I love cheap stuff!

I got these books from the thrift store for 75 cents each. Yes, they're for me, I love teen thrillers! The one on the far right, I got for Ryn. She's already read it and wants to read the companion book. I'm not sure if I'll read all the ones I got for myself. I'm reading the one on the left now. I really wanted books by Richie Tankersley Cusick, but didn't find any. I did buy them with the intention of reading them all. Shortly after buying them I stumbled across Paper Back Swap. So, I may just swap them at the beginning of the month for some books I really want.


I also found these while looking for the books. I figured I needed more than one girly mug in the house for me. I paid 50 cents for each one. There's one more, but it's my office mug. The blue one with the hearts is my favorite!

I like the thrift store because I sometimes enjoy an eclectic style. But, even if you don't, you can still find some cool stuff, some of it nearly new. I've even stumbled across quite a few "sets" of things that match!


Ryn and I designed the invitations for her birthday party next weekend on the computer. She picked all the elements and I put them together in Word.


In needlework news...
I'm still pluggin' away at Polly's bedspread. I feel so close to being done!

In OTHER news...
Stu and I just celebrated our three month smoke-free anniversary! YAY!!!

Now Playing:
Ghost Hunters Halloween Live 2007

Sweet and sour chicken!

No, this isn't a video of sweet and sour chicken, but of my niece Danika making my mom and I laugh.

Now, here's the sweet and sour chicken...

I made sweet and sour sauce from scratch last night, it was yummy! I did cheat with the chicken though, it was frozen nuggets.

Sweet & Sour Sauce

1 large green pepper, diced
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 clove garlic, minced

Saute in 2 tablespoon oil, then add

1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons soy sauce

Boil 1 minute.

In a small bowl, combine
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cold water
Stir into sauce, then add

1 small can crushed pineapple, drained

I also made some lovely broccoli salad to go with the chicken. The only cheat I did in this one is that I used some broccoli slaw mix from the store. I added everything else and made the dressing. It also has raisins and sunflower seeds, mmm!

Broccoli Salad

Combine in a large bowl

4 cups broccoli flowerettes (or broccoli slaw)
1 medium red onion
1/2 to 1 pound crisp bacon (I left the bacon out and just used some salad topping as an optional after thought.)
1 package sunflower seeds
I also added about 1 cup raisins

Dressing

1/2 to 1 cup mayonnaise (I used one cup.)
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons vinegar

Mix well and pour on salad.

(I got both of these recipes from my friend RosaLee a long time ago, so glad I tried them! Thanks RosaLee!!!)

I did my nails with black tips and glitter. It's sad that this kind of hard work only lasts a day or two, they started chipping the next day. It's also sad that just about a week ago my nails where really long again and I hadn't done any nail art in a while. They all started breaking, like they do, so it was time to cut them down again. =(

Ryn's sunflowers have bloomed!



Stu suggested the sunflowers be moved into the dinning room so they'd have more room to stretch.

A strawberry Starburst as seen in my I Spy...Pink! photo collection.

I attempted to make a mocha frappe last weekend. Didn't work too well, the liquid went to the bottom and the ice and chocolate went to the top. But it was still good.

Stu is taking Science Fiction class this semester. It's cool that he has to watch science fiction movies for homework, but not cool that he has to write four page reports on them. Hang in there, honey!

Ryn doesn't seem to be taking anymore pictures where she looks like a little girl. She's really growing up.

Now I'm off to crochet more of Polly's bedspread. I only have five out of seventeen rows left!

Now Playing:
Star Wars - Episode III, Revenge of the Sith

Vacationing in space is rad!

I made Dorito casserole for dinner last weekend, it was yummy! (It was cooled by the time I took this picture, so it doesn't look very yummy.)

I'll share my mom's recipe if you'd like to try it...

Dorito Casserole
2 bags Dortitos, crushed (I only use one family size bag)
2 large cans Nalley chili (I like to use con carne)
1 large can tomato sauce
1 packet taco seasoning (mixed in tomato sauce)
shredded cheddar cheese

Combine all ingredients EXCEPT cheese in a cake pan. Bake @ 350 degrees for 1/2 and hour. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until cheese is melted.

Enjoy!

If you try it, let me know what you think.
------

Stu and I went on a date last weekend. I really had fun, I love going out with my honey!

We had lunch in the Gateway food court. I had the cheese on a stick , fries and a sugar free lemonade from Hot Dog on a Stick.

The cheese on a stick is the best, if you have a Hot Dog on a Stick close by, go get one... right now! They just skewer a long retangular piece of cheese with a stick, dip it in corn batter and fry it, like they would a corn dog. It's so smooth and melty. Mmm!

Stu had the beef and shrimp from Edo Japan. Oh, and a cheese on a stick and a lime-ade from Hot Dog on a Stick. (Notice the empty stick in his food on the left?)

Then we went to a space station...

Stu is such a rebel!

And onto gawk at something that would be in Willy Wonka's nightmares-- a fantastic machine with no candy!

Newton's Daydream. You HAVE to check out the pictures of this amazing machine here!

Afterwards we rocketed to the moon...

Here's my darling fiance... on the moon!

Then jetted over to Mars...

Here I was running from tiny monsters, but trying to smile for the picture.

And of course, we had to stop by the universe's gift shop...

I think I may start taking pictures of pink things I come across in my travels. I've started a collection of photos here.

I just liked the colors on this box.

Stu really wants this.

Okay, okay, this isn't space, we actually went to the Clark Planetarium in downtown Salt Lake City.
-----

I finally went to the dentist on Thursday. This was my first time in nine years! I know, that's awful. I only got a cleaning on the right side to begin with. This is because the bad news I recieved is that I have periodontal disease (which is most likely hereditary) and have some bone loss, so the hygenist had to do a gum cleaning too. Good news is that she told me I have beautiful teeth and that I've taken really good care of them. So, as soon as my cleanings are all done and my one tiny cavity is filled, I'll be all set! I was SO relieved to hear all this. I was expecting much worse.

It might sound silly, but getting going to the dentist over with was a huge accomplishment to me. I was quite nervous considering I hadn't been in such a long time and was no longer accostumed to what a visit is like. Also, going to a new dentist is always a little nerve wracking. I got a pink toothbrush from the dentist office and bought myself a strawberry shake as a reward.

My Elvis Impression. This is what happened when I tried to lift my entire upper lip after my dentist appointment. My right side was numb. It's an embarrassing picture, but funny. I can laugh at myself and figured it might make others giggle as well. =)

-----

Chillin' at the coffeehouse, Thursday knit meeting.

And that's been my week. Hope you enjoyed it!

Now Playing:
Ghost Hunters - Season 1 Episode 7

I'm so far behind.

I have been SO busy...

Here's a few pics to let you know what we've been up to. I'll try to get back into my weekly posting groove next weekend!

We did the MS walk on April 12th. I took so many pictures that day that Stu said, "You're such a tourist... in your own city even!" Haha!



There's lost more pictures in my photos. I still have to label and caption some, but at least it's more to look at than the old postings here.

I'll catch up next weekend!

Now Playing:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer - The Harvest

Meet Danika!

Here's my new niece!!!

Dangit, I didn't get a picture of Dad with Danika... oh well, I'm sure they'll be more pictures to come.

Me and Danika

Jenn, Julia, Danika

Full head of hair!

This is my favorite picture of her! She reminds me of the pod people in The Dark Crystal... so adorable!

I don't have much of anything to report in needlework, still pluggin' away at Polly's bedspread, but I get closer to finishing every day. Hopefully it won't be long now.

I'm also still working on the snuggle for the Snuggles Project that I started a weekend or two ago (I can't remember). But, I haven't touched it since the weekend I started it. ...Well, except yesterday... because I'm in Tooele over the weekend and the Walmart out here doesn't have the yarn I'm using for Polly's bedspread... and I ran out yesterday. So, maybe the snuggle will be ready for donation soon.

Stu traded in a bunch of gaming stuff and bought a Play Station 3 and a game called The Eye of Judgement. It's a role playing card game with real cards, a mat for the cards and a little camera set up that reads what cards you put down in order to animate the board and battles on screen for you. I played one game with Stu Friday night. It was fun. I even won. It can be pretty cool learning game stuff from him. He's a really good teacher too! He's always so patient when I'm being ditzy with something... "Okay, now put that on the mat. The mat... the mat... THE MAT!" Teehee, I'm not really that ditzy, but sometimes I come close. *wink*

Now Playing:
[the hum of computers] =P

I made this for Stu's mom, it's woven in the classic "friendship bracelet" style. I also made one for Ryn in the same colors, since she was admiring all my practice pieces and asking to keep them.



Knit for the Snuggles Project. This is my first entrelac project. From what I gather, entrelac is just the name given to this method of stitching, which makes the knitted fabric look woven.




Apparantly, this is how we do dishes now. It all started with a play argument Stu and I had when cleaning up after dinner and we just started throwing dishes in. (Notice the silverware in the bottom?) Stu even threw his cup in the dishwasher with milk still in it. It was fun, I giggled a lot.



The coffeehouse where we have our knit/crochet meeting every Thursday.

I believe they've finished rearranging and fine tuning the paint colors. It's kind of growing on me.



The sofas and TV are now in a back room where the computers used to be. You can see where we used to sit just outside the doorway [center]. This does suit better when it comes to privacy and not disturbing the rest of the patrons with the TV.




A card from a co-worker. It was just too funny, I had to share. Yes, I'm 30 now... ack!



Now Playing:
You Get What You Give - The New Radicals

A hedghog, a cake and a cow.

Okay, so... I've been straying from Polly's blanket a little bit this weekend...

I made a little (so called) hedgehog [top]. I think he looks more like a mouse with a mohawk. The 8 year old neighbor girl was admiring him when she came over last night, so I let her keep him. I also made a book rug (bookmark) for myself [bottom]. I wanted something prettier than a rolled up zipper sandwich bag peeking out of my current read.

Neither of these two things took long (less than a day for both), they're both small. I just needed a little break from Polly's bedspread, which I'll be getting back to today.

And last week I crocheted this...

A lady I work with is retiring very soon. I made her this cute little box as a retirement gift. She though it was SO adorable and said she'll be using it for her rings. I even got a hug for it. Hey, this whole giving people stuff you make is pretty rewarding. *wink*

Stu and I have also been playing World of Warcraft (WoW), another MMORPG (massively multiplayer online role-playing game). Stu didn't really like this game, but we're trying to find something that we both would like to play. I liked Lord of the Rings Online (LotRO), but Stu got really bored with it, enought that he likes it even less than WoW. He says that WoW is probably most similar to LotRO out of the others we've tried (Dungeon Runners, Everquest II and Dungeons & Dragons Online). I agree, having played WoW a few times now. It's fun, just wish I could get more into it, but I seem to get distracted often with wanting to do other things. =( We miss playing together.

Here's the character I'm currently playing. She's a Tauren Hunter. This is the one I play with Stu's character of the same species and class...

Her name is Emaya and she's a cow! Yeah, I have a gun... pretty sweet!

Now Playing:
Oye Como Va - Santana