For Jessica

Grandma Davis' Frozen Cranberry Salad

1 package frozen cranberries chopped in blender/food processor
1 cup sugar
Mix and let stand 1 hour

In a separate bowl-
1 pound can of crushed pineapple
1 bag of mini marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Mix and let stand for 1 hour

Fold and gently stir all ingredients together in one bowl and add 1 pint of whipped cream or Cool Whip (I use Heavy Cream Cool Whip.
Pour into 9X13 pan and freeze overnight

This is a Thanksgiving must have for me plus great memories of my Grandmother :)

Mean Lady..

The day went great,8 hours of money making madness. I had just said goodbye to my last client of the day and sat down,when in walks a mom and her daughter. I tried to explain that we closed in 10 minutes and that wasn't sufficient time for a hair cut....but that didn't work. She went off on some rant about business hours bla bla bla and demanded a "number to call". I gave her one..with a friggin smile on my face and my name printed on the pamphlet,just in case she needed that info later :) She went on and on as my willingness to help her diminished.At some point, her words became a blur and I was speechless while she made her way out the door. I wasn't going to argue,she was looking for an argument..I wasn't going to say the right thing at that point....gooood bye. I try to shake off these times when people are mean or rude..but it's hard. She ruined a perfectly good day,her icky vibe has poisoned my head all evening. Part of me has a laugh...Did she really think it was a good idea to DEMAND a 10 minute haircut?! I am expected to give up MY evening because she couldn't get there the other 8 hours we were open today?! I'M the rude one here?! Ugh.
Thanks a lot Mean Lady,
I hope someday you get the "10 minute hair cut" you feel you deserve so badly.

Hut,Hut,Hike

Bruxism is when you clench (tightly hold your top and bottom teeth together) or grind (slide your teeth back and forth over each other) your teeth.

What does this really mean? You get to sleep with a mouth guard that makes you look like a quarterback. Oh my poor boyfriend....but I suppose it is better than waking him up by sounding like a trash compactor. I have slept 3 nights with my new mouthguard and haven't had any problems. I got it at Walgreens for about $20 and it lasts a year. Painless. Let's hope it stays that way.

A Dose Of Shrooms

Vern and I went for a walk in the woods today to get some fresh air.

I found these cute little mushrooms just begging me for a photo opportunity.

In an attempt  to keep my creative juices flowing,I turned them into a creative photo blog for today.

Enjoy

:)

Doggi Cannoli

"Hello,HR Department. This Is Cara. How May I Direct Your Call?"

November 1st..oh boy.
I have been a lazy blogger. (That means that I got a lot of house work done)
Halloween came and went and that means that Thanksgiving is just around the corner.

Honestly...
There are so many things running through my head tonight. I sit here and contemplate...do I want to chatter on about the "lighter" subjects or do I vent about the deeper stuff? What is the blogging emotional outburst etiquette anyway? Is it ok just to burst out in a good bitch session every once in awhile without freaking people out?! (ok,I admit that I am kinda cracking myself up now :)...)
All in all I am fine. No one died,no one is sick and overall life is good.
That being said...
I am struggling with the newest chapter in the "Step Mom Handbook".This chapter is titled "You Can Talk Until You Are Blue In The Face But They Don't Listen"
 It's almost strange how a child that is not your own can still give you gray hair and wrinkles. This is round two for me. It was a little easier with David because he was so young,it is so very different with an 18 year old. I was on such a great maternal high last week! But..Trevor crushed that with a wild night out with the boys this weekend.
BUSTED.
There went our whole weekend.
Ruined.
A supportive lecture about good choices from both of us, just hours before it all happen..
a waste of breath.
I know that I am an inexperienced parent and a hard ass  when it comes to rules and discipline. So most of the time I bite my tongue.
I know that children will hurt their parents more than they will ever know ...and despite it all, parents love their kids more than life itself.
It's just not fun to be the person to have to sit back and watch it all happen and not get upset.
But I must remember the rules for successful step parenting-The Step Parent is a support system and not the CEO...not even the Vice President....more like the Human Relations Department.
Got it.
Proceed biting tongue.
It's worth it to help the man I love and keep our "company" strong.
I'm just not going to pretend it's always easy.
Thanks for the vent
I do feel a little better
:)

Not Another Manic Monday

Do you ever get tired of my randomness?!
I won't be shocked if you told me my blog reads like a bad book.
So many thoughts...all scrambled up and spewed out in no particular order.
But..I keep blogging.
There are worse things in life right?
haha

I LOVE MAPLE BAR  DOUGHNUTS WITH CRUMBLED BACON TOPPING.
Thanks to Legendary Doughnuts a new addiction has begun.
http://legendarydoughnuts.com/
Check them out! I am picking another dozen up tomorrow! Ok maybe two...

New quote of the day,by Me

"If you choose to create nothing but drama in your life,that's your choice and I won't judge you. If I choose to avoid you because of that drama,that's my choice,please don't judge me."

Vern and I washed 6 loads of Trevor's laundry this weekend.My"maternal" side loved every minute of it :) It was all worth it when Trevor dropped by my work the next day to thank me. Such a nice kid he is! All the ladies at the salon melted and commented on how sweet that was for him to be so grateful. I agreed! Next thing I knew we were shopping for a Halloween basket full of goodies for him! I know,I know,he's 18 but...I am my Mother's daughter. She decorates and makes treats for EVERY holiday and now I know why,the fun of doing something fun and making someone feel like a kid again, is a great rush! I guess all that laundry really got my "maternalness" going? Well...let's not get carried away.I know what you're thinking. I did my nurture thing,now I'm all better. The "3 kids" (Del,Trevor,Chipper) I have are enough for me!

Off to the big city tomorrow to take a friend to an appointment. Say a prayer for Vern's truck.(JUST KIDDING HONEY!!!) I promise to return safely with doughnuts :)This time I will take pics of them.You must be missing the food porn by now? Last time I was too busy eating them to stop and take a few pictures ...

Again,thanks for reading my randomness..
Hang in there,
it might get better.
Might.