CALIFORNIA HERE WE COME.....

....we are leaving for California today and won't be back for over a week, so I'll be sure to post lots of pics. from our trip when we get back!

FUN WITH COUSINS

Cousins are the best! Especially my cousins. I have always been really close with my cousins and although we don't see each other as much as we used to, we still have a blast when we get together. We had a BBQ at my mom's house last night and had some fun with the camera. We missed you terribly Wightman Girls!!!!

~Fish Faces~

~Pirate Faces~

~Grandma/Grandpa Faces~

"MUST-HAVE" MONDAY

GLITTER TOES!  I love these!  I had them done last week and they're my new favorite.  They're just like gel/acrylic fingernails, except on your toes and they're glittery!  They last for 4-6 weeks!  I think I am hooked.  If I can't get my fingernails done due to organ and piano playing, then I will just get my toenails done instead.  I have never been a foot person, but even my funny little toes are undeniably cute when they glitter like this!  I know the cutest lady named Shamie that will come to your house and do it or you can go to her house.  She is coming out to my mom's house to our family BBQ to do 6 of my family member's toes because they saw mine and just had to have them.  Then in August I am going to have a Glitter Toes Party.  If more than 4 people come, then they're only $15 per person, so if you want to come, please let me know!!  We will have a great time visiting, eating treats, and giving our toes a little TLC and cuteness!

~These aren't my actual toes, but this is what Glitter Toes look like.  Oh how they sparkle!~

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Delicious Breadsticks:

• 2 Tbs. yeast
• 2 c. hot water
• 2 Tbs. vegetable oil
• 2 tsp. salt
• 4 Tbs. sugar
• 6 c. flour

~In a small bowl combine 1 Tbs. of the sugar, 1/2 c. of the hot water and the yeast.  Set aside.  In a large bowl add the rest of the sugar, oil, salt and the rest of the hot water.  Then add the yeast mixture.  Stir.  Add the flour one cup at a time to the rest of the mixture.  Stir and knead for 10 minutes.  Add more flour if needed.  Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.  Punch down and then roll half of the dough at a time into a fairly thin sheet on a floured counter top.  Cut into 1 1/2 - 2" strips and make them however long you want them.  Now twist each strip of dough (see picture) and place them on a cookie sheet.

Garlic Spread:

• 1/2 c. butter
• 2 Tbs. garlic salt
• 1/4 c. parmesan cheese (I use the kind in the plastic container)
• 1 Tbs. dried parsley flakes

~Melt the butter in a small dish in the microwave.  Then stir the remaining 3 ingredients into the melted butter.  Generously drizzle the butter mix. over the breadsticks with a pastry brush or spoon.

~Cook in a 425 degree oven for 10-15 min. or until golden brown.  Place on cooling rack and enjoy!  These breadsticks are sure to impress!

~Generally you will need to double the garlic spread, because of the amount of breadsticks this recipe makes.

~The dough recipe can also be used as a delicious pizza crust!

OUR HOLIDAY WEEKEND

Thursday night:

Tim's insulin (the one he takes at night) rolled off the table and shattered. Not good, seeing how the pharmacy was closed the next day and it was a brand new bottle. He had to go without it Friday night and he felt like crap the next day. We had to shell out $100 bucks since it was too soon for a refill and the insurance wouldn't cover it. :( What a great start to our holiday weekend!

Friday:

I slept all day (still feeling pretty sick) and Tim took the girls to see Kung Fu Panda which they thoroughly enjoyed. I got a second wind, so we headed to Thanksgiving Point with some neighbors to watch the fireworks. It was very enjoyable, except they didn't play music with the fireworks. It just seemed like something was missing without the music! I always get teary when I hear "God Bless The USA" by Lee Greenwood. What a great song.

Saturday:

I felt a lot better! We had a pool party outside for the kiddos in the neighborhood. They had a blast! That night we had a barbeque with some friends and lit our own fireworks in the street. It was a fun, yet low-key weekend.

*This just in: We wrote an e-mail to the company that makes Tim's nighttime insulin, Lantus, explaining what happened and that he has never had a bottle break in 25 years of being diabetic. The pharmacist suggested we do this in hopes of getting a replacement bottle for free. Well folks, it worked! I just got a call from the Lantus company and they're going to send us a free bottle! It will be like getting our $100 back! I need to be more assertive with other things in life. If you don't ask, then you'll never know. Right?

Here are a few a lot of pictures from our weekend.

"MUST-HAVE" MONDAY

GARGANTUAN glasses!  In 20 years I will look at this picture and say, "What in the heck was I thinking?!"  But for right now, I heart BIG sunglasses!

Addi loves to wear them too!

JUST SO YOU KNOW

I am sorry to all of my readers for not posting much this week. I have been under the weather... I am having gal bladder issues, which can be pretty debilitating. I really just need to get it taken out, but I am trying to fix it with diet because our vacation is coming up in a couple weeks and recovery time for the surgery is three weeks! Anyway, I will hopefully be back blogging soon!