Tickled Pink

Ever have those days, weeks or months where everything goes wrong?  Seems like ya can’t catch a break.

Then life mellows out a little bit.  You totally forget about the day, weeks, months where nothing went right. 

Then

BAM!!!

All of a sudden stuff starts happening that you have to keep pinching yourself to make sure it’s real!

Well that’s how it was for me last week

It started out with being invited to Juanita Cafe for dinner by my cousins Jim and Angie

Who were visiting from out of town

Jim and Angie are our Family Reunion organizer extraordinaires.

If you have never been to the Juanita Cafe it’s a Foodies dream.  It was fabulous!

and……………….we got some ideas in the thinker for this years Family Reunion.
I’m excited for summer already.

Then the week kept getting better…………..

Check out this photo

Serena (The Farm Chick) , Deb (Retreat) , and Lisa (Salvage Studio)

Not pictured…… Kim (Mimi Charmante)  She had to leave early and we were all so engrossed in eating that we didn’t think about a picture before she left.

Sorry Kim I was totally thinking cupcake not picture.

I KNOW!!! 

Can you believe that?  Yes, it’s me! 

Me! Amongst some very talented, smart, and very photogenic women.  I had to keep pinching myself.

**side note*** Can a girl take some photo posing classes somewhere? God knows I could use them!

I know your sitting there thinking, How , Where, Why????

Well I got wind of Serena coming to town and I totally invited myself.   We had lunch at Dahlia  downtown Seattle.  It was stinkin delicious!

Lunch was fabulous………………

It was so fabulous I got not one picture of lunch.

but I did get a picture of our waiter preparing desert!  You know I wouldn’t miss that!

Preparing the little fresh doughnuts with vanilla mascarpone cheese and huckleberry jam. 

Poor Serena sat next to me with those little pillows of happiness.

About 5 seconds was all I could take before I had to have one.

No!  I didn’t just eat off her plate!

I sat there and looked pathetic enough she finally asked if I wanted one.

My mom didn’t raise a total heathen

Don’t they look nummy? 

They were!

Lisa and I taking pictures of each other. 

I was tickled to death to be able to spend the afternoon with these ladies.  It was so cool to sit, visit and get to know these ladies outside of blogland and shows.

Can’t wait to do it again sometime.

Another reason I was tickled pink this last week………………………

See these boots?

I bought them about 8 years ago.  They have been my work boot friend over the years.  We have mowed lawns, cut trees, pruned bushes, camped in unfavorable weather, taken the dog out in unfavorable weather, and visited friends at horse barns.  A lot of Fakebusy happened in these boots.

Well they finally wore out.  They became uncomfortable and the bottoms didn’t have enough tread on them anymore so they were super slick on wet surfaces.

A hazard!

Well about 4 months ago I threw them out and have been telling The Hubs that I need to go buy another pair. 

As you know I’m also AKA… Princess Lazy Ass

so getting some new "work” boots isn’t on the top of my priority list.

“I can’t, I don’t have the right shoes” is one of my favorite excuses.  Also it’s so lame that most people (The Hubs) just look at you like your stupid and don’t ask for help anymore.

Well after having lunch with my friend Charlene last week I was on my way home and I took a wrong turn.

I know!

I should know where I’m going to get home.

Well I was talking on my cell phone and turned too soon.

Which put me right in front of

Work’n More

Since the weather has taken a turn and it’s time to think about getting ready for cold weather I decided that I would stop in and see if they had some new “work” boots.

To my surprise………

That’s right!

Pink!

I love them!  They were a special promotion for October Breast Cancer Awareness Month.   They still have lots of sizes left but the ladies told me they would be getting them in again in March.  Work’n More is taking orders for the March shipment.  They also had little girls which were very cute! 

So I brought my new boots home and was so excited.

The Hubs took one look at them and laughed and said “looks like you still don’t have the right shoes”

He’s probably right.

Oh this story gets better……..

Last spring I bought a Peony Pink down vest from Land’s End.  I put it in the closet and kind of forgot about it.

It matches my shoes perfect

Which also matches

my Vera Bradley Hopes Garden Hipster

Yeah I know it’s a lot of pink and I’m not sure I’ll wear it all together but I was

Tickled Pink that it all matched.

All in all it was a great week at The House of B’s.  Good food, good friends, new friends, added some pink to my wardrobe and………..I still don’t have the right shoes!

Happy Veterans Day!

The Hubs got a little package in the mail

  The outside was all decorate lovely and patriotic

If that doesn't say Thank You I don’t know what does

Thak you uncle Jay for saveing our country

We both got a little teary eyed

Especially The Hubs

Thank a Veteran today!

Thank and Enlisted Person today!

Thank their families, they give up an awful lot also

Moms lay awake at night

Dads worry in their own ways

Wives wait for phone calls to know everything is alright

Husbands wait for phone calls to know everything is alright

Kids wait for Mom or Dad to have leave

They need a big Thank You too

These are some of my favorite pictures from when The Hubs was serving

The Hubs and Princess Spoiled Brat

Princess Spoiled Brat, The Hubs, and Captain Rob

Your Veterans Day artist….then

How stinkin cute is she eating cake on the floor of US Navy Hanger? 

Yeah that’s how clean it is!

Your Veterans Day artist………now

Princess Spoiled Brat and her new kitty Blackberry

Our 3 favorite Veterans here at The House of B's

Left... Captain Rob US Army currently serving. Leaving for Iraq
Middle... Chief Jay "The Hubs" 21 years US Navy. Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom
Right.... Chief Bob US Navy WWII and Korea.
Thank you guys!

Even Charlie wants to thank all the Veterans

Thank you to all those men and women who have saved our country and are currently saving our country.

We salute you!

I’m Back!

So I'm back!!! With that said...................So is my Jesus Loves Casseroles portion of the blog.

Thank you everyone for sending me recipes over the last few months. I had so many things I wuuuuuzzzzzz gunna do and write about. Well it just didn't happen soooooooo here we are in November with Thanksgiving right around the corner. Then Christmas.

Where does the time go?

The Hubs and I were at Williams and Sonoma (getting Junk Junket gift ideas) and they had this huge display out front of their Pumpkin Pecan Butter, Pumpkin waffle mix and fancy Ebelskiver pans.

I went nuts!!! I love love love love the Williams and Sonoma Pumpkin Pecan Butter. It's fantastic and very versatile.

The problem here is..................I'm too cheap to buy it.

So years ago after I went through 1 jar priced at $9.95 in about 2 seconds I decided that there had to be a recipe out there somewhere for it.

After spending almost the entire day looking for a Murihead Pumpkin Pecan Butter recipe on line .........

I FOUND IT!!!!!

This makes really great hostess gifts, Christmas gifts, oooooooooor once you try it you might just want to hoard it all for yourself like I do.

Yesterday I made a double batch because I'm completely out!

You'll soon see why I'm going through it so fast.

1 large can (29 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin

(Two 15 oz. cans can also be used)

1/2 cup water

I do mine in a Crockpot.  That way I can just turn it on medium and let it go for the day.  Not to mention….. The smell in the house is WONDERFUL!

Make sure you use pumpkin not pumpkin pie filling.

2 cups (packed) light brown sugar

3 tablespoons strained fresh orange juice (juice from about 1 orange)

3 tablespoons strained fresh lemon juice (juice from 1 lemon)

I grate a little of the rind from both fruits in to the mixture as well. Not too much otherwise it gets a little too citrus-ie flavored

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

Pinch of ground cloves

1/3 cup pecans or walnuts, lightly toasted and grated or very finely chopped

I don't always  toast the pecans. I actually forget most of the time.

I’m tellin ya!  That Pampered Chef chopper I bought a 100 years ago has been one of the best purchases I ever made. I don’t know about you but I use this just about everyday.  

Well Ok, that’s a big fat lie!  I don’t cook everyday!  I’m not that good.

It’s makes quick work of fine chopping all those pecans.

All you nuts in the hot tub!

 

I love my Stay and Go Crockpot

It comes with hooks on the side to lock down the lid for transportation. and it has a place on the top to lock a spoon in place. 

It’s awesome!

Here is the recipe as I copied it. 

As you will see………….I don’t follow the directions very well. 

I’m lazy!

Pumpkin Pecan Butter
If you love the Williams and Sonoma Pumpkin Pecan Butter you will love this. It’s very similar and super easy.
1 large can (29 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin (Two 15 oz. cans can also be used)
1/2 cup water
2 cups (packed) light brown sugar or
3 tablespoons strained fresh orange juice (juice from about 1 orange)
3 tablespoons strained fresh lemon juice (juice from 1 lemon)
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
Pinch of ground cloves
1/3 cup pecans or walnuts, lightly toasted and grated or very finely chopped
Makes about 5 cups
1. Simmer the orange zest in 2 cups water in a sauce pan for 10 minutes, then drain it and mince it to a fine pulp. Measure out 1 tablespoon and reserve.
2. In a heavy-bottomed saucepan combine all the above ingredients. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly; lower the heat and simmer the mixture, stirring it very often with a wooden spatula, until it has become very thick, about 15 minutes.
Sample the butter and add a little more of any or all of the spices, if you like (remember, the flavors will blossom in storage). Add more sweetening if your taste buds request it.
3. Stir in the nuts and continue to cook for another 2 or 3 minutes. Ladle the boiling-hot pumpkin butter into clean, hot half-pint canning jars, leaving 1/4 inch of headspace. Seal the jars with new 2-piece canning lids according to manufacturer's instructions. Process the jars for 10 minutes in a boiling-water bath. Cool, label, and store for up to a year a cool cupboard. [Note: Instead of canning refrigerate or freeze for long-term storage.]
This can be mixed in breads, pancakes, scones, cakes, and cookies

So here is why we have gone through a jar of Pumpkin Pecan Butter in a matter of seconds.

EBELSKIVERS!!!!

The Hubs and I got this pan 4  years ago for a Christmas gift. I had no idea what it was or what to do with it. So I tossed it in the junk room.
Shhhhhhhhhh don’t tell my Sister-in-law

When going to the Farm Chicks back in 2008 Mother Madden took us to Breakfast one day at The Old European Cafe where I  had Aebelskivers for the first time.

They were WONDERFUL. 

A stuffed little pancake.

I do love me some  pancakes!

So I immediately came home and dug through the junk room to find that damn pan!

We have been experimenting off and on ever since.

I see now that Williams and Sonoma has an Ebelskiver cookbook. 

Here’s a questions you’re going to have for me that I don’t have the answer to;

Williams-Sonoma spells it’s Ebelskivers

Old European spells it Abelskivers

I don’t know what the difference is?

What I do know… ……..

They are grubbin!

The Hubs and I  have tried lots of different batters but this concoction is one of our favorites. 

I make the pancake recipe off the back of the Bisquick box

I know! 

Tricky!

Then I toss in about a 1/4 of a cup of Pumpkin Pecan Butter or Caramel Apple Butter

Mix it all up

WHALA!

Pumpkin Pecan Pancakes

Because we are making Ebelskivers we have to have something to stuff them with.

A little softened cream cheese and powder sugar.

Makes a nice cream filling for the Ebelskivers

Because I’m cheap

I won’t buy the fancy William and Sonoma Ebelskiver turner

I just use wood skewers that I pick up at the $1 store

for the low low price of

$1!

So you spray a little non-stick on the pan, heat it up, fill up the holes about half way with batter then drop in a little dollop of cream cheese filling

and

Wait

Or you can sprinkle them with chocolate chips which is my

MOST VERY FAVORITE!

Then you flip them with your little skewer tool

and let them cook on the other side.

There they are!

A little ball of heaven

Then you eat them all up with a cup of tea from Teacup Seattle. 

My favorite flavors…..

La Belle Helene

and

Afternoon in the Park

If you love a good cup of tea…………..you will love the teas from Teacup Seattle.  It will turn you in to a tea snob.

You can call them up and just order samples if you just want to try them. 

If they aren’t busy with customers when you call, the staff is really good if you just tell them what kind of flavors you like.

They usually are dead right with their suggestions.

Sprinkle them with a little powder sugar

and

they will look just like the William Sonoma picture!

Pumpkin + Chocolate Chips

Pumpkin + Cream Cheese Filling

Caramel Apple + Cream Cheese Filling

Plain batter + Crumbled Sausage

Plain batter + Raspberry jam

Plain batter + Blueberries

Seeeeeeeeeee how the options are just endless?

Here is another butter recipe that I like to make a big batch of. It’s a great for gift giving or hoard it for yourself.

Crockpot Caramel Apple Butter
Puree about 3 pounds of apples (heat, peel, steam, food mill, blender or whatever).
I used Granny Smith apples and it was EXCELLENT
Place 7 cups of apple puree in crockpot with about 2 cups of white sugar to taste depending upon the variety of apples used.
For a large crock, you can double this. Cook the pulp down to a butter consistency (about 3 to 4 hours).
Stir in 1/4 teaspoon ginger, 1/2 teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 21 caramels.
Check the temperature. I like to get it up to 165 degrees F, but the minimum is 140 degrees F.
If your crock does not get hot enough, transfer it to a pan and heat it on the stove.
Can leaving 1/2-inch head space and water bath - pints for 10 minutes and 1/2 pints for 5 minutes.


I use these butters in pancake, waffle, muffin, and quick bread mixes.
They are also just good spread on English muffins, bagels, and toast.


Here is a quick bread recipe that is excellent for both of these butters.


Quick Bread Recipe
Cream together with Mixer
2 Tablespoons Shortening
1 Cup Your choice of….Pumpkin Pecan Butter, Caramel Apple Butter, or Mashed Bananas.
¾ Cup White Sugar
Then add
1 Egg
¾ Cup Milk
Mix in by hand
3 Cups Flour
1 Teaspoon Salt
3 ½ Teaspoons Baking Powder
¾ Cup Chopped Pecans, walnuts or Chocolate Chips optional
Bake at 350 in a greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan or Two 8 ½ x 4 ½ x 2 ½ inch pans for 55 minutes or until test pick comes out clean.
Let me know how these turned out for you

Be Creative and Enjoy!!!!!

Come Junk With Us

My new venture Come Junk With Us is keeping me super busy. We had a great trip down to the Funky Junk Sisters Show and Sumner.

Please go check out Come Junk With Us to read and see pictures from the trip.

I'm working on another trip that will be on December 5th. All the details should be up in the next day or so. This will be a local trip to all my favorite places. New and used stores. It's going to be a really fun Christmas Shopping trip.

We also have hotel accommodations arranged if you would like to come from out of town and join us.

Make this a girls Christmas shopping weekend! Don't hassle with parking,trying to find a hotel or fighting crowds. Let us take care of your entire day. Your only job................Shop for unique gifts and to have a good time!

Come Junk With Us

Also...............Exciting news..............................

Come Junk With Us will be doing a Junk Junket to The Farm Chicks in June.

Yep! You heard it here first! 3 days, all inclusive, with lots of Junk Junket exclusive offers.

Stay tuned!

I'm trying to get all the information up so tickets can be purchased for Christmas presents.

We are also working on hotel accommodations in case you want to fly in from out of state and be on the Farm Chicks Junk Junket with us.

Become a follower on Come Junk With Us so you can get all the latest updates.

Also

Come Junk With Us is looking for vendors who would like to promote their business, blog or website.

Contact me for more information

agirlnamedtimi@hotmail.com

Now.............................back to our regular scheduled mayhem on this blog.

Spokane Road Trip

I know!

It’s been forever since I’ve done a blog post. I have a million excuses but I’m sure you’re all tired of hearing them, so I’m just going to move on!

Donna and I went on a road trip over to Spokane a couple weekends ago. I wanted to check out The Mad Hatter Sale that Junebug was putting on and I had some other things on my list of “things to do in Spokane” that I needed to check out.

We decided that taking HWY I-90 was boring…A nice change would be HWY 2.

The first stop was right outside of Cashmere at this great little French bakery.

Donna and I could have bought them out! But we just bought a couple snacks for the trip.

We highly recommend stopping here if you’re passing through Cashmere for any reason at all. I promise when you leave this bakery you will be going home, remodeling your kitchen to a French Country theme, then bustin out that Julia Childs Mastering French Cooking cookbook you bought at Costco.

Once arriving in Spokane,

Donna and I had to go check out Frank’s Diner for dinner.

Set inside an old diner train car, the ambiance is really fantastic. The food is good and I think everyone should make at least one stop at Frank’s while in Spokane.

I had the hot turkey sandwich.

Donna had the chicken pot pie

From there we ended up at the Northern Quest Casino where we both LOST OUR ……………

Well let’s just move on. That my friends, is a part of the trip we shall never speak of again!

You know I got “the problem” right?"

Saturday morning we were up bright and early so we could make our way to

The Mad Hatter Antique Sale put on by Junebug

Held at the 5 mile Prairie Grange

They had it fixed up all cute.

Donna and Joy letting me know they had Diet Cokes and I didn’t! Yeah, they’re still my friends!

Check out Auntie Joy’s Blog for some really great pictures of the sale.

All the ladies were dressed so cute in their Mad Hatter outfits.

I thought this was an excellent use for a baby bassinet…….packed full of Chocolate Zucchini Bread for sale.

Your hostesses with the mostest

The food at this show was OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!!!!

This is some of the pumpkin bisque soup that had seasoned popcorn in it. OH MY GOD!!!! It was like crack! We just wanted to go back over and over.

My other favorite was the Zucchini Bisque Soup with a sticky rice, sage, huckleberry dumpling in it.

YEAH!!!

I’m not kidding! It was so stinkin good.

As I’m typing this I wish I had some.

Junebug herself with the Queens of the fantastic food Lynn and Sherry.

They really did a great job!

More pictures

After the leaving The Mad Hatter Show we headed to the highly recommended, must see, don’t miss, everyone should go here………………………..

Hurd Mercantile

I’m in love with this store!

I saw pictures of this fabulous store in Mary Jane’s Farm Magazine. So I had to see it for myself.

A great Farm Chicks Display

I had such a great time at this store in addition to finding A LOT of treasure that came home with me.

I’m thinkin maybe Come Junk With Us should do a Junk Junket here.

After a day of shopping Donna and I went to Chaps for dinner, where we met

Auntie Joy and Hubby

Luluz and Hubby

and

one of The Funky Junk Sisters Dixie.

The food was fabulous as usual, the company was even better. It was so much fun getting to visit with these ladies (and husbands) outside of the antiques sales where we usually see each other.

It was just a nice change.

So a Timi Road Trip can’t ever be without some sort of problem. This trip wasn’t an exception.

Donna and I were headed out of town and sure enough

I-90 CLOSED DUE TO DUST STORM!

This is the fastest way back home which is what we were planning on.

So it was back to HWY 2 to go out around the dust storm.

My pictures aren’t that great (as usual) but you can see the dust storm in the distance.

What looks like white clouds is really the dust storm

It took 4 hours longer than it should have and it was the most boring drive EVER! Not since driving across Texas have I ever seen so much of NOTHING!

This really was a great trip!

Donna and I had the best time.

I got a lot of great ideas for an upcoming Junk Junket I’m planning.

This last weekend I went to the Sandpoint Antique and Design Show here in the Seattle area. This is the first time I have ever been to this show.

DAMN!! Have I been missin out!

Check out
Deb Kennedy’s pictures

Salvage Studio

Queen of Tart

Luluz

It was so fun to meet all the vendors there. I bought this beautiful swanky faux fur vintage coat. Now I’m excited for it to get cold so I can wear it.

If you’re in the area don’t miss the December 6th show.

Have a great day!

I May Have Skydived

The last few months have been very busy around here. As you have noticed I haven't been blogging as regular as I should, I have promised to catch you up and I haven't.

There's just not enough hours in the day, along with poor time management, and - it's possible that I may take on more than I can realistically finish.

The last month or so has been busy getting ready for my first Junk Junket to Barn House.

I announced that I was DOIN' IT!

Well, I DID!!!

This last weekend was the maiden voyage.

We had the best time!

Barn House put on a fantastic show and the luncheon was incredible.

Kathrine did all the food and it was DELICIOUS!

I can't thank these people enough for putting on such a lovely spread for my first Junk Junket.

You will have to visit

Come Junk With Us

to get all the details about the trip.

I think coordinating this first trip must be what

Skydiving is like.

You talk yourself in to doing it,

You go up in the plane,

You freak out,

"I can't do this!"

"This is nuts!"

" I have bit off way more than I can chew!"

"I'm going to die, if I jump!"

All of the things that go through your mind before you jump out that door at 1500 feet.

Then some one pushes you out!

No turning back now...

So you enjoy the ride, do a free fall, can't believe this is really happening, pull the ripcord and just marvel in how cool it really is.

Your feet land safely on the ground

"OH MY GOD!" "I did that!"

Then you have a complete meltdown and can't even explain your experience without crying.

I know?

Odd!

But I'm sure all of the planning, worrying, execution, and the final results, in addition to being everything you dreamed it could be, must be EXACTLY like Skydiving.

And now I can't wait for next jump!

One of the guests of the Junk Junket brought me this very cool hostess gift. When I pulled it out of the gift bag and looked at it, my was thought "oh isn't that beautifully decorated bottle! What a great idea for a hostess gift." Then Julie, (my new BFF) who gave it to me said "Oh there's a pen in the bag for all of us to sign it for you." WHAT A STINKIN COOL IDEA! It almost brought me to tears right there on a bus in front of everyone.

I'm so going to steal this idea next time I need a special gift for someone.

Thank you Julie!

You rock!

We had a lot of fun stuff going on.

We also had some really cool gifts donated by local businesses for door prizes.

Here are some that I wanted to share with you.

This wasn't a gift but it was such a pretty picture of the Fabulous Frost Doughnuts I had to share it with you. If you live my area and haven't been there yet......DO SO!

Tell them you read it on my blog.

It won't get you a discount or anything but it might get me a free doughnut one day!

Frost

As soon as we got to Barn House and everyone was shopping, one of the handsome Barn Boys said "I have some packages for you."

REALLY??? How exciting!

This was what was in those packages

A box of these cute mugs with fancy chocolate from Celeste at Chaps for me to give to our guests on the bus.

(they had straw in them and they looked a lot cuter but Franklin got a hold of if before I could get a picture)

How nice was is that?

That Celeste!

If you have never been to Chaps over in the Spokane area you need to make sure you stop in there the next time you're visiting. It's a great little resturant.

In the next box was a whole box full of these cute little chocolate mints wrapped all cute with a cookie cutter. They were from Suzette who has a booth at Catty Wompus in Centralia.

This was one of Donna's and my favorite stores when we took the train down to Centralia for a day of junkin with Lisa and Isabell.

How nice was that?

Both those ladies, whom I have never met but they had read about my upcoming trip on blogs, sent those gifts to Barn House for me to give to my guests.

I was so touched.

It meant a lot to me to have that support!

Thank you

Celeste and Suzette!

This was my gift that I put together for the give away. A Martha Stewart Cast Iron Enamel Dutch Oven with "Mastering The Art Of French Cooking" by Julia Childs.

I bought 2 of these dutch ovens last year and love them! Then when I read the book "Julie & Julia" I decided I needed to use it more. Then I saw the movie and was IN LOVE with everything about it! So I decided this would be the perfect gift.

Ashley was the winner and it turned out she was in love with that movie too. I hope she enjoys her dutch oven as much as I do. I found an original copy of "Mastering The Art of French Cooking" at a garage sale this last spring in Long Beach. I'm thinking this winter I just might master the art!

My friend Kari from Tastefully Simple sent this cute little basket over for me to give away. It was super nice of her. You know what else was very nice of her?

She also gave all the guests of the Junk Junket a Tastefully Simple exclusive offer. Then..................She told me to go ahead and extend it to whom ever I wanted to so I"m extending it to all of you.

Tastefully Simple, the nation's original taste-testing company, offers over 30 easy to prepare gourmet foods that you and your friends can taste before you buy. Host a fun Taste Testing Party and mention Timi's name and I'll have a "special" gift for you!

Contact me to find out more about: Hosting a Party, Placing an Order, Ordering Personal or Business Gifts, Arranging a Tastefully Simple Fundraiser, Learning About Our Business Opportunity.

Our seasonal offerings change twice a year, so there’s always something new at a Tastefully Simple party. Contact me today to find out what exciting things are happening with Tastefully Simple.

Kari Fausey

I look forward to hearing from you!

Even if you don't live close to her you can have a catalog party. Tastefully Simple has some fantastic gift boxes that are reasonably priced. They make really nice Christmas gifts for those on your list that are hard to buy for.

Amber was the big winner of the Tastefully Simple basket.

Let me share a little something about Amber with you.

Amber bought a seat on the Junk Junket and I was really excited. It was going to be fun to spend some time with her.

Then she made it even more exciting. She says "I'll take pictures for you"

Have you seen Amber's work?

She takes great pictures! I was so excited to have her taking pictures. I wouldn't have to rely on my crappy pictures. She did a fantastic job and I can't thank her enough.

So I'm going to plug Amber.............If you need senior pictures, family pictures for Christmas cards, pet pictures, pictures for your business, wedding, engagement, barmitza, family reunion, company Holdiay parties...........Whatever...........Amber is your girl!

Go check out her photography page and book her NOW before she has no time.

Here's something else very exciting that has happened...

The Hubs and I like to frequent a little place in Snohomish called Collectors Choice Resturant. It's a cute resturant in the bottom of the Star Center Antique Mall

I love the swiss dip sandwich that they have on the menu but lots of time (most of the time) I'm not in the mood for beef, so I switch the beef out for sliced turkey. Then add some bacon. It's fantastic and it's my favorite sandwich. I could eat one every other day.

Well, I started pestering the owners about putting my sandwich on the menu. They kept giving me some lame excuses about cost of adding something new to the menu; You're crazy; Stop e-mailing us; Stop commenting on Facebook about the sandwich; Stop trying to get customers to picket outside the restaurant; We will call the Sheriff...the remarks go on.

I said "Your going to be sorry! One day, when I'm rich and famous and you don't have the Timilicious Turkey Dip on the menu!"

Check it out!

Can't see what I'm talkin about?

Look closer...

That's right! Right there in black and white at the bottom of the lunch special!

The Timilicious Turkey Dip!

Doesn't it look good?

It is!!

When you come to Snohomish, (Cuz' you know you have to now) you need to eat at Collectors Choice Restaurant! Go in and ask for the "Timilious Turkey Dip." It's not on the permanent menu but they will make it for you!

Tell them I said it was ok.

Hey! Remember the nurse that saved my life?

The night before the Junk Junket, it was her birthday. I think it was her 29th-ish.

So all of us girls that have been friends since 4th grade got together to celebrate.

The Nurse got some fancy rubber gloves.

I know! She's going to be Fancy Nancy Nurse on her floor!

This is Beach Girl, she moved to New Jersey and became a New Jersey Housewife many years ago. We watch for her on the Real Housewives of New Jersey all the time, but so far she hasn't made an appearance.

We were lucky enough to have her come visit for this get together. We have not laughed so hard, for so long, in quite awhile. Probably since the last time she came home for a visit.

It was great to see her! We miss you Beach Girl!

My girls!

The Nurse and I doing the sorority pose. We learned it from WSU Laura at Farm Chicks this last spring.

Well that's what's been happenin around The House of B's for the last month or more. As well as I got some shameless plugs in for my friends.

I'm planning another Junk Junket in October, I'm working on "Jesus Loves Casserole" blog posts, and The Hubs finally took a step in life that will probably save our marriage.
I'll keep you posted!

My Life is Going To Change

Oh Wait........ But First.................

I know I was going to get you all caught up on what's  been going on around here this summer, but I had to share this with you first. 

It's very exciting!

Back in October of 2006

The Hubs and I went on a trip to New York. Where we stayed at a Radisson Hotel that had  Sleep Number Beds in their rooms.

WE LOVED IT!

This was the beginning of us belly achin non-stop that we should by a Sleep Number Bed

That's right ....The Radisson Hotel.

If you have the opportunity to try one out you should.

See the couple sleeping so nice? 

This is the marketing that sucked us in. Along with letting us try one at The Radisson.

I don't know who thought this up but it was GENIUS!

So for a couple years The Hubs and I went into the Select Comfort Store at our local mall.

We even became friends with Yvonne, the salesperson at the Alderwood Select Comfort Store.

That's how many times we were in there looking at them.

Then, there was the No Sleeping for a year drama that happened around here.

Some of you know about that.

For those of you who don't......

Click Here

It's been a trying last 6 months. My shoulder doesn't move any further than it did before the surgery but the good news is.........it dosen't hurt anymore.

I just can't reach the top of my head. So The Hubs is still helping me do my hair!

Apparently I have what they call frozen shoulder,  I had it before the surgery also but now I have it without the pain and sleepless nights.

Also during this whole shoulder drama, I created an income tax drama that had The Hubs thinking about killing me, freezing me, and putting me in a wood chipper.

Well after many tax extentions, lots of tears, and The Hubs returning the industiral size woodchipper,

we ended not paying.  We actually got a big fat check from the IRS.

So.........after 3 years of looking and thinking about it

We did it!

We bought a Sleep Number Bed

We went down to the local mall to say hello to Yvonne like we always do and she totally sucked us in to the whole "sale" thing..... It's the "last day" of the sale....this is a limited time only for this bed.

Sales 101 and we fell for it.

FISH ON!

So this weekend the bed finally arrived 

5 Huge boxes

I'm going to have to make sure to get the UPS man something for Christmas this year.

Like a bottle of Crown Royal or something.

As soon as The Hubs got home from work that day

we took our old mattress off and he started in on putting together the new one.

The insturctions said "should take about an hour and no tools required"

YEAH RIGHT!

We will see..........

So there it is! 

The base on the bed frame

The Hubs had it together in record time.

With ....

NO TOOLS!

Then it was time for the air chambers to go in

Then time for the "brain"

The pump that makes this so fabulous

There it is

Filling up with air

oooooooooooh it's so exciting!

WHALAH!!

The Sleep Number Bed

Put together by The Hubs in 1 1/2 hours with no tools and best of all

NO PROBLEMS! 

You know here at The House of B's there is usually problems so this is a big deal.

So we got the bed all made up (sheets still fit on the new mattress. That was a concern) and we went to bed!

Enjoying the first night of our restful slumber...

WRONG!

Apparently it takes a a week or more to find, and get use to your "perfect" number.

So far Charlie is the only one sleeping well on the new Sleep Number

I'm confident however that within the next week we will have it all figured out and our lives will have changed for the better. 
We will look all happy, refreshed, skin lovely, 10 pounds lighter and whitened teeth.

That's what the ad showed!