Southern Blondie: October 2011

Trick or Treat? Or Palm Readings?

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Hi Marilyn! 


Saturday night was full of Halloween costumes, friends and Banjo the Palm Reader. My friend Suzanne had a Halloween party at her house. I'm a fan of house parties when it comes to Halloween. It's easy, laid back, and you can still have a great time.




For the fun and festivities, she asked a guy named Banjo to come read palms. I've had my palm read once before, some of the things were spot on so I decided to do it again. Now I'm wondering if that was a good idea. When someone reads your palm, no matter what you believe, it will put things in your head. Ideas. Situations. People. You start to think about it all.




Even if everything is 'written' as Banjo said, It's still odd to for someone to tell you specific things that relate to your life.


So, What did Banjo tell me?




  •  I have an old soul.
  • There was a star in my hand that shows I have a guardian angel. He said that I've had this angel for a   very long time in my life. 
  • I will die far away from where I was born. (I was born in the country of Panama.)
  • I have a temper. I've learned how to control it, but when the temper is not controlled, it can be very strong. 
  • I've had someone somewhat control my life up until now (could be my mother. sorry mom) but I will soon regain complete control over my life. 
  • I will change professions in the next two years.
  • By the time I'm 40 I will be working in the public in some way.
  • There will be a big decision coming up in my life soon, I'll make the right decision, but it will be a big one.
  • There will be a change in my sleep in the next 45 days. Whether I move, or change rooms, there will be a change. 
  • He specially mentioned going to school and named UALR. Even if I feel like quitting or if I'm discouraged, to keep going. It will be good for me in the long run. 
  • Apparently I have a rebel spirit to do what I want to do.
  • I'm also independent. I like things the way I like them. I like my space the way I like it. 
  • He also mentioned headaches and high cholesterol which freaked me out because I've been having issues with both recently. He told me that many times my headaches are from stress and I need to continue to exercise. 
  • Never trust a guy with a club thumb. This would be killer for me. (That's not scary or anything...)
Now for the parts that made me tear up - 

Banjo started to discuss my 'loves' in my life. Apparently I will have three. He asked had I been married before, I said, no, but that I had a serious relationship for a number of years. He said that was considered my first love. 

When he started to discuss my first 'love' I began to tear up. He described how hurt it left me, how there was a severe trust issue in the relationship, I would see a side of this person that others didn't, at times I was scared, I was never happy and how now I have problems trusting guys. That I've probably turned down a lot of goods ones because of the things from the first 'love' relationship. 

Hard not to tear up after that. 

Was he right? Yes. He was. I'm not sure if he could just sense it or what, but he was pretty spot on when it came to that. 

Good news though, there will be another love. This one will last. It will be a great love that will last. 

So we will see... 

He also said that he doesn't see a 'white knight' in my future but more of a 'cowboy' type that has the boots, truck and can handle me. 

Nothing like looking forward to the future... 
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Let's Go St. Louis Cardinals! Let's Go!

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Cardinal born, 
and Cardinal bred, 
Forever I shall be, 
Cardinal Red.


My dad and I at a game in 2009. 


My cousin and I in 2008


What I have at my desk at work. 

GO CARDS!
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When Things Go Totally Wrong

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So, baking is enjoyable to me. It's relaxing. It's fun. It's a hobby.

On Tuesday, it was a nightmare.

(The after, after.)

I decided at 5 p.m. on Tuesday that I'd bake some cupcakes for work on Wednesday. These were going to be homemade red velvet cupcakes so I went home to make a list of things I would need. I had sugar, but no cake flour. I had crisco, but no powdered sugar for the frosting.

After the list had been created, I headed off to the grocery store. Gathered all the items. Checked out. Came home and started the baking. I had done everything when the recipe said to 'add food coloring to the cocoa powder.' Um... I hadn't bought red food coloring. The food coloring I had wasn't enough, and I didn't want to serve pink cupcakes. Or blue ones. Or green.

Why don't they sell larger bottles of red food coloring??

So, I turned off the pre-heated oven. Threw the mix in the fridge and made a trip back to the grocery store. Grabbed the red food coloring and then headed back home to continue the baking. The batter tasted well enough, so into the oven the cupcakes went. After spilling some of the red food coloring on my white counters. While the cupcakes were baking, I made the homemade cream cheese icing.

Butter. Cream cheese. Powdered sugar.

Luckily the recipe called for a pound and a half of powdered sugar and I had bought a two pound bag.

The other half of a pound also ended up on the counter. On the floor. And on me.

Perfect. Now my counters look like I've murdered someone with red food coloring then decorated myself in powdered sugar.

The icing was done, the cupcakes were ready to be taken out of the oven, and the kitchen was a mess. When you use a butter, cream cheese icing, then you have to make sure your cupcakes are completely cool before icing. (This might be the only thing I did right all night.)

Once the cupcakes had cooled, I broke the smallest one in half to make sure it was red and see how it tasted. That's when I started to panic. It didn't taste right. It tasted chalky. Too much flour? Too much vinegar? Did I measure wrong? Did waiting on the food coloring mess it up? What had I done??

There was no way that those cupcakes were going to see the inside of my office. No way. After a 20 minute freak out moment to which I called my mom, cousin, friend and texted everyone about what I should do, I came to a conclusion. Toss 'em.

Luckily, there was a box mix in my pantry that I could make quickly and make all of this go away. Though it wasn't red velvet, it was chocolate. It would do. It would have to do. It was 10 at night and I wasn't making a third trip back to the store for more red food coloring. Who's going to complain about someone bringing cupcakes to work? (That's what I told myself anyway.)

Baked the cupcakes. Frosted them Wednesday morning. Took them to work.

When things started to go terribly wrong with the cupcakes, food coloring and my freak-out moment, the only thing I thought was, "Oh good, I have a blog story."
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My Favorite Meal

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When I graduated high school I went to college at Arkansas State University. It wasn't that far from home but it was still away from home. The first year of college I lived in the dorm with my best friend from high school. Though I didn't go home a lot, I did go home at about once a month. Money, laundry and cooking were needed.

The first weekend I went home, my mom asked, "Do you want your favorite meal?" "Sure," I replied. I wasn't really sure what my favorite meal was, but I figured she knew me better than I knew myself so I just considered it a surprise.

For the record, I don't think I like surprises.

My first weekend home from college and I learned what my mom thought my favorite meal was. Pork chops and corn. She thought I loved either fried/baked/seared pork chops and some variation of corn. Don't get me wrong, it's good stuff, but was it my favorite? Sometimes it's better to just smile and eat, so I enjoyed the home-cooked meal since it wasn't college food and didn't think much of it.

Until I went home again. Again, we had my favorite meal. And we did thereafter for the next two years when I'd visit. So for two years, I just acted like it was. I didn't really care. I liked it well enough, but if I was given a choice then I would have probably picked something else.

During my last semester year of college I finally became brave enough to tell the truth. One weekend I had gone home and they hadn't cooked my favorite meal. My mom said she was sorry for not cooking it and that's when I fessed up.

"Mom, you know that's not my favorite meal, right?" - Me

"What? We thought you loved that. That's why we always cooked it!" - Mom

"No. It's really not. It's good an all, but it's not my favorite." - Me

And there hasn't been pork chops and corn since.

The moral of this story, it might have been better to be honest in the beginning.
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October Days, Outside Fire Nights

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Oh, October.  I had made several different plans this weekend, but when it comes to October and plans, I never know what's going to happen. If you remember, October and I aren't that great of friends. This year I've decided to play nice. So this weekend the original plans didn't turn out the way they were planned, but ...


I had a cottin-pickin good time anyway.


Even had a little beans and cornbread 


It always taste better with some sweet tea. 


And you can't have a great weekend without a outside fire.


If you have a fire, you've gotta make s'mores.


And top it off with a Cardinal win.


So, plans might not have worked out as planned, but sometimes it works out better. 
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Thank Goodness I'm Southern

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I just happened to watch parts of the CMT reality show Sweet Home Alabama last night (I had to watch something in-between commercials for the World Series) and it just left me saying, 'Thank God I'm Southern."

As I'm watching this show, they bring in a group of girls from the South for this bachelor and a group of girls from the North. Everyone has been wonderfully casted to play their part. My favorite line of the night was when a Southern girl looks at one of the ones from California, "Look how skinny they are! Do they eat?"

Don't get me wrong, Northerners, Westerners, and East Coast Folks are ALL great. Actually, some of the places I want to go the most right now, aren't in the South, but all over the U.S. It's just that when the day is over, this is the only place I want to be.

What makes the South so wonderful?

It's the people. It's the feeling. It's the comfort.

I've picked out my top three reasons I love the South (today).





2. Sunsets Like THIS
(Yes, we all get sunsets. But do you get them in a field?




3. I can say the word YA'LL.




By the way... I've been talking ALL week long about visiting wine country in California. Can I wear my boots?
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Sweet Potato Muffins

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Well, I'm thinking that it's fall. Even though it's been chilly, I've been wearing boots and jackets and It looks like fall, you never really know in Arkansas. It could be 80 degrees tomorrow or it could be snowing.  But as of today ... It's fall. 

In celebration of fall and all things fall and things that smell like fall and look like fall and feel like fall, I thought I would bake some muffins. 

For fall. 

Whew. I'm tired and it's just fall. 

My mom gave me this recipe and it's really good. I think it's better when she makes it but I think everything is better when she makes it. Luckily though, she passed it along to me and now I'm sharing. I'm a sharer.  



The main ingredients. 

Anything with allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon is going to say... yep. Fall.


So, what is the logical thing to do first? Well you need to cook your sweet potato. 

I decided to microwave it for five min. Felt it up a little.

Sorry, sweet potato. 

And, microwaved it once more. 

Perfecto.


While your potato is microwaving (unless you want to bake it), 
you can work together on the dry ingredients. 

Add flour.


Some sugar.


Little bit of baking soda.

(I swear these pictures are all different.)


Then the fun stuff! 

Cinnamon.


Nutmeg.

Can you smell this?


Allspice. 

Mmmm


Ground gloves.


Add ya some salt.

It's on top. See it?

Then mix all the dry together. 


Since you have the dry ingredients mixed together, it's time to gather the other ingredients. 

I just had to use one sweet potato. It was about the size of of two tennis balls. 

Which equals a cup and a half.


After you have your sweet potato mashed, then add the orange juice.

(Side note: I don't like orange juice. I think it's because my mom use
to make me drink it. For some reason tonight, I had a glass of orange juice
while making these. I also had a glass of wine. It is fall.)


Add ya oil.


And mix.

Again. 


This is when I throw it in the mixer. I don't have a hand mixer.
I burned it out last summer. It smoked. And sparked.



Add some of the dry to the wet.


Mix!

Action shot!


Again! 


Mix in ya nuts. 

If you like em.


Look at that.


I put the muffins in cupcake holder things because they are cuter that way. 

And that's the only reason I need. 



Ta dah!

Sweet potato muffins. 

Enjoy. 

Eat up. Share. Give.

Sweet Potato Muffins

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour
1 ½ cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
¾ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground allspice
¼ tsp ground cloves
Mix above ingredients together.

2 eggs
1 ½ cups mashed sweet potatoes
½ cup vegetable oil
6 tablespoons orange juice
Add to above ingredients.

½ cup chopped pecans
Fold pecans into above mixture.
 
Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
Place muffin mixture into muffin tins (I use cupcake holders)
Bake for 25-30 minutes. 
 
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Wordless Wednesday: Kind Words

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Sometimes what someone else writes can say it all.
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Champagne & Cocktail Dresses

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It's been a while since I've been to Atlanta. Though it's a wonderful city and at times I miss living there like crazy, I don't get to go back as much as I'd like. With life being so busy lately because of school, work, and everything in between, I needed a break. My mind, soul and everything inside me needed a getaway. Sometimes when you go all day and night for weeks, a burn-out happens.

Before that happened to me, I knew I needed to change locations, see some old friends, and just have some dress-up fun. 

So, that's what I did. Courtney was having a birthday party for her husband Dave. Melissa and I schemed with Dave to surprise Courtney with my presence. (She loves surprises.) Melissa wanted to surprise her. And, well I wanted to see both of them. I think we all won

The plans were in place. I was headed to Atlanta. Plans for Friday night were drinks and a low-key dinner. Saturday morning slept in a little, had a little lunch, did a little shopping and then started getting ready for Dave's birthday party at the Zoo.

Yes. The Zoo. We all dressed up fancy in our cocktails dresses and went to a benefit at the Atlanta Zoo called Jazzoo. It helps raise money for kids who can't afford to pay to go to the zoo. If it helps out kids, I'm in.



Hi Atlanta! Oh how pretty you look!

All dressed up Saturday night. 

You may remember these girls from Nashville.


This may look like a simple picture, but this dress was one of three that I couldn't decide on.


Dave and all of his ladies.


On our way to the event!


We went in style.

I mean, it was Dave's birthday and all.


My Lauren love.


I think I found my new hobby. 

Who doesn't want to know how to do that?


All in all it was a wonderful weekend. I couldn't ask for better people in my life than my Atlanta friends. They are more fun than fun knows how to be.

The best part? This entire trip put everything back into perspective. Coming back, I feel clear headed and happy. Ready to get back to work, school and tackle all the life stuff in between.

I'm writing this after I've spent all weekend having way too much fun, but I know I have one devoted reader who likes my 'stories.' If it's a little wordy, or not well-written, it's because I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open right now.
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Thankful Thursday: My Mother's Mother

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Until recently, I didn't understand the great impact my mother's mother had on me growing up. She instilled hard work, dedication, faithfulness, honesty, and the wisdom to know when to follow your heart and when to use your head. As her first grandchild, I was spoiled, loved and given enough attention for an army. But I was also expected to behave, be respectful, be thankful, and never take anything for granted. 

The memories of being with my grandmother, or Nana as I called her, are never ending. She taught me how to sew, clean silver, clean a toilet, use a typewriter, stay quiet when you want to scream, speak up for yourself, stay strong in a storm, respect yourself with others, and so much more. 

One of the things I'll never forget is the work-ethic that was instilled and expected. Though my mom and dad both have work ethics strong ethics, my grandmother's stories have still stuck in the back of my mind. 

As a child, Nana grew up in a family of six. The oldest of four children, she was responsible for the well-being of her three younger brothers. During the day she would go to school, use her chalk board and chalk to learn how to read, write and use arithmetic, and in the afternoons they would pick cotton for money.  She knew there was more than picking cotton in life, she knew there was more than living poorly. She worked hard to graduate high school and then moved to the nearest city where she got her first job. 

After she got her first real job, she never stopped working. Though she could be stubborn, feisty and say things you probably didn't want to hear, she stood by what she believed. 

When I was five-years-old, every Friday after work my grandmother would come pick me up. I'd have on my white cowboy boots and white suite case and be ready by the side of the road ready to go to her house. Friday nights consisted of t.v., Mama Mia pizzas, and stories. Saturday mornings we'd take coupons to Fred's dollar store to find the best bargains. Whatever money the coupons would save us, she'd give to me for spending money. Sunday mornings we'd go to church in a near by town by and I'd get $.50 for a Dr. Pepper by a church lady. Though I was too busy sitting in the floor, writing notes, or looking at all the old people's faces to pay attention to the sermon, the one thing I did learn was the faithfulness my grandmother had. 

She made it seem like anything I wanted to do was possible. Whether it was to swing higher on the swings, or make a difference in the lives of others, she always made it seems real. 

Today, I'm thankful for my mother's mother. My nana. 

She taught me how to give to others. She taught me how to be faithful in my believes. She taught me that education can really take you far. She taught me that hard work can take you farther. 

And, she taught me how to be thankful for what I have. 
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Tasty Tuesday: Tomato-Pineapple Salsa

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Ahh... Tomato-Pineapple Salsa. This may be one of my favorite recipes that I've ever just thrown together. 

It all started when I had a tomato-pineapple salsa from a restaurant, unable to completely figure out what they used, I just created my own.

(Update: As I've been told by my friend Wythe, salsa is a summer recipe...not October. I say, eat salsa whenever you feel like it...Soon I'll have some fall-type recipes. Until then, salsa it is!)
Just some of the ingredients you will need...

Pineapple. (Obviously.)
Onion.
Tomato.
Cilantro.
Garlic. (I use the jar stuff. Don't judge me.)
Jalapeno. Or two. Depends on your taste.

Not mentioned: 
Salt. 
Pepper.
Sugar. 
Awesomeness.

Do a little chop.

I just used half the onion.
Diced up the onion.
Cilantro.
Jalapeno.



After giving everything a rough chop, I threw it all in a blender.


Onion. Chilantro. Tomato. Jalapeno.


1/2 Teaspoon of garlic.


1/2 Teaspoon of sugar.

Also add 1/2 teaspoon of salt.

There isn't a picture because well, I got the sugar and salt confused. 


Next, throw in the can of diced-green-pepper-style-tomatoes.


After a quick round through the blender...


Take some pineapple...

(I really think using the crushed style is easier but all I had was the chunks.)

So, I took the chunks, cut them up smaller and then tossed them in the blender for a quick round.


Ta-dah!

Here is what I suggest...
After the pineapple go through the round in the blender, 
toss the salsa in a bowl for it to chill. I think it taste better after it's chilled for a wihle.

Of course, taste it.

You may need more salt.

Or you may not need it chilled.

Or you may want to add extra jalapeno.

Or you may want to send me some.

Enjoy!


Tomato-Pineapple Salsa: 

1 Can of diced Del Monte Green Pepper and Onion Tomatoes
1 Whole Diced Tomato 
1/2 Diced  White Onion
Small handful of Cilantro
1 Jalapeno
1/2 Cup of Crushed Pineapple 
1/2 Teaspoon of garlic
1/2 Teaspoon of white sugar
1/2 Teaspoon of salt

1. Dice up the whole tomato, onion, jalapeno and cilantro.
2. Toss it all in the blender.
3. Add your can of diced Del Monte Green Pepper and Onions tomatoes.
4. Add 1/2 teaspoon of garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of white sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt
5. Give everything a quick blend.
6. Add 1/2 cup of crushed pineapple
7. Another quick blend.
8. Pour into container and chill in fridge until you're ready to serve.

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