♫ I Hoped You Were Coming, So I Baked a Cake ♫

Posted on July 27, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Last night as I was laughing at some of the funny comments on my blog, it really made me think long and hard about you. No need turn around and look behind you, because yes, I am talking about YOU.  You,  looking at this screen on your laptop or phone or whatever fun electronic device you might have access to today.  A few months ago, I didn’t even know you, or you me. And now you are in my every day conversations. Like, “Oh I hope Maggie is having a great time in Jersey” and “Bonnie and her family are getting r & r this week.” And ” I hope Carri is doing better” and Christi and Joanna and Shasta and Naomi and Valerie and Jeannette and Rob.  So many more, you know who you are! ♥

Oh, I didn’t forget you, Aunt Betty, and sister Renae and Dad/Mom and Debbie and John and Hubby and Harold and Dottie and Delores and Dara and Darla and Mary…..oh Mary….. many of you that I have known for years and that have graciously followed my little blog journey.  But maybe you know a bit more about me?  Maybe more than you should! 🙂

This is my awkward way of attempting to say, “Thank you“.  The blog has been on my bucket list for a while now.  You have each enriched my experience in this continued learning process by allowing me to share a lot of “whatevers” in cyber space.  I am forever grateful.

To show you how honored I am to know you, (and I DO feel honored!) I baked you a cake! Just hoping you would show up today to indulge in its excessive creamy calories!Cookies and Cream “Poke” Cake

Whip up and bake a chocolate cake mix.

A couple of minutes before it is finished baking, mix up a box of Jello’s Cookies and Cream Pudding.  If you want it EXTRA creamy, you can do two boxes. (I used non-fat organic milk, I know, boring, huh?)

Once you pull the cake out of the oven, poke large holes through out the cake.  Next, pour the prepared pudding mix over the cake so that it can seep down into the holes.  Let it set out at  room temp for a little while to allow it to soak through the cake a bit. Then refrigerate it for an hour or so to let it set up.  Top it with crunched up Oreo cookies.  Do not eat ANY of the cookies while doing this.  Every cookie is needed on top of that cake! 🙂  Cover and refrigerate. (for this and many more great & easy cake ideas, check out, The Country Cook!)

And just so ya know, since you couldn’t all be here for the cake, I took it to hubby’s work and they helped you eat it.

Again, a sincere thanks to each of you.  If you don’t have a blog, but have thought about it, just do it.  There are new friends and fun experiences just waiting for you….

HaPPy FRIDAY!  And be nice to people.  You never know what they may be going through♥

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

Thoughts on Fiber One – 90 Calories

Posted on July 25, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

My youngest son was telling me about the Fiber One 90 calorie bars the other day.  He said he eats them on his way to work.  He  highly recommended the chocolate, caramel & pretzel variety, claiming it was as good as a Snickers candy bar.  Well THAT got my attention.  A ninety calorie Snickers bar? Gotta try it!

So yesterday, I bought a couple of boxes of Fiber One Bars.  I hadn’t yet had lunch and the fermented peach yogurt I’d had for breakfast was still on my mind. and taste buds I opened the box as soon as I got in the car, unwrapped the new delight with great expectations, and guess what?  It was delicious!  I called my sister and told her about this heavenly 90 calorie treat.  I think I even sent her a picture of the box, as she was in route to the grocery store.

I spoke with my sister a few minutes ago.  She said, “Fiber One?” me, “Yes”.  Her ~ “They taste like cardboard! And they were $3.99 a box.”  I was certain she had picked up the wrong kind.  “Pretzels? Chocolate? Caramel?” “Yes”.  Well, Bummer.

I just left my pantry and pulled out another bar for lunch.  It now taste like cardboard.  Thanks, Renae.  You are also the reason I quit eating the fat off of the liverwurst when I was three.  Hmmmm?  Maybe I should listen to my sister?   🙂 the power of suggestion

p.s.  Don’t tell hubby.  I convinced him this morning that they taste like candy bars.  😉

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 35 Comments

Duck Tales ~

Posted on July 24, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

HaPPy Tuesday, friends 🙂

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 28 Comments

The Cross

Posted on July 23, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

As I was cleaning the house the other day, I picked up my cross necklace to put it away and my little Sugar dog was very interested.  She needed to sniff it.  I held it down to her and said, “It’s just a necklace.” yes, I DO talk to our dogs!  Then I began to think about what the cross represents to me.  It’s symbolism has changed over the years.  I think growing up, it was all about “the church” and “the people” of the church.  Being expected to do whatever was asked of you. 

Now I look at this cross.  It represents so much more than it used to.  It is about my faith.  My belief in my God. My independence.  My heart being lead to help those in need  has nothing to do with “the church”.

When I think of the church, I think of religion.  This is not a revered word to my lips.  In the name of “religion”, countries fight countries; men kill men; brothers fight brothers.  Yet it is history.  It is our present.  One can try to escape it, but there seems to be no denying it exists.

So I study my little black and silver cross and all it represents to me.  Prayer. Pain. Sacrifice.  Gratefulness.  Hope.  Peace.

Thank you, my little Sugar dog, for this reminder of His love. You are right, it is more than just a necklace ~

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Posted on July 22, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Thoughts from my friend, today. Thanks, Bonnie ~

Bonnie's avatarBonsEye

I went to church four times last week, but I never stepped into a church. How did I do that?

No, it’s not one of those logic riddles where the answer is some obscure at first, and then ever so obvious, detail that just leaves you feeling obtuse.

I grew up in a family with a strong faith and a particular religion, it was just who we were. I embraced this all through my teens and young adult years, but then there came a time when I began to question it all. I struggled – still struggle – with the rituals and rules, the politics and practices of this religion. It’s been ten or more years now, that I’ve tried to figure it out; find my own balance with losing my religion and finding my own brand of faith.  There are people I know who have gone on ‘church safaris’…

View original post 450 more words

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments

Retractables

Posted on July 20, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

“A torn jacket is soon mended, but hard words bruise the heart of a child.” 
―    Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I was setting up my ironing board yesterday yes I DO still iron and I was thinking about how much I love my iron.  It is pink and has a retractable cord.  I want a vacuum cleaner with a retractable cord, too. Cords just seem to get in the way, don’t you think?  My purple hairdryer is retractable.  So is my purple hand mixer.  Dog leashes are retractable.

The one retractable item I have yet to find?  Words.  When we speak out of anger or frustration.  When we speak without thinking or common courtesy. Words. Hurt. Others.  I have done it.  Both non-intentionally AND intentionally.  I am not proud of either.  Apologies can be extended and accepted.  But the words are not forgotten.  They tend to linger in the brain for years to come.

“A good word costs no
more than a bad one.”
— (English proverb)

Yes, I have been on the receiving end of  those non-retractables words and actions, too.  Some have forever changed my life.   Do you recall some awful thing spoken to you by a teacher or classmate years ago?  I do.  I remember being told, “I don’t like you” and “You are an ugly duckling” and “You look good with a little weight on you.”  Some words will end relationships that probably needed to be finished.  Others will create more life challenges and struggles.  All because of the words of “one”.

“A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life,
  A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.”
— Author Unknown

The Bible talks about our words speaking life or death to others.  My intention is not to get  preachy on you, I detest that.  But I would like to give you AND me, something to ponder on. What are your words doing for others?  I really hope to speak “life”.  And if am not, then my mouth needs to be taped shut.  Except when I’m driving.  I don’t think that counts. 

I wish there were a rewind button sometimes.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
— Mother Teresa (1910-1997)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Heat Relief Found Here ~

Posted on July 19, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

HappY Thursday!  Don’t forget to treat others with kindness, you never know what they might be going through.  AND, remember my dad’s words if you happen to be in the triple digits, “Think Cool” ! 🙂

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 43 Comments

Planking Anyone?

Posted on July 17, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Back in the spring, hubby & I met my sister, Renae and her hubby for a bit of r & r.  Since she is the big sis, she tends to bring out the kid in me.  Or maybe just getting away from the norm does that.  Heck, I guess I don’t really need an excuse.  It is just fun to be silly sometimes and MORE fun when someone will join you!

So I decided we should try planking.  I know, it’s nothing new.  But it is for me.  And in retrospect, I should have studied up on the rules before hand, but then I would have lost the spontaneity of the moment, right?  I know for future reference that my hands should be at my side.  My brother-in-law sent me the planking pics he snapped of us while in Arkansas.  He was kind enough to go so far as to caption them for me….thanks Steve…:)The rocks were covered in thousands of microscopic red bugs.  And yes, my shirt was red with bug guts when I finished!  Unexpected!Sister was supposed to be helping me! You know, “head down, feet down more”, and yet she laughs! 🙂Okay ~not really perfect…..but the closest I got knowing bugs were under my belly! Finally. I talked sister into trying it and she discovered the bird poop.  This was the best we could hope for!After that, we decided to stick to something we could do.  Okay….we weren’t so good at this either, but it was fun trying.  And there were no bugs or poop. 🙂Don’t mess with the sisters!  🙂  Have a good one, friends.  And if you attempt planking, be sure and share your pics with us!  I am determined to get it right one day!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 28 Comments

Cherry Street Market ~ Tulsa, Oklahoma

Posted on July 16, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

Hubby and I, and a few hundred others, ventured out to  the Cherry Street Farmer’s Market on Saturday in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  The vintage beauty of the area, the music, the aroma of freshly baked breads and fragrant veggies that screamed, “buy me”, all suck you in to a festive spiral.  The environment makes you ignore the heat for a while and move forward to seek the treasure in the next tent.HaPPy Monday, People!  And even though I don’t feel like being so nice today, I will put forth a conscious effort to do so.  Join me?  🙂

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

The Imposter

Posted on July 14, 2012 by stuffitellmysister

The winds started blowing, the skies darkened.  My ears struggled to define a sound they had not heard in quite some time.  Thunder.  And here is what all the raucous delivered:Maybe next time?

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments