Day 172: Venus Fly Trap

This past fall, Ash and I bought this Venus Fly Trap at Kroger.  It was a total impulse buy, but it's pretty cool.  I was going to take a picture of it back then, but forgot.  Since I didn't have anything interesting to take a picture of today, I decided to do the fly trap.

Day 171: The Boys

Day 170: Term Papers

This is where I spent most of the day... working on an eight-page paper and a five-page paper.

Day 169: Phase 10

It was easier to teach Dan to play Phase 10 than it was for me to try to teach him Skip-Bo, so that's what we played.  ":)  Generally, Phase 10 is not my favorite game to play, but after a beer or two, it's pretty fun.

Day 168: Snow

The first real snow, although not sure how "real" it is, since it didn't last long.  So, I guess it's the first photographed snow of the season.  Today was nasty cold and super windy.

Day 167: Thanksgiving

I am thankful for my friends and my family, my Godbabies and my pets. I am thankful that I have a car to drive and a roof over my head. I am thankful that I can afford to go to school and that I have a job that allows me to do so. I am thankful for my happiness and my health. Happy Thanksgiving!

Day 166: Ed's Birthday

We [Mom, Dad, Ed, and I] went to China Palace for Ed's birthday.

Day 165: Zippy

I didn't know what I was going to take a picture of and then I looked over at Zippy and he looked like he was showing off, so I took his picture.  This photo (aside from being cropped) is not touched up in anyway.  He's just naturally that bright and pretty.

Day 164: Term Papers

Using Ashley's desk to work on homework.  (My desk is covered with stuff.)

Day 163: Lily's Birthday Party

I made this tutu for Lily's second birthday.  She loved it.  Of course, I couldn't wrap it, so I just carried it into the house.  I handed her the tiara (which says "Happy Birthday" on it) and Sarah put it on her.  Then she just stared at the tutu in my hand.  When I asked her if she wanted to wear it, she immediately said yes.

Day 162: Lily's Dress

I went shopping for birthday presents for Lily.  I wanted to get her dress up clothes, but the dress up clothes at both Meijer and Target were cheaply made and ridiculous expensive.  So, I decided to make her something.  I was up until 2:00 in the morning making this and a tutu.

Day 161: Gallery Art

The Court Street Gallery is displaying art by Delta College students, and Dennis has two photography pieces on display (and for sale).  His are the two bottom photos.

Day 160: First Night

Me and the boys hanging out on our first night alone.

Day 159: Last Night

Zippy Morocco and Rodney getting to know each other, while Rodney makes himself comfy on Ashley's shoulders.

Day 158: Zippy Morocco

My new pet: Zippy Morocco.  He was a little pissed at me when I removed him from the little cup he came in, but I'm sure he'll get used to his new home in no time.

Day 157: Christmas Eve Pillowcase

When we were growing up, Ashley and I shared a bedroom (until I was in high school) and Ed had his own room.  However, we had a tradition that on Christmas Eve we would all sleep in the same room and talk and giggle and act like children (even when we were no longer children).  When Ashley moved to Texas, we could no longer do that.  So, she made each of us a pillowcase so that even though we weren't sleeping in the same room, we some sort of connection.  Ed and I thought it was so cool that we insisted she had to make new ones every year.  And so (this is like year 6 or 8 or something) she has made us new Christmas pillow cases every year.  She gave them to us early this year since she will be in Texas for Christmas Eve.

Day 156: Going Away Party

We went to Buffalo Wild Wings for a mini-going away party for Ashley since she is leaving this week for a travel assignment.  The night turned out great, though it had a rough start for me.  First, they didn't have Blue Moon beer—I ALWAYS have Blue Moon with wings.  So, then I picked Budweiser Golden Wheat.  Yeah, they didn't have that either.  So, I settled for Bud Light to go with my wings and coleslaw.  Except they were out of coleslaw too.  Still it was a good time.  I totally kicked butt on the trivia game.  [Click on the photo to make it larger.]

Day 155: Family Dinner

Day 154: Logans

Went to Logan's for dinner with Fred, Amy, and Marc.  The rolls were fabulous as always.  [This pic was taken with my new Camaro phone.]

Day 153: Tortellini with Pancetta

I just kinda made this up as I went.  I boiled three-cheese tortellini.  While that was cooking, I fried a 3 ounce package of Pancetta.  After the Pancetta was cooked, I removed them to a paper towel to absorb the grease.  I poured some Riesling in the skillet and reduced it by half.  Then I added some heavy cream and dried parsley.  I broke the Pancetta into bite-sized pieces and put it back in the skillet, then added the tortellini.  It turned out pretty yummy.

Day 152: The Ravine

My new phone reminds me of a 2010 Camaro.  I already loaded it with ring tones.  Now I just need to test out the camera on it.

Day 151: 10:21 Bedtime

This is what my room looked like after I went to bed because I was so tired I couldn't even read my book.

Day 150: November Flowers

It's November and while the Marigolds have kicked the bucket, these "stock" flowers are still going strong.  I think I paid less than $2 for the plant...  Yay for it being November and still we don't have snow!

Day 149: Pops and the Dogs

Dad (or Pops to the boys) petting Toby and playing tug-o-war with Rodney.

Day 148: Movies

Ashley, Dennis, and I went to Marc's to have a Robert Downey Jr. mini-marathon.  We watched Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Iron Man 2.  Both were excellent movies.  In fact, they were so good that I barely did any writing on my NaNoWriMo story.

Day 147: Tug-o-war

Day 146: Mexican Chicken

Mexican Chicken Recipe
Chicken breasts
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 tsp garlic powder
Jar of cooked tomatoes (or store bought canned tomatoes)
Chopped onion
Frozen corn
Sour cream

1. Preheat oven to 350˚F.
2. In a flat baking dish, combine taco seasoning and garlic powder. Place chicken in pan, coat with mixture.
3. Remove chicken, spray dish with Pam. Place chicken back in pan, cover with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
4. Add tomatoes and onion to tops of chicken and some juice to pan. Bake 15 minutes.
5. Check to make sure there is enough fluid, add frozen corn, and bake an additional 10 minutes.
6. Serve with sour cream.

Day 145: Photo Album

I put together a photo book of my trip to Washington D.C. and the album arrived.  It looks great.

Day 144: NaNoWriMo Day 2

Day 143: The Bully

I had dinner at the Boulevard to catch up with friends.