Toilet Paper Roll or World Peace?

I do know that there are more serious things in the world today to be very concerned over; to stress about; to strive to solve - but I HAD to vent about my toilet paper roll predicament. It’s not that I’m a narcissist – it’s just that the solutions to this problem won’t take a bajillion dollars and the wisest of politicians & negotiators to solve. This one has a simple solution; it’s a real no-brainer!

So this is what I came home to one day after work:



No biggie, you say. Just put the new roll where it belongs. I agree. If the last person would have done that when the old roll ran out I wouldn’t be angry!! But no – for as long as we’ve been married, my husband rarely has done that. I’ve been keeping track of this behavior since this August and he has not once changed the roll of toilet paper! I’ll see variations of the toilet paper roll in a similar position – but never in the right place! This is really not the end of the world, and not the thing to make an argument over, just small behavior that indicates a person who won’t take the time to make things right. What else does this say?



For the record, this is how it’s supposed to look when one roll of toilet paper runs out and a new one is required! No excuses now. There’s a great visual, just in-case you had no idea …



So, like I said, the wisest politicians & negotiators weren’t called in and I didn’t spend a bajillion dollars either. Don’t you wish every problem was this easy to solve? Who wants to bet that the next time the toilet paper roll needs changed I’ll be the one doing it?

Jack Daniels Bread Pudding & other stuff ...

You are in for a treat! Today I’m gonna share some secrets with you about an award winning dessert … Jack Daniels Bread Pudding. My husband’s, brother-in-law’s, nephew’s, and others’ favorite! Beware though – it’s not low fat, low sugar, or low cholesterol – at least not the way they like it. Another note before I reveal – it takes a long time to make. The original idea of bread pudding was to use stale or day-old bread, in the day before preservatives and commercial processing.

The 1st step is to rip your loaf of bread into bite sized pieces and let that sit out for 1 day. If you’re rushed for time though, you can cover the bread with foil loosely (we want the air to flow – but no germies or bugs to get in) and let it sit out at room temperature for 1 hour or more.

The 2nd step is to add milk (I used 2%, but whole taste better, skim tastes not so great), eggs (I have used Egg Beaters), sugar (sugar substitutes doesn’t taste so great – believe me they know!!), cinnamon & vanilla (I like the whole beans, but will settle for using imitation). Then cover loosely with your foil and let it sit out for another hour. If you’re worried about food safety, remember – you’re gonna cook this.



The 3rd step is to add the bread mixture to a casserole dish (I use a big dish so I double the amount of bread I use – not the other stuff) that is covered with melted butter.

Cook at 375 degrees for 1 hour – approximately. I wish there was “smell-o-internet”, because the smell of the bread pudding baking is HEAVENLY!

When you have 20 minutes left on your baking time, you can be making the sauce; that’s where the Jack Daniels comes in!! So the sauce is simple: Jack, butter (yes, real butter), and sugar. (Sorry Scott, no matter how you measure it, 100ML is not ¼ cup!) Mix those ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat until melted & bubbly, then turn it on low.


When the bread pudding is ready, drizzle the JD sauce over it slowly (no splashing that way – the buttery sauce is hot & you don’t waste JD!)

I promise you, if you make this & bring it to a dinner, pot-luck, event, etc… Everyone will love you forever & ask you to bring it all the time! (BTW - my 13 yo dd took most of these pix!)

On another note – I have been lucky to be invited to be part of Amy Stoffel’s permanent CT!! I was only guesting for September. Pure luck. I am grateful & excited to be able to show off Amy’s designs – which can be found exclusively at Scrap Orchard! Here are a few of the LOs I made with her kits:

Reunion Time!

I just found a friend of mine on Face Book from the USAF! She was at my first and second assignments ... and then we lost touch. But she told me about a reunion for people we were stationed with/hung out with. It happened in Branson. I guess I missed it. I wonder what all went on?? Hummmmmm ... I guess what happened in Branson stays in Branson? Good thing for the most part I guess.


(Me, Jen, and Steph at RAF Croughton on New Years Eve - welcoming in 1993!)

But Stephanie told me not to fret because the next reunion is in 2011 in LAS VEGAS!!! Wooo hoooo! THAT is one that I will be going to!! So spread the word - all USAF ppl who were stationed at RAF Upper Heyford are invited to one crazy reunion in 2011!


Hey, it's a year and 3 months away. Plan now. I have time to loose this weight by then. I better warm up my elliptical now!

What can you get done in 6 hours?

Yesterday started out as usual. I woke up about 10 times after my alarm & finally got out of bed around 10:45 am (yeah – I know I need to get myself back in church – even had a friend from church tell me she was saving me a seat!) I stumbled outside to our extra fridge with the cold caffeinated bev-er-a-ges (imagine Frank Caliendo’s impression of George Bush saying that). As soon as I made it into the carport I heard the door click & I knew immediately what I’d done … I pulled the door closed a bit harder than I meant to! I knew I was LOCKED OUT!!


(Back Door - notice the brick steps? Only Chuck Norris could kick that door from down there!)

I did not have a cell phone to call Scott to come rescue me (as he does so often – he’s the family “rescuer”). I checked our hidey hole for the spare key, knowing there was a spare up on my computer desk that Jessica brought me last weekend (found when cleaning out my car). It was empty. Then I went to the front door to see if I pushed hard enough, if it would “give”, it did not. I checked all the ground level window screens, but even if I could get them off, the windows were latched.


(Front Doors)

I didn’t want to break the glass or kick at the door – not only could I envision the wrath of Scott at the damage he’d most likely have to repair (and the expense), but also the blood and injury I would have to endure just trying to get in the house! So I perched myself in my car – it was not locked.


(My van in the carport. Both Cole & Jessica were at their dads fo the weekend - I was supposed to pick them up at 4pm!)

For six hours I concentrated on the specifics of this grant I am writing for work. I read through the project material and two activity books related to this sewing project/grant opportunity. I planned out the activities for the entire year, got a supply list together, sketched the exhibit for the Chester County BBQ Festival – all while drinking my cold caffeinated bev-er-a-ge in the six hours I was locked out!

I didn’t go to our neighbors (through the woods a little bit away from our place) to call Scott because I was still in my PJs, had no bra on, and had not even brushed my teeth! Lucky there were face wipes still in the car from my recent overnight stay for an Energizing Tennessee workshop!

My nephew, Caleb, came barreling up the driveway at about 5pm. He was close by & rushed over here when Scott told him to come check on me – since no one was answering the house phone or my cell! Caleb had two of his friends in the truck – how embarrassing!!! I’m sure they all got a huge laugh out of the circumstances of me being locked out!


(My nephew! TY Caleb!)

While I was stuck outside, the few loads of laundry I planned to do did not get done. My dishwasher did not unload itself. The cleaning fairies did not sneak in for a visit! I wish they had. I would have asked them to let me in & then they could go on with their work! ;)

Get Monica's Store for 20$

Can you believe it? Monica has lost her mind!! You can download everything in her store at Scrapbookgraphics for only 20$, until August 10th!! That's incredible because her things are mighty gorgeous.

10 things I'm Thankful for!

I'm participating in the Scrappin' Survivor over at Ginger Scraps and I made a LO for the immunity challenge. I scrapped 10 things I can't live without (as of today). When I looked through the gallery, I was reminded of lots of things I left off my list!!! One person put sunglasses on her list - how could I forget those? I've been without my sunglass clip-ons (I have glasses already) since Winter, when they got destroyed in my coat pocket which was thrown in the truck & heavy stuff piled on top of my coat!



One of the things I did not forget on my list is AC!! Thank God for that! Very appropriate for today. I took a little nap after I got back from work & woke up to a 76 degrees F, stuffy house. My 13 yo daughter then informed me that there was something wrong with the water in her bathroom. We have a water pump cooling system so when the water is not working, neither is our AC! :(

Scott diagnosed the problem right away but his feet were hurting badly & he works outside all day long, so he asked me to run to Lowes (3 miles away!!) to buy a new pressure switch for our pump. He even gave me the box from the last one so I would get the correct switch!! This time, I was more than happy to get out & run his errand - I turned up the car AC full blast & was very cool on my way to Lowes!

My Layout Style?

IDK if I have a style per say. I just do what I feel. It really depends on the photos I'm scrapping, then I pick a kit I think would compliment those photos. If I'm documenting memories then I'll include a bit of explanation journaling (who, what, when, why, and where) the date, etc... Because when I'm no longer around, I want people to look back at those pages and read the specifics on the layouts. Not go, "Huh? That's a pretty page, but what's going on?"



However - sometimes I'm in a playful mood & will create a layout just for the sake of creating. Like any design endeavor - I've noticed a trend lately of "More is Less". I think the result is very beautiful & there are so many pictures that really go with that look. IMHO - these layouts leave out crucial details - like the who, what, when, why, and how. Someday people will be admiring the page's beauty, marveling at how young the subject looks, and reminisce to the "good ole days", but they will have questions ...