Awesome Pie Recipe

Lately I have been trying a lot of new recipes. I don't want my family to get into a rut and I don't want my child to be a picky eater (his new favorite food is greek chicken with artichokes and feta cheese!).

This afternoon I made a very tasty pie! While I haven't eaten it yet (it has to chill for 3 hours), I did lick the beaters and I was in heaven!!!

Crust
1 package of Marta White Chocolate Chip Muffin Mix
1/3 C. of salted peanuts (chopped)
4 T. of melted (or just softened) butter

Filling
1/2 C. Peanut Butter
3 oz. Cream Cheese (softened)
1/3 C. Sugar
3 T. Milk
2 C. Whipped Topping (thawed)
Chocolate Fudge Topping

To Make the Crust: Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Thoroughly spray a 9 inch pie plate with non stick cooking spray. Combine all the "Crust" ingredients. Press into the pie plate (bottom and sides) and bake for 13 to 16 minutes. Bake until golden brown. Remove the crust from the oven. If the crust is puffy, use the back of wooden spoon to flatten it out. Let the crust cool completely.

To Make Filling: Combine the peanut butter, cream cheese and sugar. Beat until smooth. Add the milk and beat till combined. Fold in the whipped topping. Once thoroughly combined, pour into cooled crust. Drizzle with chocolate fudge topping. Cover and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

I did it for me, spare me any lectures!

Dear Readers, Family, Friends, and Facebook Peps,

Please spare me any negative complaints or suggestions. Spare me any lectures about what I chose to do. I am 26 years old and I did my research. This was not a spur of the moment decision. This was a five year process that finally came true. I have my personal reasons for what I did and I am happy with my results. I was able to involve a couple of friends in the process and I am very thankful to them for helping me. Once again, spare me any lectures.

I FINALLY GOT MY TATTOO!!!!! Like I said in my "disclaimer" this has been an event 5 years in the making! I have done my research and talked to several people over the years. I knew what to look for when choosing a parlor and was not pressured to do anything I didn't want to do. I chose a design from a website, but had a friend (and fellow inked friend) change it and make it mine.

I choose a place where it won't be seen on a daily basis. So why get it then you ask? I got it for me. Like I said, I have my reasons for why I did what I did and I am fully aware it will be with me for the rest of my life and I am happy with that. It will serve as a constant reminder of what I believe and how His love has carried me through some hard times and just like my tat will never leave me, neither will He. It is located in the upper middle of my back. It will only really be seen by "the public" if I am wearing a bathing suit. It won't stick out the top of my shirt, and I don't wear shirts that expose my back, so it will be tucked away.

I chose my design and gave it to J-rod to alter and he did a great job (LOVE IT). Leah W. went with us to Ft. Wayne and it was great to have her there. It was great to hang out as friends and not as parents! It was like the old days, before marriage and kids. I will admit that I almost chickened out, but I am glad I didn't.

It wasn't that bad, pain wise. There were a couple of spots where it actually tickled. I was lucky to get an artist that has been doing tats for 9 years and he was very patient and walked me through everything step by step. He was willing to give me lots of breaks for water and to stand up. The whole tat from start to finish only took 20 minutes, but it is on my spine which can be a painful place. There were only about 3 times where it really hurt. I can't describe the feeling (I wouldn't call it pain), it was like something I had never experienced before. Keep in mind I gave birth without any drugs and TJ came out all goofy so I knew I could stand the tattoo "pain" after 16 hours of labor.

My tat experience was topped with a sold out bout (we got the last tickets!) with the Ft. Wayne Derby Girls. Both SWAT and Bomb Squad won and Dodger L. Bow had at least 2 grand slams. It was a great day!

Without further ado, here is my tattoo.

Who Needs Hot Water Anyways?

Yesterday Ayron and I discovered we didn't have any hot water. He checked the pilot light on the water heater and it had gone out. We re-lite it only to have it go out again. After checking with my favorite "Rent A Hubby" (Josh O.) we decided to change out a part (I'm a girl and can't think of the actual name of the part...it's kind of like the hot surface igniter on a furnace).

Long story short, I woke up this morning with a NyQuil hangover only to discover the pilot light had gone out again and I had the privilege of taking a nice cold shower on a miserable Monday morning. GRRRR.

Ayron stayed home today to see if he could fix it. We have the money to get a new water heater, but if we can just change out one part, I'd rather do that. It seems like every time we get some step closer to getting the house "remodeled" the way we want it, something happens. First the stupid cleanout pipe to the street (what I like to call "Mud Bowl '07 because Ayron managed to flood the front yard), then the dumb furnace, then our flooded bathroom, and now this. I am beginning to think that the former owner of the house is angry with me for cutting down the rose bush (it had never bloomed for me) and the lilac bush (it had been hit by lightening and was half dead).