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May 24, 2011

Leather-Crystal-Glass

Today is a special day in this house.

Three years ago today, He-of-the-good-ideas and I said "I do". Awww.

According to the interwebz, the modern/traditional gifts for the third anniversary are leather, crystal and glass. We didn't give each other gifts but I gave him a card, he gave me 2 dozen roses (so pretty!) and we are about to jump into renovating our kitchen. Working in a lovely new kitchen will be the best gift ever!

To mark the day, we went out for supper. We went to the Boston Pizza near our home and each had awesome meals (him - deluxe pizza, me - chicken parm) and generally enjoyed our night out. We had a great waitress and she happily indulged me and took a photo of us for posterity (for me, not for her, that's just weird)...



So HAPPY ANNIVERSARY He-of-the-good-ideas! I love ya!

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May 23, 2011

Last night I had a s'moregasm

We went camping this weekend. First camping trip of the year. It rained then was overcast and the temperature rarely got above 10 degrees Celsius. Brrrr. But we ate well (as we try to do when camping) and last night I made something I've been thinking about trying this out since sometime in February. Before I show you how I made it, let me share a picture of what it looks like after that first sweet, luscious bite...




Just looking at that picture reminds me of just.how.good.it.was.

Despite the craptacular weather this weekend, we had a campfire. The cold chased us away before we could stay outside and enjoy it much but it provided a nice wee heat for a bit.

While the coals were building up, I warmed up in the camper while preparing something delicious.

Take piece of heavy duty foil...


Place a graham cracker in the centre...


Grab some Hershey chocolate bars...


Break apart segments and arrange on your graham cracker...



Arrange nine mini-marshmallows on the chocolate...


Place another graham cracker on top. The final product is so close I can almost taste it and lick the chocolate off my fingers...



Wrap the heavy duty foil around your s'more sandwich...


Make some to share around the campfire...


I used a sandwich maker (cast iron, from Princess Auto, currently on sale right $12.99) to heat the foil packet. I learned that it doesn't need to be heated for long or the graham cracker gets entirely too toasted.



CAREFULLY remove foil packet from the sandwich maker - it is wicked hot - and open it on a flat surface (I have chocolate and marshmallow on a pair of pants from trying to nom the first one too hastily).

Breathe deep. Dive in.



*giggle* A s'moregasm. I dare it to be called anything else! LOL

I prefer the chocolate in my s'mores to be meltier than just putting a toasted marshmallow with a block of cold chocolate between graham crackers; and this... well this is just a perfectly proportioned sweet camping treat.

Try it! If you don't have a cast iron campfire sandwich cooker, you could try long handled metal tongs or get creative with a what you have on hand! No campfire? Try it on the bbq!

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May 19, 2011

Fifteen two, fifteen four

Do you play cribbage?



I do, though not like a seasoned veteran even though I learned to play it very young. Some people take it VERY seriously. I do not. I struggle with with math. Always have. Even simple math. Especially under pressure. Cribbage with a serious player is too stressful for me. I need a helpful/kind opponent. They are harder to find than you'd think.

I will be packing a board in the camper this summer. If we meet in a campground and you are an easygoing opponent with a solid grasp of the rules (or you're my mother), I'd like to have a game with you.

If cribbage isn't your game, I'd like to challenge you to a game of Scrabble :)


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May 18, 2011

May 17, 2011

Its my blog and I'll whine if I want to

Tiny violin playing a sad song just for me
I am sick. And kinda whiney.

Stoopid head cold + nasty cough and badda-bing I look/sound like I have the plague.

I forced myself to go to work yesterday and amid my sneezing and nose blowing there were cautious side glances from co-workers who were likely hoping I'd keep my germs to myself. I ended up putting a bottle of hand sanitizer on my desk and using copious amounts of it.

So today I have elected to stay home from work, which for the record I hate doing. I have my OTC cold meds, multiple boxes of tissues, a fresh jug of Raspberry Ice Crystal Light in the fridge and an unlimited supply of doggy-snuggles.

I am on my computer at the moment while upstairs my poor pillowcase dries out from a night of Beth-the-stuffed-up-mouth-breather drooling all over it. My bed is the coziest place of all though, and the idea of crawling back into it holds more appeal than just about anything else. Even pie.

So... I rest; I take the aforementioned meds; I blow my already sore nose; I drink lots of fluids; I cuddle the dog (I'm sure the cat sends her love from her bed across the room); I try to feel better. And as soon as I psyche myself up for it, I will use ye olde Neti Pot to try and relieve some sinus pressure.

A friend of mine just advised me that Davids Tea sells a tea for sickies like me. After browsing their website, I think it might be this one. There is a Davids Tea super close to work, but as I am nowhere near there today, I will stick to what is in the cupboard.

Lets all cross our fingers I get better real quick. I am a grumpy sick person and besides, He-of-the-good-ideas and I have fun plans this weekend, first camping trip of the season with some great friends! So yeah, my immune system better buck up!

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May 15, 2011

Knock, knock

Why hello Harsh Reality, I wondered if I'd be seeing you this afternoon.

Yes, in fact I *did* try on my wedding dress today.

Well, next week marks our 3 year wedding anniversary and I wanted to see how close I was to being the same size I used to be.

Ahh, that would be a resounding NO.

Since the dress has a zipper and not lacing to fit the bodice, said dress needs to fit perfectly for the zipper to not bust apart. Yes, I know this from experience.

Dress has been re-bustled and packed away back in the closet, hopefully serving as a motivational reminder of what I can do with hard work and dedication. This dress was a challenge to me before and I worked HARD to make sure I fit into it.

On my wedding day, three years ago, that dress fit me flawlessly.

If I could do it then, I can do it now. Right? Right!! (I hope). Pray for mojo!


Oh, I'm such a shy and delicate thing...

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May 5, 2011

The start of my pumpkin crop

It's springtime... not that you'd guess it by the temperature outside. However the amount of rain that is falling sure does serve as a good reminder that it is spring in Nova Scotia!!

At any rate, I am getting anxious to do some yard and garden work but the weather just hasn't been on my side. So I decided to let my green thumb do a little bit of work by starting some seeds indoors. I am growing pumpkins, cucumbers, broccoli, parsley and green beans (so far).

The "crop" I am most excited about is the pumpkins! Other than my "oops" of planting the seeds upside down (I know, I know and I totally knew better) the plants are growing strong and healthy! If we get any sun this weekend (not holding my breath) I will start hardening off the seedlings so they can live outside!


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