Cuteness, because I felt like sharing...

Hilarious commercial

This one is worth watching...too, too funny during NCAA basketball season! Enjoy if you haven't already seen this!

Click here

Toddler Party Survival

Well, we went to our first toddler birthday party this weekend at a place called Jumpin' Beans. It had large inflatable jumping things all over. Emmy was intimidated at first, but quickly overcame this and proceeded to giggle nonstop for the next 2 hours. Several of her classmates were there, and she loved eating cupcakes and singing happy birthday with them. There was a little drama when we said it was time to leave, but otherwise, a fun time.

Keith and I had a chance to meet & mingle with some of the other daycare parents. I always have a tough time "chatting" with strangers. It's much easier to do this when you have a mutual interest, ie: kids. Still, I feel like I stink at small talk, and I can't remember people's names to save my life! Why can't I just snap my fingers and have an instant girlfriend?! Or, why can't Jen just move down here? Really, is it so much to ask that my best friend completely uproot her life and drag her family across the country so that I have someone to talk to on a regular basis?! It just takes so much energy to get to know someone new, to "let them in", to share your stories, to find time to connect. I know Jen has blogged about how difficult it is to make new friends as an adult too. Unfortunately, I don't have a job in which I work with people who are similar to me, or people I'd really want to hang out with socially. Keith and I are making a commitment to get to know our neighbors better by inviting them over once a month for dinner/potluck. There are several young couples on our street we'd like to get to know better, and simply need to make the effort to do it. I find it's always easier to chat with people at the dinner table than at a party or other social function. There's something about breaking bread together that tends to open people up a bit...

French Toast

So, the french toast recipe was delish, and as promised, I will share the recipe. I got this off of allrecipe.com (I think!).

Overnight French Toast

one loaf french bread, cut into 1 inch slices
1/4 C butter, softened
4 eggs (I used egg substitute)
1 C milk
1/4 C sugar
2 T maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Grease a baking dish, add slices of bread into a layer. Whisk ingredients and pour over top. Cover & chill overnight. Bake 350 x 30-35 minutes, uncovered.

I had no idea if the butter was to be used to grease the pan, or if it was supposed to be whisked in with the ingredients. So, I softened the butter considerably in the micro, and whisked it all together. Turned out just fine! On a side note, I used a smaller, oval baking dish, and ended up doing 2 layers of the french bread. In the future, I will use a larger baking dish so there is only one layer. My bottom layer came our a little soggy, and the top layer a little crispy. If one big layer was used, the liquid mix would be evenly distributed, and should come out perfectly! Everyone here liked the dish, and it's definitely going into my "repeat" pile.

Freebies!

If you are like us, and have an Aunt Annie's pretzel shop near by, you have a hard time resisting the urge to run to the counter to order up an original. Now, you won't have to resist....here's the link to their wesbite, where you can print out a coupon for a free pretzel! Click here

Like Dunkin Donut's coffee? Click here for a free sample.

Weekend Plans

Well, we've got a full plate scheduled for the weekend. Keither is getting up super early to take the van in for maintenance. Honda doesn't do appointments, and it's first come, first served. As you can imagine, Saturdays are very busy, so you've gotta get there at the butt-crack of dawn if you don't want to waste your entire day there waiting around. I whipped up a new recipe tonight to have for breakfast tomorrow...baked french toast, using leftover french bread. It can sit in the fridge overnight. If it's any good, I'll post the recipe. I am having a stamp class tomorrow, and 6 ladies are coming over to get crafty with me. It's all about Easter & spring...we'll be busy getting inky while Keith takes Emmy out to lunch at Evos, which is our new favorite "fast food" place. It's got air-baked fries, low-fat shakes & smoothies, and a variety of WAY healthier versions of your favorites. Em loves the chicken fingers, and Keith and I are partial to the veggie burgers. If you have one near you, give it a whirl! Emmy was invited to a birthday party of a classmate at a place called Jumping Beans. We've not been there, but from what I understand, it's filled with those blow-up jumping things. Perfect place for burning toddler energy! Sunday, Keith and I are having a movie/dinner date...yippee! I really wanted to see the new movie, Sunshine Cleaning, but don't see that it's playing anywhere here. I think we'll end up seeing Duplicity. We'll give a movie review on the next post! Hope you all have wonderful weekends!

Crop Walk & Sunshine

The weekend was nice and sunny. We walked the Crop Walk in Durham on Sunday. We've done it in years past, and it's always a fun event. A group of about 20 of our church members met on the steps of Duke Chapel to start our stroll...3 miles of strolling. Good thing the sun was shining, and a breeze was blowing. Emmy rode in the stroller for the majority of it, but did get a chance to stretch her legs a bit (and stop for a cookie break at the refreshment station). One of our church friends snapped this photo of Emmy and I before the walk started...I love it!