Wordless Wednesday - Loving my Shellac Nails!

GratiTuesday - Tupperware Comeback!

Years ago I got rid of all my Tupperware.  The kids were grown up and I was SO done with anything plastic and unbreakable!  Whenever I was invited to a Tupperware Party, I would tell the hostess that I was "plum tuppered out."  Flash forward to 2012.....who knew that Tupperware had evolved???  I have a friend who loves to gift me with Tupperware (her daughter-in-law sells it, so she's got the skinny on the hottest items).  Recently she gave me this Microwave Pasta Maker.  I was a little leery, but gave it a shot tonight.  WOW!  I can't tell you how much I love this!  I don't think I'll EVER make pasta in a pan again.  You measure, cook, drain, serve and store leftover pasta in the same container.  Perfect pasta!  One small warning.....the price of Tupperware has gone through the ceiling.  I was shocked!  This one, however, is worth every penny!  Thank you Fran!

Memory Monday - Happy Birthday Ty!

Twenty years ago today, Tyler celebrated his 8th birthday.  Seems like yesterday!  What a cute boy who has become such a handsome man!

Happy Birthday to the sweetest son a mom could ask for!

Love you!

Snapshot Sunday - Leaving on a Jet Plane

Kurt took off again this morning for Honolulu.  No, it's not as wonderful as it sounds.  This is his second trip to Hawaii in the last couple of months.  There's no fun involved.  He does stay in a nice hotel with penguins and flamingos wandering around the grounds, but other than that, it's all work and no play.  Retirement is looking better all the time!

Six Word Saturday - Still Crocheting

Busy crocheting for sweet baby Lincoln.

Foodie Friday - Cinnamon Rolls

  I'm a sucker for a yummy cinnamon roll, and NO, I didn't make cinnamon rolls twice this week.  This is a recipe I tried a couple of months ago.  It's definitely blog worthy.  I LOVE this recipe.  The dough is made in my bread maker and the finished product tastes suspiciously like a Cinnabon!  YUM!

Ingredients

• 1 cup warm milk (110 degrees)
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 1/3 cup margarine, melted
• 4  1/2 cups bread flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 2  1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast
•  
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2  1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
•  
• 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1  1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press START.
2. After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls (I use dental floss to cut the rolls). Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.  ENJOY!

Thoughtful Thursday - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

How do I admit loving a book about Nazis, narrated by Death?  I've read many WWII and holocaust books, but most of them were stories of survivors who endured the horrors of concentration camps.  This book is from a different perspective.  It's from the point of view of the German people who didn't necessarily agree with the Nazi Party but were forced to comply to protect their livelihoods and families.  It's about the power of words and the power of love.   

The writing is beautiful and almost poetic, and while it may be a long book, I loved every word of it.  I found myself rereading several passages, not because I didn't understand them, but because I wanted to savor and remember them.   I experienced so many emotions while reading this book.  One minute I was laughing, the next I was crying.  There were also times that I was so angry that I had to put the book down and take a breather.

  A friend loaned me a copy of this book.  I will be buying a copy of my own because I know that The Book Thief is one that I will return to many times in years to come.  I won't be ordering this one on my Kindle.  I want this book sitting on my bookshelf. Considering the subject matter, this is a book that needs to be held in your hands and have its pages turned.