I'm decorating, too!

I've been watching a lot of those decorating shows lately, like on my lunch break and when I get off work, then today, I got my Better Homes and Gardens magazine with a ton of ideas...

And I've still been trying to put things together in my apartment, so I took a trip to the store, and found a really cute candle holder thing to hang on the wall.

What do you guys think?

I think it looks pretty cool... just don't know if I should make it a bit higher, or maybe add a few things around it...

Here's a picture with the lights lit...

I had to cover the flash because the lit candles just don't show up with it on, but it looks pretty cool, huh?
I asked Jason what he thought and he said, "it's cool and holds a lot of lights." That's a guy answer for you. But did I really expect anything else? No!
Well, I'm still on a search for other stuff. I also have a few drawings that Natalie did for me in Black and White, so I'm trying to find some really cute picture frames for those, but haven't had much luck, yet. Any ideas?

I'm a built-in babysitter

As a younger sister, I am and have been a built-in babysitter for Rachael's kids, but I also know that if I do a good job, then they'll be MY built-in babysitters for my future kids...
It's pretty tough, though.
I was hanging out with Rachael and the kids for about six or so hours on Saturday and just knew that there would be cooking involved! We all started with making and eating lunch, yum. Then I got Jack and Ben to help make the most delicious Peanut Butter Pie (which they all loved, but Katie-doodles) even Kristen got two servings!
Then I made two loaves of home-made bread and we sat down and ate one whole loaf right out of the oven with butter and jam. It was so good!
I think it's really exciting to get the kids involved and have them help me measure, and get the ingredients and help clean and put things away (which doesn't happen too often, at least not often enough for me!) but they all did help clean the kitchen after lunch. Even Ben swept the floor (and me and Kristen re-did) and we all did dishes and loaded the dishwasher and put things away.
It was cool to see all of them working together. And hopefully they'll learn all these cooking and cleaning techniques good enough so that when they get to babysit my future kids, they'll be able to make me yummy goodies and clean up after themselves too!
(I know, Rachael, you don't have to tell everybody that I don't ALWAYS clean up after myself, but at least I make some super yummy food, right?!)

Who's coming to dinner?

Dinner was awesome tonight!

I used my KitchenAid for the first time, and made home-made bread, and it was so good! I used Bob's recipe that Shannon gave me and she was right, it is super easy... I'm sure I'll be making a ton more, too.

I haven't had bread that good since Mom and Bob made it the last time... I'm not even sure when that was, either, but I was so excited to spread some butter on the hot-out-of-the-oven bread.

I also made my portobella mushroom lasagna that's so good and ended it with good ol' Cherry Crunch Cake.

Dinner couldn't have been better, and Jason and I had it all to ourselves.

Anyone want to come to dinner?

What's with cooking shows?

I'm so suckered into watching shows that have to do with cooking that Jason thinks that Food Network is my favorite channel...
Well, it's close. I also love Bravo because of Top Chef. I'm totally obsessed with this show and the judging and the competitions and the speed of chopping onions and the beauty of the final product on those huge stylish plates.
I love cooking but wish I had a professional dishwasher/kitchen cleaner to take care of everything when I'm done. I also wish I could have people over to my house for dinner, but the practicality of having Rachael and Derrick and all the kids to my small place, just doesn't seem logical.
What I really need to do is to start invited friends over for dinner, but what do I do after that? Watch a movie? Play games? Would anyone actually be interested in such a night? I think a tradition is coming on... maybe a Friday night dinner tradition!
Either way, I just spoke with Jason and I will be making lasagna tomorrow night possibly with some home-made bread and I talked him into the cherry crunch cake for dessert... anyone want to come over?

Fried Green Tomatoes

Yesterday, my boss hooked me up with some fresh green tomatoes from his garden. I can't remember the last time I had fried green tomatoes, but decided it'd be a perfect dinner, which I ended up having tonight.
Fried green tomatoes takes me back to one of my favorite movies, "Fried Green Tomatoes" (go figure!) of which book I also read as a preteen. There's nobody like good ol' Idgy Threadgood and her rebellious ways of life.
Either way, I enjoyed my delicious tomatoes fried in Italian bread crumbs and topped with fresh garlic and onions and marinara on the side.
But of course, I had to enjoy it all to myself, tonight...
Now that I think about it, I should have taken pictures... but there's nothing left now!

Now I wish I could go over to Lori's and have some Cherry Crunch Cake she made tonight, but she's at work already. Bummer!

Identity Theft

I've heard stories about friends and relatives that have had their identities stolen but never thought I'd be a culprit of this stressful experience... until today.

Knowing that I have a few bills to pay this week, I checked my bank account online and noticed a $10 transaction in Chicago, Illinois. I haven't been out of the state in over a month and so it caught my attention quite quickly. Only being $10 I wasn't too scared, but I was still concerned.

I called my bank and asked what it was for and they said it was on Sunday morning, and I KNOW I wasn't in Chicago this weekend!

After a little bit of searching, I was told that I had to file a police report before my bank could cancel my bank card and take off the transaction.

So, I called my boss to ask if I could take a little longer lunch to go file a report and get this all taken care of. He said, yes, but also told me that some places bill out of another area, so it could be one of those situations...

And, thankfully, it was! Sure enough, I had gotten gas Sunday morning in Michigan and it was billed out of Chicago. Weird. But I feel a bit better and will continue to keep a close eye on my account from now on!

Jojo is 1 year old!

My baby girl, Jojo, turned 1 year old yesterday. My little girl is getting so big! I thought I would make a cake in the shape of a mouse for her, but realized that I would probably be the only who'd eat it, so I decided against it.
But I did get her a few new things. A collar, a special treat dish, play toys, cleaning wipes, and a scratchy thing. She was so excited!

Just a few pictures of the kids

I went over to Rachael's house this weekend and took a few pictures of the kids (but Ben was still taking a nap, so he missed out).
Here's a few of them.

Jack, Katya, and Kristen

Jack

Yes, Jack was the only one who let me take a ton of pictures of him and he's such a stud! He'll either be a chef, because he loves cooking with me, or model/actor!

Guess what I got today???

I finally got my KitchenAid today! I'm so excited and can't figure out what to make first, or if I should actually use it and potentially get it dirty. But then again, I know it'll eventually be used and eventually get dirty, so why not?
I got it in black because I couldn't decide on a color I would love forever in my kitchen and I didn't want a plain white one.
Cute, huh?

Even Jojo had to check out all the action, I'm sure she thinks I may be making something special for her 1st birthday on Sunday, but I wasn't planning on it... Sorry, Jojima!

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza

Jason and I have eaten some super yummy home-made pizza at Lori's house a few times, so I tried making some myself, tonight...
And it was awesome!
The crust was nice and crispy, and I added my favorite toppings like fresh tomatoes, onions, artichoke hearts, and sauteed portobella mushrooms, as well as the usual sauce and cheese and it was so darn good!!!
I guess it was a good thing I split the pizza with Jason, instead of making one for me and one for him!
Thanks, Lori, for the idea!