holidays without some mashed potatoes, and this is a little twist on it.

Rich n' Creamy Potato Casserole

6 medium potatoes
2 cups sour cream

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

4 tablespoons butter, melted

3 green onions, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender.  Drain and cool.  Peel and grate potatoes; place in a bowl.  Add 3/4 of the butter and all other ingredients. 

Transfer to a greased baking dish.  Drizzle with remaining butter.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 30-35 minutes.

What's cooking in your kitchen?