I have been thinking about getting my food/recipe blog back up and running. I have so many recipes I want to share. This past weekend my mom asked me to cooking a french toast bake for all of us (my mom, my aunt P, Tam and myself). I was originally going to cook the blueberry french toast bake found on $5 Dollar Dinners. They said they’d rather have plain french toast baked in the oven, and while I still intend to try the blueberry french toast bake, I did as my mom asked. I must say, between the french toast, the homemade whipped cream and homemade strawberry topping (chopped strawberries and granulated sugar)… it was heaven!

I’m visiting with Jess today, and baby Frost. She decided to try something different tonight and made a delicious turkey alfredo. It looks similar to sausage gravy in the photo, but trust me, it was way different. I’ll have to get her to write up the recipe so I can share!

I think I will reopen that cooking blog in the near future. I actually enjoyed blogging there and sharing the recipes! For now though, I have two installations to do and need to finish the final touches on another design. Back to work.

I’m taking a short 15-20 minute break from design work at the moment. I haven’t really updated here (other than a couple of the more private entries last month).

Last month we got our first, and only, snow of the year. Prior to then it’d had probably been nearly 10 years since it snowed this far south… and actually stuck. At 31 years old I felt like a child watching it fall and catching snow flakes in my hand. It started really slow, which bummed me out a bit because I was hoping it would snow in south Georgia like it did when I lived in Newfoundland (like that would happen). Anyway, after an hour or so it really started coming down and sticking. Exciting! My nephews really enjoyed it too. They wish for snow every winter, and this year, their wish came true! They built snowmen (and one snow woman that was a little NSFW), had snowball fights (one of which resulted in my being tag teamed by all three of them) and made snow angels. It was nice to see them enjoying something like that, that’s so rare in this area.

This is what it looked like the morning after the snow fell.

Let’s see.. what else.

I decided to change my hair a bit the other day. It’s had quite a bit of static lately, which is pretty annoying at times, but I guess that happens to the best of us this time of year — winter. It’s also starting to grow out (have been missing my long hair since I cut it late last year), finally. I thought about going either black or really dark brown. Instead I went with a golden brown, which is only slightly different and when the light or sun hits it just right, it doesn’t look all that different from the red shade it was before. I’m not sure if I like it just yet, but I’m sure with time I’ll grow used to it and like it more. It’s kind of in an awkward phase.. a little wild and free, doing whatever it wants regardless of how much I try to tame it. Ha, ha.

There’s a bee in my bonnet. I guess it’s because we’re so close to spring now, I’ve gone straight into this mad cleaning mode. My back is a little sore today because of this. All of that bending, pulling, pushing, moving and lifting wasn’t very kind to me! I spent the last two nights with my mom, helping her clean her house. Thursday’s have always been “cleaning day” in the house of Joyce. I got a jump start for her Wednesday night and helped finish up yesterday evening. I don’t know where this sudden surge of energy came from, but man it would be nice to have it every single day of my life. Oh the things I could accomplish in each 24 hour day.

Well I have quite a bit of work to finish up today.. before I can call it a day. I’m going to dive back into it now.

I’m not talking about for an animal, though I do need one of those for the new kitten I’ll be bringing home in a couple of weeks (Nikki’s cat had kittens in January). I’m talking about the ones you give your significant other.

One of my coworkers (we’ll call him M) from a hospital I worked for had one of the most hilarious pet names for his wife, which he used for her in his contact list on his mobile phone. We all got along, goofed around (as much as one can between emergencies) and became good friends. One day G (another male nurse) was going through M’s phone, which they both did to one another quite often (they were always looking for “blackmail” lol). When M reentered the nurses station G looked up from the phone and shouted to M “Who’s Puppy Biscuit?” We all just started laughing, and of course teasing M about the pet name he gave his wife. M said that his wife kept asking him to give her a nickname, so that’s what he gave her.

I’m not sure I’d be too happy with a pet name like M gave his wife, but I do like the idea of pet names. I read an article once, though I can’t remember which magazine it was in, that stated giving pet names to one another can bring a couple closer.

What do you think? Do you use pet names with your significant other?

I like it when he calls me baby.. or angel.

I’m not going to go into details about “why,” but I made the decision to no longer watch my nephews after school. It’s a really, really long story. My heart is in tiny bits over this. Despite the stress I’m under when I watch them, I actually LOVE watching them. They’re my favorite “little people” in the world. I know this is going to crush them, and I’m not just saying that. These boys have gone through a lot in their short lives. More than a lot of adults I know. I just hope they realize this wasn’t an easy decision for me. I hope they don’t think it’s anything they did.

This is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I just feel like my help isn’t appreciated at all, and I felt I was being taken advantage of. But yeah, I don’t want to get into details because I love my sister, despite all of this. Anyway..

I already miss those boys, and today is only the first day I won’t be watching them.

One day, when I’m gone, my sister will realize just how big of a role I played in her life.. their life.. and want to play in the future. I wish she could/would see that life is so short..

While going through recent photos, I realized this; I love sandwiches. I have had a sandwich for at least one meal every other day for the last week or so. Not that I’m complaining. I wouldn’t really be eating them if I didn’t like them, right?

Today’s special; Sara Lee maple honey ham on whole wheat white Arnold’s roll with mayo and provolone cheese — YUMMY!

I’m sitting here now sipping on hot chocolate. I don’t know why. I usually only drink this stuff when it’s cold out, and it’s gorgeous here today. Warm, light breeze and clear skies. Feels like Spring.. minus the pretty flowers, green grass and rain!

I spent over an hour riding down back roads today, for my sister Nikki. They’re looking to buy a house and I found two in their price range. I wanted to see what the neighborhood looked like though, since I was unfamiliar with the road they’re both on. Needless to say, we failed — miserably so. We were on the wrong highway, which wasn’t actually our fault. Thank you Google Maps..major fail! I’m going to visit my mom tonight, so I’m going to go to the right highway and have a look see. I hope it works out. The house is a foreclosure but was built in 2007. We’re hoping because it isn’t very old the possible damage to the property will be minimal. Cross your fingers. Houses in that neighborhood are well over $100k (a lot for this area), and this house is only $58,500 and the other is $109,500!

I’m still very busy, trying to catch up on several things. I’ve worked through 2 designs, on the verge of completion. Starting 3 more, and working on a logo design. Not to mention sending off premades that have been sold! It’s good though. I like it like this!

I’ve been keeping myself busy the last few days. Since my brother in law fell ill and the holidays took over, I got a little behind. I’m still trying to catch up on everything (both personally and with the design business). My brother in law is feeling better, however, he’s got a long road ahead of him. He’s still in a lot of pain and has already had to revisit the ER. They’re not sure when he’s going to be released for work, but from what I understand, when they do he will not be able to go back into the same line of work (insulation and air conditioning) because of the condition of his lungs. He still has to follow up with a lung specialist too. They’re struggling right now, like nearly everyone I know. Their oldest son, Tyler, he’s outgrowing his clothes — the clothes we bought him like.. in November. Yikes! I’m going to take him shopping for new pants sometimes this weekend. I have a gift card from Christmas that I still haven’t used, and he needs it more than I do.

Everything is a go with the new business. We’re (my friend Jess and I) going to try to start making products (hint: handmade) next week. We’re both super excited, and can’t wait to share our products with everyone. I’m sure there will be some contests in the near future. Lucky you!

I decided to go with easy meals today, since I’m trying to get as much done today as possible. Since it’s Friday and all! I had a craving for cinnamon rolls this morning when I woke up. I wasn’t in the mood to make them from scratch, so I went with store bought (gasp). They were delicious!

For lunch I went with a simple ham sandwich with lettuce and provolone cheese on my favorite bread: whole wheat Arnold’s. It was also quite delicious! If you haven’t tried that bread, do. Whether you want whole wheat, whole grain or whole wheat white — they’re all wonderfully yummy. I’ve used it for sandwiches, toast and even mini pizzas! Can’t complain about the 100 calories per roll either!

My mom would like for me to stay with her this weekend, but I’m not 100% sure I’m going to go yet. I would like a weekend to myself, since I don’t get those very often anymore. I’m usually helping my mom with my sister Nikki’s 3 boys (they visit with her every other weekend, sometimes every weekend, and I work on the design stuff on the weekends a lot too. Busy, busy. That words currently defines my life. But it’s nice to be kept busy. Doesn’t allow me much time to think of anything that may or may not be bothering me!

Back to work.

This year hasn’t really started out the greatest. It has been so hectic around here since New Year’s Eve. My brother in law got really sick and was admitted to the ICU on January 1st. It was pneumonia, and with it came an infection in his blood that began doing something to his heart. After several days in the ICU, he was moved to a private room and was actually able to come home yesterday evening — thankfully. We have all been doing our best to help my sister with her 3 boys, cleaning her house and what not, so it has just been crazy! I’m so glad he’s OK though. The boys were so upset their daddy was in the hospital, and even more so that they couldn’t see him while he was in ICU. They demanded (seriously) to see him as soon as they moved him to a regular room. I obliged!

Anyway. I haven’t had much time for anything for the last couple of weeks, so I’m trying to work my way through emails and getting caught up on various “net” things. Such a slow process!

It looks like I’ll be able to begin the process of launching the new business soon. I’m hoping to have it going by February 1st. I can’t even describe how extremely excited I am about this. I hope it works out and takes off!

My divorce should be finalized in the next week or two. I’m not sure of the exact date, but I know I have to sign one more affidavit a couple of days before it’s granted. They haven’t called me in to do that yet, but I’m hoping they do that sometime this week. Maybe then I can look at 2010 with a more positive attitude (not that it’s that negative though).

I have about a week off from actually watching the boys, possibly a little longer I’m not sure. I’m going to use it to my advantage and try to get everything caught up and new things rolling!