Girls who read are hot!

For pg-13 Eyes only...

I'm sure by now you've all noticed my obssesion with vintage advertising. I came across these gems today. See, girls who read are hot!!

For all you who love vintage ads like I do, check out this blog: www.pzrservices.typepad.com

Ode to Vanessa...

So for my birthday this year, sweet Vanessa went to the trouble of writing a poem for me, about me and even put it on cute paper, with a cute bow and sent it in the mail...getting it to my house on my birthday! How thoughtful, right? Well, you all know that is just how great she is. So in honor of Vanessa's 30th--I, along with many of you, spent her birthday writing a poem about her. Here goes:

Vanessa is 30? It canNOT be true!
We should throw a big party!....or I guess a poem will do…

Your 20s are gone, say ‘Hello’ to new wrinkles
I mean….in those cupcakes you make better than Sprinkles

Taking great photographs is one of your skills
Consorting with vampires gives you great thrills

Heathcliffs your man--he lives in the Moors
But would he appreciate those cupcakes of s’mores?

We know ‘Joanna’ would, she’s your best friend
Although some of us think, she might be pretend

Who is this girl that we’ve never seen?
Are you certain she didn’t show up in a dream?

You faked out Jon Olson, while at BYU
But HE was the wrestler & the joke was on YOU!

We’ve seen your mom & dad, so we know you’re not fakin’
Who else would eat an apple pie with bacon?

Using your coupons, you get food pretty cheap
$1.00 for cereal is just way too steep!

You’re full of fun stories, you make everyone laugh
You like teenage novels, ask Barnes & Noble staff

Hosting great parties is another talent you possess
If you’re not on the guestlist, there’s sure to be duress

You are super creative when it comes to hair-bows
And you’re a scrapbooking queen--everyone knows!

Your T-shirts are offensive, yet pretty darn funny
Maybe you should quit your day job & sell them for money

Although Sydney & Vivie are your pride and joy
Its probably a good thing you don’t have a boy.

With dress-ups & dancing he’d probably go queer
But with Jon as the dad, he’d steer him clear.

One more thing must be mentioned, you blog like a pro
You’re full of entertainment--more than you know!

Being 30’s not so bad, its actually great
So stop all your moping & let’s celebrate! ;)

Happy Birthday Vanessa!!

(Lori, Sara, Julie, Allyn, Debbie, Michelle, Carmen, Phaedra -- all contributers)

Now, I will post the poem she wrote me on my birthday... (since I'm the birthday brat...and even though its Vanessa's birthday, we should still be thinking of me) ;)

Ode to Lori

Oh that Lori, She's so cute,

And she's super nice to boot

I'd like to hate her, but I can't

So I'll write poetry instead of rant!

She looks like Belle from Disney lore

And gets great bargains at the store.

Her music always strikes a note

From her blog you could quote.

Please don't think I'm being rude

But she's the youngest of the family brood.

Mesa's the place she grew and grew

She turned out normal (hey, who knew?!)

She studied families at the Y

Then a boy caught her eye.

His name is Trevor, he's alright

Loves to surf--day or night

She loves Savannah to no end

Scrapbooking so far is not her friend.

Recipes and book club she surely likes

But that's cuz I'm there (am I right?!)

Cold weather is her mortal foe

For her birthday its the Ellen show!

I wish her htis day the very best

Better than 364 of the rest!

Happy Birthday Lori!!

I think this should be a theme for book club one month--we should write poems about each other...I really enjoyed doing this, I hope you all get a kick out of it too! -Lori

Guess who's joined the "Forever 21 Club?!"

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VANESSA!!!!

You are a truly amazing, talented, spunky, fun, intelligent, beautiful, well read, person who is a wonderful friend, wife, mother, cook, and so much more!! I feel so privileged to know you and to call you my friend.

Hope you have a great birthday!
Sara

Toffee Brittle Crunch

I love this stuff, and it is so easy to make! From memory, here's the recipe, I'll check it when I get home and let you know if I forgot anything.

1 sleeve saltine crackers
1 cup Butter
1 cup Brown Sugar
2 cups Chocolate Chips

Pre-heat oven to 350. Place tin-foil over a cookie sheet.
Spread out saltine crackers on tin-foil, close together.
In a medium pan, melt Butter & Brown Sugar together. Once they are melted, cook for 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Pour mixture over crackers and spread to evenly coat all crackers. Bake at 350 for 10 min. checking to make sure it doesn't burn. (Mine has never burned, but that's what the recipe says.)
Remove from oven and pour chocolate chips over toffee, they will melt. Spread to evenly coat. Add your favorite chopped nuts on top of chocolate if desired.
Cool for 30 min. (or stick cookie sheet in the freezer for 10 min.) then break into pieces. Enjoy!

Melted chocolate yummy goodness...

Here is the chocolate chip calzone recipe as promised. It tastes just like the one at Claim Jumper (except I think the one at Claim Jumper does have marshmallows in it, but I'm not quite sure.)


Chocolate Chip Calzone
(Recipe from Brian Okada)

1 pizza dough
3 oz. chocolate chips
3 oz. white chocolate chips
Vanilla ice cream
Chocolate sauce

Directions
Stretch pizza dough to 10" in diameter. Place 1 oz. chocolate chips (about a handful) at the bottom of the dough and fold once. Place 1 oz. white chocolate chips down and fold again. Repeat 3 times until all the chips are used. Pinch the edges of the dough closed. Bake at 450 degrees for 7-10 minutes until golden brown. Cut into 6 pieces. Serve with ice cream and cover with chocolate sauce. Serves 2.

I also make a milk/sugar wash for the top before I bake it.

1 TBS of sugar
1 TBS milk

Mix together and brush on calzone before baking (it adds a nice sweetness and 'crust')


Enjoy!

Oh yeah, Sara-- I've decided I need that recipe of yours from last night too. I was craving it all night after I left!

I know it's not a book...

I know it's not a book and I'll delete this post soon...

Jon and I need a doggy sitter and a cat feeder for a weekend in July. The cat can take care of herself, she just needs to be fed. The dog on the other hand... well, she's not as bright.

She sure is cute though... Ellie's a sweet little dog. She stays in her kennel during the day while Jon and I are at work and while we're sleeping at night. She's used to being out for a couple of hours in the morning and a few hours in the evening (after work). She hasn't had a potty accident in the house in a few weeks (we're hoping that she's officially been housebroken) but she's not really good at letting you know when she has to go. You just have to make her go outside for about 30 minutes in the morning and another 30 minutes in the evening. She likes it if you go outside with her, but she's capable of being outside by herself. Sometimes she "drips" when she gets really excited to see someone.

She doesn't like kids very much but only because they like to reach and grab for her and she doesn't like that. She's lost a few of her wiskers that way and is a little hesitant. She has never bitten or even snapped at anyone and certainly tolerates everyone. The Boneys used to come and take her for the day because the kids love her and she did just fine with them - including Noah (see Allyn's post). She only barks when the doorbell rings or someone knocks on the door.

We would prefer to have someone that could housesit for us too but we know that the chances are slim for that. Second choice would be to have someone take her home with them and just stop by to feed the cat once a day. Zoe is totally anti-stranger so you would probably never even see her.

It would only cost us $100 to take Ellie with us but we don't really have the funds for that. I could throw in a cheesecake though, if someone is willing to take her for us. Just let me know.

Austenland

Hi Ladies,
I just finished Austenland , if anyone would like to borrow it, and it is quick read. I am interested in knowing what others thought of it. I laughed at some parts and had some of Jane's same fantasies/train of thought in my past, but overall I thought that it was o.k..

P.S. I will give the author credit in the fact that when I finished I wanted to watch the movie, or is that just my own desire to have a "Mr. Darcy" charge? Ha, Ha.

Favorite Book Lines

I know I'm still behind, but I'm finally getting to finish I Capture the Castle and I had to laugh out loud at "I had the most currios feeling in my solar plexus..."

That has to be one of my favorite book lines. Who would have though to use solar plexus?

What are your favorite lines from books? Why are they your favorite?

Breaking Dawn Cover Art!!

Here it is Ladies,
So give us your predictions... What could the cover mean???



Also, get ready.. Barnes and Noble Oceanside will be having a midnight release party of Breaking Dawn starting Friday August 1st at 10 pm. You know we're going!