A Little Reading Material

So much for catching up on some sleep this week.......I was so excited when the new Sophie Kinsella book: I've Got your Number came out a few weeks ago.  She is my hands down absolute FAVORITE author.  I have read all of her books and I wait impatiently every year for a new one to come out.  Unfortunately for me I read this fabulous book in the usual one week's time and I was left wanting more to read.

I usually don't fall into the book series traps too easily.  I have successfully managed to steer clear of the Harry Potter series AND the Twilight Series, which I am quite proud of.  Sorry, but wizards and vampires and werewolves just aren't my thing.  But recently I have been hearing a lot of god things about the Hunger Games Trilogy.  At first I dismissed it as another silly fantastical series that is not my cup-o-tea. But then I saw the trailer for the movie that is coming out in a few weeks and have heard rave reviews from both of my parents., so I downloaded the sample on my Kindle just to see if it would pique my interest.  Next thing I knew I was purchasing the first book and now I am about 1/4 the way through after 2 days.  So much for staying strong.  It is such a good book!

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Depending on how this week goes, I am thinking this book won't last through the weekend.  I am just glad there are 2 more to read afterward! =)

Weekend Recap

I feel like some weekends leave me exhausted and desperate for another day off, but other weekends (like this past one) leave me completely energized and ready to take on the week! This past weekend was the perfect balance of busy and relaxation, and totally included very nice naps on both Saturday and Sunday.

Friday night we had some c-razy weather roll through as much of the country did.  We lucked out and it stayed north of us for the most part.  We ended up heading to the movies.  I am pretty sure we've been to the movies more times in the last 2 months than we have in the last 2 years. Anyway we ended up seeing Act of Valor.  It is about Navy Seals and the actors are actual Navy Seals.  It was a really really really good movie.  According to Eric it is one of the most realistic war movies he has ever seen.  I highly recommend it, but bring your tissues!

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Going to the movies meant we stayed up waaaaaaay past out bedtime so we slept in Saturday morning.  Eric was cooking fish for a Wild Game Cookout (we are in Alabama) so I met him at the church where it was held to get some delicious Crappie and Amberjack for lunch.   When we got back to the house I had all intentions of cleaning the house, but I sat down to check my emails and the next thing I knew it was 6pm and time to head to our friends' house for dinner.  I figured I must have really NEEDED the rest.

I spent Sunday afternoon watching basketball games on tv.  Most of the NCAA womens conference tournaments were finishing up today so I got to watch my Lady Boilermakes beat Nebraska in double overtime for the Big 10 Championship and I got to watch the Vols whoop up on LSU.  It was a GREAT day of college basketball!  I can't wait for the NCAA tournament to start in a couple of weeks. 

A few more pics from this weekend.

1. The front that rolled through Friday afternoon!

2. The rainbow that followed me all the way home Friday.

3. I was looking for a dessert recipe for the cookout we had Sunday night and I ran across this recipe for  Quick Crescent Pecan Bars on pinterest (where else?!).  Once again, pinterest gave us another winner! I followed the recipe but I added some chocolate chips for a little extra oomph! 

4. I kept seeing pictures of brooms standing straight up on facebook all weekend and some of the friends who were over Sunday night said that the barometric pressure this weekend was just right so that brooms and eggs (yes eggs) would stand up on their own. I wanted to see and it worked!  I had enough time to take a pic because it was not going anywhere! 

In other news, I am sooooo excited for my cousin and his wife who welcomed a healthy baby boy into the world Sunday morning!  

Friday Letters

Dear Mother Nature, thank you so much for the beautiful weather that we've had this week.  I have really enjoyed my walk breaks this week.  Could you please divert the rain that is supposed to come this way tomorrow so that I can go to the flea market and not get soaked?  'Preciate it!

This is what we are going for =)

Dear person who put the recipe for Pokey Sticks on Pinterest,  thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this little jewel. You see I made them last night and had put them away to stop myself from eating the entire batch.  They are my new favorite [unhealthy, but oh so delicious] snack.

You are getting hungry, very hungry.

Dear Pandora Radio, even though you still don't have a SMASH radio station (which I am SURE you are working on, right?), I really appreciate that since I re-added my OAR station you have refrained from playing very little if any Dave Matthews.  If this trend continues I will leave it added this time, I promise!

Dear person who stole my tupperware container with my turkey and cheese in it earlier this week [the whole story], no I have not forgotten about it and I hope that the reason my tupperware has not been returned is because you have been home this week with food poisoning.  Taking someone else's lunch is just plain MEAN!

Dear Kindle, I didn't realize how much I missed you when you were broken.  I am so glad you are working again and thank you for letting me read awesome books and obsess over play BubblePop [aka the greatest Kindle game ever invented].

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Dear Eric, thank you so much for trimming all of the crepe myrtles and bushes in the yard and for painting the hallway this week . I really appreciate all of those little things you do, and I am so lucky to have such a wonderful hubby! I am so ready for the weekend and to eat some of the delicious crappie [fish] you are frying tomorrow!

Dear Hawk and Peanut, I know that I have been super busy this week but I promise we will have lots of play time this weekend (esp if it rains tomorrow like it's supposed to).  And Peanut I am so glad you are feeling better, please stop yelling barking at me from your kennel because it makes me sad because you need to stay in there so your back will heal.

Happy Friday!

Puddin' Pops

First things first:

Happy National Craft Month!  

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I promise I am not making this up (I saw it on FB, but I googled it and it is legit). I plan to honor this wonderful occasion with lots and lots of fun projects!  It's not like I need an excuse to craft, but this sounds like an excellent excuse to leave all of my craft stuff out all over the house =).  Sorry hunny, I can't put that paper and glue gun and ribbon and paint up, I am observing a nationally recognized month-long event in which I MUST craft for the entire month.  I am sure Eric would completely understand. ha. ha. ha.

Now onto the goods for today: Puddin' Pops!

I found a recipe for Pudding Pops on Pinterest last week and I could not get it off my mind!  It was driving me absolutely crazy. I remedied the situation Sunday night and made a batch of these fantastic treats!  It might have been one of the easiest desserts I have ever made, and it totally sent me back to my childhood.  I was that kid who while everyone else was eating pie with whipped topping for dessert, had a large bowl of nothing but whipped topping (I may or may not have eaten it straight out of the container on many occasions--don't judge, I know I am not the only one), and I also had a affinity for chocolate pudding.  Put the two together (as this treat does) and you get only the best frozen treat EVER.

So if you would like to be transported back to simpler, carefree times in the form of a tasty frozen treat, you can find the recipe below.  Enjoy!

Step 1:  Gather your ingredients

What you need:

1 1/2 cups milk (I used skim because that's what I buy)

1 8oz (2 cups) container Cool Whip

1 box (small box) Jello Instant Pudding Mix (I used Chocolate Fudge, but you could probably try other flavors)

10-12  3oz Dixie cups

popsicle sticks or straws or anything else that will work as a "stick" for your pops.

Step 2: Mix it all together

Combine pudding mix, milk and Cool Whip in a mixer and mix until it starts to thicken.

Step 3: Put the mix in the cups

Spoon the pudding mixture into the Dixie Cups (it was too think to pour so I used a serving spoon). Fill the cups about 3/4 of the way full.  

Step 4: Stick your sticks in.

I could not find popsicle sticks at my grocery store (gotta love a small town) so I bough some straws. I cut them in thirds and used 2 as the stick.  I stuck them about halfway in the cups. The mixture will be thick enough that the straws will stay where you put them. 

Step 5: Freeze 'Em!

Place the cups in the freezer for at least an hour to harden.  

Step 6: Unwrap and Enjoy!

When you are ready to eat them, peel the Dixie Cup off (it will rip) and enjoy!  

They are sooooo good!  I am thinking you could healthify (is that a word?) them, too.  I used skim milk which made them a little better, but I may try them with reduced fat Cool Whip next time I make them.  Either way I will be making these again--probably most likely all summer long.  Hello new favorite pool side snack!