Movie and a Pizza....

Can you believe that it is Valentines day already? Mack and I celebrated by going and seeing "Paul Blart: Mall Cop". Kevin James played a funny, yet nice guy who turns into a hero. It was a nice family movie that didn't feel the need to use the f-word as the building block of every sentence. It's nice to find these kind of movies.

After the movie we stopped by Papa Murphy's and picked up one of their popular Heart-Shaped Pizzas. It was topped with freshly grated cheese and had loads of pepperoni and was a great low price of only $7.99.

I hope you all had a great Valentines Day!!

When I think of Valentines Day...

I can't help but think of yummy sugar cookies with delicious frosting. Yum! Yum! Really when I think about it, its kind of funny that chocolate doesn't pop into my mind. It just seems that chocolate = Valentines. However, as a child growing up I had the chance to make cut out cookies with my mom. Putting hard labor into mixing, rolling and decorating. These wonderful moments will be treasured forever.

So, when I stopped over to my friend Peg's house she had just got done making these beautiful cookies. The timing could not have been better. Don't get me wrong....I love making these tasty morsels, but receiving is always much more fun. (Thanks Peg!) Just what I was needing after a stressful day. These cookies are like high class, compared to my younger days. We didn't always use decorator tips, I think manly due to not wanting to deal with the hassle. We used candy. Oh, how I loved to decorate with Valentine conversation hearts, M&M's, and JuJu hearts. Pretty basic but still cute. No two were ever alike.

So the recipe that I grew up on is posted below. I have tried many recipes over the years, some with powdered sugar, or sour cream, or lemon zest. But I always resort back to my family recipe. It's still a winner in my heart. I just love the buttery flavor with the hint of almond. It always gets me at that first bite.

Cut Out Cookies (family recipe)
3/4 cup margarine or butter (we always use butter)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
2 1/2 cups flour
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and extracts and beat. Stir in dry ingredients. Works best if you chill the dough for at least one hour. Roll out and bake on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 375 for about 7 minutes. Cool and frost to your likening. Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

Answered Prayers....

Now, that I don't feel like I have been swallowing razor blades wrapped in sandpaper I would like to tell you about my adventures from last Saturday. I have been wanting to share, but since I had to save my energy to work four days this last week, I kept my story to my tired self.

Anyhow, I went snowmobiling with a group of friendly folks on Saturday, which was a beautiful day. We went north of where I live and put on probably 80 or so miles. We had a good ride. Once arriving home and going up the drive way my dog, Dory came to great me like always. She jumped on and I continued up the driveway. We went up the little snow bank to go down the hill and the sled got stuck. I did not want to give the sled to much gas, cause I didn't want Dory to go sailing off the sled. After a few tries I got the sled to go down the hill and parked it for the evening. I turned it off immediately and was taking my helmet off and was saying to Mack that it was a windy evening. Right as I was saying this we heard a "whoosh" sound and we looked over and saw that a tree had blown down. It went down in the same spot that the dog and I had been stuck on. Friends that was within minutes, in fact seconds. I'm very blessed not to have it land on me. I feel that my morning pray saved me. Yes, prayers do come true. I can attest to that.

Not a ginormous tree, by any means, but big enough to make a persons head spin.

This is where I was stuck on my sled. So, I guess this could have been the part to get me. I'm really glad it didn't. I feel blessed. Mack, was also amazed. However, he was more amazed that I even made it home. The reason I got hung up on the hill is because the skid frame had lost most of the bolts and the two that were still in were only hanging on by a thread. So, I was blessed twice in one day. Can I get an "Amen"?

I love happy stories. Specially, when they pertain to myself. Sorry, I don't mean to brag. I just think its nice to experience both the good and the bad....well, ok mostly the good. *wink*

I hope you had a great weekend. Sounds like we may be in line for some winter weather. I guess I best get my sled fixed just in case we get some fresh powder.

The Ralph

Yesterday, was my first adventure to the Ralph Engelstad Arena. Oh, my! This place looks like a palace. I was not sure what to expect as we drove to Grand Forks in chilly 13 below zero weather. Thirteen below zero I shouted to myself inside my head. Just about the time my fingers finally defrosted we had completed our two-and-half hour drive from Park Rapids to Grand Forks. This warm hearted girl turned more into a popsicle than a sports fan from walking across the parking lot towards the arena. Then that's when it happened, I saw what looked like a palace. A brick palace at that, with white domes and a sign out front that read: Ralph Engelstad Arena. The 400,000 square-foot complex is home to the University of North Dakota men and women's hockey programs. Probably just like everyone else who has walked in here, I was very impressed with the facility. I have no doubt that it is the finest hockey venue in the country. Immediately as I opened the door I noticed that I was walking on a glowing brown granite floor. I also took note of the several Fighting Sioux logo's engraved on the floor.

The fans were buzzing with excitement as they began to fill the 11,640 seat arena. As I watched the fans begin to file in, they were all wearing the team color of green. When I say they all are, I am not lying. In fact, I think I was the only one not wearing green or Fighting Sioux paraphernalia of some kind. It was just amazing!

When I walked around the concourse I quickly smelled kettle corn, churros, pizza and other goodies that filled my nose. As I kept walking I looked to one side of the wall to see plaques, jerseys and pictures commemorating UND history.

The palace contains 2,200 Sioux logos and over 300 televisions including a state-of-the-art big screen hanging over center ice. Each seat is constructed of black leather and cherry wood. Very comfy, I'm sure if I could have only been patient enough to sit in them long enough. The game was very good. I was at the edge of my seat or out of it, more than I was in it. The Sioux battled it out against Denver. It was a fast pace game and a quick scoring game. The Sioux won eight to three.

The picture above was of them getting into a huge scuffle. It was awesome! Is that bad of me? I love it when the boys' get into big old fights. Don't be a hater! I know that I'm not the only one. LOL So, if you ever want to do something sportsy; I defiinitely recommend going to the Ralph. You won't be disappointed, I promise.

Have a good weekend everyone. Stay warm.

Paris Hilton....

When I first saw this I started to laugh, because I thought it was a joke. However, I guess Paris is really going to come out with crafting kits. Apparently scrap booking is in! I feel so cool and fashionable. How about you? LOL

Thoughts and a Prayer Request...

In the wonderful world of blog land, we get to meet so many wonderful people. So many people in fact, that I can't even begin to count. Some month ago I ran across Kelly's blog and instantly feel in love. Her blog talked about food, family, friends, home decorating and children. All the things a girl dreams about or at least I do. So, when she announced that she was pregnant I of course was elated and have ever since been following along with her and her adventures. Well, this past weekend I was dog sitting for a friend and did not have my computer and low and behold she had her sweet baby girl Harper. Well, things did not go as planned and now Harper has been airlifted to Tulsa. Sweet Harper is making improvements day by day, and that just moves me deeply within my soul. The faith of Scott & Kelly and their family has also touched me deeper than I could probably express, and I am just so amazed by the incredible miracle God is working in their lives.

I believe the signs of improvement which is NO DOUBT a result of the thousands of people on their knees for her. So, I would like to ask you to pray for this sweet girl, her mommy and daddy. Her grandparents (as they travel to and from the hospital). The world is showing up to cover this family with prayer, and I am so thankful and amazed.

"Savior...He can move the mountains. My God is mighty to save,

He is mighty to save..."

January Techniques Class

Yesterday I went to JaNell's SU workshop. The new technique we learned was "faux silk" super easy. Have you tried this? All you need to do is take a piece of tissue paper, stamp your image and crinkle the tissue paper up into a ball. Next, take your tissue paper and open it up and smooth it out. You are now ready to glue it to your paper. I was very excited because JaNell had found my new favorite glue stick. Scotch has made a glue stick called "Wrinkle-free" and it is awesome. It comes in a pack of two. I bought mine at Wal-mart for under $2.50. Look for it next time you go shopping, you won't be disappointed, I promise.

On this card we got to use SU "Valentine's Bundle" which I really like. The paper is from the pack called "Candy Lane" the colors and patterns all coordinate so nicely.

I liked all the things I made, but this little guy is just to cute. It looks like a 3x3 card, but really it is a treat holder. Yum! Chocolate! Okay, so if you would like to make one all you have to do is cut your paper 3" by 9" and then score at 3" and 6". Use a 1 3/8" circle punch to make your hole, so your treat can show through. We used yummy Dove caramel milk chocolate candies. We punched (scallop) out a piece of designer paper from the "Candy Lane" to put behind the candy. We did something different on the outside. We used two dimensionals at the very top of the Love stamped piece of paper, so that the ribbon can slide underneath it. I can't wait to make more of these. So cute and easy peasy. Love it!

Our free gift was this adorable Kit Kat bar. It was all wrapped up in "Bella Rose" designer series paper. Finished off with ribbon and "Love you Much" stamp, punched out. Super cute! Thanks JaNelle for another fun evening with friends and new SU products.