I Have Returned!

Wow, long time no type! Guess I was busier this summer than I thought! Yes, I took summer classes...two of them! I was so proud of myself for sticking with it, and even managed to pass Algebra 110 with somewhat flying colors...lol. Life is grand at the moment and has been really most of the summer. Things are working out finally in love and Gordy and I have been together for a few months now, guess that chance finally came after all and with no wrong doing of my own. All of his issues and decisions were solely his. So we now live in Springfield, moved here about a month ago, and it's making things much easier for class. Not only for me, but for my daughters as well, Sydney will begin headstart 5 days a week next month and Katy gets to go to Willard South, which is awesome, because I prefer suburb schools over Springfield. I got a much bigger house with another bed and bath from what I had before and I'm loving the extra space. If anyone is still reading this, you know I have changed my mind many times about what I want to do in school and the reason why is because I want to be sure it's something I love. I think I have finally decided on Art History Education. This probably means I will have to transfer to MSU next semester which is scary bc I'm just getting used to OTC and loving it. On the other hand, two of the classes I have this semester here at OTC are Art history type classes and I look forward every day to going. Another piece of news that's amazing is that Gordy and I are opening a restaurant downtown next to Maria's! We're shooting for October 1st. I love the idea he came up with to do a type of restaurant that's very popular in Europe, but nonetheless, I have never seen one in this area...all appetizers! I think this is amazing bc I know that so many times in a group of ppl going out to eat it's hard to decided on one type of food that everyone wants. This way, ppl can come in groups and everyone has a choice of food! Besides that, I know as a woman that if I'm going out on the town for the night I want some food in my belly first, but don't want to be overly stuffed and sick feeling therefore, this is perfect for downtown near the bars. We're doing many of everyone's typical favorites we chose by taking polls online and by just asking family and friends, and chose the most popular ones. Then we added some different tastes from around the world as well with a few sandwiches and salads too. I can't wait and think this is going to be an amazing change in our lives. I expect to see you all there!

Guiding Light

It's a crazy world out there, and emotions are running high! However one of those emotions is the love I am beginning to feel for finding faith and God in my life. Reading back over my previous post, I understand now, that He was talking to me, saying it's not right, and I knew it. I decided to make a move that was very hard by letting go of the possibility at a relationship with this friend, which actually enlightened me in ways you would not believe! He then, of course is now begging for my attention, but I keep explaining to him that it's wrong and he needs to live his life and then let God handle the rest. In the process of finding this faith and allowing myself to love Him, I am meeting people that make me feel amazing about myself and that all the wrongs I have done will be forgiven. To have this sense of fulfillment has been the missing link in my life. I was always scared to being attending church for the thought of being judged by others for all my misdoings and the possibility of being struck by lightning as I walked through the doors. I know now that isn't true, and that there are so many people out there filled with the same purest type of love that I should have in my life. I can't wait to travel the journey He will take me on and continue to learn and get to know Him better. Even though I know it hurts someone else, I know in the long run, it is also best for him, and that one day, he will understand.

Blue Plate Monday's

I'm a little late for Blue Plate Monday, my internet wasn't cooperating, but still wanted to share! Today I'm thinking icky sweet things about the way my life is happening and suddenly turning around. The people I have gotten close with in a very short time that are helping me find my way to faith. So therefore, today's recipe is sticky, gooey, and melts in your mouth.

Monkey Bread

3 cans butter flavored biscuits
2 cups sugar
3 T. cinammon
stick melted butter

Preheat oven to 350. You will need a bunt cake pan also. mix the sugar and brown sugar together, I don't really measure, so the above may not be quite right. The mixture should be pretty brown though. Melt the butter in a dish. Pick apart the biscuits one by one, rolling them into balls, you should be able to get about 3 balls per biscuit. Dip each ball in the butter and roll in sugar mixture, then place in the bunt pan. Keep doing this, just stacking them all on top of each other and filling in the gaps as you go until they are gone. Pour any leftover butter you may have on top. (if you used it all, melt a little more just for this part) And sprinkle any leftover sugar mix on top as well. Bake at 350 for about 45 mins or until you can stick a toothpick well down into it w/o having any dough on the toothpick when you pull it out. Turn over onto a plate and release all the buttery sugar filled goodness. Pick apart with your fingers if you like, makes a great snack to sit on the counter.

Down and Out

Well, haven't written in a few days, I guess I just haven't really been sure of what to say. Some days are ok, and others feel like the end of the world. I still miss Sonny, even though I really didn't think I would that much. There's another situation that isn't playing out the way I thought it would and I know what you're all going to think when you read this. Been talking to a guy I dated in high school and even went to prom with. He was my high school sweetheart. I know, I've mentioned him before and tried to play it off as friends only, but we both admit that we still have feelings for each other. The problem is, he approached me with this a few months ago and I wasn't comfortable going there yet, so that's how I ended up with Sonny. He respected that the entire time and still remained my friend. Now we have broken up, but Gordy is now engaged. He says he's thinking twice about it, and I hate myself for wishing he would end it. It just seems like it's not fair and that after 13 years we should have our chance again. The good person in me however, doesn't want anything to do with breaking another woman's heart. I have told him repeatedly to do what makes him happy because that is all I will ever want for him and I will still be here as a friend no matter what. The whole engagement seems like such a sham though! She lives in Las Vegas and he only sees her a couple times a year. He hid the engagement from family and friends only telling me and one other person. And he's admitting he has feelings for me. So tell me, what does that say to you? I don't understand if he feels the way he says, then he shouldn't be marrying someone, it's not fair to her. I can't lie, like I said part of me is screaming out to have my one shot at this amazing person that I've been trying to deny I was interested in, since I had a boyfriend at the time. The other part feels like the worst person in the world.

Final Post

Well, this will be my final required post for my English class. I hope to continue on with this blog and that I can stay disciplined to it. I may not have quite to many entries per week from now on, but I can honestly say that I like having it as an outlet. The end of this first semester is drawing near, and when it first started, I thought it would never end. Now, I can't believe I'm about to take the first finals I have ever had to do in my entire life. I'm loving this experience and I am soooo happy that I decided to finally go for it. There have been some bumps in the road along the way, but I'm learning and figuring it out. I hope this takes my life in the right direction so I can give my kids everything they will ever need or want without a struggle. I have met so many interesting people, and made a couple of friends, it will be nice to see if some of those friendships last past the end of school. I have a feeling I may see some of them around anyway, but like I said in a previous blog, some of those friendships can be hard to maintain. Good luck to all of my classmates, I hope your college career goes as well as mine seems to be, and I'm blessed to have this opportunity with you all.

ICW, What's Your Favorite Dish?

This is a very hard question for me, as I love to cook all kinds of things. Since I feel unable to pick out one, what I'm going to do is write about my favorite TYPE of food. Italian would be my favorite in that case, and I do know alot of Italian dishes that I make. From Pizza Baked Spaghetti, to Chicken Alfredo (from scratch), to Meatballs, and Lasagna. I love all Italian food. I think it's the noodles that get me, it just seems amazing that some boiled dough can taste so yummy. The spices go hand in hand with this genre and the flavor you get from any Italian dish is just incomparable to me. I love all the cheese, the sauces and spices blended in different ways, but I think what has always gotten my attention is also the way that Italians really take their food to heart. They are very proud of their recipes and the atmosphere that surrounds a dinner is the most heart warming I have found. I'm an Irish girl in my blood, but in my heart I think there is some Italian. I would love to travel there as well and see all the rolling hills and winery's, the vineyards and dirt roads that seem to go forever onward until suddenly there's a small quaint home. I love the art and the romanticism. Therefore, I of course love the food.

Most Italian food is some sort of pasta. After trying many different procedures in making sure your pasta is perfectly cooked is to add a little oil and some salt, this flavors it and keeps it from sticking. As for texture, I've found that if it's sticking to your teeth in a test bite, then it's not quite done and needs just a couple more minutes. Spices are a key ingredient for the sauces, whether it's a marinara dip, or alfredo. Alfredo sauces give a wonderfully rich taste when there's a little garlic thrown in and your standard spaghetti sauce can always use a blended Italian seasoning mixed in with it as well as some seasoned salt. Cheese is usually another key ingredient and you want to be sure you use the right kind. Mozzarella is amazing in small chunks in the middle of your meatballs, but a colby and jack mix will be best on top of a lasagna with some ricotta in the layers. You always want to be sure you pick the right type depending on what consistancy you want in the dish.

PB&J

First get the bread out of the tupperware dish in the cabinet that keeps it nice and soft, you will need two pieces. Replace the lid on the tupperware and put back in the cabinet. You will need a butter knife from the drawer to your left, and the jar of GOOBER (a mix of peanut butter and jelly in one jar) from the cabinet to your upper right. Open the jar and use the butter knife to scoop out a very large amount, and then spread over one side of one piece of the bread until it's even. Place the other piece of bread on top of the PB and J side. Now, for my kids I have a cut little sandwich cutter, which takes off the crust and cuts in in half in the shape of two hearts all at the same time. If you would like, its in the top drawer and you may use it:)

Blue Plate Monday's

Hello Blue Plate Monday participants! This is yet another remake that my kids absolutely love, and just gives spaghetti a different spin. I forget where exactly it came from, but I'm thinking Fazzoli's. You could probably substitute alot of the meat for whatever your family likes, but this is the way I do it! Enjoy.

Pizza Baked Spaghetti

1/2 lb. Italian sausage
1 pkg. pepperoni
1 pkg. canadian bacon
1/2 lb. hamburger
handful of thin spaghetti noodles
Italian flavored spaghetti sauce
16 oz. shredded cheese

brown sausage and burger. cut bacon and pepperoni in small pieces, leaving a handful uncut. mix all meat together with spaghetti sauce. mix with cooked noodles, (it works a little better if you break the noodles in half before boiling them). now mix in about 1/4 of the cheese with everything and put whole mixture into a round glass baking dish. On top sprinkle with the rest of the cheese and place whole pieces of bacon and pepperoni on top, like a pizza. Now, cover and bake at 350 for about 30 mins, remove lid and let meat on top brown slightly. Goes great with garlic cheese bread!