Fun and Games

as stressful and challenging as my job can be...sometimes...it all breaks down to just some good old fashioned fun!

Every year my company hosts a United Way Carnival...all proceeds raised at the Carnival go directly to the United Way.  The Carnival is one of those events...that no matter what...you WANT to be at work that day  for (even when you have worked yourself ragged as part of the UW prep team...and thankfully I am not one of those people!).

The most anticipated parts of the Carnival...the site-wide COOK-OFF!!!  Teams from different groups within the company form up...decide on their menu...and the morning of the cook off...let the GAMES begin!  (actually let the competition begin...it is VERY fierce!).  Here is an early morning pic of 8 of the 12 teams getting set up and running:

I'm part of the OPS/Training team and here is our booth this year:

We had an excellent addition to the team this year...his marinade for our Chicken and Shrimp skewers was to die for!  Here he is peeling shrimp while another team member skewers the chicken:

and here is some of the other most fabulous members of the team (from left to right: Queen Decorator, Grand Duchess of Sales, and the Marinade King.  I was taking the pic so I'm not in it...but I do refer to myself as the Mistress of the Grill):

oh...besides the food, we do have some fun games set up...like the Royal Flush...here is our Team Handyman facing down the Director of our department:

and here is the director after getting soaked! (not the last time either!):

and even better...this year...the OPS/Training team...took home the title of: Top DOG!  Our food was the overwhelming pick of the food judges!  WOOHOO!  (planning has already begun for next year's menu!  We have a title to defend now!)

Here's hoping you have an absolutely FABULOUS day!  (I know mine was!)

Sometimes...my a## is fat

Sometimes...

• you get tired
• life gets in the way of having fun
• you don't understand the decisions people make
• you get tired
• you get bored
• others decide for you what is going to happen next (a.k.a CHILDREN!)
• you dwell upon things you wish you did not
• you get tired
• you re-prioritize and things get left off the list
• you grow up and realize reality is harsh
• you just don't know what to do

and sometimes...you get just plain TIRED!  

such is life...it is a many splendored thing!  sometimes good things happen and you don't even try...sometimes bad things happen...and you weren't even PMSing that week! (I know I am not alone in this!!!!).  And sometimes...things just happen for a reason...and those are the hardest to accept...but the ones most right for you.

This part will concern only one person...who cares if I dreamt you said my a## was fat?  (some days it is...and that REALLY sucks) the TRUTH is...you chose to believe and rely in people you met only through social networking, knew very little about them to TRUST...and not much (if any) face to face...and threw away 11 years of friendship...actually...sistership (maybe that should be sisterhood...who knows).  That was your choice.  Did it hurt me...yes.  But that was your choice...I cannot be responsible for your choice...so own it.  Does it suck...sometimes...but I have grown...have some amazing friends...and I am ok.  I miss the "sister" I used to have...but have realized quite a few things.  That person didn't care about our relationship, otherwise...well...we'd still be friends.  Don't think I'm bitter...actually...I'm ok...a bit sad sometimes...but ok.  I still think you are a good person...think you WERE a great friend...but think if you truly cared about those 11 years...well...would we be here now?  Anywho...my email addy is the same...phone # might be (switched carriers...no idea anymore what # you used to have)...but if you want to talk...hell...why not...we were once sisters (ish).

to everyone else...sorry didn't mean to blab so much to just one person...but hey...SOMETIMES...it's what you got to do....

Later!

FF#90...let's all head BACK TO SCHOOL!

Happy Friday!  I don't know about you, but I'm THRILLED the weekend is here!  And a LONG weekend at that!  Even better...my Mommy is coming to visit me tomorrow (yes...I'm in my 30's and I still refer to my Mother as Mommy (and sometimes MU-THER!)).  But before tomorrow arrives...it's time to share the new Fashionista Friday challenge with you!  For this challenge...we have chosen the theme BACK TO SCHOOL!  And my card...well...my kiddo totally inspired it!  We've been having a lot of conversations lately about what is "cool" and what is "so not cool."  I apparently follow into the latter category...so here is my child inspired card:

But wait...not only is it a brand new challenge, it's a SPONSORED challenge!  Whiff of Joy stamps has a fab prize available to one randomly selected entry in the FF#90 challenge!  So head on over and share your art!

Ingredients: Paper - Stampin Up; Cardstock - Papertrey Ink and American Crafts; Image - MJ Henry by Whiff of Joy stamps; Ink - Copic; Glitter - CTMH

Just Peachy...Part Two

ok...so we left off from Part One with our Peach Stores looking like this:

So we decided to make some Barbecue Sauce...Zesty PEACH Barbecue Sauce!  And this is where I realized how much the mind overestimates quantities.  Started out getting the peaches peeled and pitted and then into the food processor to get a fine chop on them:

That's about 2-3 peaches...and once chopped up...it was a good 1/3 of what I needed for the recipe...definitely not going to use near as many peaches as I thought to get this sauce made!

And then they went into the pot with some other veggies and garlic to get the base of the sauce going:

Got it all cooked down and it was time to can:

And after processing...I now have 7 lovely jars of sauce!

and after a batch of Peach Butter and now a batch of Sauce....here is what the peaches remaining looks like:

Egads!  It almost looks like we haven't touched them!  Off to get to work on the next!  See you later for Part 3!

Zesty Peach barbecue Sauce Recipe from Ball Complete Book of Home Preserving

Just Peachy...Part One

Hope ya'll have had a great weekend...and I sincerely hope those of you affected by Hurricane Irene are doing well this morning!

Just wanted to share with you a hobby I recently picked up...not sure if it's actually a "hobby"...but that title will have to do for now!  A few weeks ago I decided to try my hand at canning (you know...food??).  Not sure where the motivation came from exactly...but I wanted to give it a go...and let me tell you...I really enjoy the whole process!  And it's getting me out and about a little more...spent the past two weekends visiting the Farmer's Market perusing all the lovely fresh, local produce!  It's led to a few weekends worth of canning, but lots of goodies to enjoy both know and later!

This weekend we picked up some peaches:

(quite a bit of peaches huh?  more on that later).

We got home and quickly got to work on a batch of Peach Butter...thankfully hubby is very helpful in the kitchen peeling and fetching and such...here is the Peach Butter in the early stages:

(YUM!)

and an hour or two and a trip through the food processor later:

and it went back on the stove for another 45 minutes or so...

and now...

TA-DA!  (and there are actually like 7 jars of peach butter...I didn't do all that work for just 1 jar!  LOL!)

and now back to this pic:

that's how many peaches are left over AFTER the batch of Peach Butter was made!  So we will be canning a bit more stuff today...I'll share those with you in Part Two!

Peach Butter Recipe from Well Preserved : Third Edition: Small Batch Preserving for the New Cook by Mary Anne Dragan

FF#89...Welcome to the JUNGLE!

Happy Friday!  Life has taken a few interesting turns this week...but thankfully silly season has just about ended...well it has actually come to an end...all that's left is the post-silly season clean up and closeout...that...is not going to be fun!  OH WELL!  I'm just so happy we've moved into the post-season!  Anywho!  Post today is to share my sample for this week's Fashionista Friday (FF#89) challenge...and this week we've gone wild...with a JUNGLE theme!  Here is my card:

It came together quick and easy (and yes...I know the twine is crooked...but...it's TWINE!  does not lend itself to easy adherance!).  heehee!

Have a great Friday evening!

Supplies: Image and sentiment - Close to My Heart; paper - Papertrey Ink; Cardstock - papertrey Ink; Ink - Ranger Archival in Coffee, Copic; Twine - The Twinery

FF#88...shades of GREEN!

So, it's been awhile since I posted something creative...and man it feels good to be doing so!  Doing much better than I was a week or so ago.  Life is good!

Today's post is to let you know about this week's Fashionista Friday challenge at the Shoe!  For FF#88...we want to see your Green!  For this challenge we also have a sponsor, Layers of Color.  I was lucky this week to be able to play with their Silk Moth image.  Let me tell you...GORGEOUS!  Here is what I created:

Had a lot of fun digging out the inks and some grunge...and playing with some Clearly for Art!  Off to get creative with the sewing machine!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Supplies: Base - grungebook; Image - Layers of Color Silk Moth; Clearly for Art; alphas - Maya Road; Distress ink - Broken China, Shabby Shutters, Rusty Hinge, Tumbled Glass, Brushed Corduroy; Distress Stains - Peeled Paint, Broken China, Vintage Photo; Adirondack Paint Dabber - Gold; Pearfect Pearls Mists - Heirloom Gold; bling and flowers - Prima