99 Things

THE 99 THINGS



I saw this over at Comfort Joy Designs then at a few other blogs. I'm always a sucker for these types if things :)


Things I’ve already done: bold

Things I want to do: italicize

Things I haven’t done and don’t want to - plain font


1. Started your own blog.

2. Slept under the stars – I’ve camped a lot.

3. Played in a band.

4. Visited Hawaii.

5. Watched a meteor shower.

6. Given more than you can afford to charity.

7. Been to Disneyland/world - both.

8. Climbed a mountain.

9. Held a praying mantis.

10. Sang a solo – every time I get into the car :) .

11. Bungee jumped – went on a bungee swing a few weekends back with my daughter – it was scary.

12. Visited Paris.

13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch – cake decorating - I think it's an art!

15. Adopted a child.

16. Had food poisoning.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.

18. Grown your own vegetables – have a huge tomato crop right now, carrots, radishes, and peas ready soon.

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.

20. Slept on an overnight train – we went to visit my grandparents in MT (from MN) a few times for Christmas – it was beautiful and snowy.

21. Had a pillow fight.

22. Hitch hiked - no way!

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.

24. Built a snow fort – walking home from school with my friend Andrea used to take hours in 1st and 2nd grade because we would stop to make snow forts along the way (in other peoples yards).

25. Held a lamb.

26. Gone skinny dipping.

27. Run a marathon – very hard but well worth it.

28. Ridden a gondola in Venice.

29. Seen a total eclipse – lunar eclipse while I was running one morning – very cool.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - both.

31. Hit a home run.

32. Been on a cruise.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.

35. Seen an Amish community.

36. Taught yourself a new language - I could use Spanish, would love to relearn Russian.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.

39. Gone rock climbing.

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person.

41. Sung Karaoke.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.

43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.

44. Visited Africa.

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.

46. Been transported in an ambulance.

47. Had your portrait painted (only if it was by one of my children – otherwise wouldn’t care to have it done).

48. Gone deep sea fishing – in the British Virgin Islands.

49. Seen the Sistine chapel in person.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - in the keys and BVI.

52. Kissed in the rain.

53. Played in the mud – mud wrestling and mud volleyball in college.

54. Gone to a drive-in theater – saw ET sitting on the top of our vibrant green suburban.

55. Been in a movie.

56. Visited the Great Wall of China.

57. Started a business.

58. Taken a martial arts class – Krav Maga – loved to grapple, who would have thought?

59. Visited Russia – when the USSR was breaking up in 1991/1992.

60. Served at a soup kitchen.

61. Sold Girl Scout cookies.

62. Gone whale watching.

63. Gotten flowers for no reason.

64. Donated blood - also a lot of plasma while in college.

65. Gone sky diving.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.

67. Bounced a check.

68. Flown in a helicopter.

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.

71. Eaten Caviar – yuck, too salty.

72. Pieced a quilt – started, never finished.

73. Stood in Times Square.

74. Toured the Everglades.

75. Been fired from a job.

76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.

77. Broken a bone.

78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.

80. Published a book - I guess Snapfish doesn't count :).

81. Visited the Vatican.

82. Bought a brand new car.

83. Walked in Jerusalem.

84. Had your picture in the newspaper – once in grade school playing softball, the other while watching an Elvis impersonator….long, funny story.

85. Read the entire Bible – almost all, few in OT I haven't gotten through.

86. Visited the White House.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating – I did bow hunt for one season – didn’t shoot anything - never saw a deer - so I'm not sure if I would even had tried.

88. Had chickenpox.

89. Saved someone’s life.

90. Sat on a jury.

91. Met someone famous.

92. Joined a book club.

93. Lost a loved one.

94. Had a baby - three.

95. Seen the Alamo in person.

96. Swum in the Great Salt Lake.

97. Been involved in a law suit.

98. Owned a cell phone – I sometimes wish they were not invented.

99. Been stung by a bee – ouch!



So what about you??

New Year's Eve Fondue Dinner

Every New Year's Eve growing up we would have a full fondue meal, with different courses all night. We had a cheese appetizer, oil to cook shrimp, chicken or beef for the main course, and, of course, a chocolate fondue for dessert. Fun stuff! I am not ready for the main course with my little ones.....something about toddlers, skewers (I could stop there) and hot oil. We will wait. To start the tradition, this year we will have a Parmesan cheese fondue....and most likely chocolate-almond fondue to end 2008!

Creamy Parmesan Fondue

16 oz. cream cheese

2 cups milk

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 1/2 cups shredded or grated Parmesan cheese

french bread and veggies for dipping

Heat your cream cheese on low until melted (the original recipe says to use a double boiler...I've never had one but this works). Gradually stir in milk until mixture blends into a smooth sauce. Add garlic and Parmesan and stir until cheese melts and sauce thickens.

Serve in a fondue pot to keep warm. Serve with chunks of breads and assorted veggies.

makes 1 quart.

Go over to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday for more New Year's Dinner ideas!

Christmas Catch Up

I took a little break from the blog so am going to share some Christmas pictures. We had a fantastic few days just relaxing....and watching the Vikings FINALLY make it to the playoffs.

The girls and their stockings. The calm before the storm!

The best present Scarlett could ask for - whatever wrapping paper came close enough to her to grab....and eat. Then the present mom wanted for her.....

a sock monkey....and the sweetest little tutu.

The older girls got harmonicas from Grandpa Don and Gramma B. The music sure is pretty! Beats that old organ we had for a few short months.

Mark built this GeoDome on Christmas Eve. Without help from our very tall neighbor he would still be working on it. Thanks Rusty!! We could not have done it without you! Can you tell we are trying to entice all of the neighborhood to play at our house??

The girls also got field guides to birds, bugs, trees, and wild flowers. They are a big hit. Emma went out with her bird guide and binoculars, sat on the top of the dome, and did some bird watching. When I went out with her we actually saw a Red Bellied Sap Sucker, Blue jay, and some kind of yellow finch. That is the benefit of having some woods in your backyard!

The Third Stocking Complete

I am not a big fan of needlework (I like projects I can complete in an hour or less); so when I decided to make Emma's Christmas stocking 5 years ago, I didn't realize I was signing up for a lifetime of needlework (3 kids = 3 stockings, I wish I would have done the math sooner).

When I was a kid one of my highlights of Christmas decoration was our felt stockings made by my mom. I think it had a sequin or two and I was in awe. Nowadays....stockings have a bazillion sequins and the same number of little felt pieces. And to my little girls, spectacular equals the number of sequins present on the stocking (sorry, lots of math today). Nothing is ever simple, is it?

Anyway, I completed the third and final stocking just in time (even though Scarlett is not getting anything in her stocking). If I didn't get it done now there would be no big deadline looming to motivate me to complete it - except NEXT Christmas. I couldn't have that hanging over my head for another year (I have scrapbooks to complete that take on that job).

I hope to never have to sew another sequin to a piece of felt again. Ever.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Cookie Dough Truffles

For Tempt My Tummy Tuesday I wanted to share these Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Truffles from Taste of Home's web site. They are worth their weight in gold. I made them because I had a half can of sweetened condensed milk that had to be used. I should have made the whole recipe. I took them to a Christmas party and they were devoured. These will make appearances many time this year!

Go over to Tempt My Tummy Tuesday to check out some more goodies!! You will be glad you did~

Cookie Dough Truffles

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I didn't use nuts)
1-1/2 pounds semisweet candy coating, chopped

Directions: In a large bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour, alternately with milk, beating well after each addition. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Shape into 1-in. balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating; stir until smooth. Dip balls in coating, allowing excess to drip off; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 5-1/2 dozen.

Family Moment Monday

In keeping with the movie theme for Family Moment Monday over at Motherhood for Dummies, I will share our traditional family Christmas movie.....The Christmas Story. Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift.

I remember watching this movie with my dad. I think it was on TV at least a dozen times during the holiday season. We watched it last year for the first time with our children (then 4 and 2)....we are hoping for a better response this year. Maybe the humor?? in the film will be a little better received. There are *some* parts that toddlers think are funny, right? Emma has made reference to it a few times so I know it wasn't a total flop. With popcorn, they will watch almost anything. I would switch movies (we can start a new tradition - I'm flexible) but I really don't know any other Christmas movie that is age appropriate (for a big age range) that I would want to watch every year. I am open to suggestions.

Enjoy your Monday but remember....Don't shoot your eye out!

Holiday Fun

Just for fun - our family doing the elf disco or a country dance! The girls think it's hysterical. The laughs are well worth the little bit of download time! Now go do one for your family. I promise they will enjoy it! Thanks to Rocks In My Dryer for the idea!