How in the World?

How in the world do I accumulate so much stuff? Well I have been sitting on call for 4 days now waiting to work. So I have been organizing- making my piles- ebay- goodwill- keep
I just dropped off 6 full bags boxes of stuff because I can't stand looking at it and I am still accumulating more things! As I was leaving my neighbor asked where I was going and I told her goodwill she asks me if I can drop off some of her stuff too that she has been putting off taking. Sure why not? So we throw her bags in the front seat and as I am driving I notice a really cute baby gap sweater size 3T on the top. Well still too big for Drew but he will be ready for it next year. Well then I pull over to look at the goodies- I notice some cute dresses from Express that still have the tags on them not my size but the ebay seller in me kicks in. So I ended up bringing half of her stuff back with me- some things for Drew next year, some things to sell and a couple of sweaters for me( hey its cold here) So hmmm maybe this is part of my problem. Same thing happened on my last goodwill trip. My other neighbor and I had a garage sale so I loaded up what was left of my stuff and told her I still had space in my car- she brings out boot loads of toys which of course I have to go through and sell - keep - give away- I did end up making $120 bucks on the stuff that I sold ( which I split with her) . So is it really that wrong to hoard? Even though I fully believe I am not a pack rat (my husband thinks I am but he has never seen a real pack rat- I have) I guess I better get busy on my ebay stuffThis is my ebay stuff- I haven't finished going through all the closets either...........it will be twice as much by the end of the day

Skating

1. We went skating tonight with Carol and Wade and a couple of our neighbors.
2. We used to go every week but we have been slacking on our weekly outing for a while now. Hopefully we can get back on it.
   

Derek crashing

Woo Hoo I finally won something!

I won a raffle! I am so excited I never win anything!
4 frontrow tickets to a Minnesota Wild game woo hoo!

Recipes Week 2

Well its getting cold here in Minnesota. I like to break out the crock pot and make comfort food.
This is a fave

Chicken And Dumplings

2 cups cooked chicken
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of mushroom soup, undiluted
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
2 soup cans water
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons chicken bouillon granules
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 can refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (8 biscuits)

Mix all ingredients, except biscuits in slow cooker

Cut biscuits into quarters and gently stir into mixture.

Cover and cook on LOW 4 to 6 hours.

Here is a favorite Dessert for Birthday partys - you got to try its delicious and no one will believe that its made of ice cream sandwiches. My mom has made this for all of Drew's birthdays and its a huge hit!

Ice Cream Sandwich cake

1/2 cup hot fudge ice cream topping, warmed

1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed, divided

1 pkg. (4-serving size) JELL-O Chocolate Instant Pudding

8 OREO Cookies, chopped (about 1 cup)

12 vanilla ice cream sandwiches, unwrapped

Make It

POUR fudge topping into medium bowl. Add 1 cup of the whipped topping; stir with wire whisk until well blended. Add dry pudding mix; stir 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in chopped cookies; set aside.

ARRANGE 4 of the ice cream sandwiches, side-by-side, on 24-inch-long piece of foil; top with half of the whipped topping mixture. Repeat layers. Top with remaining 4 ice cream sandwiches. Frost top and sides of dessert with remaining whipped topping. Bring up foil sides. Double fold top and ends to loosely seal packet.

FREEZE at least 4 hours before serving. Store leftover dessert in freezer.

Nickelodeon Park - MOA

Northwest had a employee appreciation weekend at the Mall of America and was giving out free wrist bands so Me and the kids and our friend Jackie and her 3 kids went to the park. I forgot my camera so only had my camera phone so most of the pics didn't come out but heres a few to share.

Recipe Week 1

I decided to post a favorite recipe once a week. The older I get the more I like to try to make new things. I do like to cook things that are quick and easy though. Post one of your favorite recipes!
I have already shared this with a few people already but I just made it again and its awesome- My kids love it.

Garlic Brown Sugar Chicken

Ingredients

Brown Sugar, 4 tsp unpacked Chicken Breast, no skin, 12 ounces Garlic, 1 clove Butter, salted, 2 tbsp Salt, 1 tsp Pepper, black, 1 dash

Directions

This makes four servings, 3 oz per person
1. Melt the butter in a frying pan
2. Brown the garlic in the butter
3. Add chicken breasts to garlic and butter and cook thoroughly, adding salt and pepper as you like it.
4. When chicken is fully cooked add brown sugar on top of each breast
5. Allow the brown sugar to melt into the chicken (about 5 minutes)

Number of Servings: 4
Serve with veggies- YUM YUM

and for Dessert

Espresso Brownies
I got this from Giada from the food network. I took these to a jewelry party- super easy- the girls devoured them in 5 minutes probably not great for the kids but the adults likey.

Espresso Brownies

Directions

Nonstick vegetable oil cooking spray
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons espresso powder
1 (19.8-ounce) box brownie mix (recommended: Duncan Hines)
3/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Whisk 1/3 cup of water, oil, eggs, and 2 tablespoons
espresso powder in a large bowl to blend. Add the brownie mix. Stir until well blended. Stir in the chocolate
chips. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of the
brownies comes out with a few moist crumbs attached, about 35 minutes. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, dissolve the remaining 2 teaspoons of espresso powder in the remaining 2 tablespoons of water in a
medium bowl. Whisk in the vanilla. Add the powdered sugar and butter and whisk until smooth. Pour the glaze
over the brownies. Refrigerate until the glaze is set. Cut into bite-size pieces. Arrange the brownies on a
platter and serve.

Snow

Well yesterday morning we woke up to snow. It's the 3rd snow already but this time it actually stuck on the ground for a little while. Derek made a mini snowman when he got home from school. We didn't have raisins for the eyes so we used M&M's from Halloween.