Nothing like a good book

"Children are made readers 

on the laps of their parents."

~ Emilie Buchwald

This is a picture from 1993 and Meredith was pretending to read Sara a story, which always cracked me up.  For more Friday Photo Flashback fun, visit Alicia at More Than Words and HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

A Penny Saved...

February 14th ♥ ~ a day when we all think of love and flowers and candy and hearts and...BELLY BOMBERS??  I don't know if you've heard of White Castle or not, but it's a fast food hamburger place here in the Midwest (and maybe some stores to the East - ?) known for their little hamburgers (called "belly bombers"), cheap prices, and late-night greasy food fixes.  People usually either love them or hate them.  The burgers are small, and loaded with tiny onions and pickles.  I don't like onions so I get mine plain, but I DO like them, and it's easy to eat three or four at a time - no problem.

Here's what I think is hilarious (and TOTALLY adorable)...every Valentine's Day, they close their doors to the public and become reservation only.  The drive-thru is still open though.  This year my daughter Meredith (21), and her boyfriend Nick, made reservations through the White Castle offices and had a 6:30 seating at our local White Castle. 

I always thought it sounded like fun but never remembered in time to do it.  They went up there and I asked if I could go take pictures of them eating and if you can believe it, they said nope.  So then I asked my other daughter Sara (19) if she'd go with me and I'd take pictures through the windows.  She said, "Um, no, that's creepy and stalkerish," so I went by myself.  I got up there and drove around the parking lot a couple times and realized that yeah, it did feel a bit creepy and stalkerish, so I was content just taking pictures* of the outside.  *You can click to enlarge.

They set the tables with candles, flowers, and menus; the counter people become waiters and waitresses; and they have a photographer that goes around asking if you'd like your picture taken.  

If you're curious, they got the "Sweetheart Special" and then Nick ordered Meredith a jalapeno cheeseburger because she hadn't had one before.  Total meal with tip...$16.

 

 

Apparently this event is very popular because it was on TV that only several of the city stores and a couple across the river in Illinois (we're in St. Louis) weren't booked solid.  The drive-thru business was boppin' also and even though the picture is blurry (because of my dumb camera) I got the cutest shot from the back of this older couple holding hands and walking in.  

They had a lot of fun and since V-Day is pretty low key around here, maybe Scott and I will get crazy and go there next year (and I can sneak a picture when they're not looking!).

♥ HAPPY BELATED VALENTINE'S DAY! ♥

A Constant State of Denial

I understand that when we get older, maybe our knees aren't what they used to be, or our reading glasses need to be a little more handy, but that happens to everyone, right?  I like it in my MIND where things are happy and fair and everyone gets along.  My young adult children in my mind are home and in bed by 10 p.m., my scale in my mind is a constant 125 lbs., and nobody in my mind brings more than 12 items in the Express Line at the grocery store.


I can stay here for an indefinite amount of time, in my little happy land, until all of a sudden the mailman gets here and delivers...THIS:

A.A.R.P.???

Now, if I'm 46, doesn't that mean that I'm maybe AARP Jr.?  My husband's older than I am and he's never gotten one.  I went to their website and guess what - I'm not old enough to join.  Kooks.  I'm sure it's wonderful and I can't wait until I can save a buck or two but all things in due time.  The funniest part about this is my friend was over and I showed it to her and she got one, too, and she's 43.  Maybe I'll check with my kids and see if they've gotten one.  I think the AARP is out to make a B-U-C-K! ha ha   

 

Have a wonderful week!

Snack time

I think if you're like me and a fan of any cooking sites or food blogs, we're getting a lot of appetizer recipes this week, which I LOVE!!   Superbowl Sunday always brings out the foodies and for me, that's the best part of the game.  I remember we were invited to a Superbowl party once and I don't like sports that much, but who cares!?  There was going to be dip and fun people and we were on our way.  I figured the women would chat and eat and hang out and the men would watch the game.  Wrong.  Everyone watched the game which was a yawner for me.  I want to like sports, I really do!  Ever since then we either will "pop by" to say hello or stay home and Scott watches the game and I do something very important...probably.  But we always make snacks - I think it's in the Declaration of Independence ~ John Adams said there should always be snacks on Superbowl Sunday no matter what.  I will NOT let down our Founding Fathers!

A couple people asked for some recipes after the Christmas post so I'm going to share a couple favorites.  Have you ever noticed the first time you eat a new appetizer and you like it, you start bringing it to everything and introducing everyone to it?  Then all of a sudden it's in Taste of Home or some-such and it's like, "Get outta town, we've had that forever!"?  Granted, I don't invent any of them (I was born without a creativity gene), so I'm just sharing what others have shared with me.  Thank you, others!!


Chocolate Chip dip (the only picture I have is from the last post)
1 8-oz. pkg. cream cheese
3/4 c. softened butter
1 t. vanilla
3/4 c. sugar
2 T. brown sugar
3/4 c. chocolate chips (I use the minis) 
With a mixer, blend cream cheese, butter and vanilla.  Slowly add both sugars.  Stir in chocolate chips.  Refrigerate for 1 hour or longer.  Serve w/graham cracker sticks, animal crackers, or pretzels (which is what we usually use for the sweet-salty combo - oh, and because we usually have them on hand).  YUMM!!


Raspberry spread (such a weird combo but so good!)

1 c. raspberry preserves (save for last)
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese 
1 c. cheddar cheese
1 c. mayo (not Miracle Whip)
2 green onions, chopped (I know the picture shows three, but that's too much I think)
1/2-3/4 c. chopped pecans

Mix above ingredients (except preserves).  Line a platter w/plastic wrap and pour dip onto platter, staying on the inner part of the platter.  

Cover and refrigerate (it says overnight but I did it for about an hour and it was fine).  To serve, slide it off the platter (it's on plastic wrap, remember?).  Put the platter upside down and invert the dip onto it.  Do this however you want to - that's the biggest pain about the recipe.  Spread the preserves on top and serve with club crackers or really any kind.  ENJOY!

I'm always up for new snack and appetizer recipes so if you have any you want to share, I'm game and I know people would love to see them!!  I just found a recipe for Crab Rangoon Dip so I think I need to try that and share it next time.  

ENJOY THE GAME!