The Big Things - Day 343

Yesterday was all about the little things. Today was all about things big. No, I am not talking about my butt, thighs or belly again. I am talking about the big generosity of the group that gathered together tonight to "Drink for Pink." My friends Carolynn and Diane are participating in the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure event in the fall...3 days, 60 miles of walking to end breast cancer. What a huge commitment they have made to be a part of the biggest breast cancer event in history. Tonight they got together their friends and co-workers for a fund raising cocktail party at Urban Flats. The turnout was impressive. Each attendee contributed $25 to attend and enjoy wine, flatbread pizzas and Seasons 52 mini indulgences. Lots of raffle tickets were sold and cool prizes were given out. It was a really nice evening for a really great cause. I don't know the fund raising tally, but I am sure it will have a BIG impact.

To find out more about this great event, go to www.the3day.org.

Many hugs,
Kathy

The Little Things - Day 342

Today was a crazy, frustrating work day. On the surface there was not much good, fun or happy to write about. So once again when I sat down to do my posting I was stumped. And then I suddenly remembered the gecko that hitched a ride on my rear window on the way to work today and I started to giggle. It was the darnedest thing! I looked up and there he was hanging on for dear life as I drove down the road. He reminded me of how I sometimes feel on this wild ride of life...out of place and scared out of my mind. This little guy had a determination that just wouldn't quit. Somehow I found him inspirational. It's the little things...

Lunch time brought a little smile to my face as well. I was in the vicinity of D & G Occasions, a baker's nirvana, and decided to stop in to see if they had a music note cookie cutter. To my delight, they did. Not only a medium size note, but a mini one as well. I paired them with the appropriately sized heart cookie cutters and happily walked out the door with my new found treasures...after paying, of course. I can't wait to bake a batch of heart singing sugar cookies for Morgan to thank her for a job well done on my logo. It's the little things...

Lack of exercise has been weighing heavily on my mind...and my butt...and my thighs. Tonight I did something about it. I took a little walk around Crane's Roost. Only once, but it was a start. A baby step toward fitness. It's the little things...

Many hugs,
Kathy

Unfocused - Day 341

Tonight as I sat down to write my blog I realized my thoughts were all over the place. I was unfocused and uninspired. Today had been a good day. I received an e-mail from an old friend I hadn't talked to in at least a year. The business card designs Morgan created were shared with several of my friends to rave reviews. This evening Apple Cinnamon Crunch Cookies made there way to the oven. I played around a little with the recipe substituting Marcona almonds for the usual toasted pecans and chunkier Granola from Costco for a finer blend. The results were good, not over the top great. But for a change, I was OK with that. With experimentation comes insight and improvement. I am getting close with this combination...just not quite there.

Last night I began reading "A Homemade Life, stories and recipes from my kitchen table" by Molly Wizenberg. Molly is the author of the award winning food blog Orangette and a frequent contributor to Bon Appetit magazine. I love her writing style. It is personal and warm. She has a way of describing food and food experiences that make you want to run in the kitchen to make something right that instant. Then share it around the kitchen table with your family and friends.

I want so much to write with the ease of Molly's style. At times, writing comes easy. More often, like tonight, it does not. I think it is time to head upstairs and read a few more chapters. Maybe Molly's style will miraculously creep into my psyche.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Ole! Dinner at Home! - Day 340

Dinners cooked at home are few and far between for this cash starved foodie. But tonight I was feeling a little spicy...a little cheesy...a little saucy. So I picked up some Mexican fixins on my way home and pulled together an over-indulgent Mexican feast for me and Mike. While dinner baked in the oven, I served blue corn chips, fresh salsa and frozen margaritas as a starter. Our entree plates overflowed with piping hot, cheesy pork enchiladas made from the leftover smoked pork from last night, Mexican rice and a ramekin of black beans. It was a yummy way to make good use of leftovers. After two margaritas I am feeling a little lazy and not the least bit creative. So here's a toast to dinners at home with my husband. Ole! And good night now.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Purveyor of Delicious Treats - Day 339

Late last night Mike finally got Morgan's business card layouts to open. OMG...I love them! She gave me two options and I love them both. The designs are simple, playful and warm...just the image I want to project. One of my favorite aspects of the card is the moniker Morgan game me - "Purveyor of Delicious Treats." I am determined to live up to my new found title.

The cookies I baked last night were divvied up between Mike, Ryan, Ryan's Jacksonville Jaguars co-workers, Chris Long and a few of my Costco friends. I got a lot of mileage out of those two batches of cookies. It felt so good to be the cookie fairy once again.

Anthony, one of my regular customers stopped by. On a previous visit he asked me for a recipe card for White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan Cookies. Today I gave him the card and a cookie to boot. The smile on his face made my day! He even shuffled back by my station on his way out to tell me how much it meant to him. Happy dance.

Ryan stayed long enough to share dinner with me, Mike, my mom and brother before heading back to Jacksonville. Easy was the plan so I picked up pulled pork, Italian bread, Caesar salad and a Boston cream pie at Costco. I cut corn off the cob and made my version of fresh creamed corn, grilled slices of Italian bread, nuked the pulled pork and pulled off a pretty tasty feast in about half an hour. Everyone seemed happy with the results...especially Maddie. She is now a BIG fan of Costco pulled pork. I had never purchased the Kirkland brand of smoked pulled pork, but I definitely will again. For $9.99 we had enough for (5) pork sandwiches tonight and plenty for at least two more meals for two...or three if Maddie has anything to do with it. Don't be deceived by the package size. It packs plenty.

Many hugs,
Kathy

I'm Back! - Day 338

After a fantabulous weekend off, I am back to my weekend gig at Costco. My day was filled with people watching, an occasional wine sale and a lot of sweating. The air was out at Costco on a day when the temperature topped 100 F. Oh my, it was HOT!

Morgan sent me business card layout choices shortly before I walked into work, but unfortunately I could not open the zip file on my phone. When I got home, I could not open the file on my laptop. Aaagh! The anticipation is killing me!

Tonight I baked cookies for the first time since I was overtaken by the baking demon earlier in the week. And I would like to report...I'm baaaaaaaack. The demon has been exorcised and I am feeling pretty good about the results. I baked Toasted Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies for Ryan and White Chocolate Blueberry Pecan Cookies for Chris. Baking cookies for your loved ones is so soul satisfying. I love having Ryan and Chris around the house. Watching Ryan revert to a little kid again when he dipped his spoon into the uncooked dough made my heart dance. This is why I bake! The funny thing is Chris had the exact same look when he dipped into his dough. Once a kid, always a kid.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Filled With The Christmas Spirit - Day 337

Today I had lunch with a friend I haven't seen in quite a while. We dined at a little Japanese restaurant tucked away in an almost deserted shopping plaza off I Drive - Aki Sushi. The prices were reasonable and the food was good. But the best part was the conversation with Sheila. She shared plans for a new home purchase in North Carolina. I shared details of my new business venture. One thing she said struck a chord with me. She wished that you could capture the goodwill and spirit of the holidays and feel it all year long. Why do people seem to only exhibit the love from November to December? I agreed, then I thought for a moment. For me this last year, especially the last few months, have been filled with the Christmas spirit. The wish that Sheila expressed actually came true for me. My friends and family have amazed me with their generosity, encouragement and love. Suddenly I am in the mood for Peppermint Bark HeartSong Cookies and a mug of steaming hot chocolate.

Tonight was the perfect ending to a pretty amazing week. Ryan and his friend Chris Long are spending the weekend with us to visit Universal and steep themselves in everything Harry Potter. They both embrace their quirky geekness and I think that is a very good thing. We all piled in the car for dinner at Carrabba's and dessert at Jeremiah's. I love spending time with them and getting caught up on their lives. Long is doing some pretty awesome things. Currently he is involved with the Florida Sea Turtle Project several days a week. His enthusiasm for his accomplishments is infectious. In the fall, Long begins grad school at UCF. I am hopeful he will pay us many more visits while he is here. He makes me smile.

Many hugs,
Kathy

I Have A Plan! - Day 336

Starting a new business is not only scary, it's extremely confusing. Just when I think I have all the answers, another question pops up. I know what I have to do, but in what order? Egads! This is stressing me out.

So I placed a call to the Florida Department of Agriculture and waited on eternal hold. Finally, a friendly voice came on the line. She was very helpful as I hit her with my barrage of questions. At the end of the call, I felt much better. Now I have a plan.

Next stop, the IRS website to apply for an FEID number. Check. I've got it! Then more calls to food certification services, more eternal hold and finally a cost and date for my Food Manager Certification class...July 19. My plan is falling into place.

Tonight Mike surprised me by coming home a day early. We met at Sweet Tomatoes with our good friend BOGO. The current theme at Sweet Tomatoes is Summer Fruit and the new choices were quite tasty. Mike and I ate like ravenous pigs and hurried home. We could not take a chance at missing "THE DECISION." OMG! I love sports talk radio, but the last couple of weeks have been torturous. If I hear the word "Lebron" one more time...well, I don't know what I will do.

Needless to say I am sick of it all...the egos, the media hype, the money, the power and the manipulation. No on person, no matter how talented, serves this much attention. I think the "King" needs to be deposed!

Many hugs,
Kathy

I Am A Corporation - Day 335

So this is what it feels like to be a corporation...scared out of my mind! This morning I couldn't catch my breath. And then the facebook comments came flowing in. One after another, offering words of encouragement. Next came Joe, my boss, who stopped by my office to see how I was doing. He shared several stories of how he felt when he started Fidelity Press. As he left my office, he looked me straight in the eye and told me I would be successful...he had no doubt about it. Wow! His reaction was unexpected, but much appreciated. Suddenly I felt invincible. I will be successful...if all my friends and loved ones have anything to do with it.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Happy Meal - Day 334

Tonight I had a happy meal for dinner. No, it did not include a toy, French fries or a hamburger on a bun. In fact, it did not come from Mickey D's at all. It was a meal enjoyed at Longhorn Steakhouse with my good friend Dennis. Meals shared with Dennis are the ultimate happy meals because that is exactly how I feel at their conclusion. Dennis always has wonderful stories to share about members of his rather large family. I love listening to every detail. I kind of feel like Michael J. Fox in one of my favorite movies "Doc Hollywood" as he reads the stories of the Pakistani. Unfortunately tonight I think my stories dominated the conversation. But Dennis still managed a few choice nuggets. Like the one where his sister ordered a mail order monkey...don't ask! As usual, he made me smile.

The food was pretty darn good as well. Dennis ordered his usual "Renegade" sirloin steak. I chose the chopped steak smothered in mushroom sauce and fried onion straws. Very fattening and very tasty! As I drove off after dropping Dennis at his home, all I could think of was what a happy mood I was in...all thanks to a happy meal with Dennis. I didn't miss "The Last Airbender" toy one bit!

My happy mood turned ecstatic when I arrived home to Maddie and the mail. Sandwiched between the bills was an envelope from the State of Florida addressed to me. OMG...HeartSong Cookies, LLC is official and I have the certificate to prove it!

Many hugs and happy meals,
Kathy

Pooped - Day 333

Today Mike and I did what we do best...we worked together as a team on an overwhelming project of gutting the downstairs bedroom. We moved all the furniture. Mike shampooed the carpeting. I ran errands and purged more stuff. Together we decided what furniture to move back in and what to place elsewhere. I put fresh bed linens on the bed including a new comforter. The end result was exactly what we wanted...uncluttered, fresh, relaxing and clean.

Now I am pooped. Sweet dreams.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Five Star Dining - Day 332

During the last week I have enjoyed several five star dining experiences. The cool thing is, they weren't at any stuffy, pretentious restaurant. They were all enjoyed at the homes of friends. Each had a uniqueness all its own. All were tasty and completely different. At the end of each meal I was full, happy and completely soul satisfied.

Tonight's dining adventure was enjoyed at the home of our friends Tom, Susan and Christopher. All three outdid themselves. The table was beautiful all by itself, but add the copious food and it was downright amazing. We feasted on baby back ribs, mac and cheese, roasted red skin potatoes, squash casserole, cornbread, corn on the cob, kidney bean salad and Waldorf salad. I am still full and it has been at least 5 hours since we ate.

After dinner we jumped in their boat for a relaxing cruise around Lake Brantley at dusk. We sipped on wine and gazed at how the other half lives. Somehow I cannot imagine they live even half as wonderful a life as we do. We ooooed and ahhhhed over fireworks, got a little soggy from the light rain and headed back to their home for dessert. I was responsible for dessert and unfortunately it did not quite live up to the quality of the meal. My Big Heart Cookie got a little overcooked, but at least it looked cute. I topped it with vanilla chocolate chip ice cream, a drizzle of hot caramel sauce and a squirt of whipped cream. Tasty, but too dry. I still haven't exorcised the baking demons that have haunted me for over a week. I guess its kind of like a bad case of the shanks in golf. I will just have to keep working through it.

In the meantime, I just want to say thanks to Mike, Tom, Susan, Chris, Kenda, Mark, Vicky, David, Sheri, Sarah and Noah. You all have been the best dining companions this cash staved foodie could ever have.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Pass The Unagi - Day 331

Today was the first full day of my free weekend. I spent it doing all the things I never have time to do when I work at Costco. Mike and I set out this morning for market research at Winter Park Farmer's Market. Unfortunately we did not realize Park Avenue was shut down for a Fourth of July parade. There was NO place to park. We decided to go to plan B and head for 4Rivers Barbecue for an early lunch. We picked up smoked turkey and smoked pork sandwiches and headed to Lake Lily for an in our car picnic.

Then it was on to the house to begin the purge project. After two trips to Goodwill with a trunk filled with stuff, the garage stilled seemed as congested as it did before the dump. I think I have accumulated enough stuff for at least twenty more trips.

Late this afternoon I experimented with my new toys...a large heart shaped cookie pan, several heart shaped cookie cutters and a silicone mini heart pan. Cooking times will need to be modified, but overall the experiments were a success. I drizzled the cookies with chocolate and headed out the door for dinner at Mark and Kenda's home.

Kenda had been busy assembling my favorite kind of meal...an appetizer smorgasbord. We feasted on homemade hummus surrounded by raw veggies, Manchego cheese and crackers, fresh berries, grapes and Greek yogurt, tortilla chips, cilantro lime marinated shrimp and mini pizzas made from homemade crust and topped to our liking. We washed it all down with yummy sangria and HoneyMoon Beer. Everything was delish.

The evening was absolutely perfect...relaxed and easy. We ended it with a medley of songs from Mark's Superfizzee collection. The grand finale was Kenda's favorite...Pass the Unagi. I was not sure what Unagi was, but I sure like saying it. Unagi. Unagi. Unagi. Pass the Unagi! And then I looked it up on Wikipedia and discovered it meant eel. Mmmmm...Bypass the Unagi.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Crafting An Image - Day 330

Over the last few days I have been busy crafting an image for my new business venture...with a lot of help from my friends. My friend Mark took the logo developed by Morgan and worked it into a series of amazingly cool t-shirt designs and a color palette for a website, packaging and promo materials. My nephew Kyle took the logo and converted it to an embroidery format for embroidered aprons, caps and shirts. I purchased chocolate brown table cloths, shallow baskets for cookie displays, a cool aqua retro cooler, turquoise curtain panels for a backdrop to my booth and a variety of heart shaped cookie cutters and pans for cookie experimentation. The image that has been camping out in my brain for quite a while is becoming real and I like it. I like it very much!

Now that I have an image, I need to work on the perfect product to back it up. This weekend will be spent purging, organizing, experimenting, registering and researching. But for now, it will be spent doing absolutely nothing and enjoying every minute of my unproductiveness.

Many hugs,
Kathy

Dinner at McC's Garden Cafe - Day 329

I was home the moment I walked in the door. Not my home, but my home away from home...home of my friends, Sheri, David, Noah and Sarah. I affectionately call it McC's Garden Cafe. It is better than any restaurant you will ever visit. Meals are crafted by David from his garden. They are served on the most magical family heirloom table with a huge lazy Susan in the center. No TV is on in the background and conversation flows freely. I have shared three meals at this wonderful establishment and each one is a source of pure bliss.

Last night my dining adventure began at the kitchen table with David and Sheri's daughter Sarah, her Girl Scout camp photos and lots of wonderful stories. While we poured over photos, David served us homemade hummus, crackers and fresh brewed ice tea. Mmmmm! David makes an awesome hummus. Soon after Sheri arrived home and we all convened in the dining room for a lazy Susan feast of salmon croquettes with a creamy sauce, scalloped potatoes, a beautiful salad and fresh from the garden carrots and Brussels sprouts. I cannot even begin to describe how much this evening meant to me. For several brief hours I was transported to a dream of a life where I am a part of a family, tradition and love. My life is amazing, but so far from traditional it is ridiculous. I have always longed for a sense of family. These evenings satisfy my soul.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Love Lost - Day 328

Oatmeal Cookies used to be one of my favorites. I was smitten. I loved the texture and the nutty flavor. The fact that they seemed healthier than the average chocolate chip cookie made me swoon. Sadly, after a challenging week of oatmeal cookie baking, I have fallen out of love.

It all started when my friend Ron requested a birthday basket of oatmeal cookies for Carla in New York. No problem. I had the perfect recipe in my repertoire from my friend Vicky. I can make most of my cookies with my eyes closed, but not this one. The challenge started as I gathered the ingredients together on Sunday night. Oh no...no dates and no untoasted coconut. Hmmmmmm, time to improvise. I substituted a blend of dried cherries, blueberries, cranberries and plums for the dates, toasted coconut for the fresh, and added more toasted pecans. After tasting the raw dough, I was feeling pretty cocky. It was delish.

Then things went terribly wrong. My old lady eyes got the best of me and I set the oven for 350 F instead of 375 F. In went the first pan. When the timer went off and I opened the oven, the cookies were not the golden color I remembered. I left them in for another minute, then another and another. When they finally browned slightly, the cookies were dry and crunchy, not soft and chewy. Was my oven not working? Did I set the timer incorrectly? Oh well...I tried another pan. Same results! I was perplexed. Back to the recipe I went. Oh no, I discovered my oven temp dilemma.

I had used almost half of the dough. It was 10:30 p.m. I was VERY tired and I needed to ship these cookies tomorrow to arrive on Wednesday for Carla's birthday. The balance baked at the correct temperature, yielding barely enough for Ron's order. I was less than pleased. They were good, not great.

At this point, I decided to bite the bullet and bake a new batch the next night with no improvisation. I would overnight the cookies to arrive on Carla's big day. Carla's reject cookies were given to friends with rave reviews. Did I make the wrong decision not to ship?

More ingredients were purchased. The oven was set correctly. The recipe was followed to a tee. Once again, the results were less than perfect...very sweet and somewhat dry. I frantically searched the internet for oatmeal cookie recipes. Finally settling on a simple Raisin Pecan Oatmeal Cookie from Ina Garten. Why is this so difficult? I must be overthinking it. You think?!

Ina's cookies were OK. They spread more than I would like, but came closer to the softer, chewy cookie I was craving. One problem...the recipe called for Kosher salt, I substituted a little less table salt. The cookie had a salty after taste that just wasn't quite right.

My confidence sank to an all time low. Had I lost my baking touch? I could not let Ron down in his birthday wishes for Carla. The less than perfect cookies were carefully wrapped, beautifully packaged and tearfully taken to the post office to make their way to New York. I hope Carla subscribes to the motto - "It's the thought that counts!"

As I pout and worry about my cookie reputation being sullied, I vow to find the best damn oatmeal cookie recipe on the planet. I vow to find that loving feeling again. And Carla...when I do, a surprise will be heading your way.

Many hugs,

Kathy

HeartSong Cookies, LLC - Day 327

It's official. The paperwork to make HeartSong Cookies a REAL business is in the mail. Mike and I decided to submit the paperwork to the state ourselves rather than go through an online legal service. Money is tight and we need to save wherever we can. My emotions have run the gamut today. From excitement and joy to extreme fear. This step makes it REAL...VERY REAL.

It's not the work that scares me. Or even concern over the number of cookies I will sell. I am a little overwhelmed with the monthly commercial kitchen rental fees, but feel somehow the money situation will work itself out. What concerns me the most is self doubt. I am worried that my cookies will stand out in the crowd. I want them so much to be good...no GREAT! The comments from my clients and friends over the last year should have given me the confidence I need. But nooooooooo, I still am consumed with self doubt.

Tonight I am baking cookies for friends. M & M Cookies without nuts for Sarah just came out of the oven to cool. White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies for Marieta just went in the oven. The smell throughout the house is heavenly. And with every pan taken out of the oven, my confidence grows. My cookies are not big and thick like Selma's Cookies. They have the look of a homemade cookie...one like mom would make. They are not perfectly shaped. They do not look like they are mass produced. They look like they are made by hand, with love. They look like they contain a bushel full of hugs. They look exactly like I want them to look. They look like a cookie from HeartSong Cookies, LLC. Happy Dance!

Many hugs,

Kathy

Multitasking Foodie - Day 326

In the olden days...a year ago, Saturday was my day to run errands. The grocery store, dry cleaners and discount stores were my hang outs. No more. Now I work and hangout at Costco on the weekends. Errands are relegated to lunch hours. Multitasking is a must. Super Target is my new best friend. As I mentioned before, I strongly dislike fast food restaurants. I crave a place to grab a quick bite that is inexpensive and relatively healthy. A bonus would be to have this place surrounded by a clean, organized grocery and discount store. I found my haven at the Super Target deli. The deli located just inside the grocery entrance to the store is home to tasty salads, sandwiches and snacks to grab on the run. Usually I opt for a salad for $3.99. Today I picked up a snack of hummus and fresh veggies for $1.49. Fearing I would still be hungry, I also grabbed the meat, cheese and fruit snack on sale for $2.49. With a bottled water my quick grab lunch tab came to $5.00. Too bad I had no one to share my bounty with. It was far too much food for one person alone. Not only did I satisfy my quick, cheap lunch craving, but I also picked up missing ingredients for tonight's baking adventure and a $5.78 cardigan sweater clearance special as a reward to all my thriftiness. I was a foodie at her multitasking best!

Many hugs,

Kathy

A Great Start - Day 325

My son Ryan made a surprise visit from Jacksonville yesterday. To celebrate I took my two favorite men out to breakfast at First Watch. I had an ulterior motive. First Watch is located around the corner from the Maitland Farmer's Market where I plan to set up shop. I hoped if I asked real nice, maybe they would walk the market with me. Breakfast was a tasty and filling skillet with potatoes, cheese, scrambled eggs, crumbled bacon, tomato and avocado. With hot coffee and engaging conversation it made for the perfect start to the day. As we paid the bill, Mike noticed an application for their breakfast club. The card mentioned buy one, get one offers would be e-mailed. Happy dance!

My plan worked. Mike and Ryan accompanied me on a quick stroll through the market. To my delight, we only came across one cupcake baker, one mystery pastry baker and two bread bakers. Market traffic was light. The vendors were not particularly engaging and it was HOT, very HOT. We stopped by to see Cathy of Cathy's Cajun Cuisines. Last weekend I bought some of her Fire and Ice Pickles. This week I reported on how much I enjoyed snacking on them all week. The pride on her face was priceless. I want to experience that feeling. And I will...real soon. Don't forget to check out Cathy's product offerings at www.cathyscajuncuisines.com or better yet come to the Maitland Farmer's Market to visit us both.

One thing that struck me, was just how poorly most of the vendors displayed their wares. It will not take much to stand out in the crowd. Cathy is one of the exceptions. Her booth draws you in with an impressive, in your face, product display and a big smile. Many of the other vendors timidly hid behind their tables. This will not be me! I may not sell a lot of cookies, but I will engage a lot of people in conversation. Thanks to genes from my mom, there are no strangers in this world...only friends I haven't met yet. Thanks Mom!

Tonight I actually cooked at home. Amazingly this cash starved foodie has a habit of eating out. But Costco had fresh Wild Sockeye Salmon on sale yesterday and I could not pass it up. I grilled the salmon along with some chicken for Ryan and served it with mashed potatoes and Caesar salad. Everyone seemed pleased...even Maddie who sampled something from everyone's plate.

My baking adventures tonight weren't nearly as successful as dinner had been. I misread my Oatmeal Cookie recipe and set the oven at 350 F instead of 375 F. Unfortunately it took me two pans before I figured it out. I was baking for a birthday basket for Ron's friend. It has to be there by Wednesday and it looks like I will be baking again tomorrow and shipping overnight. I cannot send something less than perfection.

Many hugs,

Kathy

Surrounded - Day 324

This morning I delivered the fruit of my wee hour baking. Donna's eyes lit up when I handed her the basket full of treats. The baby shower cookies were made from my favorite sugar cookie dough tinged with almond extract, glazed with light blue glaze, sprinkled with light blue sugar and piped with chocolate icing. Each cookie was individually bagged and tied with light blue and brown ribbon...the shower color scheme. These cookies were definitely a labor of love. I could never charge what I should to cover the time spent.

Work today was brutal. Costco surrounded me with all my wants, but cannot haves and they spoke to me the entire afternoon. The storage shed over my left shoulder whispered "I would make Mike very happy." The outdoor kitchen diagonally across from my table chanted "You know you want me!" King crab legs and jumbo prawns shouted "Buy me for dinner!" The Stag's Leap Merlot to my right threatened to leap into my cart..."I'm going to jump!" It drove me crazy. I take that back...I was already crazy. What sane person works seven days a week, ignores her loving husband to bake or write a blog and averages 5 hours of sleep a night?!

Tonight I had a rare craving for steak so Mike humored me with a trip to Outback. I was pleasantly surprised to find the $9.95 Outback Special on the menu. My meal included a 6 oz. sirloin steak, baked potato and blue cheese pecan chopped salad plus bread, good service and no dishes to clean up. It made this cash starved foodie very happy.

Many hugs,

Kathy