Leftover Turkey

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  I wanted to share this recipe, it's what you can do with your leftovers.  Enjoy! Mine bubbling on the stove as I type :)

Turkey Chowder

1 onion

1/4 cup of butter

4 diced potatoes

1 cup of celery

3 cups of milk

1 can broth

salt and pepper

1 can of cream of corn ( I use my leftover corn)

3 cups of cubed turkey

2 carrots diced

1/4 cup of parsley

1) Saute garlic and onion with butter

2) Add potatoes, celery, carrots, broth, +1 can of water until potatoes are done.

3)Add milk, turkey, corn and simmer flavors together.

4) Add parsley just before serving.

ENJOY!

Twilight

I'm on Chapter 11.  I would like to set up a chat or call with everyone that's reading.  I know that there is 6 of us that have made it past Chapter 11.  It will be fun to chat about, because each chapter has gotten better :) Now I'm dying to see the movie!

 

My Tree & Ornaments

The tree’s finished and I wanted to share some of the stories that went along with some of my ornaments. I have been collecting ornaments ever since I was 12 years old. Every year after Christmas I would have my mom take me to the mall so I could get in on all the 75% Christmas sales. None of my friends understood this; they would be excited about all their new clothes. I was to busy loading up on ornaments and didn’t even have my own tree. I bought them every year and placed them in boxes knowing one day I would have my own tree to decorate.

I have a lot of sentimental ornaments as well. Ones that came from grand parents and my mom, some were from my great aunt who past away quite some time ago and I cherish those the most. I was given 5 pixie elves which were my moms when she was a child, that’s how I got addicted to vintage elves. I was always mesmerized by them when I was young. I received the rest of my collection this year, mom bid on a box of elves on eBay and won. They all set in my tree as I type, I think my collection is up to 24, all different shapes and sizes. I told mom I think I’m set for the elf collection. Mom and I have also started a tradition. Every year we get each other an ornament that resembles what went on in the year. Last year mom framed everyone in the bridal party with gold pearl frames and it was so neat to hang them this year. I have attached a picture of some of them so you can get an idea. I hope everyone is in the Holiday spirit, Thanksgiving is approaching fast!

Now onto the stories....

I got this one in honor of our 1 year anv. trip to Mexico this year

Mom got me this one last year, it's a bug car with cans tied onto the back..it was the year of our wedding :) "The Wedding Car"

(These are just 2 of the bridal party and family frames mom made, I love them)

There of Jim and I

I love pigs as ornaments

Mom got this for me a couple of years back, I love Taco Bueno and it's in honor of that :)

I got this ornament because it reminded me of home..Santa is holding a bale of hay in one hand and a tiny cow in the other

SEASHELL of Mrs. Claus

Seashell Mr. Claus

MOM found this Santa head for under $0.25!! She purchased a million and I got one

I fell in love with this ice grape cluster while in Italy, I bought 2 of them...the EURO was so higher then the dollar I was to cheap to buy anymore, now that I have these I love them and wish I would have gotten a total of 8..oh well :)

Mom got this for me when I started working at SWS stock brokerage firm...she said it's suppose to be a business women :)

Got this seashell ornament this year at OOPS while helping my mom, it was 35 cents! YES I BOUGHT MORE

Got this at Dollar Tree in the year 2000...I was still in high school at the time :)

I love PEACOCKS, we had them on the ranch, so I grew up with them. I think I have a total of 4 peacock ornaments and found these really neat red glittered peacock feathers at TJ MAXX this year, I LOVE THEM.

I also collect snowflakes, and you will see a lot of them around my house. (When I was 18 I was thinking about getting a snowflake tattoo...but I chickened out)

Not many people know this but I was an ice skater in my early childhood years.

I'm sure everyone is bored now by seeing so many ornament pics, if you enjoyed it that makes me happy because it literally took 2 days to load all these pictures up.

Productive Weekend

My weekend has flown by.  We got a 22 pound turkey.  I have installed a dead bolt and new handle for our front door ALL BY MYSELF..it did take 2 hours and I almost shattered the door with my screwdriver but it's now complete and it works!  I have made shrimp crab bisque, weeded the garden, trimmed the tree's, and made a table top Christmas tree for a couple that's coming to our Thanksgiving feast, AND I have read 153 pages of the TWILIGHT book.  I must say, it was hard to get into but after the 4th chapter it picks up and I'm enjoying it now.  Matter of fact after these music awards I will finish another chapter.  All that's reading the book let me know what you think.  I'm past chapter 7 and I must say it's getting interesting.  Happy Weekend to all and I look forward to the short week of work! YEA!!!  

 

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

I'm not a reader. Matter of fact, I haven't finished a full book in over 6 years. I'm one of those people that if it doesn't pull me in the first chapter, I put it down. Yesterday while driving into work my usual radio station was making a huge hype on the movie "Twilight". They did such a great job, I had the book version in my hands within 3 hours.

So to make the long story short. I'm starting a book club, I already have 5 people signed up and would love to have more. If your interested in starting, comment on my page and let me know if your in. I was thinking in a couple of weeks we could have a conference call and chat away about how great the book is or was :). I will provide the toll free number and dial in code. It will be fun, AND I have made it through the first chapter so I'm in!

P.S. After the first couple of chapters, you get drawn in and can't put it down..so that's what I hear. I will let you know after the weekend.

Me with my Twilight book, I must say I'm anxious to see if this is the book that gets me out of my 6 year rut.

AND anyone that knows camera's, when I don't use my flash, the picture always turns out blurry. Any suggestions?

The Elf Fortress :)

Look at my mess I have to clean up tonight...but I'm finished with the tree! Now on to the rest of the house :)

I have finally finished our tree. My house is not clean, I still have way too much stuff to pick up. When all is picked up and complete I will show you the full tree. Allie, it will come soon :) That is why I have posted close ups of the elves, so you cant see my dirty house. I have jutted the elves inside the tree to make them look like their peaking out. I have took pictures of my other ornaments also, I will post them soon. I have tried to tie in glittery reds and golds but it's hard having so many sentimental ornaments to do so.

ELVES BELOW :)

TREE

I forgot to take a picture of the mess I've created, I will try tonight. My goal is to have all the stuff picked up by tomorrow morning. I wanted to show you why it's taking me so long. I started spray painting sticks on Saturday and then gluing birds to make my own tree topper this year. It looked like a mess so I took everything down and then re positioned everything. Picture of the final tree will hopefully be up soon. I just thought I would give you an idea of what it will look like.

BREAKING NEWS--Elf Explosion scares Florida Residents-

I have been decorating my tree ever since Saturday, my house looks like an elf exploded. I have shi*** strung everywhere. It’s like going through a Christmas jungle just to make it outside. I will post pictures when I get home so you can understand what I’m talking about. I’m having Thanksgiving this year and my total keeps getting bigger, it was 2 and now it's 7, which makes me excited, the more the merrier. We are having Jim mom and grandmother down, I have invited the couple from Hungary, they have no family in the US, and Marvel, the wonderful women that lives in the Howey Mansion, she also has no family in Florida and I didn't want her being alone. SO I thought I would decorate early to get everyone in the Christmas spirit, but now I’m feeling overwhelmed. You will understand when you see the photos.

So while I was feeling overwhelmed I started a “DREAM” list. I got this idea from Lesli, she has a fabulous wish list, THANKS LESLI for the idea. I’m not asking for any of this, but these are the things I dream about purchasing.

#1. A new camera lens made for close ups

#2. Roman or Greek coin bracelet or necklace, I'm on the look-out for a fake that looks old...

(This is a roman coin below...I would like this made into a ring)

#3. Photoshop for my mac

#4. A nice cookie sheet. I'm embarrassed to say but I don't own a cookie sheet. I use my BROIL pan every time! I also place foil over my cupcake pan to make a flat surface...I can't believe I have been living like this until I went to a friends house and she pulled her cookie sheet that looked like this.

#5. These are boots from NINE WEST..they are on sale for $42 I love them, but I do live in Florida and would probably only where them 2 months out of the year, but still I could go on a WINTER vacation..yea..I doubt that will happen but still, I must have these I think....

Ft. Lauderdale

We received a holiday party invitation and man am I excited.  It's being held down in Ft. Lauderdale, which is a fun place to visit.  I love the beaches in south Florida and this hotel where the party is being held has an amazing pool.  I can't wait, I should be nice and white for a bathing suit.  So I'm glad I bought that black dress, it will come in handy this year.

  

There is also this GREAT Italian restaurant that's down in Ft. Lauderdale, they play Godfather and other popular mafia movies.  The meatballs are to die for, the calamari has garlic flakes sprinkled on top, and the veal is breaded with some secret crumb coating.  It's sad I base my travels on food, but that's what I look forward to :)

One more thing, there is this lotion that I'm in love with that can only be bought in Boca.  It's called honey coco mango and it's smells like heaven.  I usually buy the 45 oz bottle, it last about a year.  I just ran out a couple of months ago, that's when I tried the pumpkin spice lotion from bath and body but now I'm over that scent and am craving my honey coco mango.  OH I can't wait to bath myself in that stuff!