Good morning, Ladies! (and gentlemen, if there any of you read my blog?!?)

I've been meaning to blog for awhile now and even have some pictures on my camera to share with you. But I have seriously been so swamped with work that I really can't justify spending any time blogging. (as for Pinterest and Facebook - that's a whole nother story...)

But I read the Choice Gleanings calendar for today and just enjoyed it so much I thought I would pass it on.


"Delight thyself also in the Lord; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4

"Every dawn is a new morning and a fresh start. It can be a day to please ourselves or to please our Father in heaven. If a child chooses to please his earthly father, he finds a reward of happiness. When our hearts are willing to obey our heavenly Father, we too will enjoy a close and sweet communion with our blessed Lord. May we make today a day to please Him." E. MacLelland

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole

So those of you that know me should know that if I'm posting a recipe, it's gotta be good. And I promise you - this is GOOD.

This is a recipe I found on Pinterest and made it yesterday along with turkey, veggies, etc. Both Hal and I, every time we took a bite, would just stop and stare at each other and say, "I can't believe how good this is."

Enough of the build-up. Here it is:

Loaded Mashed Potato Casserole:

5 1/2 cups mashed potatoes (around 6-7 large baking potatoes)

1/2 cup milk

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream

2 teaspoons dried parsley

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

8 slices bacon crispy cooked and crumbled

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Peel, quarter, and boil potatoes for 15-20 minutes or until soft. Drain potatoes and and beat with a mixer until smooth. Add milk, cream cheese, sour cream, parsley, garlic salt, and nutmeg. Beat at a medium-high speed until nice and creamy. Add salt to taste keeping in mind that the cheese and bacon will add a little salt later.Spoon into a 9x13 baking dish that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Top with cheddar cheese and bacon. Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese melts.

Serves 12 people. (and I made it for 2 - ha!)

Winter Solstice

So when I got to work this morning, my judge announced that today is the shortest day of the year. It's winter solstice. How depressing, right? WRONG. I was actually pretty excited. Because to me it means one thing...........the days are starting to get longer!!!!!!

Not that we've had an awful winter or anything.....or that winter has actually even started for that matter. But it just got me kinda excited. So I thought I'd pass it on!

Merry Christmas, everyone!

ps - winter solstice always reminds me of my Grandpa Keith, my only grandpa I never met. he married my grandma on this day because it's the longest night of the year. :) that man was thinking!!! hehe.

December Desktop

It's December 1st. I've been looking forward to this day for one reason, and one reason only - I get to download a new calendar desktop for my computer. Yes, I agree, I'm a nerd. Smashing Magazine has some really cute ones this month.

Here is the one that I chose for now:

And here is the one that I will probably change it to sometime closer to Christmas (only because I couldn't pick just one.):

Little Project...

So I've completed my first "major" project in my new house. There have been other major projects completed, but not by me. My amazing dad has replaced my front door (a PAINFUL all-day project) and installed a new garage door opener. And he's not necessarily a Mr. Fix-it either, but he loves me. And he's done an awesome job! I am so grateful! Thanks, Dad!!

Okay, back to my project. I decided to paint my downstairs bathroom. Every room in my house is the same camel color. So I thought I'd spice things up a bit, and I've forever wanted to paint a room gray. So here it is. Before, during and after. Whattya think?

November Desktop Calendars

I recently stumbled across this site, smashing magazine, that has awesome desktop calendars for free download. There's a ton of options for each month. I found it in the middle of October and didn't feel like changing it in the middle of the month. So I couldn't wait until November to change my desktop.

I'm a dork, so it's so exciting to turn on my computer every morning and see this pretty picture and have a calendar right on my desktop.

Plus if you can't decide on which one you like best, why not change it up a couple times throughout the month! There's some good ones on for November, so I might be making a switch in a couple weeks.

Quick Road Trip

As promised, here's the update on our weekend in Fargo. Hal and I stayed Friday night with Jared, Jill and the kiddos, although Eddie and Nolan were convinced it was Darby and not Hal. I guess they look similar? After Jill ditched us for her pillow (which was, what, 8:00?), the girls and I played a game of scrabble and made bead necklaces and bracelets until the wee hours of the morning. It was so much fun!

On Saturday morning, Carly, Alyssa and I headed out to the chicken coop to collect us some eggs. It was a little dangerous since they have a killer rooster on their hands. Seriously. But no worries because Carly brought the super soaker.

We managed to get our eggs without anybody getting hurt. After a late french toast breakfast, the girls and I got our work clothes on and headed back out to that chicken coop to give it a good cleaning. After chores, we had a nice relaxing afternoon of playing on haybales watching the trains go by, walking through the cow pasture, exploring down by the lake, getting covered in those prickly things (cockleburrs? - i have no idea. been too long since i've been in the country), jumping on the trampoline and just having a good time playing, laughing and enjoying the beautiful fall weather. I played with the kids, and Hal bonded with Diesel (their bulldog). I'm not sure who had more fun! He wants a dog SO bad. And Diesel loved Hal!

We then said goodbye and headed into Fargo to meet Jalon and Katie at the Fargodome for the NDSU v. Missouri State football game. We both had a blast and the weekend went way too fast. Hopefully we'll be able to make it back up sometime this winter.

Thanks, Jill, for letting us stay and do your chores!! And thanks, Katie and Jalon, for joining us at the game. It was great to see you all again and hang out!