Pioneer Woman and Bakerella!

I've mentioned Pioneer Woman on my blog before as one of my favorite sites. She's recently written a cookbook and you can sign up for a chance to win one on another of my favorite sites ~ Bakerella.
http://www.bakerella.com/the-pioneer-woman-knows-her-stuff/

After you've signed up to win the cookbook, take the time to read some of Bakerella stuff. It's great!!!

Don't really know why I am sharing about this, might have less chances to win myself!! hhhhmmmmmmm.

DipTacular 2009

Because I love to be involved with important things, this specific "tacular" really got my attention because, like BooMama, I LOVE dips of most any kind.

Here is a great one that my daughter-in-law makes at every family gathering. I will warn you ~ it is NOT pretty when you begin putting it together, but it is GRRREEEAAATTTT!!!

Super Easy Black Bean Dip
1 can chili (no beans)
1 can black beans
8 oz. cream cheese
Dump it all in a pan and heat until melted, smooth and warm.

Check out other dips at BooMama's DipTacular

Fun Craft!!

Cute huh??? This weekend was Institute with the Georgia Federation of Women's Clubs and the Sunday morning brunch theme was denim and pearls. These were the centerpieces! The girl that made them found toddler jeans at the thrift stores and used Plaid Stiffy Stuff, then formed them. Some were bent, some wiggly like toddlers, some just straight like the one in the picture. I think these would make a GREAT baby shower thing ~ using a cloth diaper. The possibilities are endless.

You can get Plaid Stiffy at most craft stores, some Walmart stores, and online. Just one little hint ~ DO NOT google stiffy stuff.

If you do make something fun, share it with me!!!

Have fun, Bitsy

Summer Promise Giveaway!!!!

"Get a free, abridged MP3 audiobook on August 15! ONE DAY ONLY! Author Robin Jones Gunn is giving away the abridged MP3 of Summer Promise, the first book in the best-selling Christy Miller Series for teens. The audiobook will be available for download from her online shop: http://www.shop.robingunn.com. It will be free from midnight (PDT) on August 14 to midnight (PDT) August 15. Don't forget to download your copy and to tell your friends!

"Also, on August 14 from 5-7 p.m. (PDT), Robin is hosting an online party on her Facebook fan page. She'll be answering questions and "mingling" with all of the party guests. To learn more about the party and to join in, go to Robin's fan page here:

http://www.facebook.com/reqs.php#/robinjonesgunn?ref=name."

Here's a brief description of Summer Promise:"Fourteen-year-old Christy Miller has the dream summer ahead of her in sun-kissed California, staying at her aunt and uncle's home. Aunt Marti loves to shop, and those surfers are cute, especially Todd. Christy promised her parents she wouldn't do anything she'd regret later, and some of her beach friends are a little wild. But Todd and his "God-Lover" friends are giving a Christy a new image of all things eternal. Can this summer live up to its promise?"

Unblogging!?!

I ate lunch with a great friend today and was told that I needed to "step it up a bit" with the blogging, and put up more posts. I explained that apparently my life was so exciting and busy that I did not have time, or that it was boring! So I will try to be better!!!

I do have exciting news ~ I became a Great-Great Aunt this week. My sister is older than I am and had her 2 girls soon after marrying at 18 and I was an aunt at 3 years old. My 2 nieces had three children each. The oldest great niece married a couple of years ago and had a beautiful, bouncing baby boy this week.

The only sad part is that they live about 8 hours away ~ so it will be a while till I get to hold him. Thank goodness for technology, I have lots of pictures.

So Jennifer, thanks for the push, and I promise to post something equally exciting again soon!!! Like, tomorrow is my hubby's birthday!!!!

love ya'll

Quick lunch and dessert

I made an quick and easy Bruschetta with fresh garden tomatoes for lunch today. Peeled and chopped tomatoes (amount depends on how hungry you are). Drain most of the juice. I mixed it with some Kraft Tuscan House Italian Dressing (cause that's what I had), added a few finely chopped vidalia onions. I let it sit for about 30 minutes in the fridge. Sliced french bread, brushed it with olive oil and toasted it. We ate the tomato mix over the toasted bread with grated mozzarella cheese.

THEN . . .
This was an EASY dessert!!! A lady at work made this the other day for a birthday lunch and I loved it!

Ingredients
12-14 vanilla ice cream sandwiches
1 jar caramel ice cream topping
1 jar hot fudge topping
8 oz. container of Cool Whip
chopped pecans

Cut ice cream sandwiches to fit in casserole dish (I used 9 x 9). Layer as follows:
1/2 ice cream sandwiches, caramel topping, chopped pecans, small layer of cool whip, rest of the ice cream sandwiches, caramel topping and pecans. Cover and store in freezer for 3 hours or so. Remove from freezer and top with remaining cool whip and drizzle with hot fudge. Let sit for about 20 minutes before serving!!!

THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!!! Although it is funny, except for the squirrel. Went to lunch today with friends. As we were getting in my friend's car at the college, someone saw this in the grill of her Lexus:

Poor guy apparently crawled into the wheel well and tried to come out the grill. We went on to the restaurant and happened to park right in front of the door. According to the hostess, the car was the entertainment for everyone coming and going. People (especially the men) were bending down and taking pics. Thankfully cameras do not have a smell feature. After an hour in the hot sun. . . WHEW.

When we returned to the college, people were coming from all the buildings to see it. Even the President and Vice President. It obviously does not take much to entertain us these lazy days of summer in the south.

She called the Lexus dealer because the grill was cracked. They did not believe her. Needless to say, she headed straight to the dealership to show them. Can't wait to find out what they said!