Month: August 2011

Categories
Everything Else Food

Hurricane Party Girls Night In

Fourteen women, old friends, new friends, all online to now in real life friends. We said Hurricane Irene be damned & gathered anyways. For food, drinks, lots of laughs, hugs, stories, shellac manicures & much needed girl time. Hurricane Girls Night

I didn’t take as many photos as normal. Once the big guns aka professional cameras were pulled out by Jenn, Spoe & EB, my lil DSLR got intimidated & sat unused for the rest of the night. Brandy, Marie, BA & I still practiced & played around with ideas & EB’s awesome new lens.

That &/or I was too busy drinking & talking & getting my nails Shellac’d by EB to take photos. You pick the reason!

After a short night on an air mattress with the Mrs, I awoke to eat the heck out of Jenn’s boy bait, my honey bun cake & then EB’s potatoes. We also passed K’s Nolan all around & laughed out loud at BA’s Harrison signing “more” & “more” for K’s Gigi cupcake! Hurricane Irene Girls Night

I can’t think of a better way to spend a hurricane Saturday night. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting together with these fabulous friends again soon!

Categories
Food

Honey Bun Cake

Some people clean during a hurricane, some nap, some watch news incessantly, & some brave the wind/rain to shop {Brandy!}. I cook. First thing Saturday morning I made Jason these blueberry muffins. So glad I remembered I had this recipe as they were easy & pretty yummy.

How is this recipe below not already a blog post?! This cake is the first one I ever made for my coworkers back in 2004. It’s made appearances at brunches, early morning football tailgates, & my holiday dessert spread ever since Mom passed on the recipe years ago. Part coffee cake, part yellow cake, all sweet deliciousness.

When we decided to do the Raleigh version of the girls night, I knew exactly what I’d bring. Spinach & artichoke squares for Saturday night & this Honey Bun cake for late night dessert & brunch.

This is yet another recipe where you doctor your favorite boxed yellow cake {my favorite’s whatever is on sale}.

Batter Ingredients:
1 box yellow cake mix
1/2 c sugar
3/4 c vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 c sour cream

Mix the above together & placed 1/2 of the batter in a greased 9×13 pan.

In separate smaller bowl, mix 1 c brown sugar & 2 teaspoons cinnamon.

Place half of this brown sugar mixture on top of the batter & swirl.

Layer the second half of the batter on top then sprinkle & swirl the rest of the brown sugar/cinnamon.

Bake on 300 for an hour. Enjoy {as you can see from the bottom right photo, we did}!

Categories
Photography

Weekly Photos ~ Project 365

Thirty three weeks into Project 365 & still photographing away. My new HTC Sensation has an awesome 8mb camera, so a bunch of these photos were taken with it {thanks again HTC}.

Day 232: After the baby shower, I headed to Sarah’s to celebrate her L’s second birthday. Of course, I didn’t get a photo of L but I did take a ton of Jenny‘s three 9 month olds!

Day 233: Sunday my grandfather showed me the damage done to his vehicle after a small bump up in the parking lot by his condo. The damage to his Buick doesn’t look so “small” huh? {luckily no one was hurt, annoyingly they were unable to determine fault at the scene}. Buick Crash

Day 234: Monday I wore the new Loft Outlet dress & matching tank purchased on a quick stop during my drive back Sunday. It’s definitely a new favorite.

Day 235: I chatted with Carole from ShopAtHome.com after work Tuesday to get me ready to go. {Have you see the Victoria’s Secret WILD deal today ~ 6% cash back & 20% jeans?} Afterwards, I walked into the den to see Moekitty chillin’ on his most-loved toy. Too cute, right? MoeKitty & Wubba

Day 236: Wednesday was a super busy day of work. Came home & chilled & no photo taken.

Day 237: I took this photo with my cell on the way to pick up take out. What’s the sailor’s saying, pink sky at night, sailor’s delight? I think it was the calm before Irene’s arrival. Thursday Sky

Day 238: I might’ve posted something kind of sad for Infertile Friday, but I was super happy when I opened the box of 3M goodies Friday night! That Filtrete pitcher was cleaned, filled & in our frig within five minutes.

I’m now a ShopAtHome.com‘s VIB, but I’d love them & you even if I wasn’t making pennies when you visited my links.
3M provided the swag box as a result of me meeting them at BlogHer. My honest, unbiased opinions of the products are mine, all mine.

Categories
Trying To Conceive

Glass Half Empty

I was told by one of my colleagues the other week that he felt like I saw things in a “glass half empty” way. I was shocked, but I was able to laugh it off at the moment explaining that, as someone who accesses risk, I had to monitor & weigh the bad along with the good.

But he got me thinking {clearly since two weeks later that comment’s still on my mind}. I’ve changed in the last year or so {22 cycles to be specific}. I’m not longer the happy-go-lucky girl who believed all the best.

I try to force myself into thinking postively. But now it’s a little forced instead of being my natural reaction. No longer do I believe that if you want something, it’ll happen & quickly.

I’m more cynical. I catch myself throwing out debby downer comments. I scoff under-my-breath at work as coworkers complain about their un-planned children. This was not the norm for the Suz of a year or so ago. I miss her but yet feel like I have to come to terms with the current me. The one that’s trying to kick infertility’s ass. That’s no longer intimidated by doctors, blood {ok still a little with blood} or injections.

Maybe I am no longer a half-full person. Infertility has me half-empty, but I’m trying to fill back up.

I’m considering this my second Infertile Friday. Feel free to leave a comment with a link to your own infertile thoughts/vent/update post. Or leave a comment supporting those of us battling that infertile beast.

Categories
Everything Else

Welcome to ShopAtHome.Com

I met Carole from ShopAtHome.com while in San Diego {she had a penthouse suite at the Hard Rock Hotel & we enjoyed champagne over shopping chats}.

After showing me the deals available at ShopAtHome.com, I couldn’t wait to sign up & share the best of the deals with y’all. If you’re new to ShopAtHome.com, it’s free to register & you get $5 credit with your first purchase. You don’t have to download the toolbar, but it is helpful to get the best coupon deals.

Here’s a few of the current WILD ones. 20% cash back for petmeds. I’m hoping they sell Moe’s food so I can stock up. 12% cash back at DSW if new fall boots are calling your name.

This deal *might* be sold out, so go quick & look, but free {yep FREE} flip flops from JCPenney.

My favorite of their weekly deal is 30% off Old Navy {with code THANKS} & 3% cash back from ShopAtHome.com. I love ON for stocking up on basics: tanks, tops, scarves. This deals perfectly in time for their new fall stuff too.

ShopAtHome.com is also a great place to find Target coupons & they’re doing 6% cash back until 8/29/11! Hello new fall shoes, find your new home with me!

I’m still learning the ends & outs of this website. But I’ll try to give y’all a heads up if I see any great deals while not bugging y’all about it too much.

Disclosure: I am a member of ShopAtHome.com‘s VIB affiliate program & will make pennies for your clicks. But I sincerely love deals & ShopAtHome.com, those opinions no one can buy.