Weekend Finds

I did so so this week. I think it's just entirely too hot to yard sale. Several of the sales we got to at 1:00 in the afternoon were already packing it up.



I'm not a huge Sandra Lee fan but I only gave $2 for this cookbook. There's bound to be something in there we'll like.



I love this little popover pan. I've never made them before but I'd like to try. Anyone have any good recipes?




Ok, this was my find for the day. I have been looking for this print at a sale for awhile. It's called The Singing Butler and I just love it. The original price on it from Kohls is $110, I gave $10! That's about it, other than a few photo frames. I'm off to see what everyone else found! Be sure to check out all the finds at Rhoda's .

First, I'd like to thank the academy.........

What a nice surprise to hop online for a few minutes and have another award waiting for me! Thanks Stacey , I think your blog is pretty fabulous too!
Ok, the rules are to list five current obsessions and pass the award on to five fabulous bloggers. Easy enough!


1. John Mayer~ I won't go into detail because I don't want to sound like a teenage girl. Let's just say I want to come back as his Stratocaster and leave it at that.

2. Blogging~ I could sit here and read blogs all day. I get so many good ideas and recipes.

3. My Kitchenaid stand mixer~ I don't know how I lived without it!

4. Six Feet Under ~ Best show ever!

5. Yard Sales~ Love going, hate having them! I found something I've been looking for! Yay, post to come!!

5 fabulous blogs

1. The Love Shack
Beautiful blog! I love the pictures!

2. Small Home in the Country
Kammy has great ideas. If it weren't for her blog, I wouldn't know about Krylon Oil Rubbed Bronze.

3. Affordable Accroutrements
Bill has such a wonderful blog, and taste, might I add. I want to go over to his house and sit down at his beautiful table and have dinner.

4. The Armchair Housewife
I could learn a few things from Nicole about homemaking goals!

5. The Andersons
This is a fun read! Also, the first place I have ever heard the term Irish Twins. ( had to look up what it meant btw ;)

Well, I guess that's it! Thanks again Stacey!! I'd give the award to you if you didn't already have it!!

Bon Appetit

My mom and I went to see Julie & Julia today. It was so good. Meryl Streep played such a good part. She was so much like Julia Child. This movie really made me want to come home and cook. Oh, and to dig out my stand of pearls!
After I got home I kept thinking about a particular recipe from the movie that I'm dying to make, so I started to look through my cookbooks and lo and behold look what I found on the bottom shelf.



Yay! I was so excited. I'll probably stay up all night and read it from cover to cover. Funny, I didn't even know I had it!

It's kind of hard to watch a movie like that and come home and make a turkey club, but I didn't have time for anything fun to cook!



I'm craving chocolate, so we had ice cream with strawberries, yummy.


I can't wait to hit the sales tomorrow. There are a couple of community sales close to me. Hope I find something!

Pizza Night

I never liked pizza until I discovered bruschetta pizza. It is so good!



Just brown up 1/2 a roll of sausage.



While that is browning chop 2 good size tomatoes.



Add 2 cloves of minced garlic.


Throw in 1/2 cup of chopped basil.



Add 1/8 tsp of Thyme, 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, 1 tsp of balsamic vinegar, some salt and pepper. Stir it up good. Doesn't it look good?



I use the thin ready made crust. I haven't tried homemade crust yet, but I bet it's even better. Layer pepperoni, sausage and 2 cups of Mozzarella cheese on crust and bake @ 425 for 10 minutes. Just until crispy. Top with the tomato mixture. It will melt in your mouth!




Don't you want a bite??

Georgia Aquarium

If y'all haven't made it out to the Georgia Aquarium, I highly recommend it. We had so much fun. I just took my little point and shoot camera so what few pictures I did take aren't that great though.



I love the jellyfish!



I think our favorite thing was all the touch tanks.



This one had sting rays and sharks! They felt so cool.




The sea urchins were my favorite!



The boys really liked this tunnel.



I love this picture! You can't really tell what they are looking at, but Hunter looks amazed!



Sigh, and here they just look like convicts! They hate it when I want to get a picture.



It's always fun to cool off in the fountains at Centennial Olympic Park!

Thrifty Treasures

It's that time again. I'm a little late to the party this week. I found a few neat things this week. I thought this flag was going to be wood when I saw it from a distance. It's plastic but I thought it might be cute hanging on the front porch.



I love cake plates. I found two really pretty ones! Can't wait to bake some goodies to put on here. This one is fancy smancy.




I love the color on this one. Such an nice shade of green.



And last but not least, check these glasses out! $2 for the set! I don't know what kind they are but they are so pretty. I spent a whopping total of $6 all day!!



Be sure to check out Rhoda's blog for many more great finds!

Award Day

I received my first award today from Stacey @ Bloggin it Like it is. Thanks Stacey, you are one of my firsts reads everyday and I can always count on your nice comments. Now I have to pass it along to 6 people.

1. Cheap&Sweet~ I could really learn a thing or two about shopping from this girl!

2. I'ts a Jungle Out There ~ Sandy, I could read about your travels all day!

3. Poofing the Pillows ~ I just discovered Stacey's blog and it's a great read.

4. Emma Calls Me Mama~ Marie has a wonderful blog with a little bit of everything!

5. Rodman's Road of Life~ Jules blog is a fun read, I get such a feel for family from it!

6. Peterson St. Louis~ Not only is this blog cool, it's interesting.

Now go spread the love!

P.S. For some reason my links aren't showing up as a different color, but they are clickable!

Blackened Chicken Fettuccine

This is one of my favorite things to have for dinner. My kids were getting tired of it so I had to lay off for awhile. I cook for six every night but this can easily be cut in half for 2-4 people.

The cast of characters.......



I cut up the chicken into strips and seasoned them really well with blackened seasoning.



Then I just blackened them in the skillet. I usually use butter to do this because they blacken so much better, but this time I just used a little oil.



This looks like a puny amount of chicken! I had two skillets going though. I always cook enough for Chuck to take left overs.

Melt two sticks of butter.........( I know, that seems like a lot of butter)



Add 4 cups of heavy whipping cream........



Add some garlic powder. I never measure the garlic, I just shake some in and taste. Sprinkle in some black pepper. Stir really well, simmer for a few minutes then add 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese.



Oh yeah, boil the water for the noodles! Don't you love my precise instructions. I'm guessing I'll never write a cookbook! Ha!



Here is the finished product. It is so good! We had a side salad and some garlic toast with it.


Has anyone been watching The Next Food Network Star? The finale is tonight. I think Melissa will win. I like her and Jeffrey both, he's just easier on the eyes. I think she is probably more marketable.

Well, I am off to wash dishes. Fun! Then I'm going to pop some kettle corn and watch some tv. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Pool Buoy

You know it's getting close to pool closing time when all the catalogs come out advertising all the winterizing items. I am so ready to close it now. I'm sure we still have many days of swimming left though. Usually by this time of year I am so tired of fooling with it. Bring on fall and cooler temperatures!

An old friend from high school came by today and brought her new baby. He was so sweet and tiny. He's only 4 weeks old. I was enjoying holding him so much I didn't even think to take his picture. My ovaries went into overdrive! I would have another baby in a second if I could! I'll probably have many grandbabies to look forward to though.

We are thinking of going to see Funny People tomorrow. Anyone seen it? It looks funny. I guess I better go get some sleep, Chuck has requested a big breakfast bright and early!