Daisy & Sadie

Yesterday I had the opportunity to walk the hounds and it was great. Beautiful day...Daisy and Millie are still recovering from surgeries a few months prior, but are doing great. Well, today after church it was too beautiful to not go on another walk, so we went. Halfway down the road I noticed Daisy was really struggling. Since she had that massive lipoma removed from her arm/chest she limps horribly. The vet said she would most likely have massive arthritis after the surgery, and she does. It broke my heart, but I had to bring her back home and continue the walk without her. I hate to see them get old! But on the same token, so grateful I have been able to see them get old! My sweet Sadie is having a rough time too...it sounds like she is getting water in her lungs. I have thought for awhile now she has congestive heart failure..I know she is 11 1/2 almost and it happens when they are old, but it breaks my heart! We really don't want to take her to the vet at this point, since they want to run 100's of tests...we just want them to enjoy the time they do have left. Millie and Daisy turn 11 next month and the vet figured Dusty was older than 11 when he had surgery last February, but we can't be sure. It has been so fun having them all close to the same age, but I am terrified of what lies ahead...I just have to try so hard and focus on living for today and not worrying about tomorrow. Easier said than done! I hope all is well with everyone!

Feeling Good!!!

Last Saturday I decided to do the unthinkable...and get my hair done...really different. For those of you that know me, know that I have always been blonde, besides the few times I thought I needed to try something wild. Well I went and told Lisa (the hair genius) that I needed something different. I am obsessed with long hair. Love it. Always have, always will, but....I also feel like I was starting to look like a polygamist, so I told her I needed a change! I will have to post pics..I just haven't taken any yet. She took off a ton. I have layers everywhere! My hair is really dark, but we did lighter highlights on top and I now have bangs too! I thought for sure 1993 would be calling me asking for the bangs back..but I have never had so many compliments in my life on this hair! I am loving it! And since it is darker, for some reason people seem to think I have lost weight! Why didn't I do this sooner? Love, Love, Love it!!! Nothing makes me feel better than getting my hair done:)

Easiest, Bestest, Favoritest, Softest Sugar Cookies Ever!!!!

Only because I love you....am I going to share with you my favoritest recipe ever! For those of you who live around an Old Grist Mill..these seem identical to me:)



3 1/4 C. Flour

1 tsp. Soda

1/2 tsp. Salt

1 1/4 C. Sugar

1 Egg

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/2 C. melted Butter or Margerine

1/2 c. Sour Cream



Mix Flour, Soda & Salt in large bowl. Mix everything else in another bowl and add to the dry mixture. Roll out and cut into desired shapes. Put on greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 7-9 minutes. The second they start looking golden around the edges, pull them out!



I let them cool and always ice them with a mixture of powdered sugar, almond extract, a few tablespoons of milk and a teaspoon of soft butter. I get sooo many requests for these cookies! Perfect for Valentine's or any day of the week! Enjoy!!!

New Project...and a broken heart...

So me and some of my bestest friends from high school are putting our heads together and coming up with some fabulous recipes on Facebook...I can't wait until we have a bunch of recipes on there. It has been so fun reconnecting and I can't wait to see where this venture takes us. I will keep you all posted.

Things have been extremely rough lately. We had someone drop a beautiful dog off to us and we just couldn't keep it and it actually ran off, but I had to call the pound to clear my mind and sure enough he was there. I wanted so bad to rescue him. I prayed so hard and the night before they put him down I called the pound and they said a rescue was planning on coming to get him the next day and I never called back. I wanted to call back, but all the cute people I work with kept saying just hope for the best, so I did. Gracie and I named him Oliver. She keeps asking where All of you is...that is what she calls him lol.

On Saturday one of my best friends had to put her cute Jake of 12 1/2 years to sleep. He is such a cute dog. A big beautiful black lab whom I have always thought of as one of my own. He got really sick this past week and they took him to the vet and found out his lungs were full of cancer and he was suffocating to death so they had no choice. The saddest part is he left behind his best friend Charli. She knows he is gone and I am sure her heart is so heavy right now. For those of you that know me, know that my heart is so tender for animals. I feel for all of them! I must be the zoo keeper or something in the next life! I LOVE animals and I am so grateful I was blessed with such a tender heart towards them. They always bring me such joy and happiness!

Friday I had my kidney panel done. I dread it. I hate it. I hate waiting for results. I have an amazing doctor who takes amazing care of me and that makes a big difference. My arm looks horrible, but I am sure it will be back to it's chunky, rosy self in no time:)

It has just felt like the whole world has been falling down and I am ready for some good news! Know I love you all!!!

Artichoke Spinach Dip

This is one of my all time favorites now! I went and played cards with a friend Saturday night who is an amazing chef and she made me some of this dip and I can't stop ranting about it! It is soooo delicious! I made it last night and it is already half gone! I highly recommend!!!! I have to give the credit to Leigh Anne though from Your Home Based Mom..Brilliant woman!!! Thanks Leigh Anne & Lori:)



Artichoke and Spinach Dip

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 C mayonnaise
1/4 C grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 C grated Romano cheese
1 clove garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp garlic salt
salt and pepper to taste
1 (14 ounce) can or jar artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1/2 C frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained or 2 handfuls of fresh baby spinach, chopped
1/4 C shredded mozzarella cheese

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a small baking dish.

In a medium bowl, mix together cream cheese, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, garlic, basil, garlic salt, salt and pepper. Gently stir in artichoke hearts and spinach.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top with mozzarella cheese. Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes, until bubbly and lightly browned.

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Sandwich

Chocolate Chip Oreo Cookie Sandwich

2 sticks softened butter

3/4 Cup packed light brown sugar

1 Cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1 Tablespoon pure vanilla

3 1/2 Cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

10 oz bag chocolate chips

1 bag Oreo Cookies, I used the double stuff :)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer cream butter and sugars until well combined. Add in eggs and vanilla until well combined.

2. In a separate bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda. Slowly add to wet ingredients along with chocolate chips until just combined. Using a cookie scoop take one scoop of cookie dough and place on top of an Oreo Cookie. Take another scoop of dough and place on bottom of Oreo Cookie. Seal edges together by pressing and cupping in hand until Oreo Cookie is enclosed with dough. Place onto a parchment or silpat lined baking sheet and bake cookies 9-13 minutes or until cookies are baked to your liking. Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to cooling rack. Serve with a tall glass of milk, enjoy!

Makes about 2 dozen VERY LARGE Cookies :)

Hates Goodbye's

My heart is so full tonight. My cute parents are moving to St. George tomorrow for 3 months and it sure has hit me hard. I am so close to my Mom. We talk everyday and I see her every week. We have always gone to their house ever Sunday for family dinner...this will be the longest I have ever been away from my parents and it is killing me. I know St. George isn't that far but the thought of not having my Mom 30 minutes away is devastating. However, the move will be good for them. It is a little warmer there so the weather will be better on my Dad's arthritis and they will be able to get away and ride bikes and do things they have wanted to do for awhile, so I am excited for them.

Thursday night I played games with Mark and a bunch of friends and then I slept over and Mark and I stayed up talking until almost 6 am. We talked about growing up and it was funny that we both could remember the same things! I sure love my brother, he had me in tears talking about how scared he was when I died and I was soo touched. I miss the good old days with Mark!

Christmas was fabulous. Gracie got her lump of coal she was so excited for and some pillow pets, games, clothes, a leapster, a cookie/baking set, etc... Santa was VERY good to her and so were her relatives! Thank you everyone!

Millie and Daisy are healing so well from their surgeries. Dusty and Sadie and Peanut are also doing great!

New Years Eve is always a blast. We have my little brother and a bunch of friends over and play games and eat ourselves sick. This year I made bacon wrapped water chestnuts that turned out fabulous! Big hit! And everyone's favorite, the bacon wrapped little smokies (heart attack on a stick), spinach dip, sweet and sour meatballs, queso, veggie plates, cheese and crackers, chex mix...we also had tons of pizza's and breadsticks....I am telling you...I have managed to gain 10 pounds in about 2 weeks, so it is now time to crack the whip and attempt to lift this body onto that diet wagon! I hope 2011 is AMAZING & memorable for everyone!