A blonde cop stops blonde motorist and asks for her driving license.

The Motorist scuffles around in her purse and can't find it. She says to the cop, "I must have left it at home officer."

The cop says, "Well, do you have any kind of identification?" The motorist scuffles around in her purse again, and finds a pocket mirror.

  She looks at it and says to the cop, "All I have is this picture of myself."  The cop says, "Let me see it, then."

So the blonde motorist gives the mirror to the blonde cop,

who looks at it,

and replies,

"Well, if I had known you were a police officer, I wouldn't have even pulled you over. You can go now."

Ok, so I admit - my Wordless Wednesday haven't been wordLESS lately...

but, sometimes I fall in love w/ something so hard, I have to say at least a word or two. 

Especially w/ this beauty. 

Ahhhh...

She loves my bedroom and has decided that is where she will live for a while.

Have a great Wed everyone!~G

On my bedside table:

 

On my tv:

On my menu for tonight:  Teriyaki Beef, veggie barley salad, veggie rolls

On my to-do list:
1. Clean tub (done)
2. Make dinner
3. Make calls RE Bunco - figure out if we are 'good to go' (done)
4. Email broker about house (done)
5. Walk (later w/ the girl - when she gets off work)

New recipe I tried last week:  I score a big fat zero in the recipe creativity category last week - nothing new.

In my craft basket: 

Homemaking tip of the week:  Know your limitations and hire help if you need to.

Favorite blog of the week: Tartlette

Favorite photo of the week:

I literally jumped w/ excitement in someone's driveway when they said this beauty would only set me back $2.

I've wanted a pasta maker for years!

Ahhhh, yard saling was very good this weekend.

Lesson learned from the last few days:  Never forget to check out the 'free' box at a yard sale.  (I got 2 shirts, 1 sweater, 1 pair of dress pants, and a swim suit - all in EXCELLENT condition out of a free box this weekend). 
On my prayer list:  Same old, same old...
 
Devotions, scriptures, or quotes: 

I love 'em. 

They were cheap. 

Salvation Army cheap. 

Salvation Army on a 1/2 price sale kind of cheap.

That's my kind of deal.
 

On my bedside table: Same book as last week. 

I tend to read a book and then I have to take a break.   There is something about me that can't hop from one authors style to another quickly... if I am reading a series, I can jump right to the next book, but not when I change writing styles.  Weird.

On my tv: College Road Trip (netflix).  Haven't started it yet, but I need to... I'm thinking of axing the NF for a while.

On my menu for tonight: Sweet and Sour Meatballs w/ rice.

On my to-do list: Sell my house, buy this house (today!) and move. 

New recipe I tried last week: Turkey burgers.  Technically turkey burgers aren't new, but how I cooked them (in the Foreman grill is).  Crispy on both sides, the family wants me to make them that way from now on.   

In my craft basket: Dust bunnies... I haven't done a thing!

Looking forward to: New walking/jogging shoes.  Some day.  Mine are holding up, but they are 4 years old... and I think its time to get a bit more spring in my step.

Homemaking tip of the week: Have 3 - 4 designated baskets or hampers for laundry and have your family sort the colors by putting them in the right hamper (if your kids are old enough). 

My baskets are 1) whites, 2) towels, 3) lights, 4) darks.  

Not having to sort the clothes is a big time saver. 

Favorite blog of the week: Sew Ritzy Titzy

Favorite photo of the week:

 

Lesson learned from the past few days: A Momma's heart that feels the same.

On my prayer list: Regina (go, read, pray.)

Devotions, scriptures, or quotes:

Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows...
                     Is 53:4

The last 2 months worth of menus have worked out so well...this is becoming a very good habit.  I did rearrange a couple of days, but overall we stayed w/ the menu 98% of the time.

My menu motto:  Life gets hairy, stay flexible.

September Menu

 

9.1 (T): Leftovers

9.2 (W): Pizza

9.3 (Th): Chicken Royale

9.4 (F): Chili & cornbread

9.5 (S): Tuna casserole, green beans

9.6 (S): Broccoli beef, California roll salad

9.7 (M): Sweet and sour meatballs w/ rice

9.8 (T): Breakfast dinner (french toast, fruit salad)

9.9 (W): Greek pasta salad

9.10 (Th): Sesame chicken strips, mashed potatoes, veggies

9.11 (F): Taco salad

9.12 (S): Tuna patties, green beans

9.13 (S): Turkey burgers, potato salad, jello

9.14 (M): Teriyaki Beef, veggie barley salad, veggie rolls

9.15 (T): breakfast dinner (ham and cheese eggs), fruit

 9.16 (W): Tuna stuffed shells, fruit salad

9.17 (Th): Meatloaf, potatoes, veggies

9.18 (F): Dirty rice, broccoli, jello

 9.19 (S): Chicken casserole, biscuits, salad

9.20 (S): Fire-pit hot dogs, grandma’s baked beans, veggies w/ ranch

9.21 (M): Nachos

9.22 (T): Breakfast dinner (scotch eggs, waffles)

 9.23 (W): Turkey croquettes, rice, thai cucumber salad

9.24 (Th): Chicken cheese lasagna, green salad

9.25 (F): Grilled cheese w/ tomato soup OR BLT’s w/ potato soup (kid’s choice)

9.26 (S): Pulled pork sandwiches, German potato salad

9.27 (S): Mochiko Chicken, rice w/ furikake, cucumber salad

9.28 (M): Spaghetti, salad, garlic toast

9.29 (T): Breakfast dinner (ham & cheese muffins, fruit)

9.30 (W): Pizza

I made this recipe in both muffin and cake pan form (I made a double batch), either way - the kids rated it an 8. 

I did try to put a sugar/brown sugar topping on the muffins to begin w/ and sadly, they didn't like it.  When I took the muffins out of the pan, the delightful crunch popped off and I had a bowl of 'crunchies' that they could take some of and eat along w/ their muffins... but when I made the cake form, the crunchies stayed on and all was right in the world.

Either way you make it -you're gonna love it.~G

PS:  As always the written recipe is in black w/ my tid-bits in red.

Post -PS:  Sadly there is no photo... w/ the stress of the crunchies falling off and the speed at which these were wolfed down... no photo. Boo hoo.

Zucchini Muffins w/ Chocolate Chips (Kids rated - 8)

1 1/2 c flour
3/4 c sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 c vegetable oil
1/4 c milk
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla extract (1 tsp - 1 Tbsp)
1 c shredded zucchini
1/4 c miniature semisweet chocolate chips (1/4 - 1/2 c. reg chips - chopped up)
1/4 c chopped walnuts (1/4 - 2/3 c. pecans)

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done.  (Dump into the mixer - zucchini first, then ingredients in order listed.)

On my bedside table:  The Good Guy by Koontz. 

BOOK REPORT - So, I finally finished the Darkest Evening of the Year.  It was a book.  I can't say it was his best (IMO) the story kept me guessing til that 2nd to the last chapter and then it all came together.  Anyway - if you like Koontz, you'll read it... and if not, eh. I would rate it a B- / C+.

On my tv: Daredevil.

On my menu for tonight: Turkey burgers, potato salad, jello.

On my to-do list:  Crab Apple jelly today!  My house smells delicious!!!!

New recipe I tried last week:  Zucchini muffins w/ chocolate chips.  (I made it in both muffin and loaf form.  The kids love it!)

In my craft basket: A disappearing 9 patch quilt.

Looking forward to:  Going geocaching again (soon) w/ my man.

Homemaking tip of the week:  If you are making crab apple jelly, keep the windows closed.  Bees like crab apple juice!

Favorite blog of the week: Made

Favorite photo of the week:

 

Hard to believe, but this rug (3x5 size)  was in the FREE stuff at a yard sale this weekend.  We brought it home, used the cleaner on it... wa-la (even Spaz gives his seal of approval!).

Lesson learned from the past few days:  I remember that I like to jog.

On my prayer list:  To be more prayerful.

Devotions, scripture, or quotes: 

"Because God is never cruel, there is a reason for all things.  We must know the pain of loss, because if we never knew it, we would have no compassion for others, and we would become monsters of self-regard, creatures of unalloyed self-interest.  There terrible pain of loss teaches us humility to our prideful kind, has the power to soften uncaring hearts, to make a better person of a good one." 

                             - page 322, The Darkest Evening of the Year, Dean Koontz.