Good morning!!!!

The temps have started to drop and in Oklahoma, black powder opens this weekend.

We have been bow hunting hard and haven't got anything yet, which is strange. I hope I have a gorgeous deer to show you this weekend!

On a side note, I am selling Scentsy now. It is a wickless candle that is safe for kids, pets and even clumsy adults! Check out my website! http://alishabrodrick.scentsy.us just an FYI, if you are ordering $150, please email or call me!!!! I can get you some free and half-price goodies.

Hope I hear about some of you having nice deer down!!!!

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One of my Christmas bargains

I had been needing a good jacket to wear since I will be starting my full internship this spring. M's step-mother found me a jacket at a store and when I tried it on it was tight in the shoulders. I was blessed with my mother's broad shoulders so it can be difficult to find clothes or jackets that fit. I ended up taking the jacket back that I had gotten and looked around to find another one. Being the day after Christmas, I knew that there would be good sales so we looked. I ran to Old Navy and they were down to small and x-small in all their jackets. New York & Co is right across from Old Navy so I ran in there. This is what I saw.

(via)

This was the next thing I saw and just about choked.
I also saw signs that said that it was 70% off so we sat down, did the math and decided it was a good deal. M paid for what was left over so I got a really good after Christmas deal on a Christmas present!

Here is the break down. The jacket was originally $129.95 but I got $77.97 off so it made it $51.98. After tax and all that good stuff it was $56.05.

Whiteish Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!! This is what I saw this morning when I got up. It is not a big white Christmas but a little snow is nice!











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Merry Christmas

All I want for Christmas is Photo Credit

I know that I won't be getting one like that. Oklahoma deer just aren't quite that big!

I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and safe travels.

Thank you for reading my blog and supporting me through my adventures!

More Jellies - Habanero Jelly

This is what I spent my Sunday doing and loved every minute of it!
Pretty green jalapeno jelly

Pretty orange habanero jelly!

I couldn't find a recipe that I like for habanero jelly so I came up with my own, modifying the jalapeno jelly recipe. I did add yellow and red food coloring to make it orange and love the results!

Habanero jelly
3/4 lb habaneros

2 cups apple cider vinegar
6 cups sugar
2 pouches of liquid pectin
Optional: rea and yellow food coloring
Cut the stem tops off the habaneros. I don't slice them anymore than this. I was in a hurry. Add the habaneros, vinegar and sugar to a stainless steel pan. bring to a boil and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Pour into a strainer that is lined with cheese cloth and let it drain. Pour back into pan and bring back to a boil. Stir in liquid pectin. Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Skim off foam and add food coloring if wanted. Ladle in jars and process in water bath canner for 10 minutes.
Makes 5 half-pints.

Okie Redneck's Apple Butter Recipe With Red Hots

My husbands great grandmother made apple butter that the whole family loved. I waited too long to get her recipe and she couldn't remember it. It was one of those recipes that she worked with until it tasted right and looked right. This year I decided that I was going to figure it out. I went to the Internet and started trying to find a recipe to no avail. I could find some that might have worked but they had a lot of the vinegar, which was not in Mema's, so I was told. So I planned some time out and decided to figure her recipe out. I took apples from a local orchard and got started. I tweaked it until I came up with this. The family says that it tastes like hers and I was happy to get it right! I have mental hang up with the fact that it has a red tint to it so I add green food coloring to make it a rich, dark brown. There are always changes that you can make to fit your taste buds so don't be afraid to try!

Apple Butter

5 cups mashed apples

5 cups sugar

2 Tbs apple cider vinegar

1/2 cup red hots

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Optional: green food coloring

Peel and core apples. Place in stainless steel pan and fill halfway up with water. Boil until apples are soft and will easily break (approx 30 minutes). Use food mill and mash the apples but don't liquefy. Combine all remaining ingredients and cook for at least 20 minutes. If you want to add food coloring to turn in brown add it now. (It normally takes me 8 drops) Place in jars and process in water bath for 10 minutes.

Makes about 3 pints

1 pound of apples=1 cup of mashed apples

I have seen recipes that call for apple sauce instead the mashed apples and am thinking about trying it next time. If you try that leave me a comment and tell me what you think.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!!

Recipes to follow!!!

Light egg nog

Egg nog always symbolizes the holidays to me and here is a way to make some yourself!!!

8 cups milk
1 pkg instant vanilla pudding
1/2 cup sugar or to taste
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg.

Mix or whisk together well and enjoy!!!

Shutterfly!!!

The first time I heard about Shutterfly was 4 years ago. I was needing Christmas cards quickly and they delivered. The colors were amazing and they did a wonderful job. I got my cards in a protective envelope and they were in perfect shape. Then I had to do the rest of the work and get them addressed and out to all those people who were waiting!

I have chosen many different designs to go with the pictures that I had and have been happy with all of the cards. People would call me or send a note back in their Christmas cards about how cute mine were and where did I get them? I have always loved Shutterfly and have been impressed with their customer service also.
I am planning on sending these cards out to close friends or family this year. I don’t have a lot of time because of school, so as soon as I get the cards I will start working on getting them addressed and sent out to those I love. I am looking forward to the excited comments that I will be getting from those who are lucky enough to be on my Christmas card mailing list!!!

Right now photo books are 20% off and are an amazing way to document your year. These would be great gifts for those in your family. We are starting this year to make a book of all the deer that are harvested in our hunting group!!!

Their selection of Christmas cards is always amazing and this year is no different.

This is a card that I fell in love with!!! Can't you see a picture of the two girls on the front of this????

Or maybe this one!!! I love the black and white simple elegance of it!

This one is really cute too!! It could be put in your scrapbook and start a new tradition!

I love this one. The chocolate brown makes me think of the holidays!

It is going to take me a while to decide exactly which card I want to do, you know that the pictures just have to match!!! I do know one thing though. They do more than just Christmas cards. I have received birth announcements that were absolutely beautiful and invitations that were witty and whimsical. I will definitely be saving money and ordering graduation announcements and party announcements through Shutterfly. They have everything you can imagine. You can also get address labels, note cards, gift tags and almost anything else you can think of. Go check them out and see what they have. I know that I will be trying to figure out what I want for my 50 FREE cards that I will be getting!!!

30 things to do this summer....

30 things I vow to do this summer.... I am enjoying this summer so lets see if I can think of 30 things that I am wanting to do. Head over and see the other topics at Mama Kat's and see if you can find something else that you like as well!

1. Make salsa so that we have enough to last through the winter.
2. Learn how to use a pressure cooker to can green beans and possibly other things. I have heard that chili is good and that would make it super easy for dinner.
3. Get a tan that is from being outside, even if it is a "farmers tan".
4. Make multiple kinds of pickles.
5. Keep my house clean so I am not stressing.
6. Learn how to can tomatoes.
7. Spend some time relaxing outside.
8. Lose weight so that I feel comfortable.
9. Go floating down the creek more than once.
10. Cut down my computer time in the evenings.
11. Read at least 5 books over the summer.
12. Watch the whole first season of Glee in one day (or maybe two).
13. Spend some time with friends around the campfire.
14. Take Roxy to the water and let her play.
15. Go out and eat with Mister at least once a week, just the two of us.
16. Start making Christmas gifts.
17. Start buying Christmas gifts.
18. Clean out, shampoo and wax my car.
19. Finish ripping the guts out of the inside of the bronco and build a roll cage inside it.
20. De-clutter my house.
21. Organize my craft stuff.
22. Keep up with canning so that we have lots of yummy food this winter.
23. Make sure and at least once a week have nothing to do when we get off work.
24. Not wish the summer away, no matter how hot it is.
25. Grill out and eat healthier.
26. Eat more fresh veggies out of my garden.
27. Give away some of the veggies to those around me.
28. Shoot my bow enough to pull 50 lb. draw weight.
29. Take a blanket out in the dark and watch the lightening bugs (fireflies) with Mister.
30. Go target shooting with the husband and father-in-law.

I Will Carry You - Angie Smith

Photo Credit

I found Angie's blog about a year and a half ago and wept while I read about the trials that they had been through. This baby was originally due on my birthday, her first name is my middle name. The similarities were so strange but touched me also. I was asked what I wanted for Christmas and told my husband that I wanted Angie's book. I pre-ordered it and waited patiently impatiently for it to be released. I received it early and jumped for joy. I sat down and read it in one sitting. The story was the same story that I read on the blog but so much more. I was so touched and would recommend this book for everyone. Please go and buy this and let it touch you.

Product Description (from Amazon)
In 2008, Angie Smith and her husband Todd (lead singer of the group Selah) learned through ultrasound that their fourth daughter had conditions making her “incompatible with life.” Advised to terminate the pregnancy, the Smiths chose instead to carry this child and allow room for a miracle. That miracle came the day they met Audrey Caroline and got the chance to love her for the precious two-and-a-half hours she lived on earth.
Upon receiving the original diagnosis, Angie started a blog (Bring the Rain) to keep family and friends informed of their journey. Soon, the site exploded in popularity, connecting with thousands who were either experiencing their own heartbreaking situations or simply curious about how God could carry someone through something so tragic. I Will Carry You tells the powerful story of a parent losing her child, interwoven with the biblical story of Lazarus to help those who mourn to still have hope—to find grace and peace in the sacred dance of grief and joy.

Endorsement
"This is a beautiful and tender book that would touch any woman's heart, no matter her age or realm of experience. It is about a relationship so intimate with God that it carves a safe place for crises of faith, for faith proved genuine and for divine callings willed, sealed and fulfilled. Yes, this is one mother's moving story. This one mother also happens to be a true writer. We will hear more from her. Angie, I am so proud of you. May Christ continue to tip the ink jar toward your gifted quill."

- Beth Moore

Bestselling author and speaker

About the Author
Angie Smith is the wife of Todd Smith (lead singer of Dove Award winning group Selah) and author of the popular blog entitled Bring the Rain. She holds a Master’s degree in Developmental Psychology from Vanderbilt University and lives with her husband and daughters in Nashville, Tennessee.

Vet time again & Potato Soup in a Jar

My in-laws have that cute schnauzer, Lilly, and it is time for her to get fixed, get her rabies shot and all that good stuff. She has an appointment on January 18th (since I am off work and can watch her). I am so worried about another rabies incident like what Sasha had. It has just made me a bit more cautious about how they react and what we give them.

My poor dogs probably think that they are being abused by all the fresh stuff we give them. They don't even get treats anymore. We give them fresh carrots, avocados, apples, frozen green beans. They will eat just about anything that we give them and it is much healthier for them. They don't get onions or grapes since it is bad for their system. Roxy was weighing almost 85 pounds. We were having issues with ear infections and she was going to the vet every two and a half weeks. I think that we have them under control now (with extra meds at home in case!) but now we started hitting it hard with the weight loss. We cut her food back to one rounded measuring cup in the morning and one at night with carrots and all that yummy stuff in between. She is losing the weight!

It is hard to look at the amounts but when we take into consideration that Roxy is much less active than Sasha she does need less food but it is still hard when you measure it out. Sasha gets a total of two-thirds of a cup a day at 11 pounds and Roxy gets 2 1/4 cups a day and she is now weighing 78 pounds. She has lost 7 pounds so far and it is showing. She is looking good! She goes into the vet for her normal check up in March and they will do her rabies shot then. My goal is to have her down to the 75 pounds that the vet is recommending!

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Speaking of losing weight the holidays always get to me and I seem to gain. I love the food and atmosphere of Christmas. Loving this causes me to eat more, which causes me to gain weight. Now I am back to my watching my portions again and cutting some carbs out. I am refusing to cut all carbs out just because I love them. We are just going to start eating healthier. My biggest obstacle will be having two nights a week that I will leave the day job, get on the turnpike and drive, start class at 7:20 and then hit the road some time after 10, thus not getting home until almost midnight. I ate at the cafe on campus some last semester but it got me BAD.... I would go in thinking that I was only going to get a burger, then I would see some fries, or I would see the personal pizzas that were actually more the size of a small pizza and I would lose it and over eat. I am trying to start planning now what I can take. I am a huge potato soup fan and found a recipe that is convenient and tastes good.

Potato Soup Mix in a Jar
1 3/4 cups instant mashed potatoes
1 1/2 cups dried milk
2 tablespoons instant chicken bouillon
2 teaspoons dried minced onion
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/8 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoning salt
Combine all ingredients in a bowl; mix well. Put ingredients in a 1-quart jar. Mix 1/2 cup of mix with 1 cup boiling water and stir until smooth.

This is one of those things that I can keep in the car and mix up a small amount to eat before class or even during class. Any other ideas that could help me with easy to make meals that can be taken to school????

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We have had over 14 inches on snow since Christmas Eve and I am enjoying it, I just hope it doesn't snow like this when I am having to drive my hour and a half to and from school. This has been the first year in a long time that I have just really enjoyed the snow and what it looks like around us.

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AJ went for a two week check up and she weighs 7 pounds 2 ounces now and is 20.75 inches long. She is growing so much!!! I have been taking care of the hubby who has been sick so I haven't gotten to see her since Christmas!!! I am going through withdrawal. I can't wait until Matt is feeling better so that I can go hold her.

Day after Christmas

This was me the day after Christmas.... This was Lilly the day after Christmas. She is my in-laws dog. I had been outside playing in the snow with L and B and their mom. We had been up late Christmas night, getting home at midnight and then up by 6 the next morning. I was absolutely wore out and was sitting on the couch watching the news. Can't you tell???? I was doing a good job watching the news! :) Lilly loves to cuddle with me when I am over there. In fact, she gets so excited that she can piddle when I walk in!!!! It is a wonderful feeling to have a dog laying on your lap and it makes me take a nap every time! It is just an ongoing joke that if we are watching a movie and I cover up I am gone. I will be asleep within a few minutes. Now that they have the dog it is worse, I don't even need a blanket! This was how I spent the day after Christmas. Although us girls did decide to venture out at 9 pm and go to Walmart. I was fun being able to just take our time. I love Eeyore and they had pants and a cute sleep shirt that I HAD to buy! Hope your Christmas was safe and fun.

new banner

My new picture for the top of the post was taken Christmas morning by my wonderful father-in-law! We woke up to about 10 inches of snow and drifts from the 10 inches to 5 foot in places. We had fun driving around, going to the places that were on our list. We saw many cars who were in the ditches. Luckily no one was hurt. L and B loved the fact that we woke up to know on Christmas. We played in it yesterday and had so much fun! Once again, thanks to my father-in-law!!!!

Christmas Blizzard 2009

The beautiful front yard!!
Pure, untouched snow.

Sasha trying to decide if she is liking it.

Roxy getting ready to take off running.

Last night being Christmas eve we were back and forth between family and the snow didn’t stop us!!! We were at my in-laws and L comes up to me and says “Ya Ya, I need your help.” She takes me by the hand and leads me back to the play room. She said “Ya Ya, I need you to get two cots for you and Matt to sleep on.” I cracked up laughing and tried to explain to her that we were sleeping on the blowup mattress and that we would get it out in a little bit. We needed to run home to let our dogs out so we were getting ready to leave and I crouched down and told her that we were running to our house and we would be back but she needed to go ahead and go to bed so that Santa could come. She grabbed onto my hands and said “But Ya Ya!!!! You and Matt have to sleep here so I can come and get you up!” I told her that we would be back and explained that Roxy and Sasha needed to get out and go potty. She understood that then and let us run home so we ventured out into the blizzard.

Blizzard was an understatement. We live 3 ¼ miles from one set of in-laws. It took us a full 10 minutes to get home and getting back was worse. Matt couldn’t see the road so we were “team driving” I could see where the snow was blowing and gathering at the side so I was telling him how close he was to the edge and that is how we got back. We were glad that we were somewhere to stay so we broke open the hard apple cider that I had bought at the liquor store and got started putting stuff together. L got a doll house, dolls and B got a trike, a talking Thomas the train and a table that was a road to drive cars on.

L left a note for Santa : Reindeer love carrots and Santa loves cookies and milk. She left cookies, milk, a bowl of carrots and a bowl of water. (She said that the reindeer needed something to drink.) Santa replied: L, thank you so much for the cookies and milk. The reindeer liked the carrots and needed a drink. Santa.

We spent the night there and at 5 o’clock this morning our bedroom door was flung open and we heard “Matt, Ya Ya, Santa was here!!!!” So we got up and went to look and see what Santa brought (speaking of, my fingers are still hurting from pushing all those brads in!!! ) and then got down to the business of opening gifts. B opened one gift that was an Old Navy zip up hoodie and when his mom asked him if he liked it he was quick to answer no, shaking his head. Matt’s dad made the most wonderful French toast and then we plowed our way home. As soon as the girls got outside Roxy ran around loving the snow and Sasha wanted to run right back inside. They did play a little and enjoyed the snow and now we are sitting in the warm house, enjoying the time to rest. I just made rolls (they rose last night) and am getting ready to start stitching for a little bit! Merry Christmas everyone!

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and enjoys the time with their families. Remember the reason for this time off is not because of Santa, it is because a little baby was sent here for us....

christmas eve

Ya'll better hurry, crawl into bed and asleep. Santa will be coming soon! And if you hear the tapping and dancing of the reindeer hoofs, it is best to just to roll over and go back to sleep!

Christmas blues

Christmas presents bought - check
Christmas presents made - almost check
presents wrapped - look at above, almost check
Attitude adjusted - getting there....

I love Christmas time but I hate the running. It always seems that I end up crying on Christmas day and Matt is having to tell me to calm down and just enjoy it. When we first met we had fours days of Christmas ( no joke ) since he had great grandparents still living. It was hurry hurry hurry and then you are supposed to relax. Over the years he has lost all his great grandparents so it is slowing down but still seems crazy. We go to one side of his family around 6 Christmas eve, then to the other side of the family around 9ish then back to the in-laws to help put gifts together. We are figuring that the kids will be up by 3 am opening gifts (that is B's normal time to get up it seems) and then we can go back to bed, in our own bed with the girls. We have lunch at his Mema's and then (hopefully) to Kansas for dinner with Farris and Kathy. It is just a super busy schedule and it never feels like we can sit and just enjoy everything.

Just remember that all those who are running around WANT to stay longer but the schedule may not allow it. We are running around a couple more years and then when we have kids we are going to slow down a bit.

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I got to see Brandy, Chris and the new little one last night. She is so precious and small. She has these long skinny legs and these active arms are going constantly. I got to hold my precious little niece and she is so precious. We talked about how she is eating like a little pig and how thankful we all are that everything went well. Like I said before though, it makes me think of how much we are wanting to wait but how much I can't wait to have a little one like that!!! It is amazing that one week ago we were wondering when she was going to get here and we are able to hold her today. And then you think about the birthing process to get her here and it is all just so amazing! If there is any advice or just words of encouragement to send to my friend post them here and I will make sure that they get passed on to her!!!!

Baby AJ is here!

AJ got here this morning at 3:40 am. She weighs 6 lbs 3 oz, 19 1/2 inches long and is beautiful. Everyone is doing good!!!! Happy Birthday AJ!!!!

cranberry salsa, jalapeno jelly, oh my eye!!!!

I have my last night of class for the semester and have been studying and doing last minute stuff like crazy. I am trying to round up enough stuff for a party and decided to take my jalapeno jelly to have with cream cheese, some fudge and was looking for something else. One of the girls at work had a cranberry salsa that was amazing so she called to get the recipe and gave it to us. I figured that that would be enough for me to bring so I was pumped about making it. I ran and got the stuff at Wal-mart and then walked off and forgot the green onions, cilantro and jalapenos so yesterday at 6:30 in the morning I realized that I had forgotten them and ran back in before work to grab them plus enough to make a double batch. We ate dinner with Matt's dad and step-mom so I was doing the finishing touches on homework stuff while they were playing Super Mario on the Wii ( great game) and when we got home I made the cranberry salsa. Put it in the cooler to chill and marinate together.

When I got up this morning I was running around like a crazy woman trying to get stuff together and I had an itch in my eye. Stupid me like the idiot busy woman that I am used my nail to scratch the rim of my eye lid and kept going.... Until I was stopped dead in my tracks by this burning sensation and started yelling "my eye is burning, my eye is burning!!!!" My poor confused husband jumped up trying to figure out what the heck was going on. (Did I mention that when I seeded the 4 jalapenos for the salsa that I was in such a hurry that I didn't wear gloves????? And although I washed my hands like four times apparently there was still some oil on my nails??????) I was jumping around, running for the saline for my contacts in the bathroom and trying to rinse my eyes out. My husband was laughing at me once I could get out what was going on and when he saw that I was okay.

So the end of this story is..... I am going to give you the recipe for the cranberry salsa. I am going to put it over cream cheese but I keep thinking that it would be good over chicken or pork... or turkey.... or anything!!!! Just one thing to keep in mind- be smart not an idiot like myself and wear gloves to do ANYTHING with peppers!!! Okay, now that that is out of the way, here is the recipe!!!

Cranberry Salsa

2 cans of whole cranberries (chopped or blended)
¼ cup green onions chopped (about 2)
2 small jalapenos chopped and seeded
½ cup sugar (or a little less)
¼ cup cilantro leaves chopped
1 tbsp ginger powder
2 tbsp lemon juice

Mix together and chill for 4 hours. Covers 3 blocks of cream cheese.

Enjoy!!!!