Thursday, February 11, 2010

Random & Recipes...

A few random things from our week:

~ My Dad's home after another 5 week work-trip in Africa! We're so glad he's home and hope it's this way for a while!

~ Look who got to have lunch on Monday...



Yep, Little Miss was oh-so thrilled to see her BFF, Allie Claire! (both sporting red, I might add, in honor of the upcoming day of Love!)

~ Speaking of the big Hearts Day... Annabelle sent out her Valentine's this week.
Here's what they looked like:
Version 1 was the Valentine's we had take at the Picture People and featured a pic of Belle & her BFF... awwww....

Version 2 was a tiny pic of AB and a personalized Valentine card I found on Etsy! I LOVE them! They turned out so cute & to be personalized, they were very inexpensive! I had the girl who did them for me do matching address labels, too!



~ We started our new Women's bible study on Tuesday night and I cannot wait until our meeting next week! We've got 22 women and it's just the neatest group that God has put together! I just think it's going to be such a great study (we're doing Beth Moore's, Esther) and with a group as diverse as we have, I think we're all going to have something different to offer the group! I cannot wait to see what God does in the next 10 weeks.



For refreshments (hello, it was a church function, of course we had to have food!) I took Strawberries & marshmallow dip, french bread with Italian spread, & oreo truffles. I got this recipe from one of my cousins... It was either my cousin Sara or Amy... I can't remember for sure, but I am almost certain it was one of them. Anyway, I have never made this and not had someone beg me for the recipe. And it's beyond easy....

Bread Spread
1 block cream cheese, softened
1 packet Good Seasons Italian dressing mix (the packet you would use if you were making your own Italian dressing)

Mix together and serve with bread.

Seriously, does it get any easier than that?!?!? I make it for every shower or "snacky" type thing we have! Ha... Usually I buy the Pillsbury french loaf in the can (in the refrigerated section by the canned biscuits) and bake that to serve with it. But, Tuesday, I just grabbed a french loaf from the bakery and sliced it up.
I didn't take any pictures before, but I had the spread shaped in a heart, (for V-Day!) but here's what it will look like when you have mixed it up...



We had lots of leftovers, so I've been eating strawberries & dip every morning for breakfast!
Whether or not I've been double-dipping is questionable!

That dip is one of my favorite things...mmmmmm... I am sure everyone knows how to make it, but just in case you've been living under a rock and haven't ever experienced the goodness of this fruit dip, then just get:

1 jar marshmallow cream
1 block cream cheese

and mix it together...serve it with any fruit, but strawberries are the best in it!


~ We're almost finished with our laundry room cabinet redo and I can't wait to show the before and after! Oh my... I am in love with what we did & who helped me do it! I have the best guy E.V.E.R.! He even let me use the miter saw!

~ And lastly, there's this one thing that's been on my mind ALL week... On Monday, after we had lunch, Carrie and I (& the girls) ran in Wal-Mart to get a few things. While we were checking out (in the 20 items or less lane), we got behind a couple who had the STRANGEST combination of things I've ever seen. Answer me this- what is somebody going to do with: (and I kid you not, these amounts are not exaggerated, they are exact)
65 lbs. of sugar
30 gallons of vegetable oil
7 jars (the Sam's size) of Mayonnaise
and the 3 biggest cans of sardines you've ever seen in your life???
What in the world??? I have thought about it and thought about it all week long...



~amw~

16 comments:

Julianne Hendrickson said...

HAHA!! So strange...no clue! At first I thought canning, but sardines??

Love Belle's valentines...too cute and great idea getting them on etsy!

Sherrie said...

Your bible study sounds great. I was at a women's retreat for church a couple weekends ago and my small group was a very diverse group of women. We had the best small group chats! I love mixing women of all ages together.

Steffie said...

Cute valentines! Who did you use on Etsy? I was looking at some labels and never ordered them, so I was just wondering who you used.

Whitney said...

Cute pics! I think the personalized valentines are such a cute idea... I'm going to have to check them out next year. I saw some on another blog (About $1 per card) but they were quite expensive, so I bought my $2.99 box instead! :) BUT, if I could find some a little cheaper, that would be fun!

Janie said...

LOVE the personalized vday cards!! I LOVE Etsy too, you can find some great deals!
I am taking Beth Moore's Esther Bible study right now(6th week). I am LOVIN' it! This is my first Beth Moore study and I couldn't be more pleased! She is so gifted to speak and write the way she does. In fact, tonight she completely spoke to me!!! We have a small group of 9 but are having the best time!
I pray you enjoy it as much as I have! Happy Vday lady!

Danielle said...

You're going to LOVE Esther! It is the BEST Beth Moore study I have done yet! .. and I saw you were the first one signed up on the LPM blog for the So Long, Insecurity discussion group. :) Are you reading it on your own or in a group. I am signed up too! Can't wait to kiss insecurity goodbye!

Just Jenn said...

apparently I live under the rock... must try the marshmellow cream and cream cheese! (wonder if the strawberry cream cheese would make it too sweet?) ;)

As for the Walmart couple... I am not sure I want to know...

;) Just Jenn

Heather said...

How cute are those Valentine's?! Annabelle and her bff are so cute together! These recipes sounds awesome Annie! Can't wait to try them, glad you dad is back safe and sound!

Katie said...

I think I eat that much mayonnaise in a week! HAHA!!! (just kidding)

The girls look so sweet up there together! Can you just not imagine them later on, talking on the phone and stuff?! I just want to scoop them both up and love on 'em!

Those personalized cards are such a cute idea!! What else does she do?? I'll have to check her out!

Hines House said...

Girl, that couple has gotta be cooking for a church function. Maybe a hamburgers.... the mayo and all the oil for some french fries or maybe it's fish and they are going to be making a truck load of tarter sauce. They must be baptist :)

Carrie said...

I loved the Valentine's they were so cute. Great idea, mama!

And you know I am wishing I was in your Bible Study, but I sorta feel like I am..does that count?

I tell you, I don't know what Allie and I would do without our shopping, eating, shopping and more eating trips :)

Stephanie said...

Your valentines were very cute!!!! That is tems assortment of items. Who knows what they were making?????

Jana said...

The Valentines are darling.
A good strawberry recipe is to take your whole strawberries- dip them in sour cream, yes sour cream, and then roll them in brown sugar. It sounds so weird but I promise you it's soooo good.

Becky said...

The girls & Valentine's are precious, as usual. The food sounds & looks delicious, and the Oreo Truffles are to die for... The Walmart people must have surely been buying for either a big function (belated Super Bowl Party), or for a restaurant, or a fallout shelter.

The Esther study you will love...(or any of Beth M.'s studies)and when it's all over, I suggest you watch, "One Night With the King."

Surrounded-By-Boys said...

You know how much I love Allie and Belle together...that's too cute! As for the strange food combination in the Wal-Mart? Who knows...that is WEIRD......
And you know how I feel about Beth Moore...so I won't go there...... But, I did do the first few weeks of Esther and it was good....

Lesli said...

I love the valentines.. they are soo cute.. would love to have the link to the etsy store.. I'm thinking Easter cards maybe?? Thanks for the recipe.. that is awesome..I will definitely make this some time! Oh and what cute pictures.. you sure do have a cute valentine!!