Sugar and Carbs

Today I'm giving up sugar and carbs for an "undetermined" duration.  

I might have sinus yeast infection (sounds like fun huh?)

This is fed on by sugar & carbs.

And stirs up my allergies.

Antibiotics hasn't killed this crud yet. 

So I'm giving them up at least until this goes away

To be honest I'm not super excited about it.  

Actually I'm not excited about it at all.   

Nothing says get excited about not having Dr. Pepper.  

I don't mind not having bread - probably 90% of the time we don't have bread here.  

I don't even really care about giving up potatoes, rice, or pasta (maybe a little bit the pasta) But Dr. Pepper - I love him.  

I'd rather have that than lunch any day. 

I don't mind giving up sweets - sure I like ice cream like the rest of the world but who cares.

Dr. Pepper is the hardest.

That's probably exactly why I need this challenge.

You know quit drinking soda for like 3 weeks in April?

Before that I actually quit like 4 times for several years at a time - I was no soda ever.  Never Ever. 

But that doesn't mean I'm excited about this.

Rooster even said he would participate in this - of course he would eat bacon over just about anything else anyhow. 

I didn't even get in one last DP yesterday because they didn't serve it at the restaurant we went to on date night yesterday.

I actually drank 10 glasses of water yesterday - yes 10.  Blah. It's not soda. 

Regardless here goes nothing.  

Goodbye my friend Dr. Pepper. 

PS This was my lunch broccoli and carrots. Oh and an apple - the apple was the highlight of the meal it was like the almost best apple ever.  And I would have traded a million of those apples for 1 Dr. Pepper.

Getting my read on...

Well I've been doing a little reading when in airports and on airplanes and such. Not very much mind you as I'm a notoriously slow reader but I've been reading a book by Gilbert Morris called "A Bright Tomorrow" - it's actually pretty good. It is a story about a large family from Arkansas or Missouri or something. It's a christian novel I didn't know that when I picked it at the library I'm famous for just getting something. Anyhow I just thought I would share about what I've been reading.

This winter I...

have taken 24 flights. Yes that's right 24 (and that's just since Jan 1). Most of them back and forth to Boston and a few layovers in random places as well. Just thought I would share.

Oreo Balls!

We love us some Oreo Balls at the Shrum house today. Here I am about to eat one. Yum Yum.

Here's the recipe for the one we ate. Seems there's other variations of the same recipe but we enjoyed this today.

Oreo Balls
1 Package of Oreos
2 packages of Cream Cheese
1 Chocolate Candy Coating
Crush Oreos & Miz with cream cheese and form into balls. Drop in melted Chocolate and let set on wax paper. Store in regridgerator.

Happy Christmas!

O Christmas tree...

O Christmas Tree how lovely are your branches. No holiday trees here in my house and well the branches have really seen better days but the tree is up. I was going to put every ornament that I own but then I realized I own way to many for this poor tree. But I did put quite a few on there.
One of the robots doesn't she look nice on the tree?
Here's one of my favorite ornaments Lita made it for me. I think it's really a bookmark but I think it looks nice on the tree.
And the whole tree. The star just will not stand straight but I do love it.
Jay and the tree. Jay thinks the tree is beautimus!
And because I don't like little chotskies and stuff and I don't put up other decorations for the most part. And I must have something under the tree while I'm still working on my tree skirt here we have a little reindeer Jonathan gave me a few years ago and a little snowman from mom.

Happy Birthday

Hope you had christmas cake.

Enjoy six.

Celebrity Look-a-Like

Vince Gill (I wish I had a good photo of jay without facial hair)

Tina Fey (it's a little closer with straight hair but I couldn't find a photo)

Felicity Huffman with bangs

Marge Simpson (Hopefully you can laugh Stephanie)

Presidential Candidate Huckabee? (well the younger slightly slimmer version)


Elizabeth Shue and she loves a cocktail I wonder about crazy Tom Cruise?

Lost in Milliewalkay!

finally made it to my craft room!

You don't have to grow up...

City Park. Fountains. Swings. Slides. One boy. One girl. Smiles. Giggles. No worries. Enjoying Moments. Ahhh the good life.

You'll never guess what happened....

My flight was on time! This makes two in a row!

However not exactly having the best of evenings though. First Hertz seems to have lost my reservation only probably the 90th time this has happened I fully intend to write them a hateful not as my corporation doesn't get that good of deals from them and quite frankly I'd rather switch to someone who doesn't lose my reservation.

Then enroute to my hotel which is out in burbs I run over a dead skunk and my car is reaking (that will show Hertz fortunately it's worse on the outside than the inside. Then I get to the hotel and check into my room which vaguely smells of nursing home and stale cigarettes (ick). I called the desk and they told me that I'm pretty much stuck with this room.

So since i have to make the best of the bad situation I took my stinkin car to the nearby shell mart and picked up some supper and some air freshern. And i'm happy to report my room and car now smells like a strawberry shortcake doll.

Well need to get my ironing done so I'm ontime tomorrow.

Mac Bake

Since I'm going on the road this week I made Jay some Mac Bake so he has something he can heat up easily while I'm gone. We used to make a version of this back when I was at CB - I like mine with brocoli too Jay no to so much.

Ingredients

1 lb of Elbow Mac Cooked

8 oz Veletta Cheese melted

1/2 cup Motzarella Cheese Shredded

3/4 lb of Cooked Ham chopped

3 slices toasted bread (crumbled)

1/2 cup Broccoli (option)

Normally I would make this in two 8x8 casserole dishes and freeze one but I used the big one tonight so Jay has several meals to fix in the microwave. You mix everything but the bread crumbs and about a 1/4 the motzarella cheese in the casserole dish mix. Then you sprinkle the bread crumbs and the remaining cheese on top and pop it in a 375 degree oven for 30-45 minutes until it's golden brown on top. If your guy like Jay doesn't like his broccoli then you can cook that seperate and mix it in to your portions.

Who doesn't love polka dots?

I am crazy about them these days. So of course I had to google them check out some of these cool things I found. Look at these cute shoes not identical to my red ones and they are only $12.99. How cute is this little guy? Red and white polka dot luggage (this would not be mistaken for someone elses I think it's a necessity for those who travel so I intend to ask for it for christmas. If I actually did dishes by hand I might have to have these. Polka dot plates - oh my. Polka and eco-friendly too. Okay so these dots aren't true polka but how can you not want a dot toaster? Or what about rain boots. Your very own polka dot barware.

Okay so I'm a little bit obsessessed but please note I didn't buy any of this stuff yet I'm thinking though I might ask for all christmas presents to come in polka this year.

Photo Blogs

Since I've already posted twice today I thought I would try one more just for good measure. Here's a couple of cool photo blogs. Check them out. Tara's is probably my favorite because everything is always so cheerful. And there's this one that has some awesome scenry. And I like this one because it's not always beautful people but the photographer makes them seem interesting. There's this lovely one not everything is bright and sunny which makes things interesting. Interesting sky shots here. And it would just be wrong if I didn't mention vals photos they are great too. And here's one more just for fun.

Inspired By

Dear Crazy Co-Worker -

Get your act together! I don't want to do your job and mine. Stop pushing the clients buttons. Stop pretending like you don't get it. Stop acting like a loon. Stop calling me crying. Put your big girl pants on and deal with the unruly client and get the work done!

Thanks!

Your Truly,

Katie

PS Hopefully you get the picture soon or else I'm guessing you will be let go.

What Have I (We) Been Up Too?

15 Things I love!

Since I'm on a roll with all these lists I thought I would keep it rolling since this is this weeks challenge. (Blog about 15 things that you LOVE right now. They don't have to be things you have always loved (but that's not to say they can't) but try and include things that reflect where you are in your life right now and what you are truly enjoying and passionate about. )
So here is my list 15 things Katie Loves Right Now 07.18.07:

1. Buttons - They seems to be all over lately I just found one in my bathroom sink (not the drain that goodness), I love scrapping buttons, crafting buttons, sewing buttons, keyboard buttons, buttons on my pants, button shirts, elevator buttons, vcr buttons what's not to love.
2. Polka Dots - I don't know why but I'm crazy for polka dots all the sudden. I just bought polka dot red flats that I can wear to work too cute (not this is where I would insert a photo if I took one).
3. Talking on the Phone - Sure I love just talking in general I can hold my own in most conversations that don't involve religion or politics but I mostly just enjoy rambling about nothing or everything on my mind. In the last two days I've been over 4 hours on the phone each day. SHOCK FACTOR - I've even been enjoying talking on my cell phone I've never been a big advocate of this before, but I'm finally annoyed that it's got horrible coverage.
   
4. Messes - I don't like to clean them up. But I love to make them! I even actually enjoy having them it's like a sense of accomplishment to me it says "someone lives here and enjoys life".
5. Little tiny miniature things - What is it about these that I'm just drawn to them. I see them and I want them I want to examine them and see how they got so dang little. Micromachines and Polly Pockets where are you?
6. Rain storms - I especially enjoyed these the last few days as it brings a little hope that might grass might turn a nice lush green again. There's just something about the smell of rain that appeals to me too it's yummy! (Please note I don't really give a hoot about big sticky rain though as there is a difference).
   
7. Cheesy Bad British Soaps - Hip Hip hooray for BBC America I can get my fill of bad tv now that all my shows have officially been canceled. If you aren't watching Footballers Wives or Hollyoaks you are seriously missing out on some cheesy bad (good) television.
8. Working from Home - At first this is a hard transition as I so miss seeing my office buddies but after a while I've become accustomed to having a shower at noon and working from the couch as opposed to my desk.
9. The Best Year Ever - Everyone should be jealous you don't have a year like I do! As I am so in love with it I might redo 2007 next year! I mean how can you not be jealous of changing jobs and taking one that involves lots of travel and slightly higher pay, tons of BFF get togethers and road trips, free vacations in DC and Phoenix, Scrap Retreats out the wazoo (yes I said wazoo), Rodeos, Trips to Amish Country, Milwaukee cheeses, a birthday that lasts 10 days, and much much more. Seriously you should be jealous! ;)
10. My New Purses - I must say I like my red one much better than the black even though I thought I would heart the black one the most, the are both a downsize from my old purse but sometimes you don't really need to carry around a 10 pack of batteries or an extra pair of glasses when you are wearing one already.
11. Jay's passion and excitement for making homemade pizza - (yes I also love Jay) He thinks he's on Top Chef or something on the food network ever since I taught him how to make his own pizza for like less than $3 and you can eat if for more than 2 meals. Unforunately I'm not as excited to want to eat it every night as he would like but I do like a little homemade pie.
12. The Parking Button in my "newer" car - What's not to love - see item #1 but this button is so much more. When it's pushed so it's on it tells me when I'm going to back into the garage door, or that I'm getting too close to the neighbors fence (which I did run into a time or two). It even beeps like a garbage truck that's backing up! How stinkin cool is that!
13. The Mailman - I've not yet seen him or I'm sure I would have kissed him by now he's been bringing me all sorts of goodies in the mail lately sure sometimes they come with bills and all that jazz, but he's brought me some sort of treat in the mail every day probably since June 27th. I wonder how long this can keep up.
14. My BFFs - I'm sure you were wondering if I would go through this entire list without giving them a plug I almost didn't give them a second plug as they are on #9, but I bumped off travel just so I could get them on here again so Travel I do love you so but I love my BFFs a tick more. So here's too my very special BFFs as Kim would say LYLAS!
15. 79 Cent Slushies From Speedway - What a fabulous treat this is! Hello what is not to love! All summer long Speedway is offering Slushies for less than $1. And Double bonus if you buy 6 and have a Speedy Reward card you get one free! Ching Ching Ching! I am not kidding when I say I have drank no fewer than 12 slushies since they middle of June when I discovered this little deal. Of course they aren't like blue Slushies from J's Dairy Inn. But who the heck cares when it's so freaking cheap. If you haven't had one yet this summer you better run out to your local Speedway! (Dear Speedway Executives - If you are reading this. Let me personally volunteer to be your slushie machine tester. I'm even willing to travel to Alaska to test slushies and how they taste in the super cold if it means drinking more slush, while I'm there I will drink enough for the whole state to make it well worth your while to put a machine in that store. XOXO yours truly Katie (that's big K, littl e a, t, i, e :))
    

27 So Far...

not entirely different that 27.
got up with a phone call from mom.
messed around the house for a bit.
ate a cupcake for breakfast.
surely that's not good for the waistline.
jay gets up around 11.
we pick a movie out of the paper.
head to metropolis - a FUN mall.
talk to lita on the phone.
she has birthday greetings for me.
talk to jon jones on the phone.
he has birthday greetings for me.
fun fun fun.
poke around outside before movie.
see ratatouille.
we are the only adults in the theater without a kid.
i don't worry about this.
jay does.
movie was good.
not as funny as i thought.
enjoyed the animation.
head to red robin for lunch.
this is our first time at red robin.
jay thinks it's too busy.
i tell him i don't care it's my birthday.
it's not really that busy.
we get seated right away.
i order some kind of strawberry lemonade.
it costs $4.
who cares it's my birthday.
yum yum yum.
i have a burger that has pineapple on it.
jay has fancy mac and cheese.
my burger is raw.
ick ick ick.
i send it back to the kitchen.
we get it for free.
what a nice birthday treat.
it is well the second time around.
yum yum yum.
on the way home we stop at a pond.
there's a giant fish in it.
i demand we take pictures with it.
the gorilla enjoys this.
snap snap snap.
drive home and chat with jay jones.
he sends me birthday greetings.
i send him birthday greetings.
we have the same birthday did you know?
arrive home for a little afternoon nap.
snore snore snore.
awake to see a little nascar and concert for diana.
she has our birthday too did you know?
as does sterling marlin.
i'm sure everyone was dying to know these facts.
decide on a trip to walmart.
it is busy.
but not too busy.
we mosey around.
i don't really want anything.
jay wants BBQ sauce.
spend $5.98 on something.
ching ching ching.
head home where i blog this challenge.
happy birthday to me.
27 is not entirely different than 24, 25, or 26.