Keeping Up

I really want to be a better blogger, however I feel like I have nothing interesting or exciting to write about.

Don't be surprised if you see posts from me that basically say, "Just checking in". I think about posting posts like that just for the sake of posting and how absolutely boring that is. Then I think about how excited I get to see my G00gle Reader full of posts and even if someone's post says "just checking in" I'm glad to read that from them that day. Not that I have people sitting by with baited breath waiting on a post from me.

Did any of that make sense?? Could I have used the word "posts" anymore in that last paragraph?

I have a few posts (ugh, that word again!) that I'm mulling around with. Hopefully I can get them posted (seriously, I need a new word) soon.

Moving on...

This week has been unusually busy. I've had something every night this week. (I'm sure you mothers are rolling your eyes thinking of how you are constantly running kids here and there) For me, it's just not normal.

I think back to my days as a single woman and marvel at the thought of how I broke out of my homebody mode to have something planned almost every night. How did I not collapse with exhaustion? :)

Hubby & I rarely go out in the evenings. We occasionally run errands, but other than that I have Bible study on Tuesday evenings and that's it! We're homebodies and happy about it!

This has been my week so far: Monday night we bought a dining room table/chairs from Cra1gsl1st that we had to go pick up/haul home (more on that in the coming days...oh the decorating dilemma!), Tuesday was Bible study, Wednesday was a bridal shower/bachelorette party for my future sister-in-law (more on that soon...with pictures because it's one of my goals for this year), and tonight is a monthly meeting with some women in my church.

Whew! What a week! :)

Bring on the weekend!

All Things New

It's a new year!

Hubby & I had a wonderful Christmas! I feel like I've been in a season of rest and pondering. I just love that about Christmas. My favorite verse of the Christmas story is Luke 2:19, "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart".

We didn't have a lot of gatherings to attend; just a few here and there. It was nice to just sit by the tree in the evenings with the lights twinkling and bouncing off the gold ornaments.

This was the first Christmas where I had every gift bought, wrapped, and under the tree almost three weeks before Christmas. No last minute running around...ahhh. What a difference it made for me to enjoy the holiday as it is meant to be! Now, if I can just remember to do that again this year!

So, Christmas is over and it's a New Year! I'm actually quite a dud when it comes to New Years. I'm not sure I can remember the last New Year's Eve when I actually saw midnight roll around.

I've never been a big resolution maker at the beginning of each year, however in all my pondering this season I've come up with a few that I think are reasonable and will be a great accomplishment for me at the end of 2010.

• Try on new recipe at least once a week
• Take more pictures. I'm so bad at this one!! My family just groaned at the thought of having another camera in their face :)
• Every month, I will either give up something or take on something for the entire month
• Love my God more
• Read through the Bible - our church is doing this and we've started with the New Testament first; in June, we will begin with the Old Testament
• Be a better wife/sister/daughter/in-law
• Blog more!

To keep myself accountable, I will post on the side of my blog the things that I will be giving up or taking on for each month. I haven't come up with a full list yet, but here are a few...give up sweets, give up caffeine, give up Facebook, etc.

It's going to be a great year! 2009 flew by in a rush...I don't want to miss out on what and who I can become in 2010!

Thanksgiving '09

We had an absolutely fabulous Thanksgiving this year!! I may gotten myself roped in to hosting for the rest of my life...which I would absolutely love! :) Although, my mom keeps reassuring me that is not the case.

My first time cooking a turkey was a HUGE success! I really wish I had taken a picture of the Tom bird.

I heard from a friend that the best way to cook a turkey is to brine it first. I accepted the challenge and it almost did me in! I soaked the turkey in a water, salt, & sugar brine for just over 24 hours. And, yes, the brine recipe was so gross to me when I first heard it!

In order for the turkey to brine completely, it must sit completely submerged one hour for every pound. To complicated things, I had a 26 lb bird ("Tom", yes I named him because he and I became very close friends that day!) that did not fit in any stockpot, container, or cooler I owned. What I really could have used was a huge bucket! "Tom" was my largest challenge of the day!

I ended up putting "Tom" along with SEVEN gallons of water, seven cups of salt AND sugar in a large, clean trash bag and squeezing him into the largest cooler we own...which ended up not being large enough!

As "Tom" sat in a cooler in the middle of my kitchen, water began coming out of the bag and filling the already full cooler. We spent most of our day checking on "Tom" to make sure the water was not overflowing.

When it came to leaving the cooler overnight, I didn't dare leave it in the kitchen. It needed to stay cool and not overflow on my floors. We hauled the heavy cooler out to the garage, cracked the garage door and let the cool air in to keep it cold and let the water overflow down the drive. Crazy and gross, I know!

I would do it all again because, y'all, it was the best turkey I'd ever had (if I may proudly say so!). The solution soaks into the bird and it keeps the juices in while cooking and slightly saltens it.

Thanksgiving day was so much fun with our families!

We moved the majority of our living room furniture out to make room for two large tables to seat everyone together.

The dessert table ready to be piled high!

That's better!

Each person received a bag of Thanksgiving Blessing Mix

Finally, Let's Eat!!!

What a fun day of good food and thankful hearts!

Is It Turkey Day Yet?

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday! I love the colors and the start of the next month of holiday celebrations.

I am SO excited for Thanksgiving this year. Hubby & I are hosting both our families for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday! We always have a fun time when both of our families get together!

I've been planning, delegating food, decorating, cleaning, and rearranging furniture to get ready for the big day!

We're expecting around 22 people so we're very excited. We were able to borrow 3 large tables and some chairs from our church so everyone will be seated together at one LARGE table (hence the rearranging of furniture)!

I will be using my wedding china & crystal; the first time in 2 years of marriage, I'm sad/excited to say! At each placesetting, I've made little treat bags with a Thanksgiving Blessing Mix that I saw on Bethany's blog.

My only concern is cooking the 26 lb turkey for the big day. I've never cooked a turkey so this will be a big undertaking for me! If you have any advice, please pass it along!

Our menu will consist of turkey (of course!), stuffing/dressing, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole, corn pudding, mixed veggie casserole, baked pineapple, rolls, jello salad, and MANY, MANY desserts!

Wow! That's a lot of food!

We are so blessed!! God has blessed us and provided for us in more ways than I can even remember over the past year. His faithfulness is great!

What are your plans for Thanksgiving? What are you most looking forward too?

Happy Thanksgiving!!

2 Years

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful husband!

It's been the best two years of my life! I love you so much!!

Savory Saturday - Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

I feel like every time I post a cr0ck pot recipe I always comment that it's the easiest recipe yet.

Well, y'all, this one really is!! You must make it just for the simple fact of using only 3 ingredients!

I put the pork on buns, but feel free to serve in whatever way your heart desires. It freezes great too!

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

1 (2 lb) pork tenderloin

1 can or bottle of root beer

1 bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce

Place the pork in the crock pot; pour root beer over the pork. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or until well cooked and shreds easily.

Drain well. Shred meat; stir in BBQ sauce.

Not From Aroun' These Here Parts

Y'all, I found out something about a co-worker that left me speechless.

Literally speechless!

He casually mentioned that he was looking for a way to cook chicken breasts for dinner. Immediately my mind starting racing with recipes to give him that were simple and made with commonly stocked pantry items.

I mentioned using St0veT0p stuffing and adding some frozen veggies, sour cream, and cream of chicken soup.

His response?

Him: "What was that? Did you say cream of chicken soup?"

Me: "WHAT?!?! You've never heard of cream of chicken soup?"

Him: "No"

Me: "Are you SERIOUS?!?! What about cream of mushroom, onion, celery, potato, cream of anything!?"

With his face all contorted he answered, no.

I was beyond speechless!

When I finally found my voice, I said, "Well, what do you use to make casseroles?"

Him: "We don't make casseroles"

I KNOW!!! Can you believe it??

Now, I'll stop here to mention that he is not from the South. He & his family moved here from California about 3 years ago.

Me: "I can not believe that you've never heard of cream of anything soup and that you don't make casseroles! What do you eat? I bet you don't know what a 9x13 is!"

Him: "You mean a baking pan?"

Me: "Ugh, yes!! You are so NOT Southern! You know, I've actually heard of people like you, but I've never met one!"

He was slightly amused and very curious about these creams of anything soups.

I, however, could only respond with "Well bless your sweet, pea-pickin' heart!"