Flashback Friday

This weeks flashback, is brought to you by the invasion of 90's sitcom songs being stuck in my head all week!

(There seems to be a Joey Lawrence theme. It makes sense though, because he was plastered all over my bedroom door back then.lol) 

Also, how great is it to see Mayim Bialik aka Blossom, aka Amy Farrah Fowler, on tv again? Love her!!

So, here are the theme songs I've been singing all week long!

The theme song to Blossom, and the theme song to Brotherly Love.

(Sorry about the quality, but the later season's of Blossom haven't been released to DVD yet. And I'm not really sure if any season of Brotherly Love has. Although, the quality is wonderful.)

Enjoy!!

Why I Love Fall

Fall has always been my favorite season. There's nothing about it I dislike. (Well, maybe the cold rainy days, and those stupid Asian Lady Beetles!)

I hate you .

But other than that, it's nothing but love.

I love the fall foliage. God truly is an amazing artist.

 

I love the smells that come along with it. Like I've mentioned before, I'm a little obsessed with smells.

Like the smell of burning leaves!



Or the inside of a trick-or-treat bag! Throw a popcorn ball in there, and it's heaven, in scent form! (They need to make it into a Yankee Candle, if you ask me.)

Or how about the smell of a freshly carved pumpkin?

(I carved the one on the right.)

I actually enjoy raking leaves, (I find it quite therapeutic) and also jumping in them. I will continue to jump in leaf piles as long as the good Lord lets me!

Just don't jump in a pile of leaves with a wet sucker.

I love things like bonfires, hay rides, and toasted marshmallows.

Apple cider, caramel apples, and anything else apple you can think of.

 I love the fun of Halloween, and the family time at Thanksgiving.

I think a lot of people let the wonderfulness of autumn, pass them by.

They spend too much time thinking about what comes after fall, and not enough time enjoying what the season has to offer.

So get outside and smell a leaf or something! (You won't be alone, because I've already done it.)

Banana Fana Fo Fana Bread

This has been a super rainy weekend, here in Northern Indiana. For some reason, every time it rains, I feel the need to bake something.

Does anyone else do that?

I guess it's not only rainy days, because I probably triple my baking time in the winter.

Yeah, didn't you know? Winter + Snow = Toll House Cookies

Simple math people. Simple math.

Well, yesterday wasn't a cookie day, but it was a banana bread day. I love the way it makes the house smell!!

FYI If they make it as a Yankee Candle scent, it's probably going to taste and smell AWESOME!

The banana bread recipe that I've used for years, is in a cookbook my Grandma gave me in 1987, called Alpha-Bakery Children's Cookbook.

There's a recipe for each letter of the alphabet in it.:-)

I follow the recipe to the T, except I sprinkle a little cinnamon on top. (Sometimes I even stir some in.) And I don't usually add nuts.   

3/4 cup of sugar

1 1/2 cups ripe mashed bananas (about 3 1/2 large bananas) Don't use ones that are still a little green, because they aren't sweet enough.

3/4 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup nuts (If you like)

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1. Heat your oven to 350

2. Grease your loaf pan with shortening. 

3. Mix sugar, bananas, oil, and eggs in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pan.

4. Bake for 60 to 70 min., making sure the center is clean, when poked with a wooden pick or knife.

5. Let cool for about 10 min. then loosen sides of loaf from pan, and remove.

I've always found that when you wrap it up in plastic wrap while its still warm, it stays moist for days.

Although this time I won't have to worry about that, because we're already down to our last slice! Yummy!

After it was done, my husband requested some icing to drizzle on top. (I'd never tried it like that, but decided to humor him just the same.) And to my surprise, it was actually pretty good! It kind of makes it taste like a cinnamon roll.

I just used your basic icing recipe. Mix 1 cup confectioner's sugar, 1 1/2 tbs milk, and 1tsp vanilla until smooth. EasyPeasy. The icing will make it quite rich though, so grab some milk!:-)

It was good, but I'm more of a purest when it comes to banana bread, and think it's perfectly prefect, just the way it is. (My husband likes sugar, with a side of sugar.)LOL

HAPPY BAKING!!

Flashback Friday

Today's Flashback Friday, is brought to you by the letter's E and M, and by the number 0.

E is for Ernie, who sings the song. (This sounds like it's going to be a poem, but it's not.;)

M is for Moon, which the song is about.

And 0 is the age I was when the song was written, in 1978. (I was born that year though.)

"I Don't Want to Live on the Moon"  is what I believe to be, the sweetest song used on Sesame Street. It somehow manages to be both sweet and sad, all at the same time. I still get teary-eyed listening to it!

I hope this brings back some sweet memories. Enjoy!

I Blame The Wicked Witch

Two of my favorite shows start their new season's this week.

Ghost Adventures and Supernatural.

As I've mentioned before, I'm a big believer in the unknown and things we can't always see with our eyes.

But with this believing, comes a lot of freaking out about nothing. Not the "nothing" that could be there, but the nothing that's actually nothing.

And although I love my shows on the supernatural, they only add fuel to my imaginary fire.

I blame The Wicked Witch of the West. And yes I've mentioned her before on here, but would you just look at her!!

It's because of this scene right here, that I have this horrible fear that someday, maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but someday, I'll be watching tv, and whoever is on the screen will turn and look right at me!!


Make fun of me if you wish! I'll totally understand.

And it's not even just the scary shows that bring on this weird fear! Oh no! I can be watching The Walton's, and suddenly the thought pops into my head.

What if Grandma Walton looks at me and says, "Amy! Suppers on the table!!"


And although there's usually nothing scary about supper, the thought of that happening would make me give it up for good!

It would be equally freaky if I was watching Touched by an Angel, and Monica looked at me and said, "God loves you, Amy."


Do I believe God loves me? Yes. Would a divine message brought to me by an angel, be the most wonderful thing in the world? Definitely!

Now, would I throw a rock at my tv if that actually happened? If I had one near me at the time, heck yeah!!


I would much prefer a heavenly message be sent to me via dream, potato chip, or Grilled Cheesus.(I had to throw a Glee reference in there.)


I'll be sure to let you know if any of the above things ever happen.LOL

Flashback Friday

Today's flashback all started yesterday, while I commented back to my friend on Facebook. I was answering a question, and did so by typing, Yep, Yep, Yep!! And what does someone from my age group automatically think of with that phrase?

If you guessed The Land Before Time, the answer is Yep, Yep, Yep!! You're right!!

And who doesn't love to quote sweet, little Duckie?

Then my friend wrote back saying how she still has her Land Before Time Pizza Hut puppet! I wish I still had all mine!:-(

So, in honor of The Land Before Time, when Pizza Hut gave out cool things, AND Jama, here is the Pizza Hut commercial for The Land Before Time puppets!!

Enjoy your flashback!!

Glad Thursday

Today I'm glad that I finally got around to watching the newest preview for Breaking Dawn!

And OH MY LORD, am I EXCITED!!

I won't even mind sitting awkwardly next to my sister and mom, during the steamy honeymoon scene! LOL

November 18th Can't Get Here Soon Enough!!!!

10 Years Ago Today

September 11, 2001

A day that will forever be fresh in our memories.

Most of us remember where and what we were doing when this horrific event took place.

I was 23 years old that year. My mind was on the fact that my wedding day was only 3 1/2 weeks away, and stressing out as most brides do.

I was driving to work that morning, when the radio announcer reported that the World Trade Center had been struck by a plane.

My first thought was, What is the World Trade Center? I had heard of it, but didn't really know what went on there.

My second thought was that it must have been a small plane that was having engine trouble, and couldn't help crashing.

Then I got to work and saw on the tv what had actually happened. I didn't understand what was going on. I like so many others, thought it was caused by engine problems, or some other technical difficulties

Then the 2nd plane hit.

Realizing that this in fact wasn't an accident, and that someone was doing this horrific thing on purpose?

There aren't words.

I wasn't even going to write this post, because I don't like recalling that time. I of course will never, ever forget that day, but recalling the images on tv, and in the papers, is sometimes too much to take in.

My mind goes to those people in the planes. Knowing that their time had come to be with God. Wondering if they'll feel any pain. Worrying about the family and friends they're leaving behind.

Then I start to think about the families who never got to say goodbye. Never got to even touch the body of the ones they lost. Never having a grave to visit. Never knowing if they felt pain.

I think about the people in the buildings, and what it must have been like seeing that plane, and knowing what was about to happen.

I pray for the people who jumped to their deaths, instead of being burned alive or crushed. I think about what I would have done in that situation. I probably would have done the same.

Then I think about the brave souls that took matters into their own hands, and gave their own lives to save others. Flight 93, you are and always will be, Heroes.

 God bless the souls lost from Flight 77 hitting the Pentagon.

And God bless the brave men and women, who were running in the buildings, when everyone else was running out. You are loved, respected, and will never be forgotten.

I pray for the people who are still living with the horrors of that day. The people who have gotten cancer from breathing in the dust. The people who will forever be on oxygen.

All this because of a group of radicals and their so-called beliefs? They do these things in the name of God?


I feel sad that they don't even know Him.

I wish they knew that God is Love.


God is Love!


So, tonight I say a prayer for the lives lost. The ones left behind. The ones still fighting. And the hardest of all, I say a prayer for the ones that think they know God, and ask that He make Himself truly known to them.

God bless us all.

Flashback Friday

A year ago I did this thing on Facebook every Friday, where I would post an old commercial or topic from when I was younger.

The response was super, but for reasons I can't remember at this time, I stopped doing it.

Well, now I think I'm going to try it again, only here on my blog. I might not make it every Friday, but I'll try to do my best.;-)

So, here is one of my favorite McDonald's Commercials from the 80's. (There will be many of these down the road, because they use to be some of the best on tv.)


I hope this brings back some fond memories!!

Summer's End

Although fall has already unofficially started, I wanted to take some time to look back on the summer memories my family made this year.


And even though I'm not a big fan of summer, I still manage to have my moments.


I enjoy the laid-back lazy days that summer brings. The fact that I don't have to wake up at the butt-crack of dawn to get the kids ready for school. (Yeah, that's a big one for this gal!) 


I love seeing lightning bugs in the night sky. I love the sound of frogs in the pond, and the smell of freshly cut grass.

Yes, the fall lover can find some things about summer that she actually likes!

So, in pictures, here are a few summer memories of 2011.

And although we were stuck inside for much of the month of July, (Man, that humidity was bad!!) we still managed to make the most of our summer.

It was fun while it lasted, but now let's Bring on the fall!!!

Glad Thursday

Today, I'm glad I woke up and decided it was a Nickel Creek kind of day. It's been years since I've listened to their music, and I'd forgotten how much I loved them.

I would describe their music as Bluegrassy-Folksy-Celtic with a whole lot of awesome. But that's just my opinion. You'll have to form your own.

I hope they get together for another album down the road. In 2007, they had a "Farewell (For Now) Tour" so they could each branch off and explore different things musically. I'm hopeful that since the tour was named what it was, that they will put something together someday. I hope!!

Want to form your own opinion on Nickel Creek? Here are a few of my favorites.:-) Oh, and Chris Thile had Edward Cullen hair, before there even was an Edward Cullen.lol (Scroll down to the This Side video, and you'll see.;-)





I hope you're able to find something to be glad about today!

One Last Look

The other day, we drove over to my husband's parent's old house, to take one last look around before the new owners move in. They bought the house in '98, and Sam and I were only dating a few months when they moved in.

We remember thinking how old and run down it was back then. We couldn't believe they wanted to move away from their perfectly nice house in a subdivision, into this old dumpy place in the middle of nowhere.

But Sam's dad saw its potential, and began restoring it to its original beauty.

And restore it he did! It was like walking into another era, right down to the old fashioned light switches. He was able to keep most of the original hardwood floors, which I think made it extra special. Even the windows were the originals. (I didn't know until then, that there was a difference between new and old glass, but old glass makes things a little wavy as you look through them. They always made me dizzy.)

The house has a lot of history. It was built in the 1800's, and was once the home of George Fisher, an Indiana Football Hall of Fame inductee, and former coach at Warsaw High School. Our high school football field was named in his honor: Fisher Field.

In 2004, the house was part of the Historical Homes Tour, of Kosciusko County. (I had the honor of being one of the tour guides.)

There was also a suicide in the house years ago, and some of us believe that the old woman is still there. My husband and I never felt comfortable there at night. We always felt like someone was right behind us.

Sam's dad isn't convinced, but his mom has a lot of stories she could tell you. I can't believe she was never freaked out! She always acted like it was no big deal, and went on with whatever she was doing at the time. I hope the new owners like company.                                                                                    

But spookiness aside, we made a lot of great memories in that house, and on the property.

(Our 1st Christmas as a couple,1998)

We decorated our first Christmas tree together as a couple there in '98. It was only my 2nd time decorating a real Christmas tree. All of ours have always been fake, and still are. Not that I don't like real ones, but you see, I'm a Christmas nut, and always have the tree up the weekend before Thanksgiving. I'm not sure a real one would make it that long. Can you say Charlie Brown tree?LOL

In June of 2000, Sam asked me to marry him while we were taking a walk out by the barn. I knew something was going to happen that day, because he was acting weird. Ha!

In the spring of 2001, Sam's dad converted the old summer kitchen next to their house, into a little guest house for the two of us, and on October 6th we were married.

Around Thanksgiving I found out I was pregnant for Megan. Our first Christmas as a married couple, was spent with me having the worst morning sickness. But it was a wonderful day regardless. We were warm and cozy in our little house, and blessed to have a little one on the way.

There were many cook-outs, birthdays, and holidays spent at the old house. We had Halloween party's with hay rides and hot cocoa, and chili that Sam's dad cooked out on the old stone fireplace/chimney.

My bridal shower was held there in 2001, and so was my baby shower in 2009.

It was the place we were all together, one last time, before Sam's grandma passed away.

It will forever be a house filled with the memories of our laughter, tears, joy and sorrow. All the things that make a family a family.

Now it's time to make new memories. Memories that will end up being just as important as the ones we made in the old gray house.

After all, that's all we have when it comes down to it. And I believe we take them with us when we leave this world.

(Standing in the place where Sam proposed.)

1st Grade, Round Two

This is the 3rd blog post, in a series of posts, flashing back to my school-age years. I'm going to try my best to remember as much as I can from each year. Starting now, they will be much more pleasant to read than the first two. Wow! Those were downers! :-)

It was the 1985-1986 school year. I was a first grader once again....


It was a fresh start for me, from the moment I got on the bus that first day. I was introduced to a girl named Melanie,who was also starting the first grade, and was in the same class as me. We became instant "Bus Friends" meaning, we talked and laughed together on the bus, but never really played together at school. But that was fine by me! I was just happy to have a friend.

I remember walking into Mrs. Frank's class that day, feeling a little nervous, but not sad or scared. The only part of the day I dreaded was lunch time, because I knew some of my old classmates would tease me for being held back.

And of course they did, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Plus I had my moment in the sun, when one of the two teasers were held back that same year. (I like to think of it as quiet revenge, even though I had nothing to do with it.)

So, the day started off with a room full of new faces and new possibilities. I met my first official best friend, Tara, who was fun to talk to and be around. We had a lot of goofy fun together, which was just what I needed that year!

(Tara and I, right next to each other in the yearbook, as best friends should be. At least in the mind of a first grader.lol)

I remember a classmate named Tyler, broke his crayon and started to cry. Other kids laughed at him, but I never did. After all, I knew how the poor guy felt!LOL I didn't like being made fun of, so I wasn't about to do the same thing!

My grades were good this time around too. I still have my report card, and I got all A's and B's. My confidence was up, and I was loosening up, and allowing myself to have fun and enjoy school.

I found out that not all boys were mean, and actually got along with most of them. Especially Nate, who would set me off in complete belly laughter all the time! We had fun quoting Ed Grimley to each other. Does anyone remember that show?

It was a Saturday morning cartoon that was based on Martin Short's character from SNL. It only lasted a few years, so don't feel bad if you don't remember. Here's a clip of the intro.



One of the things Ed would say all the time was, "I must say" after everything. For example, "I really hope I get more blog followers, I must say."

 Oh well, it was funny to us at least.

I asked Nate about it when we were in middle school, and it felt good to know he still remembered all of that.   We even had a little impromptu "I must say" session.

First grader Amy was also into these shows, just to name a few.





There are so many great cartoons from that era! Everything is computer animated now, and just has a cold kinda feeling to it. Does that make any sense?

(Not the best picture, but these were some of my favorite "friends" from that year. I still have  my Cabbage Patch, my Ewok, and my fox, that was also a radio. I wish I still had my Punky doll!!)    

Yep, I was having a great year. The only thing I look back and cringe at, is the day I started crying hysterically over a thunderstorm, and thought I was about to die in a tornado.Ha!

And go figure, the two boys that witnessed my breakdown, were still reminding me of it in high school. (I thought I was the only one who remembered stuff like that!;-) I would have been ok, if my Grandpa would have been there.;-)

So that, and a few spontaneous nosebleeds, (I don't know what it was about that year, but I was always getting them!) were the only weird things that happened that year. At least from what I can remember.

I just know that being held back, was the best thing that could have happened to me.

Glad Thursday

Today's Glad Thursday topic will be in true Pollyanna style. If you've seen the movie, you'll know that Pollyanna takes an unpleasant thing, and turns it into something to be glad about.

Today, I'm still not feeling well and won't be taking my son outside to play. This would usually be a bummer, but here comes the glad game.-----

It's going to be in the stinkin' 90's today and tomorrow, and I'm better off staying inside anyways!

So, I can be glad that I'm a little under the weather and stuck inside, because I absolutely hate the heat!

What are you glad about today?