First Snake of the Season

A haiku to celebrate!

Hiding under leaves.

He slithered away but more

are waiting for me.

Because It Never Hurts To Eat Mor Chikin

A Chik-Fil-A fan, I am not. Perhaps I should have warned you before I just put that out there like that. I do not understand what people see in this restaurant (other than supporting its Christian business principles). Their french fries are nothing compared to McDonald's. Anyway, we do eat a fair amount of chicken in this household. So, I'm always, can chicken ever taste any different than it has the past 3294 meals???

Why, yes, yes it can!

Well, no, not really. It's still just chicken. But this rotisserie chicken - only you crockpot it (occasionally I do cook without my crock), so it's really NOT a rotisserie chicken - is super yummy, and makes a TON of chicken. Well, no. That's an untruth. It makes five pounds worth, just like it says on the label. I meant, it makes enough for your rotisserie-esque chicken meal (for four) with enough left over to make yet another yummy chicken recipe of mine (extra yummy when you use a cup's worth of the left over rotisserie chicken broth), and then even a bit left over from that for a super delish chicken salad sandwich.

And then you won't want to eat any more chicken for a month.

Non-Rotisserie Chicken
Prep Time: 15 minutes or so
Cook Time: cook on high for 4-5 hours or on low for 8 hours
Makes: enough chicken for all of Rhode Island

• 1 whole chicken
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. paprika
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1/2 tsp. dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (thought I had this in the pantry and did not - you definitely want it to add a little zip...I just twirled the ingredients with my little finger and considered the job done)
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• a pinch of chili powder
• yellow onion, quartered (if you're an onion kind of person - this is optional)

As the blog I got the recipe from recommended, I skinned the chicken. I've lost 4-5 pounds this past week, and I'm not putting it back on thanks to CHICKEN SKIN! If you need the skin, though, feel free to leave it on. Combine all the spices in a bowl and rub all over the chicken, inside and out. Put the chicken in your crockpot breast side down. If you're onion-y, put your quartered onion inside. Do not add water. Trust me - this will be fine. It will develop an amazing amount of broth on its own. Cover and cook the desired time.

Day O' Julie - AGAIN!

Thank goodness for the Civil War. You know what I'm saying?

What is it with men and their interest in the C.W.?? I have never known one chick who has a passion for it. Anyway, that works in my favor because yesterday Alan loaded up the boys and my dad, and they all trotted down to Bentonville to watch the 145th re-enactment of the last battle of the C.W. Since this was clearly a Boy Trip, I did not choose to join them. Which meant, woe-is-me, I had the day to myself. After lounging around with my dog and the internet for a while (why? WHY does that sound like I was doing naughty things??), I actually did go out and do a little yardwork, which included planting some daffodil bulbs. Yes, I know that it is the WRONG time of year to plant bulbs. However, these were stolen bulbs from the woods up the street, and I had to hide the evidence as quickly as possible. You never want to be busted by the Bulb Police.

Unfortunately, I had a raging headache for most of the day, so after a couple of hours of yardwork, I just HAD to have a little lunch and a snooze. With the windows open. And birdies tweeting. And a snoring dog beside me. See how I suffer so my boys can have Special Fun together?
And then, THEN, I drove to Salisbury to meet my precious friend Melissa for some coffee and picture time. We always have such good times together. The funny thing is, it's not like we were close friends when we knew each other in college. We've just really hooked up in the past year, thanks to Facebook. See the good that has come from my ADDICTION???
About once a week this year, I have driven to Salisbury to supervise an SLPA that works for the company I work for. As good fortune would have it, she and I typically meet at a McDonald's right off the highway and problem solve our way through her caseload dilemmas. And through a #2 combo meal. And sometimes through a chocolate-dipped cone.
Pro: what a delicious way to earn my pay
Con: yet another reason for why half of my work pants don't fit

Depending on her schedule on the days that I come to supervise, we will then drive to one of her kiddie's locations, and I observe and offer my very sage (ha ha) advice while she provides speech therapy. To be honest, this is one of the things I have loved best about this job this year. My SLPA is awesome - she's a great therapist, timely in her paperwork, is very responsible, and has a heart for these kids. Plus she's fun to hang out with. And we dish on The Company together. And she buys me stuff (like a laminator! from Aldi's!). What's not to love? Seriously - she has made my job so, so easy this year.

But anyway, all of that to say that when we leave My Most Favorite Restaurant In All The World to go to a therapy location, I am always, always wanting to stop at different locations and take pictures. Unfortunately, I am NOT paid by The Company to do that. More's the pity.

Truth be told, I have really let my passion for photography fall to the wayside this year. I had no intentions of doing that, but this job has entailed a lot more work from home than I anticipated. Which is OK, but that then means that it takes even more time to get house stuff even halfway done. Which means I am left with little time, let alone ambition to take pictures. So much for getting a little side photography bi'ness happening.

ANYWAY, Melissa is a fellow photography fiend, and she and I always love goofing around with our cameras together. She is so talented and really has an artist's eye for perspective. I love having such gifted friends that I can learn from and gain inspiration! AND, she's just so doggone cute.

Yesterday was a gorgeous day - blue skies, sunny, and 70 degrees. And since we met later in the afternoon, the light was really nice. Unfortunately, she was a little bit stick-in-the-mud-ish about letting me do things like Break Into The Bell Tower, but we managed to have a good time anyway as we strolled around town looking for texture. Doesn't that make us sound like pros? I'd like to think so.

Now there are definitely some parts of Salisbury that are more picture-esque than others, but to be honest, I could have spent all day taking pictures there. There are some gorgeous late 19th century homes in the historic district. I'm accepting applications at this time for those of you out there that would like to buy one for me.

And lo and behold, what did we find but a mid-19th century home with ties to supporting the Confederate army. Taking pictures of it (see directly above) was more my style of reliving the Civil War!

I'm so thankful for time to myself (i.e. sans home responsibilities) to unwind and feel creative. And the company of a good friend is always appreciated and valued. It was a very good day.

Because I'd Like to Fool You Into Thinking I'm Changing My Wicked Ways

Soupity Soup Soup! Who brings you the best soup recipes?? Who Internet World? WHO? That's right, peeps, it's me, and don't you forget it. It started with this one. And then I shared this one! Have y'all tried it yet, 'cause you know it so totally rocks. It's a rock star (what's up with the overuse of that phrase??)!

Well, I'm back to bring you a new and delicioso creation that we actually had a month or so go now. While winter just screams Soup Season, spring? Not so much. However, filling up on clear-broth soup is supposed to be a weight-loss creed. And that? I am all about since my work pants are tight, even with my Suck-It-In-Undies on. That wouldn't be TMI for Internet World, would it? How about this incentive, then: swimsuit season is around the corner.

Of course, I found this soup from my favorite foodie blog. The soup was a hit with even the pickiest in my family. We eat a fair amount of fresh spinach around here in salads (and occasionally on sandwiches), but a Cooked Spinach Queen I am not. Fortunately, you kind of miss the goopiness that is cooked spinach with this recipe although Alan said it gave the soup a good flavor. So everyone? Slap on your bikinis and eat hearty.

Crockpot Turkey and Wild Rice Soup

Prep time: 20 minutes
Total time: Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-6
Makes: potfuls of soup

* two cups of cooked turkey (I used turkey cutlets)
* 8 cups of chicken broth
* 2/3 cup uncooked wild rice
* 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
* 1 cup chopped celery (I tended to use more than this amount)
* 1 cup chopped carrots (ditto)
* 1 tbsp. basalmic vinegar (OR - forget that you bought a bottle of this and use Basalmic Vinegrette salad dressing)
* 2 cups spinach leaves (I de-stemmed and finely chopped these)

Chop your turkey into bite-size pieces and combine with the broth in your crockpot. Add the veggies. Start noticing how your waistline is already three inches slimmer! Toss (gently, so as not to splatter) all the veggies in the pot, feeling the cleansing aura of the antioxidents! Add the wild rice and basalmic vinegar and stir your little heart out - and watch those arms become curvy little beasts! Never mind how very spinach-y your soup looks as the spinach will cook down into little bitties during the day. Cover and cook. And cook. And cook some more. This is a crockpot meal after all. And while you take in the delectable aroma of soup wafting your way over the course of the day, stop and give me 50. RIGHT NOW!

And, see? Isn't the Svelte New You already thanking me?

Pondering

As you may or may not know, I feel like I have been watching my weight yo-yo for a while. And for a girl who has always felt like the "skinny girl", this is a smidge discouraging. Especially since I know better. Brownies and potato chips do not a healthy lunch make. Of course, the obvious quest should be to be healthy over skinny. And yes, sadly, I do realize that I do not have the metabolism of a sixteen-year-old anymore. Sigh.

So, why? Why? WHY am I eating like there's no tomorrow? Why am I not eating Like My Momma Taught Me?? Oprah would like me to discern if it is eating out of boredom. Or anxiety. Or depression. Or to be social.

Frankly, I feel like I can truly be honest with Internet World and tell you my question:

Couldn't it just be that junk food tastes really, really good?

I Love My Besties

Oh! I'm a lucky girlie! This weekend I got to spend some time with my two besties, Andrea and Amy. They are such sweet precious women and every time we get together we laugh and laugh and share our hearts. These are my girls that I can be so completely my goofball, weirdo self, but also cry on their shoulders and whine and bellyache about life, and they just keep on loving me just the same. Obviously, it's mutual.

AND, it just so happens that Andrea is preggers with a little fella, and Amy and I haven't seen her to rub her cute little belly for months. Amy and I are officially his October Aunties since she and I have birthdays in October. [Side note: Amy is also the one that I am going to share my nursing home room with when we are little old wheelchair ladies, and we are going to insist on having six cats in there. So, calling us his Crazy Cat Lady Aunties is not out of line either].

Andrea and I got to Kannapolis mid-afternoon and had some nice chill/catch-up time. So relaxing! And folks, lo and behold, there was a Salvation Army right next to the hotel. A THRIFT STORE, FOLKS! You know me and a bargain. I am on the prowl right now for - and somehow this list seems to be expanding like crazy lately - an antique buffet like this one. I actually did find one there, but it was $200, which is more than I want to invest...especially from a piece from the S.A.

Anywho, Amy rolled in (flying in from a grandparent va-cay in Florida) around 7ish, and after some wonderful chitty chatty, we headed over for dinner at IHOP. And got to experience the service of the World's Most Spastic Server, Victor. Victor who has "Lillian" tatooed on his neck. People! Right on his neck! Bless his heart.

I tried to convince my girlies to follow Victor's example and get a "BESTIE" tat at the local "Pirate's Den Tatoo Parlor," but my chicks ended up being sticks in the mud. Poo! Maybe next time. Instead we had to stuff our faces with Stuffed French Toast. More's the pity.

Saturday morning, after Instyling and breakfast, it was off to our main mission: IKEA! Look at my little Andrea's belly! That's my little Julio in there! Andrea had been to IKEA before, but Amy and I had never been. Oh, the wonder that is IKEA. That place is amazing. And, yes, I want one of everything. Not kidding!
Although we weren't really looking for furniture, we did go up to the furniture section first. Y'all, Andrea found this awesome chair that she is considering for her nursery. It is so, so comfortable and had the nicest little rock to it. I love how comfortable, but unconventional it would be for a nursery.
Click on the picture and make it big! It's Cutie Andrea beside her Andrea rug! Ha ha! How fun is IKEA? There was a kitchen that I loved and a bathroom sink that I have been super on the prowl for. Alas, neither one fit into Bullet the Minivan, so I'm going to have to puzzle that one out later. No worries - there was plenty that DID fit into Bullet.

I love my precious husband for many reasons. Obviously. But he has been naggy, naggy, naggy about buying a memory foam mattress lately. So much so that the rebellious little side of me wants to just shout "no!" But, being the giving and loving wife that I am - especially when Al talks my besties into pushing this mattress, too - I have come up with what I believe is the perfect compromise: I get a new kitchen, he gets his dream mattress (click picture for visual). Seems fair to me.

Whew! We made it through the furniture section! Yay us! We had lunch in the little cafe, which had the most divine apple cake. Also known (to us) as Faux Apple Pie. Y'all, does that not look like pie?? By this point, my back was aching a bit from all the walking, but my little preggo friend was a total non-complaining trooper. And Amy wouldn't know a complaint if it up and bit her in the booty. So, instead of complaining too, too much, I just stuffed my mouth with more apple cake/pie. I'm so sacrificial that way for my girls.

And then it was off to the home furnishings side, where I literally would have liked to take one of about everything. How is it all so doggone cheap?? Do they have little Oompa Loompas making it all in a factory in a third world country?? Anyway, we found glasses! And shelves! And mirrors! And trashcans! And then, oh my. We found the kid section with baby stuff a plenty. Andrea looked at cribsets, and Amy and I checked out all kinds of other things. Look at this awesome plastic bib I'm wearing . I totally need that. For me! No more drippies!

Five and a half hours from the moment we walked in the doors, we had completed our mission and reached the check-out area. And look - Amy even found the same battery lamps that one of my favorite blogs posted about! How cool, and well, kind of stalker-ish are we?? You know, considering the size of the store, I was surprised at how quickly we were able to make it to the check-out point. And then I sabotaged it all. Andrea chose a self-checkout line for us. And while that may be just fine for her and Amy, it is nothing but trouble for me. Self-Checkout hates me and wants to provide all kinds of torture for me. The IKEA Self-Checkout Administrator had to come over and assist us and punch in her Special Top Secret Code about 38 times. Seriously. Thanks to me. And my special scanner abilites. Or lack there of. But at least I can rock the "Charlie's Angel" Pose (umm, while looking more pregnant than Andrea...I have got to lay off those potato chip and brownie lunches!!!) with back-up from Special Agent Amy!

And you know, we made out with shockingly low damage done to the old card. I'm almost a little disappointed in us. I really SHOULD have gotten the kitchen and sink!

And then sadly enough, it was time for the besties to go their separate ways. But not without a little special Baby Julio love.

We had a short little time together, but it couldn't have been better. My girls are rock stars!

Craigslist for Dummies

A few of my favorite craigslist finds (unfortunately all for reals):

• My latest craigslist find in Pfafftown: "Dresser,Night Stand, Chester Drawer - $200" A CHESTER drawer!!!!
• Yet another find on Craigslist: a "Great White Stool"...for only five dollars...so many jokes here, I don't know where to start...
• How can you not be a craigslist addict when you find amazing deals like this: "5 cookatiels & large cadge" for only $150!
• Just found an "Elagant Bowel [bowl] and matching Picture [pitcher] trimmed in Gold. No damage" on craiglist for $65...not sure I'm ready to see a bowel trimmed in gold...

Wow. Deals a plenty. And, also? Not so surprised about national illiteracy levels now.