This IS the place...

Tannon, Micah, Lyle and I went to the Haunted Village at This is the Place Park. I'm not usually one to frequent haunted houses.. they are just too dang expensive! However, we were able to get in for $15/couple. It was awesome... maybe b/c it's been light-years since I've been to one, but it was pretty scary. It was neat - a lot of it was outside and you would go in and out of small, spooky houses.

Tannon and I were so glad to be able to hang out w/ Micah & Lyle. It's been way too long and we have missed them!

Thanks, Caitlin for your recommendation!

Tuesday Recipe

Snickerdoodle Muffins

2 sticks unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs

¾ tsp baking soda

¾ tsp baking powder

¾ tsp cream of tarter

1 and ¼ cup sour cream

2 and ¼ cups all purpose flour

1 cup sugar and 2 TBSP cinnamon mixed together for rolling

1.Cream the butter and sugar until soft about 3 to 5 minutes. Add in the vanilla. Add in the eggs one at a time and mix until each is incorporated.

2.In a separate, mix together the flour, baking soda, and baking powder and cream of tarter.

3.Add the flour mixture and the sour cream alternately to the egg-butter mixture in the additions. Start with the flour and end with the flour. Scrape the bowl occasionally.

4. Using an ice cream scoop, scoop out muffin batter one at a time and drop into a shallow bowl filled with the cinnamon sugar mixture. Roll the muffin around in the mixture until it is covered completely in cinnamon sugar.. Place muffin in to muffin tin.. Depending on the size of your tins, you should get about 12 to 14 muffins. Bake them for approx. 20-22 minutes in a 350F oven or until they are golden brown.

You've Got a Friend

I really think that people pop into our lives for reasons.

When I was in Jr. High, I met a girl at a Kaysville Jr. High party (the Junior High school that I attended). She went to Fairfield Jr. High. She was going out with a kid that I was going to school with. I hate to admit that I was a little bit wary that someone would 'cross boundaries' and come to a party even though they didn't go to our same Jr. High. I didn't know her...

I was in fifth grade. I got paired up with a random girl to read with. We sat under the table in the corner of Mrs. Stout's classroom. She had just moved here from Iowa. She asked me if I shaved my legs... I lied and said no...

Years ago I used to work at Bally Total Fitness. It was a pretty good job, I could study and read while working there, and worked with fun people. A new girl started there and I didn't ever go out of my way to get to know her. I was at a point in my life where I didn't care to meet new friends. After all, I had everything that I needed, right? I probably thought that her and I didn't have a whole lot in common. One of the first conversations I had with her, I learned SO MUCH... about her, about trials, about overcoming obstacles, about making dreams come true, about inspiration, about passion, about life...

These people happen to be some of my very best friends. Even though we may lose touch with eachother every now and again... they will always be some of my closest friends and I know they will be there for me no matter what. Whether they send me flowers when I'm having a bad day, name their first-born daughter after me, let me vent about my struggles & frustrations, send me an email to let me know they are thinking of me, or send me a text message for the first time in 2 years on a day that I need that text message the most. FrIenDs ArE aMaZiNg.

R.I.P. Some Spike it Hot

Well last night was the last game of the season for good ole "Some Spike it Hot". Thanks for the fun season, gals! Maybe we should quit while we're ahead... Oh wait. We're not. This season wasn't the greatest for us... and I blame Chelsey. She's our team mom, but has a fetus growing in her belly so didn't play with us this season. We're excited to have her back in January!

Chicken Crochets

My lovely sister gave this recipe to me. These are my favorite... No really. They are easy and delicious. Tiana, I know you have a recipe a lot like this, served with gravy. Those were also very delicious, but I don't have your recipe :-)

Chicken Crochets

• 1 8 oz package cream cheese
  
• 2 Tbs. butter
  
• 1/2 tsp Pepper
  
• 3-4 chicken breasts OR 1-2 cans of canned chicken (This is my preference... it cuts down on time because you don't have to cook the chicken)
  
• 2 cans large crescent rolls
  
• Garlic Powder
  
• Stuffing mix
  
  
  
  Boil chicken for approximately 30 minutes (until chicken is no longer pink inside). Shred chicken into pieces. Combine cream cheese, butter, pepper, garlic powder and chicken together. Place mixture into crescent rolls. Roll each crescent roll into stuffing mix. (Stuffing mix should be placed in a ziplock bag and rolled with rolling pin to break large pieces so it won't burn - close to a powder consistency) Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees, or just until the crescents start to brown.

Nature and Blessings

What a great weekend! Tannon and I were able to get out of the city and into the mountains with our friends, Dustin & Cami. I seriously can't get enough of it, especially this time of year.

It was also Morgan's blessing. She looked so beautiful! I wish I would have gotten a picture of her on her big day, but her mom changed her out of her big, scratchy dress before I got the chance. What do ya do.

Now it's back to work. Good thing we have weekends to get us through! Hope ya'll had a great weekend. Happy Monday!

May or May Not

My friend Rebecca recently informed me that you can RENT television series from the library! I was seriously so excited that I got online and put about 8 television series on hold. It's been a while since I've actually gotten into a good drama, and they are the best on DVD. She recommended Grey's Anatomy and here I am loving it. I may or may not have a tiny crush on Ronnie from Can't Buy Me Love.... weird.

Tuesday, already?

Whew! Tannon and I just flew in last night from Richmond, Virginia! We had a great weekend with Steve & Ashley and Ryan & Maren! Tannon had an interview at Virginia Commonwealth yesterday and I decided to accompany him and make a vacation out of it. Steve and Ashley were SO generous to let us crash at their house and eat all of their food :-) They certainly made our stay enjoyable. Thanks again, you guys!

It was also so great to see my best friend, Maren. She and Ryan live in D.C. (about 2 hours from Richmond) and were so great to drive down to have lunch with us and hang out with us for a few hours. It was so great to see them.

Here is another recipe. You guys probably already have something just like it or very similar, but in case you don't, here ya go. It's such a great time of year to make soup! Love it! Also, the idea was to blog more than once a week... I don't want my blog to turn solely into a 'recipe' blog, but things have been crazy busy and I haven't had much time for much else. Hope you all are doing well!

TACO SOUP

1 lb. ground beef, browned
1 medium onion, chopped
1 large can diced tomatoes
1 can Rotelle tomatoes w/ green chilies
1 can whole kernel corn
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can northern beans (white beans)
1 package ranch dressing
1 package taco seasoning

Combine all ingredients. Bring to a boil and simmer for about 45 minutes. Serve with sour cream, cheese and tortilla chips!!

It's only the second week!

And I've already slacked off on my 'Recipe Tuesday'. Man, I suck. I usually do my best posting @ work, but work has been carazy! (My friend co-worker is on maternity leave and I am absorbing all of her repsonsibilities. Yikes!) Anyhoo.... Here's another one of my favorite recipes. The husband and I love these. You can either do them stovetop, or crock pot. I prefer to cook them in the crockie all day whilst working and then come home and all I have to do is take them out, throw some Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce on them and toss 'em in the oven for hubby and me.

Dr Pepper Ribs

Ingredients
8 country style pork spare ribs (I like boneless)
1 (2 liter) bottle Dr. Pepper, NOT diet
5 garlic cloves, slightly smashed
1 tbsp. liquid smoke
1 large onion, quartered
your favorite barbecue sauce (Love me some Sweet Baby Ray's)

1. Place ribs in large stock pot. Pour Dr. Pepper over ribs to cover. Add garlic, liquid smoke and onion. Bring to boil, lower to simmer and cook until ribs are tender.
2. Place ribs in baking pan. Pour barbecue sauce on ribs.
Bake at 350 F. for about 30 to 45 minutes.