Thursday, December 4, 2008

Christmas Songs


Every year it seems the radio stations start playing non-stop Christmas music earlier and earlier. I love Christmas music, so it's a welcome change...until about two weeks in when I'm already sick of it. It's not so much the music itself, but rather the radio stations love to play the same songs by the same artists over and over again.

Some songs that drive me crazy are:

1) The Christmas Shoes. This is probably the most depressing Christmas song ever. If you haven't heard it yet, it's about a young child who wants to buy his terminally ill mother a pair of shoes before she dies.

2) Little Saint Nick by the Beach Boys. I like the Beach Boys, but this song is awful. All the 'ooos' and 'ahhs' get annoying.

3) Wonderful Christmastime by Paul McCartney. I love Paul, but this song is just pointless. Most of the song is just him saying "Simply having a wonderful Christmastime..."

4) I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas. No explanation needed.

Songs I wish they would play more often:

1) Perry Como's or Whitney Houston's version of Do You Hear What I Hear?

2) Elvis Presley's If Everyday Was Like Christmas.

3)
Any version of Mary Did You Know?

4) Josh Groban's O Holy Night.

5) Trans-Siberian Orchestra's Carol of the Bells.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Crockpotting

I love the crockpot. It is probably the single most handy and convenient kitchen devices ever invented. The crockpot saves me loads of time and hassle when preparing dinner after a long day at the office. Some of my favorite dishes to make in the crockpot are:

-Spaghetti Sauce with meatballs
-My Mom's chicken casserole
-Pot roast
-Soups
-Various recipes that call for chicken (the crockpot makes the meat very tender and easy to cut up)

I recently discovered the blog A Year of CrockPotting, in which Stephanie, the blog owner, made it her New Year's Resolution to use the Crockpot every day of the year. She makes a new dish everyday and posts the recipe, along with a review of how she liked it. I'm always looking for new recipes and ideas for dinner so this is the site to get really good, healthy meals that are made so convienantly in the crockpot! Today I'm trying the 3 Packet Pot Roast. I'm also looking forward to the Broccoli and Three Cheese Soup that I'll be making sometime after the Thanksgiving holiday!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

I love Heath Bars


I have recently discovered my love for Heath bars. I've always liked them but lately I've become fanatical over them. I seriously crave one everyday. However, I only allow myself to indulge a couple of times a week.

I absolutely love the authentic English toffee beneath a thin layer of milk chocolate. The toffee is the best part - without it, it would just be your regular, old boring chocolate bar. I need to learn how to make my own toffee since it's only made out of sugar and butter. I don't think it would be too hard...

My mouth is watering for a Heath Bar as I write this!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Get this election over...please!!

I decided that I don't want to make my blog a political forum of my beliefs anymore, mainly because I know that some of you reading this might have differing opinions and therefore might not be interested in visiting my blog anymore. I certainly hope that is not the case, because one of the freedoms we can enjoy as American's is expressing our opinions...but I digress.

However, I do want to post a fair and balanced blurb of opinion.

Recently, I was reading a post made by an Obama supporter on an online community in which I belong. This person was saying that certain John McCain supporters were making hateful and racist comments in regards to Barack Obama at a political rally this past week. Entirely inappropriate if you ask me. These people were clearly inciting hatred towards our Democratic nominee and that was way out of line. The author was saying that these comments could be attributed to John McCain's smear tactics and the message he sends to his supporters. Should they?

Now, I don't believe John McCain should apologize for comments made by supporters, just as I don't believe Barack Obama should apologize for offensive comments made by his supporters. Take Madonna. The other night at a concert at Madison Square Garden she said that "Sarah 'f-ing' Palin" would not be allowed at her concert. A total abuse of power to use the show as a means of promoting her position and inciting hatred. I'm sure there were McCain AND Obama supporters at the show that paid good money to see Madonna sing - not talk politics. So should we blame Obama's campaign tactics? Should we expect Obama to made a Public Service Announcement apologizing for Madonna's behavior? Absolutely not. No, in America we have personal responsibility and people themselves should be held accountable for what they say - not the candidates in which we respectively support.

The division between Republicans and Democrats at this time of the year can be very hostile. It's almost like we from two different countries fighting for our own deeply held beliefs. We are forgetting we are ALL Americans and we all want our country to prosper and do good in our world. There is no need for supporters of one party to hate on the other party and resort to name calling and pointing fingers. This goes for both Dems and Repubs. It's getting ugly and it's getting annoying!

Monday, October 6, 2008

This is funny!

I haven't watched SNL regularly since about 2001, but on Saturday night I was flipping the channels and came across the show and decided to watch a minute of it.

It was getting pretty bad so I was about to change the channel when a skit featuring a performance on The Lawrence Welk Show came on. Will and I used to watch the real Lawrence Welk show so I decided to watch the skit. I was literally belly laughing!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxj90S3REoI

Thursday, September 4, 2008

My favorite quotes from the RNC

I've been watching coverage of the RNC this past week and I've especially enjoyed the speeches. I've complied a few quotes that especially hit home for me or that I just found amusing.

I'll start with Senator Fred Thompson:

"Some -- some Washington pundits and middy -- media big shots are at a frenzy over the selection of a woman who has governed rather than just talked a good game on the Sunday talk shows and hit the Washington cocktail circuit."

"Now, being a POW certainly doesn't qualify anyone to be president, but it does reveal character. My friends this is the kind of character that civilizations from the beginning of our history have sought in their leaders: strength, courage, humility, wisdom, duty, honor."

"America needs a president who understands the nature of the world we live in, a president who feels no need to apologize for the United States of America."

"Now, our opponents tell us not to worry about their tax increases. They tell you they're not going to tax your family. No, they're just going to tax "businesses." So, unless you buy something from a business, like groceries or clothes or gasoline - or unless you get a paycheck from a business, a big business or a small business, don't worry, it's not going to affect you!"

Mitt Romney:

“And at Saddleback, after Barack Obama dodged and ducked every direct question, John McCain hit the nail on the head: radical Islam is evil, and he will defeat it! Republicans prefer straight talk to politically correct talk!”

"And I have -- I have one more recommendation for energy conservation: Let's keep Al Gore's private jet on the ground."

Mike Huckabee:

"I'm not a Republican because I grew up rich, but because I didn't want to spend the rest of my life poor, waiting for the government to rescue me."

Rudy Giuliani:

"
On the other hand, you have a resume from a gifted man with an Ivy League education. He worked as a community organizer, and immersed himself in Chicago machine politics. Then he ran for the state legislature - where nearly 130 times he was unable to make a decision yes or no. He simply voted "present." As Mayor of New York City, I never got a chance to vote "present." And you know, when you're President of the United States, you can't just vote "present." You must make decisions."

"His rise is remarkable in its own right - it's the kind of thing that could happen only in America. But he's never run a city, never run a state, never run a business. He's never had to lead people in crisis. This is not a personal attack....it's a statement of fact - Barack Obama has never led anything. Nothing. Nada."

"They would have you believe that this election is about 'change versus more of the same.' But that's really a false choice. Because "change" is not a destination ... just as "hope" is not a strategy."

Sarah Palin:

"But here's a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators: I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country."

"And there is much to like and admire about our opponent. But listening to him speak, it's easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform — not even in the state Senate."

"This is a man who can give an entire speech about the wars America is fighting and never use the word "victory" except when he's talking about his own campaign."

"And though both Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden have been going on lately about how they are always, quote, "fighting for you," let us face the matter squarely. There is only one man in this election who has ever really fought for you ... in places where winning means survival and defeat means death ... and that man is John McCain."

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Well last night we got home from our Labor Day in Wilmington and I already miss it. Sometimes I really wish I could live near the beach but then I realize that I wouldn't appreciate it as much as I do when I get to visit on occasion. In high school, I didn't realize how nice I had it living in a coastal area and having the beach in the summer. But once I moved to college, I saw how festive and FUN the coast was and longed to go back.

I tell Will that one day we'll retire at the beach but he plans on retiring in the mountains. We'll have to see about that one but we've got a long time to figure it all out.

I got a new local number: 704-930-3218. So my old one doesn't work anymore. Call me sometime!