Friday Treats

When I lived in LaGrange I loved getting baskets from Creative Call-ins. http://www.creativecallins.citymax.com/home.html

They make the best cheese petals and orange blossoms ever!

The only problem is, I don't live in LaGrange and its about $3.50 for a dozen. I'm hosting a bridal shower in a few weeks and wanted cheese petals and orange blossoms so I thought I'd try to make them myself. I can make alot more for alot less money.

Here are the recipes:

ORANGE BLOSSOMS

3 eggs
1 1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. water
1 1/2 c. sifted flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix above ingredients together. Bake in junior muffin pans, putting 1 teaspoon batter in each cup. Bake approximately 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Yields 65 to 70 little blossoms.

GLAZE:

1 1/4 lb. sugar
Juice and grated rind of 2 oranges
Juice of 2 lemons and grated rind of 1 lemon

While still hot, dip in above glaze mixture. Cool on rack. One box of ready mix cake mixture can be used instead of above cake ingredients (yellow cake mix).



CHEESE STRAWS

1/4 lb. Cheddar cheese, grated
1 c. flour
1/2 c. butter
1/8 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. paprika

Mix all together thoroughly. Roll or cut into straw shapes. bake 12 minutes at 350 degrees.


I'll let you know how they turn out.

When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best

Bailouts, inflation, the cost of stamps on the rise, and the fact that you're probably really just a slacker and forgot until today that tomorrow is Valentine's Day...
Fear not...
http://www.someecards.com
has you covered.

When you can't seem to find just the right words to say to your sweetie or don't know how to come across as perfectly sarcastic....try an ecard.

Here are a few of my favorites:

Friday Treats

I had the best grape and apple salad the other day from the salad bar at Jason's Deli. I found a recipe online and hope its the same. I thought I'd post a recipe for a Friday Treat. I haven't made it yet but I'll let you know when I do. Its super easy. I only make super easy foods.



Grape and Apple Salad

4 oz. cream cheese
1/2 c. sour cream
2tbsp. and 2 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 lbs. grapes
4 apples diced

Wash and dry grapes. Dice apples.
Beat remaining ingredients together with mixer.
Stir in grapes and apples.
Chill and serve.

You can add chopped nuts and brown sugar on top for extra flavor and cuteness.

I of course will be using fat free cream cheese, fat free sour cream, and splenda.

Check back next Friday for another treat.

One Can Never Have Too Many T-Shirts

I found this super cute UGA shirt over at

http://www.southernbellestore.com/

They have southern t-shirts, football t-shirts, and some Christian t-shirts that are actually pretty cute too...no God's Gym or Jesus He's the Real Thing shirts though...




They even have super cute koozies, and everyone knows how much I love a cute koozie.




Plus free shipping!

Be My Own Valentine

So as I was wasting time in Target yesterday before my spin class, I found these and I LOVE them! What do you think??





Maybe a gift to myself since no one else buys me gifts...

A New Leaf...

So I'm a new person.
I finally decided that I needed to be healthier. Yes, while Chick-fil-a milkshakes do contain a daily dose of calcium and Willy's burritos do have some vegetables and protein....I wasn't happy with what the scale was telling me.

I've started working out every day...I haven't missed a day in over 2 weeks...and I mean really working out...weights, eliptical for over an hour, and spin class!

And I love it! I love working out...I actually look forward to getting off of work and heading to the gym. Who knew the gym could be fun?

And....

I haven't taken a nap in 2 weeks. I LOVE NAPS! They are my favorite thing in the world, only second to eating. Actually, I think I prefer sleeping over eating. But they weren't doing much good.

I read an article about how you can lose 10+ pounds just by getting at least 7.5 hours of sleep a night. And I thought I'd give it a try. I've been in bed every night at 10 o'clock. I feel great!

And I gave up caffeine. No more Diet Dr. Pepper to start of my day. I used a coupon at Subway last night and had to buy a drink. I gave the cup to the lady behind me in line and just drank my bottled water. She was so excited to get a free drink, and I didn't even miss the soft drinks.

Anyway, hopefully soon you won't recognize me. I've lost 8 pounds already and am feeling better than ever. Hopefully the hard work will pay off and I'll be able to stick with it. If you see me start to drink a Coke or take a nap...remind me I need to be going to the gym instead.

I'll keep you updated, but hopefully this is the new Rachel.

Things I'm loving...

Right this minute.

Because it changes often.

1. www.google.com/reader

I've discovered that I love reading blogs. Some of them belong to my real friends, and some to my imaginary friends

2. http://www.wordle.net/

So fun to make cute word art

3. http://www.youversion.com/

I'm reading through the entire Bible this year. Something I should have done long ago. This site has a pretty great daily reading plan. I also like my new Chronological Through the Bible in a Year Book.

4. http://www.verabradley.com/

I'm loving my cute new Morgan bag with the new spring colors.

When Country Comes to Town...

So this weekend my boy "Country" came to town. He actually ventured all the way from Alabama to the the big city. And he had a blast! I even took him to a big department store! We ate at Noche, which I LOVE! They have the best margaritas and tapas. We went to Dad's Garage and laughed histerically. And of course, we went to Taco Mac. Two of them. Country is in the passport club and he's trying to drink 300+ beers...alcoholic much?

My friends are the greatest. I went to a thing at church and they entertained Country at Taco Mac while I was gone, though he probably could have entertained himself for hours with all of the beer selections.

Our conversation on the way home:

Me: So did you have fun with my friends?
Country: Yeah, they're great. Boobs Magee is sort of a conservative hussy.
Me: So what did ya'll do?
Country: We played truth phone.
Me: Oh, so tell me about it...
Country: Oh you just had to be there...you wouldn't understand....

Great, so Country hit it off with my BFF's and now I'm out of the Circle of Trust.