1 Word Wednesday.... Laundry

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Friday Family Recipe: No Recipe, Just Memories

My beautiful friend Vanderbilt Wife loves to cook and she has started the great Family Recipe Fridays. I have had a couple of her meals and they are very yummy! I thought I would join the fun and post a family recipe that brings wonderful family memories. There really isn't a recipe for the following menu because my mom has made it so many times she does not need one. I am talking about her very delicious Turkey and Dressing! This was a staple to our diet. We didn't have to wait for Thanksgiving, we had it at least twice a month. Here is as close to a recipe as I can get. One turkey in the crock pot with broth. For the dressing I know she uses Stovetop stuffing, day old bread, stock from the crock pot, celery, onions and sage. How much of each I have no idea, just as long as it tastes good. With the turkey we have mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn and blueberry muffins. Let me ask you this, do you have blueberry muffins with your Thanksgiving? My in-laws thought this was the most unusual thing and went on and on about have blueberry muffins with turkey. I guess most people just have them for breakfast or a snack, but in my house we would have them as our bread with dinner. I loved making them so I could lick the spoon! Not only did I love eating the turkey at dinner, we would have leftovers for days. I would never get tired of a good turkey sandwich. Have a Family recipe that brings back memories you would like to share? Join the rest of us at Vanderbilt Wife and check out more yummy recipes. SIDE NOTE: No cupcakes for me today. A trip is still in the works!

I've Been Convinced!

I have noticed that cupcakes have been a craze lately and boy do I love cupcakes! I forgot how good they were until I made some for my 4 year old class at church. The cupcakes were devoured, except for one who stated "I don't like my muffin." He had Goldfish instead. I made the Pillsbury Funfetti cupcakes with vanilla icing. They were so good. So I've been pondering should I go and try one of the what I hear are fantastic cupcakes from Gigi's? I mean $3.00 for one cupcake when I know I can make a very delicious 24 for the same price. Then someone made the statement which is an absolute truth, "You pay Starbucks big bucks for a glorified milkshake!" Yes, I do. So then I started asking around, getting personal opinions about these cupcakes. Well, it only took two people to tell me how wonderful they are and now I'm trying to figure out when to go. Each day they have a special menu of cupcakes. How in the world will I ever choose just one? Maybe I will just splurge and get everyone that sounds so yummy to me. (And I complain everyday of how I am going to look in my swimsuit in six short weeks!) If I go Friday I would have to decide between: Midnight Magic Chocolate Chip, Miss Princess, Strawberry Short Cake, Tiramisu (which is my all time favorite dessert), Wedding Cake or White Midnight Magic Chocolate Chip. On Saturday's menu I only like a few and they don't sound as appealing as Friday does! OK stop right there, Friday has the best menu out of the next few days, so it has been decided. Gigi I'm coming to see you, uh... well.... today since it is technically Friday! If you are having the same dilemma as to whether or not to just splurge and go buy cupcakes I will soon let you know if it's worth it!

10 Things I Need to Do

It's my first "Top Ten Tuesday" blog! So I am going to share with you the top 10 things I need to do. Some of these things I have needed to do for a while. I am going to try not to fall over into the "want" category of things I want (that would be too easy!)

1. Pray for Trey and his family. As I do this throughout the day I would like for you to pray with me. Trey, 17, was in a very bad car wreck. Specific prayers needed at the moment are healing of the lungs and brain, and for his body to fight an infection. At the moment we are praising with hands held high that Trey does not need to be tubed to breath.
2. Get an oil change. I am a few miles over due. I plan on going tomorrow.
3. Get my car washed. While I'm getting my oil changed I might as well get my car washed. Sometimes I think I can let the rain wash off all of the grub, but really have you seen my car? I visited the in-laws last weekend and my car sat under a tree of birds. No need to explain anymore!
4. Get my hair cut! This is a major need and I promise it is not a want. I can't even tell you the last time I went to get my hair cut. I think it has been over a year. I don't want the "mommy" haircut, but I do need a style. My hair is ringlets, wavy and straight all at the same time. It just depends on what section of my head you are looking at. Anybody have any suggestions?
5. Need new recipes that are not casseroles. My hubby is tired of eating casseroles. I will take your suggestions as long as they are easy and 7 ingredients or less. Not much of a fan of cooking.
6. Clean my house - that is always and always will be on the list!
7. Get crackin' on my projects for my Etsy store. I've got all the supplies, but just can't seem to find the time or motivation to start. Let's just hope they sell.
8. Need a pedicure. Again, not a want. My toes look terrible and are in no condition to be sporting cute sandals. I will not allow my self to wear sandals or flip flops until I have had a pedi.
9. Need a date with hubby! Yes, we live under the same roof and see each other every day, but I still miss him. Hmmm.... I wonder where I will want to go eat. What I do know for sure is that we will hit up Marble Slab on the way home!
10. Give myself the chance to be successful. Another one that is always on the list. I have a really bad habit of failing myself before I even start a project or an event. I seem to always have great ideas, but they stay just that an idea.

Make sure you visit OhAmanda.com for much fun top 10 lists. Hope you will join me again next week for another list!

Needing Community

Well I guess I better use this blog for a purpose instead of dilly dallying around. My purpose is to help express my feelings rather then keeping them bottled inside and then exploding on my husband and taking things out on him. (Wonderful hubby side note: He made me a wonderful cup of coffee when he got home from work to help me with my headache since I've had no caffeine today!) On to those feelings. There is a great void in my life and that void is a feeling of community. I've lived in Nashville for 5 years and maybe have 1 good friend that if I called and wanted her to do something I know she would. However now that we are new mothers and she lives all the way on the other side of town, an hour commute, where do we find the time? In my home town "the other side of town" was a 15 minute drive. We do get together once about every 3 months when our husbands have "Nerdfest." But then again we have babies in tow. We usually go to the mall and shopping isn't that fun with after baby bodies. I mean we see each other at church on Sundays and Wednesdays, but there is not much talking you can do there during worship and a dinner hall full of people and screaming kids. My current community is with a 14 month old. Don't get me wrong I would never trade this community, but there is something about an adult conversation and something about putting your brain to work. I mean how many times a day can one say "no?" How many times a day can I watch the Wiggles and Thomas? I get lots of laughs during the day, because my child is hilarious. I probably laugh at things I shouldn't like when he passes gas and when I say a stern "NO" when he slaps me in the face or pinches or bites, but then he flashes his ever so cute smile and keeps smiling until I laugh. An adult conversation wouldn't hurt at least a couple of times a week. My friend and I need to find new things to do when our hubby's get together. Have any suggestions?

I'm looking for ideas. Share yours with me.
Where do you find your community?
What type of things do you and your community do? With child in tow and without?

Developing a community is very important to me. My best friends live in different parts of Kentucky all within a 3 hour drive, but 2 have babies as well and the other works a lot of weekends. With all that said I am sad yet very happy at the same time because the hubby of my current community of 1 had a job interview today, which if he gets the job (and we are praying that he does), means a move for them. It will be bittersweet, but then again I'm back to square one of developing community.