Wednesday, Oui?

Rarely do we watch TV. Yes, there are times when we will mindlessly stare at the boob-tube with a stream of drool leaking out of our mouth but, I must say, it's rare that we watch more than 4 hours per week. However, one show we try to always catch is Undercover Boss. I, for one, can't watch the show without getting choked up. I love the American Dream.

Whenever we watch Undercover Boss I always piss and moan that the companies featured in the show are located in places inconvenient to us. I can't recall one episode that I actually said, "Oh, we have a _______ nearby; let's go next weekend!"

During our vacation, as I already mentioned, we took Xander for a few days. On Friday the 19th we picked him up in Portland and intended to return him to Portland on Monday the 21st. Instead, Aaron suggested we should see if my sister would be willing to meet in Freeport (um, Freeport Outlets? Yes, please!) I love Freeport for many reasons but mostly because L.L. Bean's headquarters is located there. I love L.L. Bean and every product they offer but, the store itself was actually built by Mr. Herbert W. Peace Sr., my precious Pepe.

After returning Xander we headed off to do some shopping (and load up on several President's Day sales). We did so much shopping, in fact, that we worked up quite the appetite. Resigned to eat at one of the same old restaurants we always eat at when visiting Freeport (I know, poor us) Aaron said, "I have a surprise for you... there is a Johnny Rockets in Freeport now!" Indeed, tucked in a new development, sat a shiny new Johnny Rockets restaurant!

Finally, I ate at a place advertised on Undercover Boss. Do I not have the very best husband in the whole world? Oui.

Menu Monday: Iya and Banana's Cinnamon Buns

While on school vacation last week my nephew, Xander, came down from Maine to spend a few days with us. We planned many fun things so, to give us the energy needed, we had a big breakfast every morning. Xander's favorite breakfast, by far-- homemade cinnamon buns!!

In recent months I've searched and searched for yeast-free-cinnamon-bun-recipes. I don't have a problem with yeast, I just lack the patience required to wait while it rises. So, my friends, as I get ready to go back to work after a much needed week-long-staycation please... enjoy my buns ;)

Ingredients:

Dough

• 2C white flour
• 3t baking power
• 1/2t salt
• 2T sugar
• 1/2C butter
• 2/3C milk

Filling

• 3T melted butter
• 1/4C white sugar
• 1/4C brown sugar
• 3t cinnamon

Glaze 

• 1/3C packed powdered sugar
• 1T milk

Instructions:

For dough - Sift and mix all dry ingredients. Add the butter to the flour mix. Mix with a fork or beaters until it is the consistency of cornmeal. Add milk (the amount of milk tends to vary.) Add until dough makes a soft ball, with a little dry flour mixture around the ball.

Roll out on floured board, in a rectangular shape. Dough should be about 1/4" thick. Add melted butter all over top of rolled dough.

Mix and then generously sprinkle mixture of sugars and cinnamon over the butter.

Roll the cinnamon buns, starting from the longest side, lengthwise. Roll tightly all the way up, slightly pinching the edges together.

Use a piece of dental floss or a sharp knife and cut the roll into 1" slices

Put on greased cookie sheet, with about 1/2 between each cinnamon roll. Bake at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes, or until slightly brown on the top.

After the cinnamon rolls have cooled, add a white icing to the top. Serve slightly warm and enjoy!

 

Wednesday, Oui? I think I can...

I can't even begin to tell you how busy we have been as of late; there isn't even a word in the dictionary suitable to explain. Work has been out-of-control busy (my full-time job, not my teaching job) and I find myself getting really tired- not sleepy tired but tired of the long days. I need to figure out what to do about that.

Aaron and I are also working really hard to sell some items on EBay. We are set to begin phase one of our million part construction project over vacation next week so, we are trying to clear out some of the things we no longer have use for (old sporting equipment, books, etc.) This spring we are building a small addition on our bird room to make it into the new office/craft room/bird room. The current office/craft room is slated to be Baby Molloys room (who I hope will arrive sometime in 2012 [I am *not* pregnant- think: Alaska.])

I am also in the throws of planning a baby shower for twins so, I have my hands full!

Last weekend, however, Aaron and I were able to steal away for a small snow-shoeing trip. It was just what we needed to get though the rest of the week to our finish line: Vacation! While we do have a lot to accomplish over the break, we also have plans for some pretty fun things!

Even though our life is incredibly busy it's busting at the seams with good things to come. I can't imagine doing any of it without my husband. Oui?

Top Ten Tuesday: Ecoholism

I just bought a tiny little book called The Little Book of Living Green by Mark Hegarty. It's called "little" because it was made very small to conserve paper.

Below are 10 ways to decrease your carbon footprint. From time to time I'll post ways for you to improve your lifestyle while helping out our beautiful earth. You can call it tree-hugging, I'll call it environmental responsibility.

1. Use rechargeable batteries
2. Always remember, single use products are the spawn of the devil and intrinsically evil.
3. If you use tea kettles, only heat the water you need. Heating the extra water wastes a lot of energy.
4. Plant a tree to commemorate a birthday, special occasion or, just because. I plant about 5 per year and it doesn't even require any work. Simply go to http://www.aborday.org/ and, for a very small fee, they'll do it for you.
5. Noise pollution is a heavily underestimated form of environmental pollution that can put huge psychological pressures on local wildlife. Use caution when playing your radio or doing construction.
6. Always cut up six-pack holders; animals often become entangled in them.
7. Use reusable bags.
8. Sprinkle your used coffee grounds on anthills to get rid of the unwanted free loaders. Not only is this a form of composting, it's also a much better choice for extermination than the harsh chemicals that leak into our agriculture and water supply.
9. Shut your appliances off. Leaving a TV or computer on standby wastes resources.
10. If you have your heating system tuned up once per year you'll reduce your oil consumption by at least 10%.

I'll admit, I'm an ecoholic.

Black History Month

First, "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit."

Second: Please join me in celebrating Black History Month! Per usual, for the entire month of February, I'll write a few posts in honor of Black History Month. I like to use this forum to educate as well as document and entertain, therefore, please know that some of the posts this month can have shocking language and topics some people may not want to read (all the more reason you should).

While researching for 10 topics of interest, I came across this statement, issued by Senator Theodore G. Bilbo, of Mississippi in 1947:

"If our buildings, our highways, and our railroads should be wrecked, we could rebuild them. If our cities should be destroyed, out of the very ruins we could erect newer and greater ones. Even if our armed might should be crushed, we could rear sons who would redeem our power. But, if the blood of our White race should become corrupted and mingled with the blood of Africa, then the present greatness of the United States of America would be destroyed and all hope for civilization would be as impossible for a Negroid America as would be redemption and restoration of the Whiteman's blood which had been mixed with that of the Negro."

One can only hope that something written almost 65 years ago is a long extinct prejudice. Unfortunately, it's not. All we can do is hope, progress and grow toward the understanding that it's unacceptable.

Want to do something interesting?

1. Go to google.com
2. In the search bar type the letters "racis" (you don't even need to complete the word)
3. Notice the suggestions and pages that pop up before you finish typing.

Racist jokes, Nigger Jokes, Jew Jokes, Funny Racist Jokes,  

I just don't understand it.
"They" say racism is taught.
I agree.