Broiled Grapefruit Recipe

My obssession with red grapefruit continues. Although it is hotter than you-know-what around here, this is a yummy variation on plain grapefruit segments.
from recipezaar

1 pink grapefruit
1 tablespoon brown sugar

1Cut grapefruit in half (midway between the stem-end and the dot on the opposite end).

2Sprinkle brown sugar over grapefruit sections, using more or less as desired.

Grapefruit can be eaten as is, or broiled.

To broil, put halves sugar-side up on a cookie sheet in the oven and set oven on broil for a few minutes.
The brown sugar should melt and start to get crispy.
Eat immediately by spooning out the half-sections of grapefruit.

I'm not sure if this could help you avoid a colon cleanser, but I know that it tastes like candy.

Memories

I was going through some pic albums on the computer and found this one from winter time. The kids and Chris and I had just finished watching my nephews debut as a varsity basketball player, although he is only a freshman. At our old high school. We went to Taco Bell drive through. While we were waiting I took this picture. High school basketball, family and Taco Bell drive through with snow on the ground and frost on the windows. That's happiness.
I'll need some more ram in my mind as well as in my computer if my nephew plays varsity again this year. Can't get enough of a happy situation.

The Brilliance of Winnie the Pooh

If there is ever a tomorrow when we're not together . . . there is something you must always remember.  You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart . . . I'll always be with you. 

Sex and the City

Yesterday one of my best friends had her birthday. She invited a group of girlfriends to go see the matinee of SATC. What a perfect idea.
I was nervous about seeing the movie as I loved the series. I had also read some blog reviews that weren't too kind. I should not have worried!
I loved it. You laugh, you cry, you repeat. What a movie roller coaster. And as long as there were beautiful clothes and outfits to drool over, it would be worth the time and money. There was no shortage of high fashion. I wasn't looking for luxury watches, just out of this world clothes.

When I'm myself and not a sniveling, walking and talking embodiment of hormones, I do not cry at movies in the theatre. It has something that has worried me in the past, like I was defective or something, but no more. I soaked through kleenexes like there was a flood.
I'm buying it when it comes out to dvd. Heck, I might go see it again. One of these days I will make it to Fashion week!

Happy Summer!

Here are my two beautiful daughters enjoying a beautiful summer day. I hope you girls are all enjoying summer too.

HELLO ALL

Thank you girls so much for welcoming me to your blog ring. 

I spent a good chunk of time last night updating our new family blog with the latest and greatest on our fam. 

The very short version is I am married to Blake - who works in construction/fencing and is a musician. We have a beautiful little girl who teaches me more every day about grace, patience, a pure imagination and unconditional love. We are dog people! We have three. Samson, Joplin and Cash. We'll probably have more as time passes. 

Well....that's the short of it. I'll try and spend some time in the coming weeks reading posts and such to acciamate myself with this a little more so please forgive me if my posts are a little goofy at first. 

As my sweet Kelly told you, you can visit us at okiedokey.wordpress.com

ENJOY and Happy Thursday!! 

A New Blogger

I have a wonderful friend at the office named Angela. She saw the mini-calendar on my desk and started asking questions. When I told her about you guys, she wanted to join in! :) I helped her set up a blog, and I added her to our blogring here.

The two posts on her blog right now are test ones that I put up for her, but you can still have a look see and say hi. There is a picture of her daughter Layla eating a piece of the peanut butter and chocolate pie that I made a month or so back. :) LOL! It's an adorable picture of an adorable little girl.

So go over to her site and say hi! She's got a lot of things to share about new happenings in her life, but I'll save those for her to tell. :)

http://okiedokey.wordpress.com

Apricot jam

Apricots are my favorite fruit. My childhood was spent in and under a huge apricot tree in my Nana's garden. To taste an apricot is to taste summer and love all together.
I read a recipe yesterday that required dried apricots. I have had apricots on the brain since. The morning was hurried and I didn't get a chance to stop at the store for my newly born apricot fix.
Ivy just asked for a pbnj. While I was constructing it, I was thinking that pb and apricot jam sounded yum. Why didn't I stop at the store!! On a lark I checked the fridge door thoroughly.
And I had a beautiful sparkling half full jar of apricot jam, sitting there, label turned to the back, waiting just for me. Happiness on a slice of bread.

Fatbooks & ATCs

Remember last winter I showed you guys my fatbook page submissions for the artfest swaps? Well, they sent me my books awhile ago and I just got a chance to put up their photos to share.

Aren't they amazing? 3 tiny but overflowing books of original art from over 80 different artists, including myself! After writing this, I'm going to go look at them again!

Since I did these ones, I have signed up for 2 more this summer. I'll show them when I get them. These mean more to me than Akoya pearls.

A bath in the dark

My bathtub is my favorite piece of home furniture. A way for me to totally relax is to take a tub.
Sometimes, at night or in the early morning, I take a bath in total darkness. I have to be careful to not trip or drop anything. It is one of the most peaceful experiences. All quiet and no light. All peace.

To Kelly, Happy Birthday My Girlie!

My sister gave me this card for my birthday in April and I want to post it here in honor of Ms. Krayon Kelly's birthday. Especially since I'm such a lame o friend and haven't sent her ANYTHING yet. I keep this card on my desk and whenever I come across it, it cracks me right up. I love this card more than I would have loved a gold anklet. I hope that you feel the same Kel. I love you!

Happiness is landing a job!

Hi Girls,

Do you remember several months ago, when I was getting negative feedback from people, saying that I would probably never find a teaching job, and would mostly likely have to work as a teacher's assistant, well pooh, pooh on them because I GOT A JOB!! I received the offer this morning for a Reading Intervention Specialist, working with struggling readers in grades 6-8, and the job is only 30 minutes from my home.

Paul Newman to the Rescue!

Being the citrus queen lately, I bought this limeade at the store yesterday. GRUB! If you like lime, tart lime, this is for you. Since my lime margaritas are out of the question this summer, maybe this will get me through!

2 pieces of happy!

I have happiness to share!!

I have been suffering with a cycle of either depression or physical illness for the past few months. When my emotions are under control, I either have a migraine or stomach issues (so it seems).. so my house, my laundry, my kids.. nothing seems to get the attention it needs, and I feel like a bad housewife, and an especially bad momma.

For awhile now, I've been pretty good -- stable-- with my meds for anxiety/depression. So I've been dealing with my migraines/other issues. (Blegh). But for the past two days I've been happily enjoying headache free/no bathroom issue days! And I've gotten the house cleaned, the laundry folded (who knew it was enjoyable to do those things, only when you aren't hurting and so uncomfortable??) And played outside with the kids, read books to Katie, swam, all of the things that make us feel like good mommies :)

My other little bit of happy is that we *might* be going on a little beach vacation this summer! It's all still up in the air yet but just the thought is bliss!!!!! I love the beach!!!

Happiness all around!!

xoxo

My Junebug

Audrey, Brett and Jodi

Audrey Grace

I have a happiness post to beat all my happiness posts.
I HAVE A NEW NIECE!!!! YAY!

Her name is Audrey Grace and was born at 12:16pm EST.
She is 9lbs, 1oz and 21 inches long.
This is such a blessing since Mr. Connor was born premature and had health problems.
(Of course now he is active and healthy even though he doesn't eat much!)

I think Connor and Audrey will be like Brett and me.
Mom always said we made the perfect basketball team.
Brett was born skinny and long.
I was small and chubby.
Brett was the basketball player, and I was the basketball.

I still haven't seen a picture yet, but she's got a full head of dark hair!
Just like I did! And I believe I was around 9lbs too.
I'm calling her my Junebug!
What a terrific birthday gift for me--three days early!
Now if I could only hold her...

Maybe I'll get to fly out sometime in October.
We will see!!!

Akita Happiness

Can't let Karianne have ALL the fun now, can I? :)

I was SO busy this past weekend, but it was all superfun stuff.

Saturday was the Midwest Akita Rescue Society picnic, where a bunch of adopters got together and had a darn good time! I was able to meet so many people who I have never spoken to other than via an email forum (much like our Yahoo! group), and of course we all knew each other by our dogs' names!

I brought the Pearl-girl with me (she is a MARS rescue) and they were all happy to see her again. I would have brought Sumo, but he does not do well in situations like that, and so I felt it best to leave him at home to relax. I think he missed Pearl, because he was very happy to see her when we got back. :)

I forgot my camera, so I don't have any photos from the picnic, but for your viewing pleasure, I'll post a photo of the furkids here, just because I think they're so freakin' cute.

Enjoy!

Cookbooks, Food TV and lemon tea

I cannot tell you how long it has been since I have EATEN! Not just bites here and there, but an actual entree or meal. If I think about food too intensely, that will even make me sick. Ick. Lemon tea is always by my side.
But how funny that cookbook reading and food tv watching has become my new obsessions. You all are very well aware that I am not a foodie in the eating sense, but as far as an interest is concerned, you can't find a subject more interesting or passionate than food prep. I'm enthralled. Even the cooks that I had no desire to watch before are on my food watching schedule.
Nigella has always been my fave though. I just finished her Nigella Express book and I give it 5 stars. It took me a week but I read it cover to cover. If you get lost in cookbooks, this one will be a winner for you.

Options

There may be a house coming up for sale in our neighborhood. Not due to the person needing foreclosure help, but the owner may be moving. I heard about this possibility from friends of mine who are friends of the daughter of the seller. Did you get that? :)
Chris and I drove by this past week and it will definitely be an option for consideration if they decide to sell. It is only a block or so away and off of our super busy street. Even if it doesn't happen, it is nice to know that there can always be options cropping up when you don't expect them.

Waiting for Thursday

Earlier this year we had M*rry Maids come out and give us a bid on a weekly cleaning for our house. Well, although they were organized and thorough, the price made me choke.
Last week, I had had it! The house was driving me crazy and with all of the morning sickness I can barely even take care of myself, let alone the rest of the family. Normally my bedroom is my haven, but it is such a pit that I had been avoiding the whole house since there wasn't any clean place to relax.
I was speaking to a friend about M*rry Maids and she then told me that her beloved housekeeper was taking on new clients. No way! I called her and set up an interview on Thursday. And her price? I will get more than 4 times the visits with her than I would with the national company. I'm going to ask her if she wants to come more often than once a week until she gets the whole place whipped into shape.
I'll let you know how it goes. And, do you need a link for floor mops? I don't anymore! HA!

A day off

After another therapy session yesterday which dealt with self-care, I took the afternoon off. I didn't head home for a much needed nap. Instead I drove to a little town about an hour away and took myself to lunch and did a bit of shopping. It was heaven. I hadn't picked up a graduation gift for my cousin yet and I found the most perfect little hand carved box that so reminds me of him. He has a large tattoo of a smiling sun on his back and the box looks kind of like the same design. He is going to adore it! Of course, he would love a gift of used Harleys as well, but he will have to wait until I win the lottery. I'm so proud of him. Yesterday was meant to be and I feel much better today.

So Sorry!

I was messing with my old blog, and I accidentally changed the design our happiness blog!

Ooops!

Karianne, I know this is a first, but I need YOUR help with a computer thing!!!! ;)

Happiness is a good support system.

I'm typing this from Angela's iPhone in the St. Joe's ER, where I am having the lithium levels checked. I have had a very difficult time lately, culminating in some bad news (potentially), which resulted in a breakdown. I hurt. But Angela is here, and support is good.

Happiness is Wicked

For about a year now, my sister and I have wanted to go see the play, Wicked. Last night, we finally did it. Since our birthday's are coming up next month, we decided to treat ourselves to an early birthday present, and see the play. Wicked is currently playing at the Oriental Theatre in Chicago. The play, based on Gregory Maguire's novel, spins a beautifully crafted story of both the good witch, Galinda, and the 'bad' witch, Elphaba's life and legacy. If you haven't seen Wicked yet, I highly recommend it. It was simply amazing!