Why Yes...

I would love a slice of this

Double Chocolate Cheesecake Layered Cake.

You certainly wouldn't have to ask me twice.

Seriously people....it's two layers of chocolate cake, one layer of brownies, and a layer of cheesecake. Oh my. It's all my favorite desserts rolled into one. You can find the recipe here. If you do decide to make it...let me know. I would love to be invited over to enjoy a big honkin' slice.

I'll even bring the ice cream.

We all know there's usually some in my freezer.

An Impulsive Purchase

So, you remember my little sister, Emily?

Well, she is going to be in the Hill Cumorah Pageant this summer. It's a huge play and amazing to see if you ever get the chance. I've been once...to see my other sister, Sarah in it. Mark, unfortunately wasn't able to make it because of work.

So, we both really wanted to go this time. A lot. We just weren't sure if it would work out. We were checking out plane tickets for fun and we found some for a reasonable price. I figured we'd think about it and see how it would potentially fit into our budget and our plans for the summer. Before I could talk him out of making an impulse decision, Mark had bought the tickets.

As flabergasted as I am about it still, I am so excited to go and see Emily on this huge stage. I am even more excited to go with Mark.I can't believe we are going!

It's going to be the best whirlwind trip we've ever made.

*Now I just have to see how many other family members I can talk into going!

Just Me & The Dogs

So, today has been one of those days. I'm feeling kind of blah.

Let me explain....

Mark is in Seattle for business meetings until tomorrow night, so it's just me and the dogs 'til then. It's definitely quieter around here with him gone, unless you count when I'm talking to the dogs.

I'm sick. Again. I'm not sure what's going on with me this year, but I'm never sick this often. I have gone through three boxes of tissue in the last week. Now, we aren't talking any box of tissue...these are way cooler.

We probably have 100 boxes of tissue from Mark's job that he can't hand out to Doctors anymore because of regulation changes. I am usually not too far from one of these right now. I even took a box to work. It definitely makes for a great conversation starter.

Hopefully tomorrow I won't need them quite as much.

It was sunny again today, though. That was great.

Super Breakfast

When I saw this on Cupcakes Takes The Cake this morning, I laughed. A lot. And I could totally relate. Except sometimes I forget my multivitamin. Oops.

Hypothetically speaking, of course.

A Fun Day

I would have to say that a good Saturday morning definitely involves playing Monopoly Jr. with two really fun kids.

Even though I lost.

Making and eating some delicious cupcakes. I've only had 2 today so far. I've been good.

We grilled these last night. We've been waiting for Costco to get them back in and finally our patience paid off. They were just as good as we remembered....bacon wrapped steak fillets. Yummy.

A good Saturday also involves taking advantage of the sunshine! Finally the clouds and rain are gone. For now at least. So, we all went to the park. I think the grown ups had just as much fun as the kids did.

These are just some random weeds that are in the empty lot behind our house. Alicia was commenting on them and how they are actually pretty. She's totally right. They are pretty.

You gotta love a sunny, fun Saturday.

The Tea Parties I Had As A Kid....

Were nothing like the Tea Party Mark and I went to today. People who know my hubby know that he LOVES politics and his country. Yes...he's right here reading this over my shoulder...telling me what to type about him...funny guy. That man loves some Fox News. Anyways, with all the Tea Parties going on across the country today, Mark really wanted to go to the one up in Salem at the Capital building. As for me...I'm always up for something new and different. Neither one of us has ever been to a political rally of any kind. So, off we went to be involved in something big. Bigger than just the two of us. There were so many people and signs. We felt a bit unprepared...we didn't think to make a sign. What can I say, it was our first rally...we'll know for next time. It was pretty amazing to see how many people came out to share their opinions.

Steven, Alicia, and the kids came too....Paige was chanting "No More Taxes" the rest of the afternoon. Uncle Mark didn't encourage that at all, especially while we were at Burger King afterwards.

Well, it was quite a day. No matter what side of the fence you sit on, it is pretty amazing to go to something like this. Being surrounded by thousands of people all in support of the same thing was quite and experience. It is easy to think that my opinions and thoughts don't matter in the grand scheme of things. But, it was neat to see such a large group of people made up of individuals just like me who want their opinions and thoughts to matter and count.

Is It Me...

Or do a lot of my posts revolve around food? Oh well.
Last weekend we went to Johnny Carino's for dinner with family.
Boy was it tasty.
Mark got their bow tie festival pasta.
I got angel hair with meat sauce.
Mine was good.
Mark's was delicious.
He was so nice that about half way through,
He traded me plates and let me finish his pasta.
Isn't he a great hubby!

As sad as this is to admit, I couldn't stop thinking about how delicious that pasta was. I really wanted to go back soon. Mmmm....bowtie festival was calling my name. Well, that wasn't really something I could plan on, so I took matters into my own hands. I dug around online and found the recipe. They claimed that it tasted just like the bowtie pasta at Carino's. Yeah, we'll see.

I made it and it was just as good as we both remembered.

Here's the recipe.
Just in case bowtie festival is calling your name too.

JOHNNY CARINO'S BOWTIE FESTIVAL
FOR THE BOWTIE FESTIVAL:
1 oz. Melted butter
1 tsp. Chopped fresh garlic
1/8 cup Diced red onion
1/8 cup Diced cooked bacon
1/4 cup Diced Roma tomatoes
3 oz. Sliced cooked chicken
1 oz. Heavy (whipping) cream
3 oz. Alfredo sauce (recipe follows)
1/8 cup Asiago cheese
1/2 tsp. Salt, pepper, and garlic salt
10 oz. Precooked bowtie pasta
ALFREDO SAUCE
1 quart Heavy whipping cream
1 cup Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp. Black pepper
1/4 cup Whole milk

*Saute heavy cream, milk, and black pepper to a consistent boil. Remove cream mixture from heat and fold in parmesan cheese. Store completed sauce in refrigerator until use.
*In a heated saute pan combine butter, garlic, onions, bacon, tomatoes, chicken, and spice mixture.
*When onions begin to turn translucent, add heavy cream and Asiago cheese.
*Once cheese and cream have reduced by half, add Alfredo sauce and bowtie pasta. Toss until well combined and remove from fire. Allow to cool for a few minutes so the cheese and sauce thicken.

Say What?

You hear the funniest things when you are out and about...especially when you frequent Wal-Mart like Mark and I do. We were there one day, quite a some time ago, and we ran into my old boss Marie. Now just to clarify, she's not old, she's just not my boss anymore. Anyways, there we were visiting in the garden department when she tells us that she just heard the funniest thing. This girl was talking to the guy she was with and she called him a

Flaming Gomerite.

Well, you do learn something new everyday. I think I am a better person because of it.

Mark calls his brother Homer...maybe I can get away with calling him a Flaming Homerite. I think it has potential.

I Had No Idea...

Growing a garden was so easy.

Well, at least so far it is. We'll see how successful I am when I actually have to go outside to take care of it.

No Joke

Many, many years ago these two got hitched. Oh April Fool's Day.

No joke.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad.

Hope you have fun as you unpack your moving trucks....

You guys really know how to celebrate.