Updates from Ohio

I have several things that I haven't shown you mostly because it's really just a few things because I'm pityful and can't remember to take stupid pictures. I didn't take one single picture at Thanksgiving. Bad Blogger. Bad Scrapbooker! Grrrr.

So we opened 2 more envelopes. Keep up people - it was a wedding present. A really awesome wedding present.

This was envelope #2 stop in Canton, OH.

This was envelope #3 stop in Fairlawn, OH.

and my "treats"

 

Yesterday I made cupcakes with butter cream icing - SO YUMMY!

For dinner I made Maple Glazed Salmon and Green Bean & Roasted Potatoes in a chive and butter sauce:

I'll try to do better. Not making promises, but I am going to try. Except tonight...I made Parmesan Chicken and was too lazy and hungry to get my camera out before dinner.

2 on Tuesday - Christmas Traditions

I am joining Andrea over at My Chihuahua Bites! for 2 on Tuesday. Click on the link above to link up. This week's question is:

What are your Christmas traditions?

I am hoping to begin some new traditions this year. This is our first Christmas being married - our first Christmas living away and going back home for the holidays, so I don't know what's in store.

When I was growing up my grandma always baked cookies - LOTS.OF.COOKIES. She would bake 15 different kinds of cookies (not kidding - it was a lot!) and she would bake DOZENS of each. She would give them to EVERYONE!  Everyone in my family got their own container of cookies for their house. She would give cookies to people at church (people at the grocery store, the doctor's office - ok that's not completely true, but she LOVED to baked and she LOVED to share). Every after all of that giving away, we would still have some at her house on Christmas. 

At my house, we would always see what Santa brought us in the mornings, then go to Granny and Papa's for lunch and more presents. My aunts, uncles, and cousins. Fun times and GREAT food!

I am not sure what new traditions we'll start. I'm just super excited about spending time with friends and family. Thanksgiving was great, but we get to stay for a little longer at Christmas.

What are your Christmas traditions?

Shopping List

Since I have been married I am trying like crazy to streamline the things that seem to take FOREVER! Grocery shopping was on that list. This is the shopping list I came up with so that everything is organized by sections. I have been using this to make my shopping lists and it saves me so much time at the store.

If you think it would help you, feel free to save and print a Shopping List for yourself.

Sacs of Life

I follow Woot.com on a daily basis. Woot has ONE deal each day. (They also have shirt.woot.com, sellout.woot.com, home.woot.com, and kids.woot.com in case you are interested.) This was the deal last Saturday. I got mine in the mail today. I SO wish I would've told you about the deal THAT day! These shopping bags are AWESOME!

I bought the Bella pattern. The brown bags fold up and fit into the front pocket of the insulated tote and the insulated tote folds flat and had a stretchy band that keeps it flat.

I have searched so that I could give you a place to look in case you're interested. Bed, Bath & Beyond have 2 of the patterns in the Sacs of Life Insulator 4 bag (3 brown bags plus the insulator bag) and on the Sacs of Life site you can purchase the Sacs of Life Insulator 3 bag (2 brown bags plus the insulator bag).

Wednesday Hodgepodge - November 16, 2011

1. What song reminds you of a specific time in your life and what is it about that song that makes you remember?
Oh geez…I’m ashamed to admit this. 2Pac’s “Keep Ya Head Up”. TLC’s “Creep”.  SWV’s “Weak”. Jodeci’s  “Come and Talk to Me”. Shai’s “If I Ever Fall in Love”. Laugh it up. I wasn’t known as ghetto for nothing. These were all songs that I listened to in high school.

2. What's something you've given up on?

Figuring everything out – unpacking all of the boxes (we’re just gonna rent a storage unit or toss it out the window or over the banister on the deck) 

3. What's something you'll never give up on?

Actually selling the stuff in the totes which are currently in our guest bath tub. No, I’m NOT posting a picture! It’s pitiful. But that is the only place I had to put my “sell pile”. Anyone want to give PartyLite pieces for Christmas? I’ll see it REAL cheap!

4. If you had to cook something from scratch in the next hour what would it be?

Either Beef Stroganoff, Maple Glazed Salmon, or Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole because that’s what I bought ingredients for at the grocery store that I have left on this week’s meal plan.

5. Have you started Christmas shopping? Decorating? Listening to Christmas music?

No. No. Only when I’m at the mall – which insists on playing it non-stop (since the day after Halloween!) Thanksgiving – it can start after Thanksgiving.

6. What do you know about your parent's wedding?

Not a lot. It happened. There are pictures to prove it. My mom made her dress. Yep…that’s pretty much all I know.

7. I can't believe I ___________________.

…”I can fly!” HA! Couldn’t resist! I believe I can do all things through Christ. I believe that God equips people that He calls. I believe that God heals.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

This was on my sis-in-law’s wish list – isn’t it beautiful. I hope she gets it and lets me borrow it!

2 on Tuesday

It's Tuesday! That means it's time for 2 on Tuesday over at My Chihuahua Bites! If you're stopping by, welcome. If you're interested in linking up, click on the logo above.

This week's question:

What are your pet peeves?

1. Automated answering services are SUPER annoying! When I call Customer Service I typically would like to speak to a human being. You?

Have you ever called and tried pressing "0", saying "Operator", "Agent", "Representative" and about 15 other things in hopes of talking to a REAL person? Why must we have automated Customer Service? I want real people!

2. This is a new one: It seems that Summit County drivers are taught that when turning left at a light, you should wait in the MIDDLE of the intersection until the light turns red and after all of the other people coming toward you run the red light, it's finally YOUR turn - obviously - because where else would you go since you're in the MIDDLE of the intersection already.

I kid you not - I have actually seen people BACK UP so they didn't get hit after their plan was foiled!

Happy Tuesday! Hope you're week is off to a great start!

My New Favorite Places

The Root Cafe is located on Bath Road in Cuyahoga Falls and is my favorite cafe in Northeast Ohio.

The Rail is located in Fairlawn and has delicious food!

The Fairlawn School of Music is a great place and I am excited about joining their staff!


Blake's Cafe & Cupcakery - BEST CUPCAKES EVER!

Sheena Talks...about Integrity

This is my apology. I am not apologizing because I care what most of you think about me or my blog (that you have probably never read until this post). And I am not apologizing because I feel like there was anything untruthful in the post. I am apologizing because it is my act of obedience to God and because I DO still actually care about people’s spiritual well-being – the same well-being this post seemed to be hindering. It was not my intention to hinder anyone’s walk, so I am removing the story from this post.

___________________________________________________________________

When you are responsible for the well-being of others (and we are as Christians), choices you make do indeed affect others. When our beliefs, our words, our actions do not line up...people notice! It's called integrity - or a lack of (depending on if yours are lining up or not).

Proverbs 11:3 says, "The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity." Integrity it vital in the Christian walk. Things can look so good on the outside but our public lives are only as authentic as our private lives. Integrity is when what you say, what you do, what you think and what you believe all line up.

Billy Graham said, "Integrity is the glue that holds our way of life together. We must constantly strive to keep our integrity intact. When wealth is lost, nothing is lost. When health is lost, something is lost. When character is lost, all is lost." Oh. How. True. Character matters. Integrity matters. Without integrity, ministering to others is impossible.

Note: Girlfriends in God can spur a lot of thoughts. If you're looking for a daily devotional check it out at BibleGateway.com

Wednesday Hodgepodge - November 9, 2011

If you're stopping by from Joyce's Wednesday Hodgepodge, welcome. If you want to link up or read other's entries, click on the logo above.

1. Of all the tools and gadgets you own which do you most enjoy using? 

I really enjoy my Nook Color and my smart phone. I most certainly use my smart phone more. Ok, so i should rewind - I love my smart phone NOW. I have an HTC Droid Incredible 2. I did NOT, however, enjoy my previous smart phone - looking at you stupid Motorola Devour - it wasn't very smart!

2. When (if ever) is impatience a virtue?

Ok, so I am going to tell you this, but you can't tell anyone that I said it. Deal? Coming from a girl who did NOT receive the gift of patience, I have begun to cultivate the smidgen that I did have. I honestly cannot think of any instance where impatience has served me well. Sssshhhhhh! Don't tell anyone I said that - you'll ruin my reputation! 

3. What temperature do you keep your thermostat set to in winter? Do you have another way to heat your house besides a furnace of some type?

 Right now it's at 60 something (Precious set it and I don't care to be chilly - especially when I sleep) and that's probably where it will stay. No other source of heat here.

4. Do/did you have a close relationship with any of your grandparents?

 My grandparents have all passed away, but yes, I was super close to my maternal grandparents. I wish so much that I would've thought when I was younger to ask more questions - pay closer attention. Hindsight is 20/20, eh?

5. When did you last have a family portrait taken?

 HA! So, I'm 33 and we just had a family portrait made before Precious and I married in October.

6. What does the word patriotism mean to you?

 Devotion and loyalty to your country - my grandfather was a WWII veteran and he LOVED this country and everything that it stood for. He didn't always agree with everything, but he was PROUD to be an American.

I think that we sometimes take this country for granted. Even as bad as some things ARE, we still have it so much better than the majority of the people who reside on Earth.

I think patriotism is simply being PROUD to be an American and acting like it.

7. Do you like to play cards and if so, what's your favorite card game?

 Not a huge card player. I did play a card game called Jokers and Pegs the other night and it was fun! Anyone else ever played? I had never heard of it until that night.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

 Things that suck about moving to a new city and state - finding a place to have your hair and your nails done! My nails look AWFUL! What's a girl to do?

2 on Tuesday!

If you are joining me from My Chihuahua Bites! - Welcome! If you want to join us - click on the logo above.

This week's question:

What's on your Christmas wish list? What do you hope to receive from Santa?

I have just started compiling my wish list (because my mom said I HAD to and regardless of how old I am, if momma speaks, you listen. If she demands a wish list, you make one!)

I really want a Silhouette CAMEO - this new vinyl cutting machine, however it's a bit impractical.

So, here are a a few slightly more realistic items:

Clarisonic Classic in Graphite Gray. Ok, so this isn't practical either, but I DO want one!

The North Face ETip Gloves - they are touchscreen compatible. YAY!

I also want this little guy to root my NOOK color - it lets you run Android which means I can get Amazon books on my Nook. Holla!

I can't wait to see what's on your lists...perhaps it will help me expand mine.

Happy Tuesday!

Chocolate-Cherry Scones

Tonight, I made scones. They look so delicious that I thought I would share the recipe in case you want to try it. It was much easier than I thought it would be!

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup cold butter, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1/4 cup dried cherries, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup whipping cream, divided
• Wax Paper

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Stir together the first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Cut butter into flour mixture with a pastry blender until crumbly and mixture resembles small peas. Freeze 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp. cream, cherries, and chocolate - stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. 

2. Turn dough out onto wax paper; gently press of pat dough into a 7-inch round (mixture will be crumbly). Cut round into 8 wedges. Place wedges 2 inches apart on a lightly greased baking sheet (or line your baking sheet with a silicone baking mat). Brush tops of wedges with remaining cream just until moistened.

3. Bake at 450 degrees for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe from Southern Living - December 2010