Ummm...

Yeah, I know that I haven't posted anything in a few days. It's because I have been spending the time on the computer working on my last assignment for the ESL certificate. I turned my last one in on Monday morning and got it back this morning... I PASSED!!!! :~D I got a 19.5 out of a possible 20 points!!! :~D My final score is 90.5 out of 100 possible points! :~) Yeah, I'm excited about it! Now all I have to do is wait for them to mail me my certificate. I'm going to feel a little weird not having anything to study for when I get off work. Oh well, I'll deal with it! ;~)

This Friday all of Jamey's family is going to a reunion in GA! I'm looking forward to it! It will be fun to go somewhere and meet new people... Not to mention that they will have all sorts of yummy food there. The only thing is that it's on the same day as my Grandpa's birthday and Kannel family reunion. I haven't seen some of my cousins for years now, but we knew and were planning for this GA trip way before we knew that they were going to do something for my Grandpa's birthday. Luckily, my sister will be able to go up and help celebrate. :~)

Tomorrow is one of my co-worker's birthday so I decided to make some peanut butter squares. :~) OK, so I had been thinking about them for a while now... But hey, a birthday is as good an excuse as any to make them! :~) Not that you really NEED an excuse to make something chocolate! :~)

Well, I'd better go see if they have to be cut up yet. That and I need to get going to bed cause I have to work tomorrow from 10-4. Then I have to pack. And get some sleep for Friday's long car trip to GA!! :~D

One week later...

Ok, I just sent in my fourth assignment for the ESL training!!! :~) To say I'm pleased with myself would probably be a little premature seeings how the teacher probably hasn't even seen it yet. But I'm hoping she'll like it and see just how much effort I put into this one. I also am kinda proud of myself for getting this one done in a week!!! :~) Yes, I know that I've just raised the bar, but maybe that's a good thing. The other assignments took about two weeks to do. Mainly cause I was scared of getting a bad grade, but now I just want it done and over with.

I don't have to work tomorrow. Which is good cause the two Mountain Dew type drinks I had today probably won't let me go to sleep any time soon. I haven't been sleeping well lately cause of all the stuff going on. Once the ESL is done I'm hoping that will help a little. I'm glad that I don't have to work tomorrow cause it's Family and Friends day at Peebles. Customers will get an extra 20 percent off. Most of the customers that came in today put their stuff on hold for tomorrow to get the deal. Not that that's a bad thing but it'll probably be kinda hectic tomorrow... And I get to work Saturday and Sunday. Those will probably be the worst days... I'm just glad I don't have to work the whole Family and Friends weekend! :~)

Today as I was leaving for work Jamey stopped me cause I was dragging something while I was backing out... It was a dog! :~o I didn't know it was under there! Luckily, I saw Jamey and stopped so the poor dog wasn't dragged all the way to Peebles! When I got home tonight Jamey introduced me to the dog. It was a little worse for wear but it seemed to be fine. Considering I dragged it under my car it was quite friendly to me! :~) It looks like a stray and it was all Jamey could do to not feed it. :~(

I didn't do a whole lot this week. I was either at work or working on my ESL stuff... I know I lead a boring life! :~) Jamey is so good to me!! :~) He has been tidying up the room for me while I'm at work and sometimes making supper for me. He also did laundry for me when I was at work! :~) Yeah, I just had to brag on my Baby! :~) Oh, and sometimes when I get off work he rubs my feet for me! He does such a good job of that and makes my feet feel so much better! I don't know what I'd do without my sweetie! :~) Ok, now I guess I'm done for now... I can't think of anything else right now. And maybe, just maybe I should try to settle down to go to sleep! :~)

Tasty Tuesday!

OK, here's the deal... I'm going to try to post yummy recipes on my blog on Tuesdays. Hey, I needed something to post about today! :~)

Also this is my 100Th post! So, Happy 100Th to me! ;~) I've enjoyed posting on this and letting my family in on my life. It's hard to be so far away... But doing this blog helps me feel closer to them! :~)

Anyway, back to Tasty Tuesday! :~) I figured that since I've gotten better at cooking that I could share some of my recipes that I've enjoyed making! For the first posting of recipes I've chosen a tried and true one... Every time we have this recipe it's always a hit! It comes from the Taste of Home's Cooking for 2 magazine... I've told my sister about this one but never shared the recipe, so here it is!

Chicken Alfredo Stromboli

1 French bread baguette (5 ounces), halved lengthwise
6 ounces boneless skinless chicken breast, cubed
1 teaspoon olive oil
4 teaspoons butter, softened, divided
1/3 cup canned mushroom stems and pieces, drained
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

Place bread, cut side up, on an ungreased baking sheet. Broil 4-6 in. from the heat for 2-3 Minutes or until lightly toasted; set aside.
In a small skillet, saute chicken in oil and 1teaspoon butter until juices run clear; drain. Add the mushrooms, salt, garlic powder and pepper; cook for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
In a small bowl, combine the sour cream, Parmesan cheese and remaining butter; spread over bread halves. Top each with 2/3 cup chicken mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Broil for 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted. Yield: 2 servings

It'll take maybe a little more than half an hour to fix after you get used to the recipe... Or at least I had to get used to the recipe before I could do it in that time! :~} Maybe it's just me! ;~) Hope you like this recipe! :~)

Two weeks till Christmas... :~o

The title says it all... Except for the screaming at the end of that sentence! :~) Yes, it's that time again when I wonder exactly where the year went and look forward to staring a new year in the face! I am really looking forward to seeing my family this New Years and to see what the new year brings. :~)

I've been proud of myself the last couple of nights... I spent on average 2 hours in the kitchen every evening fixing supper! Yes, I know I wasn't all that interested in cooking when I was home and to be honest haven't been very interested in it since I've been married! I don't know exactly what came over me, but I hope to keep it up! :~) I know that I've enjoyed having something different from the norm every night and I know that Jamey really has been liking the change in menu... The menu for this week was; Monday: Chicken Alfredo Stromboli, Tuesday: Lasagna, and yesterday I made Sweet and Sour Pork! Friday will be Chicken Cordon Bleu... I actually enjoy pretending I'm a chef and cooking up really yummy dinners... Who'd have guessed! :~)

Tonight we have a dinner with the church... They go out to eat every year around Christmas. It'll be nice to go out to eat. We haven't been out in a while... To eat anyway! :~) We're having dinner then going back to the church for a gift exchange and dessert! I'm making Chocolate delight... I think it's the same thing that Jamey's Mom makes every now and then with the four layers, but this one that I'm making just has a different name. It has a buttery crust with pecans in it, cream cheese and sugar on top of that, chocolate pudding, and whipped topping on top with pecans. Right now I'm waiting for the crust to cool! :~)

Jamey and I finally got Christmas pictures done! We're sending out Christmas cards this year and in them will be a picture and a letter... I've never done this before, but my Mommy has always done it and I think it's a great idea! :~)

Well, better go and finish that dessert... The crust should be done cooling! Before I go though, here are a few more pics of the house all decorated...