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Thursday, December 30, 2010

Out with the Old, In with the New

Goodbye old friend...

HELLLOOOOOOO new friend!!


AHHH my new Shark Steam mop! I am ridiculously excited about this. I used it 10 minutes after I got home on the 26th. I sorta want to use it again. And again. And again. Daily? Is that too much?

I love that I can take off the cleaning pads and wash them. No more dunking a mop head into not so clean mop water. Plus the heat kills germs! Can you hear the angels singing? I can.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

A Promise

Let's back up a few weeks before we get into the meat of the story. One morning while Jared was at work, he was sitting in his car snacking on his lunch when he noticed some little eye balls peering at him through the window. it was a raccoon. There were 3 of them. Being the animal mover that he is, he shared his lunch with them. While he was doing so I texted him using a "raccoon voice" and said something along the lines of "excusth me sthir. can you sthare your sthanwhich". It made him laugh. A lot.

Anyway..
For weeks Jared has been planning my birthday gift. I didn't have a clue as to what it couple possibly be. When his best friend went shopping with him and I was even more confused. It was driving me nuts.

For my birthday Jared took me to the 94th Aero Squadron Restaurant. It is definitely one of our most favorite places to eat. Talk about delicious food! He was kind enough to give me my gift after we ordered appetizers. he said he was toying with the idea of waiting until after dinner but he knew I'd be going crazy.

I opened the bag and found this:
With this note attached:

Then I opened the most beautiful card that brought tears to my eye.

There was something else in the bag so I pulled it out and found this:


Woodstock was covering part of it so I asked "what is this". He told me it was a promise ring. I got very teary eyed but i refused to break down into massive tears in public. Let's face it, crying is not a pretty thing. Noses that run like a fosset, red puffy eyes, running make up. So I did my best to hold it together. I'm sure a couple tears slipped through though.

I took it out of the box but then stopped.

Me: "What finger do I put it on?"
(pause)
Jared: "I don't know"

We both laughed.

I decided to look it up online. There were all sorts of things on the internet. What it came down to is matter of personal preference. "They" say a promise ring that is intended as a pre-engagement ring should be worn on the left ring finger. I did worry about people taking it the wrong way if they see a ring on my left ring finger.

What I decided was, I don't care what people think. They can assume or ask, judge or not. All that matters is that is is a promise between Jared and I for a future together. I am just hoping people don't make a bigger deal out of it than it really is. It is NOT an engagement. It is a promise and a commitment. Still a huge deal and a big step for us. But let's not blow it out of proportion.

I am a happy happy girl. More than happy. I am blessed and greatly loved.

Here it is;

Perty, right? He did GOOD!

The Stuffing

My Grandma Ferguson used to make this every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It has been a staple in our family for as long as I can remember. Since she passed away, 11 years ago, I have made the stuffing for the holidays. It is super easy and very very tasty. It is pretty close to the recipe on the back of the Mrs Cubisons stuffing box but with a few tweaks.

What you need;
1 box Mrs Cubison Seasoned Stuffing
1.5 cups Chicken Broth (Comes out to 1 - 1 1/2 :14.5 oz cans of broth)
1 lb Jimmy Dean sausage roll
1.5 Cups White Onion, chopped
1.5 Cups Celery, chopped
1 cup butter, melted
1 Tsp Poultry Seasoning
Salt, large pinch
Black Pepper, to taste

Here's how it works:

Heat the oven to 375 degrees.
Cook up the sausage, do not drain. remove from heat when done:
Chop up the Onion and Celery. I rarely measure it out. It usually comes out to about 2/3 of an onion and about 4-5 pieces of celery.
 When you're done chopping, toss them into a BOG bowl (you will add everything to this bowl so you need roomto work with)
Open the bags of stuffing mix and pour it into the same bowl. (There are 2 bags in the box, use both)
Melt up the butter and pour it into the bowl
 (I know the recipe says 1 cup butter and this shows 2 cups.. I made a double batch)
Then Pour in the Chicken Broth. Start with 1 cup and reserve the 1/2 cup for later.
Toss in the salt, pepper, poultry seasoning

Finally, pour in the sausage. grease and all (adds flavor!)
Now here's the fun part! Take off your rings, watches, bracelets. Wash your hands and get ready for messy hands. Time to mix allof this up reeeaaalllll good!
Really get in there and mix it up. You should feel the bread crumbs/stuffing mix beginning to get squishy. You don't want any of them to feel like croutons. If the mix seems dry, use the reserved 1/2 cup of broth and slowly add until the mixture is nice and moist. But NOT watery.

Finally, pour the beautiful concoction into a 13x9 casserole dish.

Cover with foil and pop it in the oven. Bake for 45 min then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10-15 min to get it nice and crisy on top.

Enjoy!

I make a double batch at every holiday so we have one tray to devour and one for everyone to take leftovers. It is just as tasty the 2nd and 3rd day. Just ask Brian.. he hates leftovers and he eats this as leftovers. That's saying something.

Monday, December 27, 2010

30

Today at exactly 4:34pm, I will leave the 20s behind and walk straight into the 30s.

Remember when you were little and 30 seemed so old? In reality, it isn't. I feel like my life is really just beginning. I am not in the place I thought I would be at this stage in life. I honestly don't see that as a bad thing. Most of us believe that everything happens for a reason and God has our path planned out.

I know I have spent countless hours worrying and wondering about things in my life. Why haven't I dont this or why did this happen (or didn't)? I've learned it is wasted energy. Of course, we are all human and we all have these worries. But why have faith in God if we are just going to worry about everything that is happening?

I look back on my 20s and I see heartbreak, struggle, joy, sorrow, happiness, hard work, and abundant blessings.

In my 30s I am hoping for most of the above (I'd rather not have heartbreak and sorrow or struggle) and so much more. I am so grateful for all that God has blessed me with.

*A family that has been supportive through every moment of my life.
*Parents that have taught me how to be a good person and how tolove fully
*A boyfriend that loves me unconditionally and makes me so incredibly happy.
*Friends that have loved me through the good and bad times.
*Friends that have become family
*A job I love

There's so much more but I won't keep rambling. So... here we are. A new decade. A new set of adventures. And a continuation of a wonderful , blessed life.

"ForI know the thoughts (plans) that I think towards you,says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11, NKJ

Our First House

Our First Gingerbread House that is.

We bought a pre-made Gingerbread House at Michael's. We thought we would give it a whirl. I can't recall ever making a real Gingerbread House. You know, the kind actually made out of gingerbread pieces, not Graham  Crackers?

Little did we know, it is a long process. After you make the icing, you "paste" the 4 walls together you have to let it dry For one hour. Uh really? After that it dry you "oaste" on the roof. You have to let that dry for two to three hours. Thankfully we had some movies to watch while we waited for it to dry.

We both decorated one side. I say his side looks better, he says my side looks better. So I said I would leave it up to you all to decide. I won't post whose side it is in this blog but I will let you know whose was voted the best. So what do you think? Side A or B? Leave a comment w/ your vote.

Side A:

Side B:

Here's The front of the house. We both worked on it.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

2010 King Family Christmas Baking Day

There seemed to be some disagreement on whether this was our 4th or 5th year doing a big Christmas baking day. To me, it seems like this was our 5th but Katie and Jessica are pretty sure it was only our 4th. Regardless, it was a lot of fun.

Appetizers, Punch, Coffee and a whole lots of sweets!

We had friends join us:




And family:


And bakers in the making:




For the record, THIS auntie is not the one that gave her the frosting coated beater. I am telling the truth. I believe it was auntie J or auntie Mindi.
I even tried my hand at Cake Pops:


Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Ridiculous Amusement

I got a couple packages in the mail the other day. They were from my beautiful and wonderful friend, Emily. She sent me a Christmas and a Birthday gift.

Most people buy the big stamp at the post office and slap it in the corner. This time, however, I found this when I picked up the packages...

Stamps galore! Puppies and Kitties all across these two boxes. I found this amusing and cute. I'm not sure why she opted for this sort of postage but I am glad she did. I had a good laugh. Thanks Em!

The Great Stocking Scandal

OK well it wasn't great and it wasn't so much a "scandal" as it was a theft. You see, Fed Ex delivered a package to my apartment but I wasn't home. Instead of leaving a notice saying when they would try again, they left it outside of my door. Overnight.

The next morning my neighbor asked if I got the package and I said no.

Long story short, no one in the complex knew where it was. I made many phone calls to Fed Ex and Personalcreations.com. Fed Ex was no help. I basically got a "well our driver said they delivered it". End of story. Personal Creations re-made the order for free and shipped them immediately.

I got them about 5 days later. So here are the stockings that I ordered for me and "the boy". They turned out adorable, in my opinion.


Sunday, December 19, 2010

Baking Gals

I know I've written about this alot lately. Oh well :)

I just did the count for how many boxes were sent to Afghanistan. I hosted 2 teams this round. I've heard from 23 of the 32 team members I had.

Between the 2 team we sent 47 boxes. Maybe closer to 50-53 boxes. I am just amazed by the men and women that sign up for this and the generosity in their hearts. I am hoping these boxes make it a VERY Merry Christmas for the men and women serving in Afghanistan!

Friday, December 17, 2010

Thankful Thursday: Coupons

OK, so I am beginning to think I should change the name of this segment to Thankful Fridays. But it doesn't have the same ring to it. Oh well. I am going to use the "it is the holidays and I've been working alot'" excuse. Ignore the fact that I was off of work yesterday. I will get better at this. Or so I keep saying,

I really love the internet and the many things it has to offer. I.E. Printable coupons/Coupon codes. I am not a huge online shopper but I do utilize it during the holidays and when I simply can't find anything in a store. I don't care if it is a 10%, 20%, 50% off coupon. If can use it for something I am going to buy, I will. A dollar savings is a dollar savings. Especially in this economy. I do not, however, buy something simply because I have a coupon for it. If I don't need or want the item I am pretty good about passing it up.

I wish I could use more coupons while grocery shopping. I look through the adds and all of the coupon things that come out in the Sunday paper but I just don't see a whole lot of coupons that are useful to me. Once I have kids the diapers/wipes/baby gear coupons will be very useful. Too bad they expire. I'd start collecting now if I could. Then there are the "buy 2 get $0.75 off" coupons. Do I really need two boxes of that particular product? Probably not. Afterall, it is just little ole me at home right now.

I love Costco and Kohl's coupons the most. With Kohl's you can use thyeir coupons on absolutely everything in the store. Sale/Clearance/Regular. Love it. Especially when you find a really cute shirt on the clearance rack for $6 and you have a 15% off coupon. Can't beat that! Costco coupons always have something to offer. Water, Vitamin Water,Trail Mix, Clorox/Lysol wipes. Also some smoking hot deals on electronics.

Yeah, I'm a coupon girl and I'm not afraid to admit it. Now I'm off to Bath & Body Works and Barnes & Noble to finish up Christmas Shopping. Coupons in hand, of course.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Christmas Music

Around this time every year I am bursting with Christmas spirit. I am basically an elf in dispatcher clothing.
I will be the first to admit that I go overboard on gifts. I spend oodles  of time picking out wrapping paper, matching ribbon and bows, tags and wrapping each gift. I love it. All of it. And boy oh boy do I love me some Christmas music.

Day after Thanksgiving? Game on! The Ipod gets reacquainted with the Itunes "Christmas" play list. Catchy title, I know. From that moment on Christmas tunes are cranking from anything that has the ability to spew music.

I get ridiculously excited when I hear some of my favorite songs for the first time that year. I can't help it. They are just soooo good! So what are some of my favorite holiday tunes you ask (because I know all 4 of you are dying to know)?

In no particular order:
1) "Drummer Boy"  by Josh Groban.

I could really stop right there. This song is beautiful. And that voice... ooooooooooooo LA LA! (sorry Jared).Enough drooling and back to the songs:

2) "O Holy Night"  by Point of Grace
3) "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer"  by Gene Autry
4) "Christmas Shoes" by Newsong  (grab a tissue for this one!)
5) "I'll be Home for Christmas"
6) "Christmastime" by Michael W. Smith
7) "It's Christmas Time" featuring Third Day and Various Artists from the City on a Hill album
8) Alvin and the Chipmunks Christmas Song
9) Anything from Trans-Siberian Orchestra
10) "Mary Did You Know" by Michael English

So now it's your turn. What Christmas songs put you in the holiday spirit?

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Some of My Favorite Things

Although it can be a battle to keep them from climbing the tree, I still think they are pretty darn cute when they are under the tree.



And really, I could watch him decorate the tree all day. I did help but I had fun sitting back and realizing how blessed I am by this guy.
And he is such a good sport about me taking his picture. Constantly.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Operation Christmas Blessing: Part 2

I had a grand plan. I wanted to involve every person I possibly could. Well, it wasn't perfect but it was still pretty darn amazing.

We bought stockings.


Decorated them.



People donated.

And donated.

And Donated...


My Captain helped me lay everything out for each stocking. (And was thrilled I looks his picture!)

 
I packed and packed and stuffed. Then taped until I couldn't tape any more.


We placed the letters from all of the kids right on top!
Then shipped them all off.


I know the people receiving these will be blessed by them. I'm not sure they will be blessed more than I was. I took a step back to exam everything people brought in. I was overwhelmed with the generosity of people. 8 FULL boxes. By full I mean SO full that I had to basically lay on them so they would close and I could tape them shut.

Thank you to everyone that helped out! I am so excited for them to get these boxes. Hopefully before christmas. We even enclosed a small christmas tree and a couple boxes of lights so they can spruce things up a bit.