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.

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.

I have never been sick during Christmas. Well, not that I recall — I am getting old, so I don’t know how reliable my memory is at this point! Landon was sick last weekend and the first part of this week. Then Nikki started getting sick, and she sounds like she’s on the verge of pneumonia (but won’t see the doctor..sigh). Now my throat is getting sore. It isn’t to the point where it feels like razors, but I know it’s coming. I don’t have a fever (yet), but I started coughing a little about half an hour ago. This stinks! I’m going to take something for it before I call it a night. With any luck I’ll be able to avoid getting too terribly sick like everyone else.

Earlier today I decided to go ahead and get my baking out of the way. I made cupcakes for my mom’s party tomorrow, some for Nikki’s co-workers at the bank and some for Kim’s (dad’s girlfriend) family party. I decided to do Devil’s Food Cake & Strawberry mini-cupcakes (though I’ve only take photos of the Devil’s Food Cake so far). Don’t they look yummy? Trust me… they are!!

Now all that’s left is to wrap the last 2 gifts. One for my brother in law, which will actually be from Tyler, Landon & Trent. The other is for Tammy, my mom’s friend & roommate. I was hoping I wouldn’t have anything left to wrap after tonight, so I’m thinking I may even just put their gifts inside of gift bags instead. I think I’m out of ribbon, and I would prefer to have ribbon on a wrapped gift — yes, I’m that particular about it.

I’m supposed to stay the night with Nikki tomorrow night, Christmas Eve. At this point, I’m thinking I may just stay with my mom since she’ll be by herself Christmas day. Nikki is just so sick and I really don’t want to get whatever she has.. if I don’t already have it. As much as I really want to be there when the boys open all of their gifts, I’d rather not get that mess. Guess I’ll figure that out tomorrow.

Speaking of my mom though; she called me tonight and asked if I took one of the gifts, from her to me. I told her no, of course. Well it turns out it’s the handbag (one of two from her that I know I’m getting lol) I was looking forward to having the most. I really hope she finds it. She said she’d already unwrapped all of the other gifts under her tree (like 50 of them) and it wasn’t there, but she remembers wrapping it and putting it under there. I don’t remember her giving me anything but gifts to the boys, so what I’m thinking is she’s put the wrong labels on something.. I hope. :/

I have some laundry to attend to now, and I guess I should go on and take something for my throat..

Christmas is almost here. Only a couple of days left to finish up what little bit of shopping I have left to do and finish all of the baking I have left to do. Speaking of which, I did a little baking tonight — baking two different kinds of shortbread cookies. I’m not at all fond of the chocolate ones. They’re not terrible, just different I guess.

I’ll be baking cupcakes tomorrow, for the small Christmas gathering at my mom’s Christmas Eve. My nephews will be helping me decorate those. We’re doing white icing, swirled on top, with red and green stripes along the swirls and then we’re topping it off with Christmas tree sprinkles. I have a feeling my sisters kitchen is going to be a disaster for a couple of hours. Thankfully we’ll have time to clean it up before she gets home.

I’ve been rather “blah” these last few days. I think it’s the change in weather (going from mild to much cooler) and all the running around I’ve been doing. I feel like a chicken with it’s head cutoff! I think I have everything together, gifts purchased and ingredients too. Then I get home and realize I forgot something. The sad part is I’ve been taking a list with me every time I’ve had to run out to the store. For some reason I’m striking out items I haven’t even put in the shopping cart. Ha, ha. I think that’s a sign that I just need to stop now. Just live with what I’ve got!

A part of me is going to be so happy when Christmas is over..