Monday, September 26, 2005

I'm a Bad Blogger!


Ok, I admit it.... I do NOT keep up with this blog very well. I just get so busy and always seem to put it on the back burner. It really makes me feel good, though, that I get lots of emails from people wondering if I'm ok. Thank you for being concerned. I'm just not consistent with the blog, I guess. I really enjoy doing it...don't know why I don't make it more of a priority. I'll try to do better! :)

I had such a fun time attending a weekend Scrapbooking retreat two weeks ago. I didn't get a ton of pages done (maybe 15?) but it was just so nice to get AWAY! I slept VERY well, enjoyed Starbucks each morning, had a 90-minute massage, won a couple of prizes, shopped for scrapbooking supplies, and even won 2nd place in the "Embellished Pages" layout contest. The next one is in February...can't wait! :) (my winning layout is pictured above...click on it to see it larger)

I submitted some layouts today for a couple of page calls for Scrapbooks, Etc. so we'll see what happens. I don't ever create layouts FOR page calls. I wouldn't enjoy scrapbooking anymore if I had to do that all of the time. That's one of the MANY things I love about being a MUSE for Wendi Speciale Designs. I receive her incredible stamp kits and get to make WHATEVER I want with them. I love the open-endedness of being on her team. The MUSE contest is just about to wind down and the entries received so far are absolutely INCREDIBLE. WOW! Can't wait to see who wins a spot as a MUSE!

Ok....109 degrees at the end of September is NOT Fall weather. UGH...come on, Lord. We need some relief. I'm going to pretend that it's cool outside. In fact, I'm listening to a Christmas music station right now :) Yep, Fall is on the way with pumpkins, sweaters, beautiful leaves, hot cocoa, yummy smells from the kitchen....it's coming. Even if I have to set my a/c on 55, I'll pretend that it's coming. :)

Speaking of the kitchen.... I made a big southern meal for our family and some friends who were in town. They were evacuees from Hurricane Rita, which by the way didn't even bring us a DROP of rain. They had forecasted earlier in the week that we would see Rita when she was a category 1 and the eye would pass just to the east of us. Well, she shifted so far east that we didn't get anything. That's ok...I was a little worried for a while! Ok, anyway...back to the kitchen. I made Chicken Fried Steak, mashed potatoes with cream gravy, southern green beans (recipe below) and iced tea. My sister brought homemade buttermilk biscuits (cut the salt in 1/2!) and a YUMMY banana cake. I was happy to find a really great recipe for fresh green beans, so I thought I'd share that today. This recipe received rave reviews on the website, so we HAD to try them. They are wonderful!

SOUTHERN GREEN BEANS
by Rachel Ray (Food Network)

Ingredients:
1 1/4 pounds green beans, trimmed and chopped into 1-inch pieces
2 slices bacon, chopped
1 small onion, minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar

Cook green beans in 1-inch simmering water, covered, for 6 minutes. Drain and set aside. Return skillet to stove and set burner to medium high. Add bacon and brown. When fat begins to render, add chopped onions to the pan and cook until tender with the bacon. Add cooked green beans to the pan and turn to coat in bacon drippings and onions. When the beans are hot and bacon crisp at edges and onions translucent add vinegar to the pan and season with beans with sugar. Allow the vinegar to evaporate and the sugar to combine with pan drippings, 1 to 2 minutes, then serve. Serves 6.
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Thanks for being patient with me as I get my blog going again. :)

God bless you today!
- Jennifer

"If you are a Christian, you can expect folks to criticize, but you ought to live so nobody will believe them. "
- Anonymous

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ahh...to read your blog again. NICE. :O) Your recipe sounds great! I am so hungry I would have loved to have tasted your entire meal. LOL Your layout is too cute. :o)

Anonymous said...

You are not a bad blogger. You are just a busy woman. Two different things, and I love you no matter what you are doing. LOVE the page! It's you. And, I'm sorry, but Jennifer, you just tickle me pink. I am laughing right out loud (snorting, actually) just imagining you listening to Christmas music in 100+ degree weather. That is priceless. You are killing me here...

Anonymous said...

It's great to see that you had enough time to blog! Busy is a good thing! I love your whole site! Love the layout! Good luck with your submissions. The greenbeans sound so tasty! I was raised in the south and bacon is a main ingredient in everything but the buttercake! Christmas music sounds inviting! I've been watching Richard Gere this morning, maybe I should pop in a Christmas movie next! I'm ready! Have a great day and again, it's good to see you!

Anonymous said...

Jennifer -- I'm enjoying catching up on your blog now that I have my internet back. I'm with you on the weather -- it's nuts. Thanks for the green bean recipe; I can't wait to try it.

Jana said...

Yippee, you're back! Wanna hear something funny?? I made chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes& gravy and green beans last night for supper! Only, my beans don't sound nearly as good as your's so I'll try those next time! You can tell we're Texas girls I suppose. Good luck w/your submissions!!

Anonymous said...

WOW! Sounds like your scrapbook retreat was wonderful!!! And 15 pages isn't bad!!! I usually get ONE OR TWO donw when I scrap with other people. LOL! I tend to TALK more than scrap when I'm with friends. I agree with you about being a MUSE for Wendi Speciale Designs! I love it! I love Wendi and her stamps are killer!! Your green beans recipe sounds fab and I can't wait to try it. Glad to see you updating after a time away! You definitely ARE missed!

Carrie Anne said...

MMMM...chicken fried steak...my favorite! If I come over will you make me some?

I didn't know you were a Muse? I *heart* WSD!