Cooking is not my strong suite
Posted on January 24, 2008
Filed Under Random thoughts and inspirations, Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Last night I stepped outside of my normal cooking realm and made stuffed cornish hens. Considering my typical cooking routine this is *wild and crazy*! Before I cooked them I called my Dad, who is a wonderful cook, and verified the cooking instructions. Seemed pretty straight forward. After all, I have made stuffed turkeys for Thanksgiving so this should be a snap! Make the stuffing. Check! Wash the hens. Check! Dry the hens with paper towel. Check! I have to admit that I felt weird while performing this step. I know this sounds gross but I felt like I was giving little hens a bath before bedtime…like maybe the next step should be put them in pjs and put them to bed! (Crazy! I know!) The fact that I was about to cook them and eat them messed with my head a bit. So the only way I could get over this guilt is by talking to the hens. That’s seems logical, right? I thanked them for their life and handled them tenderly. That’s not crazy, is it? 
Now that the guilt was lessened it’s time to move on. Salt and pepper the hens both inside and out. Check! Now it was time to stuff the hens - but before I did that step I decided to get really *crazy* and add some rice to the stuffing thinking it would absorb the excess moisture and keep the stuffing from getting soggy. I was quite proud of myself for thinking of that…I was really *cooking* now! We are really going to enjoy this special treat tonight! So about 6:30 we sat down to eat. Imagine the next scene. Both of us put a fork-full of stuffing into out mouths and begin to chew….and this is what we heard…CRUNCH…CRUNCH…CRUNCH. Okay…get out the Notes to Self book…write down “Do not add dry rice to stuffing. While it seems like a good idea, it is not.” Oh well. Fortunately the meat was very good so that made up for the bad stuffing. Do I get an A for effort?
The website is coming along very nicely! Here’s another little peak!
Good times
Posted on January 22, 2008
Filed Under Random thoughts and inspirations | 2 Comments
Last night we helped Lindsay successfully pull off a birthday surprise for her boyfriend Taylor. He thought we were going to see a band downtown…little did he know that we were actually going to a Nashville Predators hockey game!
Hockey tickets - $62, concession stand hamburger - $6.50, the look on Taylor’s face when he figured out where we were going - PRICELESS! Good times…
Happy birthday, Taylor! 
Counting down…
Posted on January 21, 2008
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Just five days until my website goes live!!! I’m so excited! I can’t wait to show it to you. Lindsay is doing a great job and when it’s all done I really feel like it’s going to be exactly what I imagined. Here’s a little sneak peak. I hope you like what you see! Well, back to work I go. Wishing you a good day!
Cold night, warm heart
Posted on January 16, 2008
Filed Under Random thoughts and inspirations | 1 Comment
YIPPIEEEEEEE!!! IT’S SNOWING!! I love, love, love snow! I’m as giddy as a little school girl right now! 
I’ve opened the drapes so I can look out the window and smile at the snow while I write this. ((BIG CHEESY GRIN)) I know…silly, right? Well I have to explain myself a bit. About 10 years ago I lived in Wisconsin which, as you can imagine, got a lot of snow every winter. I moved to the South after high school and have been here ever since. So very rarely do I get to see snow and strangely I miss it quite a bit. It’s strange because when I lived in Wisconsin I hated snow! Go figure. So I’m feeling a bit nostalgic tonight.
How does the saying go? When life gives you ripe bananas, make banana bread? That’s not it? Am I close? Oh well. Tonight I was in a baking mood so I made banana bread. Wait. Not just banana bread. Chocolate chip banana bread. Yummmmm….
Wishing you a wonderful, warm night!
Gasp! You need updates!
Posted on January 15, 2008
Filed Under Jewelry, Random thoughts and inspirations | 2 Comments
I can’t believe it’s been over a week since I’ve updated you! Wow! Time flies by amazingly fast! Okay, let’s get you up to date!
I received the first drafts of my website last week from Lindsay. She did such a great job! I’m so excited to see the final version. We are in the process of editing and getting the little details worked out. If all goes well it will be launched January 25th. Yahoo!!
I am especially proud and excited about the next update. Recently I spent an afternoon with my good friend Daryl discussing business ideas and asked for feedback on my jewelry designs. One conversation led to another and eventually he asked if I was interested in being a sponsor for one of his clients, Miss Kansas Alyssa George, and provide her with jewelry when she goes to compete for Miss America. I was delighted to be considered for the opportunity and of course I said yes! So I spent the past weekend at the dining room table with a big spread of beads and a head full of ideas. I had a great time playing with all the design possibilities. Earrings, necklaces and bracelets…oh my! I tried to design a line that was very versatile so she can mix and match them. I really hope they work for her outfits. (fingers crossed) In any case I’m really pleased with the line and plan on offering them on my website. Stay tuned for that! You can see Alyssa (Miss Kansas) in the new reality show Miss America Reality Check -on the TLC channel on Friday nights. And then you will see her on Miss America on January 26th on TLC. Good luck Alyssa!!
I wish I had more updates on my purses but my sewing machine is having problems AGAIN. Grrrr. I have an appointment tomorrow morning with the owner of the local Pfaff dealership to see what they can do for me. Cross your fingers for me…I need it!
What else…hmmm….oh, I know. We went to 3rd & Lindsley on Sunday night to check out a band called Need To Breathe. I really enjoyed the venue and the band was great! They have a song titled More Time on the sound track for the new movie P.S. I Love You. If you go here then you can hear a sample of the song. Be sure to check them out!
What other exciting updates do I have for you…hmmm…I did my bookkeeping and quarterly taxes today. Wooohoooo! Par-tay!!!
Well I think I have you all up to date now. (yawn) Time for bed. I hope you are doing well!!
Yawn…pass the cough drops
Posted on January 7, 2008
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Sadly I don’t have much to report today. Josh and I are both very tired. He’s been sick for about a week and last night was a long night of coughing fits for him (us). So I spent most of the day out of the house - otherwise I think I would have fought sleeping all afternoon - and he finally went to the doc. The poor fella has a nasty sinus infection. So we are sitting here yawning, bellies full of roasted chicken, stuffing and beans, and he’s sucking down cough drops while we watch the LSU and Ohio State game. Welcome to our exciting Monday evening. Wishing you well!
Drooling
Posted on January 4, 2008
Filed Under Fave movies and tv shows, Random thoughts and inspirations | Leave a Comment
Since we are on a beachy theme the last couple of days it reminded me of the HGTV Dream Home. Have you seen it? Gorgeous!! I love, love, love it! I drool just looking at all the decor and the beautiful master suite on the 3rd floor. Check it out here. You can register every day until February 19th. Oh wait…I’ve just decreased my odds of winning…oh well…pinky swear that you’ll invite us over if you win it? Okay. Cool.
I hope you have a great weekend! I’m going to kick mine off by watching this. Ooooh I can’t wait to see my man! (Droooooooool…..) Oh, sorry Josh. I think you’re pretty hot too! (Don’t worry, friends, we have an “understanding” — this is his woman — so all is fair and cool in the Evitt household).
More photos
Posted on January 3, 2008
Filed Under Random thoughts and inspirations | 1 Comment
Greetings!
Just a quick update today. I attended a sewing class today and learned how to make a new bag. The design is pretty cute. I think I’ll tweak it a bit and then make some in the future. Hopefully you will see more of it later.
Here are some more photos - these are from this post. Click on any photo to take you to all pictures in the set. Hope you enjoy!
www.flickr.com
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Ketchup
Posted on January 2, 2008
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Does anyone know what movie this joke is from?
Three tomatoes are walking down the street- a poppa tomato, a momma tomato, and a little baby tomato. Baby tomato starts lagging behind. Poppa tomato gets angry, goes over to the baby tomato, and smooshes him… and says, catch up. Catch up…ketchup…get it?
Catching up. That is what I am working on. So I will begin by updating you with some pictures I’ve promised you in the past. Here are pictures for this posting. Click on any picture to view all in the set. Hope you enjoy!
www.flickr.com
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Happy New Year!!
Posted on January 1, 2008
Filed Under Random thoughts and inspirations | 1 Comment
Hello! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and shared your New Year’s Eve with someone you love. We were blessed to have a very nice and relaxing Christmas. Lots of baking, cooking, laughing, and good stuff like that. I have some pictures and recipes to share with you — will post them soon. New Years Eve was an especially happy day for us. I am so thankful for my life, all the things I am blessed to have, and the people that make my life so happy - especially my husband Josh. I love you honey!
Did you eat the traditional New Year’s Day southern meal? I hope so because otherwise you won’t be blessed with luck, health and prosperity this year! I dutifully fulfilled my southern roots tradition. Well, I have to admit…I didn’t cook hog’s jowls. Do you blame me??!! Instead I made a delicious ham with a honey and brown sugar glaze. Much yummier than hog’s jowls. Ugh. I can barely type that without feeling a little sick. Bleeaaaahhh!!! It’s so funny that I feel that I have to do this every year. Any other time of the year I would not consider cooking this meal. But on New Years Day I have to make this meal. Otherwise I think I’d feel uneasy. I have to admit that I also feel uneasy if I spill salt — I have to toss some over my shoulder to resolve it. Aren’t superstitions funny? Do you observe any superstitions?
Did you make any New Year resolutions? I have a few. I hope I stick to them - you know how all that goes. Here it is: 1) Update this site more often. I’m truly sorry that I’ve neglected you. I will try to be better about updating you with news and photos. Promise. 2) Be more organized. 3) Use my time more wisely. 4) Get back in the gym regularly. I thought of this movie when I was pondering my resolutions. Here’s an example of her hilarious resolutions, “This Year’s Resolutions: Stop smoking. Stop drinking. Find inner poise. Go to the gym three times a week. Don’t flirt with the boss. Reduce thighs. Learn to love thighs. Forget about thighs. Stop making lists.” Hahahaaa! Love it! Note to self: must watch that movie soon.
Things are moving along nicely for Evitt & Co. The last time I updated you I was preparing for a craft fair and an open-house. The open-house was great. Thanks Mitzi! I had a great time and sales were much more than I expected. On the other hand the craft fair was kind of a bust. Unfortunately it rained that day — and that equals poor turn out for people. Such a bummer after all the work to get inventory stocked up and setup the booth. On a positive note I had a great time sharing a booth with Lindsay and saw a couple of people I haven’t seen in awhile so it’s all good. The verdict is still out on whether or not I will continue participating in craft fairs. I will participate in a large one in March so hopefully that will be a better experience. I’ll let you know when I have more details on that.
I’m very excited to announce that I will have a website launched by the beginning of February. Yahooooo! Lindsay from Purr Design (yes, same gal I noted above…and yes, she has two companies…very talented lady!) is currently working on the initial proposal for the design and I should see it soon. I can’t wait! I will definitely update you on that as soon as it’s ready to go.
I hope you have many happy wishes and dreams to chase this year. I will end on this wish I found here.
My Wish for You in 2008:
May peace break into your house and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips. May your clothes smell of success. May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be those of joy. May the problems you had forget your home address. In simpler words ….. may 2008 be the best year of your life! Cheers!!