Shhh....let's please keep this little confession between us girls.  OK?  I had a total dumb blonde moment last night.  Or an ah-ha moment.  Sometimes there's a fine line. 

I randomly heard someone on TV say something about "dec/deck the halls" and after 32 years of life it finally dawned on me.  Dec/deck is short for decorate.  And hello, that makes so much sense.  How the heck did I never realize this before now? 

I was however smart enough to make this delicious casserole last night.  I did not grow up eating casseroles.  I actually might have been in college the first time I ate one.  That's probably not true but I certainly have no specific or special memories of eating them.  Probably because they are a cold weather food.  And I am from South Florida.  But now that I live in the North Pole Upstate NY, I am branching out.  I changed it a bit- I used an entire onion and omitted green peppers.  And I doubled the rice.  When I make it next time, I will also omit the cheese on top.  I am just not a big fan of a baked cheese topping.  But overall, it was super delish and the perfect fall meal (with a big salad- I didn't want you to think I went to bed without veggies).  Oh and it's gluten free without even trying.  Big bonus!



In much bigger news...I was the winner winner chicken dinner last night too!  I have been drooling over the Silhouette machine since first learning about it a while back on blogs.  And last night I was the big winner over at House of Hepworths!!  I am elated.  In fact, I was in bed already when I read the email.  So excited, I got out of bed and bounced around my room squealing.  The dog, now totally used to my spazzy self, didn't even react to my gleeful gestures.  I cannot wait for my fun early Christmas present to arrive and start crafting, crafting, crafting!

I was contacted recently by Elyse Mallone who works for MSO Marketing, doing marketing for Overstock.com.  Or so she claims anyway.  She was asking that I do blog posts on the company and in return I could share a discount with my readers.  Something seemed fishy so I googled her name and email address ([email protected] ) and found blog post after blog post about her and this MSO Marketing/Overstock.com scam.  She apparently emails bloggers to talk about Overstock but then never follows through with the offer for valid discount codes and products and such.  This past summer I was asked to talk about something and then the product never arrived.  I was later invited to purchase said product.  I so rarely do reviews that it just really hurt my feelings to be scammed like that.

So I declined Elyse.  And am instead doing a blog post to encourage my pals to watch out for this scammer.  It infuriates me when companies take advantage of nice bloggers.  So just say no, my friends!

Here's a tip from me to you.  It's a simple tip but it may in fact save you a panic attack.  And that's always a good thing.

Do not....I repeat DO NOT...step on the scale in a house other than your own.  On Thanksgiving.  Because different scales are set slightly differently.  And if you do in fact follow my very foolish footsteps and step on the scale in your cousin's bathroom at the end of a Thanksgiving feast, you will want to cry.  Her scale will inevitable be different than yours.  And as luck has it, it will make you think you gained 6 lbs in one meal. 

So safe yourself.  Powder your nose and walk out of there.  It's for your own good.  It's just not healthy to obsess over this fatty fatty two by four weight gain for the entire hour drive home.  Just to find out you did not in fact gain the weight of a newborn in one sitting. 

Dear Kanye,

Why are you such a yucky person?  And why, given your yuckiness, do you have hoards of fans?  And why are you so full of yourself?  Why are you mad at Matt Lauer for asking logical and reasonable questions?  Hello is your name Sarah Palin?  Why do you think you are better than everyone else?  Why should Taylor Swift defend you and your terrible behavior?  Why is that her job? 

So feel free to get back to me at your earliest convenience.  Oh and of course, happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, gobble,
Preppy Pink Crocodile

Tory Burch is on sale today on Ruelala.  Be sure to hop on there a bit before 11AM, when the sale actually starts, and as I learned last time, sign up for the quick buy it feature.  Stuff goes FAST and will not always be in your shopping cart when you go to pay otherwise.  But you will only pay shipping once so you can keep shopping and quick buying as normal during the day. 

If you are not yet familiar with Ruelala, click this link now and sign yourself right up.  They have amazing sales for limited time periods.  I've found some fabulous deals and steals over the years. 

Happy shopping!

I've admitted it here countless times.  I LOVE LOVE PBS!  They hands down have the very best programming on television.  Leaps and bounds above any fancy pants network.  And I think a few of y'all have also admitted to loving public programming too.  So I am curious...has anyone else watched Circus?  It is truly fascinating!  If you've not yet seen it, make it a point ASAP. 

Circus.  On PBS.  Watch it.  It's family friendly.  And so enlightening.  You'll love it. 

I have been so emotional over saying goodbye to our current officer team.  I've worked with some of them for several years and am probably a bit too attached to their fabulousness.  It's just been one of the greatest teams and I am so sad to see my little girls move on in life.  I know they all have great things awaiting them in their futures and can't wait to see what roads they take in life.  Thanks to Facebook, I will hopefully get to follow along as they go off into the big girl world and become successful squirrels.

But my direct buddy has really become more like a friend.  I am of course always friendly with my direct buddy as we talk several times a week.  You can't communicate that much and not bond a little too.  But this buddy, well she's extra fabulous!  And do you know what happened last night for the first time ever?  She gave me a thank you note.  And a gift.  I am actually not sure which means more to me but when I got home I was a little teary-eyed thinking about how much that gesture meant to me.  The world.  She's actually been amazing about saying thank you and so has the chapter this past year.  But a note.  The dying art of the thank you note.  Written, not typed.  With sincere sentiment and memories.  I'm getting a little tearing writing this.  Which I know is a little ridiculous given that this is a small note and token present.  But the present is pink and green.  We just have a connection that I so value.  It has also made working together that much more productive and enjoyable.  Her replacement seems like she is going to be pretty great too so here's hoping for another great year!  I am going to miss my buddy something fierce, though.  Not only has see been amazing but has taught me so much too.

Only my fellow squirrels will appreciate this but I am headed to Alpha this weekend!  If any of y'all will be there too, please tell me so we can have a mini meet-up.

Dear Federal Aviation Administration,

I am not mad at you.  I know, shocking.  No, I'm serious though.  I think y'all are doing a pretty good job.  I actually appreciate all the scanning and checking.  Oh sure, it's not high on my list of fun things to do at any given time.  But it's painless, provides for priceless, up close people watching, and makes me feel safe.

Now, I am super ready for the ban on water to be lifted.  I would really really like to be able to carry an unopened bottle of water from home (for a fraction of the price of marked-up airport water) with me on an airplane.  But I do also understand your concerns and am willing to be patient.  But the full body scans, of which I have had several, don't bother me in the least bit.  They're faster, less invasive, and less embarrassing than someone feeling me up and scanning me with a wand.  I do not believe for a skinny second that any of your employees are getting off on looking at thousands of nekkid scanned bodies each day.  It's probably long lost it's entertainment value for them. 

If people would just go to the airport with better attitudes, things would run much smoother.  Patience is a virtue and a necessity in life.  No one is having his or her rights restricted.  Y'all are doing what you can to make flying safe for us each day.  I would rather people be up in arms about ticket prices, the price of a bottle of water at an airport shop, charging to bring luggage with you on a trip and all the other crazy stuff they are charging passengers for these days.  Thank goodness for Southwest!

Keep up the good work and best of luck dealing with the crazies who are making big news stories this week!

Preppy Pink Crocodile

I think they are adorable.  So excited to read they are officially engaged!  Here's hoping they televise that wedding like Diana's.  Because I'm pretty sure it will be beyond fabulous.  How jealous are we all that Kate will really truly become a real life crown on head princess?!  Don't lie...you know you think it would be a little bit amazing!

I'm here. Just busy.  Nothing super exciting or dramatic.  Just life.  I know y'all understand.  Today was our beautiful Initiation for the new sorority sisters.  Yay.  It was fantastic and also such a relief that I can check that off my to-do list.  If I can get through next Sunday, I will be able to take a nice long advisor break.  Or not a full break, but it will significantly lighten up.  I think. 

Other good things. 

*My hair is back to short and blonde.  Love!  I don't care if people dislike women who have short hair.  My suggestion is don't you cut your hair short.  I can't pull off hair much longer than my chin.

*I bought an adorable pair of pink cords after my haircut.  Wearing them now actually.  How can you not smile while wearing pink pants?

*I lost another pound or two.  Though I don't feel it.  According to the scale, it's gone.  And I'm not complaining.

*Sadie got a great vet report and gets to wait TWO whole months until we go back next time for her glands.  This is super exciting for both of us!!

*Bestie laid lots of eggs like a super star little chickie!  Go read up on her exciting news.

So this week might be sporadic but I'm here.  And still reading.  Just not much more than that.

It snowed today.  On the eighth day of November.  Not just a few flakes either.  A few inches.  Which is normally no big thing up here.  But it was that sticky yucky wet snow and all of a sudden people didn't seem to know how to react.  It took me twice as long to get anywhere.  And oh yeah, it's cold!  And NOVEMBER.  Not January.  Pre-school teachers everywhere claim this to be fall.  Heck, leaves are still on the trees.  But the white mess covering my city and me having to scrape my windshield six times today are proof that winter has officially arrived.  So I dug my ugly Uggs out of the back of my closet and and took the dog for a walk.  And Sadie by the way, loves snow.  So at least one of us is happy tonight.  Burr!

This better mean that spring will arrive super duper early in 2011.  I'm talking March early.  Flip flops, sundresses and t'maters by April.  Could happen.  In Florida.

Dear Companies (lofty, I know!), 

Y'all need to stop printing phone numbers that include letters.  It has always been annoying to sit and figure out the corresponding number to CABLE and other clever words.  But now I have a blackberry.  And do you know what?  I can no longer figure out what letter attaches to what number.  Because I have a separate key for each letter and number on my phone.  And no longer keep a home land line phone as I cut the service after not using it for more than a year.

My internet was down tonight and I needed to call the cable company to ask why (it was thankfully a super simple fix on my end due to my own computer issues).  So I got out my bill to call y'all.  But the only number listed is of course a 1*800 lettersRus.  I had to google on my blackberry to figure out how to dial your damn phone number.  That's super annoying, by the way. 

So just drop the letter bit.  It was never anything less than frustrating and now it is an actual problem.

Talk soon,
KK

I wanted to update those who were so incredibly sweet to pray for my sweet friend in this blog post a few weeks ago.  From all accounts, she is doing well.  And gave birth to a very healthy baby girl last night.  With her husband smiling down from Heaven, no doubt. 

I am not sure I believe that "time heals all wounds" or that "things get easier as time goes on."  I think we just get used to new normals.  Life goes on and we eventually find the strength to get on board the forward moving train.

My sweet friend has been so brave and strong during the most tragic period of her life.  Sending up prayers for a peaceful and love-filled season with sweet (and adorable!) baby E! 

I found two similar crockpot recipes recently but of course I didn't decide to make this until last night.  Not in my crockpot.  So this is my adaptation.  And it was gooooood!

CRAB CORN CHOWDAH

Ingredients:
* EVOO
* 1 medium onion, chopped
* 1 carrot, chopped (because that is what I had on hand)
* 1 teaspoon minced garlic
* 2-3 boxes of your favorite chicken broth
* 1 bag of frozen corn
* 1 can lump crab meat
* 1 can pink crab meat (bc again this is what I had in the house)
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1-2 cups half and half/cream/milk product of choice
* S and P to taste (I only needed to add pepper)
* Old Bay Seasoning to taste (I use it generously)
* avocado, sliced (optional)

Directions:
* Saute onion and carrot in a little EVOO.  I use my cast iron pot so I need only an tiny bit.  Cover and let veggies sweat until onion is translucent.
* Add garlic.
* Add chicken broth, corn and cans of crab, including any liquid in cans.
* Let simmer for a good long while.  I walked the dog and then went to vote.  So about an hour.  But a half hour min as the corn is frozen.
* Mix about a half cup of milk product with cornstarch until well blended and lump free.  Add this to the pot and add the remaining cream too.
* Add salt and pepper to taste.  You might not need any salt.  I didn't.  Add Old Bay to taste.  Use lots.  It's fabulous.
* Serve hot with a yummy salad.  Top with avocado if desired.  I forgot about the avocado but will use it tonight.

Dear Washington Post,

Big night in America, I know.  I'm a fan of watching election polls too.  But do you know what is super annoying?  Having you email me EVERY SINGLE TIME a new poll comes in.  How about you send me an email listing results instead of a separate email for each bloody individual result?  You're clogging up my inbox!  I am watching CNN and NBC so like everyone else in America, I am already reading the results.  There aren't even any big surprises tonight so far.  No need for 600 emails in one night.  OK?

Thanks,
KK



Dear News Media,

Quit referring to some Senate seats as "very prestigious."  I'm pretty sure our elected officials in what I assume you must deem "very ordinary and not at all prestigious" Senate seats feel they are just as important.  Unless one of them sits in a pink sparkle (ala Elle Woods) chair, they are all equal.

Especially yours,
KK



Dear North Dakota,

Why do you have someone running unopposed?  And how is it possible he didn't win 100% of the vote?  Does none of that strike you as really odd? 

Smiles,
KK



Dear CNN,

Sometimes more really is just more.  You have too many people on there tonight.  Next time let me pick.  I can edit boring out like nobody's business.

Best,
KK



Dear Orville Redenbacher and Swiss Miss with mini marshmallows,

Once again, y'all have completed my poll watching evening.  Mmmmm!

Cheers,
KK

Did you know that there was a real Uncle Sam?  He's a very big deal up here as my city claims to be "the home of Uncle Sam."  He's even buried here.  Or so they say. 





I LOVE LOVE LOVE voting!  I registered at the library when I turned 17 (do they still encourage you to register a year before your birthday?) and could not wait to vote for the first time.  Though the first time I voted in person (rather than absentee) was the 2004 election.  And what a wretched result that turned out to be- recovery has yet to be seen (from my porch swing anyway).  Though living in DC, I did have the perk of going to several Inauguration events.  Once in a lifetime.  Even if you loath the winner.  Constitutionally the same and truly an amazing experience.  And cold.  Like really really cold.  Because of a snowstorm.  And nearly everything takes place outside.  Why we don't do that in May is beyond me.  Burr!




But this year, other than a few candidates, I really am not focused on the winners.  I am far more excited to know that 24 hours from now the insane amount of campaign ads running all over the air waves will come to an end.  Red or blue, that is a reason for everyone to celebrate.  I am so over listening to people being mean to each other.  I am not at all convinced they really help people make decisions. 




So cheers to an end of super duper crazy negativity!  For a few months anyway...

I have not been able to access blogger on my blackberry in many months.  Once in a while I can convince it to publish ONE comment but more than that, it simply refuses.  Asking me to type in my name and password over and over and over until I either make it to the end of the Post Office line or just give up.  Forget about a blackberry written blog post.  Not that I ever really have a big need for that function.  But still, so super frustrating. 

Has anyone else had this issue?  How did you make your techno world right again?  I have clicked on everything I can think of to fix the situation but so far, no luck.  I googled and either didn't find what I needed or found info that was waaaay over my blonde head. 

Help!  Holiday season is officially upon us and lines are only going to get longer.  I'm sad to say that blackberry blog reading is one of the only things that keeps me sane.

It's a Halloween miracle.  I was tagged and I am actually remembering to do it.  I am always so flattered when people tag me but then I get sidetracked and forget to follow through.  Turning over a new fall leaf.  Thanks for the tag, Deviled Megs! 


What is your favorite desert?

Apple pie made by me, my estranged mother, or my aunt.  We use Crisco, about three times the normal amount of apples cut in very large slices, and would never be able to share the exact recipe as it is all done by intuition at this point.  I bake and don't measure.  I like to live on the wild side!  Now this pie is to be eaten alone or with fresh whipped cream.  Not with ice cream.  Because it gets soggy and that totally grosses me out.  But honestly the pie is at its peak on Christmas morning.  Cold.  For breakfast.  A tradition my daddy and I have shared together for as long as I can remember. 




Ever tried to cook something and fail miserably?

Who hasn't?!  My senior year of high school I took my one and only elective course that fit into my schedule, Home Ec.  And guess who burned the bottom of the rice?  Yours truly.  Probably because I was talking.  I've burned a few things like that when I got sidetracked.  But last year (and I think I forgot to blog about this actually) I was making jam and something else, that at the moment has escaped my memory.  At the same time.  I thought I had it all timed perfectly.  But clearly I did not.  I was doing something for the other recipe when the jam came to the hard boil.  Too fast.  Too hard.  Right over the edge of the pot.  Onto the flat top burner.  Where it proceeded to catch fire.  Like big flames!  House filling with smoke.  Smoke detectors blaring.  Dog barking.  Me panicking and freezing because I didn't know which way to turn.  Grabbed the pot and moved it off the burner.  Then proceeded to try to smother the fire with the damp dish rag in my hand.  Then ran to open doors to get the smoke out.  I sort of feel like this might have been winter-ish time too?  Then dealt with the smoke detectors that were still blaring to the high heavens.  And the dog just had to fend for herself.  OMG it was a disaster!  And mini flames kept popping up as the burnt sugar on the hot burner combined.  Oh and you all know how impossible those dang detectors are to turn off as they are screeching in your ear at the same time, while balancing on a chair and tippy toes.  I had burnt jam EVERYWHERE.  And non-burnt, non-jamming jam everywhere.  Because the fire wasn't enough, I had to take this disaster up another notch.  I thought I could salvage the remaining jam so I canned it.  Then remembering that I never added the pectin.  So I un-canned it, re-heated it, re-washed the jars, re-sterilized the jars, re-canned the jars.  And guess who was still stuck with several jars of un-jammed "sauce?"  So the next time you burn your toast, think of this story and feel proud that it's super easy to just pop two more slices in the toaster!
 
 
 
 
Is there a dish you haven't made yet that you would like to?

Lots!  I'll try just about anything once.  I'd love to have a reason to roast a leg of lamb.  It just seems like a special event kind of meal.  I'd love to learn how to make French macaroons.  I've never ever seen one in person - just recently on blogs.  But I am mesmerized and think they are the most magnificent little treasures of sweetness ever.  And gluten free to boot!  And if I ever live in a home with more garden space, I'd love to grow/can my own soups.
 
 
 
 
What is your favorite food?

I could never list just one.  Bagels are for sure on that list.  Plain, with chicken salad, with lox, and every way in between.  When I was a kid and my mother would ask me what I wanted to eat on my birthday, it was usually a combination of some of the following: Cornish hens, stuffed acorn squash, spanakopita, honey glazed carrots, and her apple pie.  Also on the favorite list would be nearly anything from the sea- lobstah, oysters on the half shell, crab of any variety, salmon, mahi.  And escargot in insane amounts of garlic butter.  Ooooh and fresh berries.  OMG this is precisely why I am fat!
 
 
 
 
What is your least favorite food?

Watermelon and cucumber.  Both make me gag at first sniff.  I am pretty sure I am allergic to cucumbers.  And am told that the English variety are not as harsh on tummies.  But at this point it is Pavlovian and just the smell- even in lotion form- makes me dry heave.  I love snails but not fresh cucumbers....how strange is that?  Oh but love a good dilly garlic pickle.  And love pickled watermelon rind.  Just not the fruit itself.  Oh and egg salad grosses me out too.  The look, smell and worst of all, that glop glop glop sound.  Ew!
 
 
 
 
Do you have any seasonal meals that you like?

I love anything seasonal.  Roasted chicken and root vegetables (carrots, beets, etc) are a favorite of mine this time of year.  I love soups when it's cold but would never touch them if not below 60.  I love love love tomato anything in the summer- salads and sandwiches.  They are both a favorite dinner. 
 
 
 
 
What is your comfort food?

I don't think I have one particular comfort food that I turn to.  But I have several things that I find comforting.  Soups on really cold nights.  Chicken pot pie.  Chocolate walnut brownies on a particularly trying week.  Sushi.  Chai or cocoa.  There is this little cafe in VT that makes moan-into-your-spoon-good creme brule bread pudding.  I've never used it as a comfort food but it's probably a good thing it's more than an hour drive from my home.  I could easily see it becoming my go to blue day problem solver. 
 
 
 
 
Chocolate: milk, dark, or white?

Swedish fish.  If I had to pick a chocolate it would be the Reese's PB Easter eggs.  Because they are about 97% peanut butter.  I am about to get my girl card taken away but.... I don't really like chocolate.  I don't hate it.  But outside of a brownie or hot cocoa, I can easily live without it.  Actually, gladly live without it.  So for candy, it's the gummy sugar crap.  Mmmm.  For non-candy treats, it's berry anything.  As much as I love apple pie, I don't love apple cobbler/crisp/tart/etc.  I'm a complicated woman, I know.  But berry anything and you have my devotion forever.  I'd take a pint of fresh raspberries over anything chocolate and seemingly fabulous. 
 
 
 
 
I tag anyone who wants to participate.  Just tell me so I can go read your fun answers too!