My Round of Words in 80 Days Goal

I have decided to make my goal 500 words per weekday. Yeah, that's small, but with my DH in the hospital, I'm keeping it simple.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

The Control Journal saved me!

The week before Christmas, my DH Randy became deathly ill. What started out as a cold-like flu morphed horribly into a very bad case of pneumonia, though I didn't know it at the time. When Randy asked to see a doctor, I knew then he was very sick. I took him to Solantic and they called an ambulance!

I had minutes to make the necessary phone calls, grab up our roomie, and drive to the hospital. I knew better than to break speed laws, much as I wanted to. While at the house picking up our roomie, I also quickly packed a few necessities for my husband's comfort. Then, I remembered one thing I'd need-- my Control Journal.

In my Control Journal was many of the things that kept me organized and --as the name implied-- in control. While our roomie drove us to the hospital, I updated the journal and made a few notes to myself as to who to call. The emergency section wasn't as filled out as I'd like, but you live and learn. That minor problem has been corrected.

As my husband was transferred from the ER of one hospital to a bed in another hospital and finally the ICU, my Control Journal and my FlyLady routines kept me from chaos both at home and while sitting at my DH's side. Now my DH is recovering, yet my house is clean and my sink is shiny.

I highly recommend the Control Journals. There's one for almost everyone and every need-- the housewife, the student, the teacher, the working woman, the financial problems, losing weight (called Body Clutter), and even one just for keeping control during the holidays.

www.flylady.net/images/OCJ.pdf is my personal control journal choice because I work at home, but if you Google "FlyLady Control Journal" you'll find a nice selection. You can also go to http://www.flylady.net/ to see and learn how to finally love yourself (FLY) and gain control over CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome.) You'll be glad you did.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

A Round of Words in 80 Days-- What Is It?

Well, it's time for the writing challenge I like: A Round of Words in 80 Days. You set your own reasonable goal, and for 80 days you do your best without obsessing or being unable to function for your home and family. The link below provides more info. I especially like the part where I just post my goal-setting and reports in my own blog. Not only will I have the factor of reporting to the ROW participants, but my blog also connects with my Facebook Notes. Therefore, I'll be accountable to all my fans. Yeah, I know how to make myself responsible, don't I? LOL!

Here's a link to their Wordpress site:

http://aroundofwordsin80days.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/a-round-of-words-in-80-days-what-is-it/

Anyone joining me?

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Recipe: Quick n Creamy Pudding

Quick 'N' Creamy Pudding

• Yield: 8 servings
• Nutrition: See Below
• Prep Time: 15 Minutes
• Cook Time: 0 Minutes

Ingredients

• 1 (14 oz.) can Eagle Brand® Sweetened Condensed Milk
• 2 1/2 cups cold water
• 2 (4-serving size) packages instant pudding mix, any flavor
• 1 cup (1/2 pt.) heavy cream, whipped

Instructions

• COMBINE sweetened condensed milk and water in large bowl. Add pudding mixes. Beat well. Fold in whipped cream. Spoon into individual serving dishes.
• CHILL. Store covered in refrigerator.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Let's talk BDSM-- The Limits List

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

12-- Holiday Gifts of Chocolate Cream Liqueur

Chocolate Cream Liqueurs
Collect up about 9 decorative bottles with tight lids that can hold about 1/2
cup each. This stuff is potent, so don't be tempted to give more.

2 cups light cream or half-n-half
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk
2 tsp instant coffee crystals
1 beaten egg yolk
1 cup Irish whiskey
1/3 cup rum
2 T chocolate-flavored syrup
1 T vanilla
In a large heavy saucepan combine light cream, sweetened condensed milk, and
coffee crystals. Cook and stir over medium heat until coffee crystals dissolve.
Gradually sti about half the hot milk mixture into the beaten egg yolk, then
return the whole thing back to the saucepan. Bring mixture to a boil. Cook and
stir over medium heat for 2 minutes. Remove saucepan from heat.
Add Irish whiskey, rum, chocolate syrup, and vanilla to the mixture. Stir well
to combine. Let mixture cool to room temperature. Transfer to bottles. Chill at
least 4 hours before serving.

To serve: Shake well. 1/4 cup per serving, so each person gets their own bottle.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

12 Yule: Ever-So-Easy Fruitcake

Ever So Easy Fruitcake
Makes one 10-inch cake
2-1/2 cups unsifted flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 (27 oz) jar None Such Ready to Use Mincemeat (any variety)
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk (NOT EVAPORATED MILK!)
2 cups (I lb) mixed candied fruit
1 cup coarsely chopped nuts
Preheat oven to 300F. Grease and flour 10-inch tube or fluted tube pan. Combine
flour and baking soda. In a large bowl, combine remaining ingredents. Blend in
the flour mixture. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake one hour plus 45-50
minutes or until wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 15 min.
Turn out of pan and cool completely. Garnish as desired.

Note: Fruitcakes improve in texture if you wrap them in foil and allow them to
rest at least overnight. They'll be much easier to cut.

Optional fruitcake loaves: Grease two 9x5 loaf pans. Turn half the batter into
each pan. Bake one hour plus 20-25 min. Cool as above, etc.

Borden recipe collected 1992.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Recipe: Easy Fudge

Reduced Fat Chocolate Fudge
3 cups (18 oz) semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 14-oz can fat-free sweetened condensed milk
dash salt
1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt the chips, milk, and salt. Stir
constantly. Your patience will be rewarded.

2. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
3. Spread evenly into a wax paper lined square pan.
4. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Turn fudge out on a cutting board and peel the
paper off. Cut into 28 squares. Store chilled.


Website URL: http://www.LenaAustin.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Catitude

Make Your Own Mocha Coffee

In this day and age, a penny saved is worth doing. This recipe came from FlyLady.net, and I give FlyLady full credit for this wonderful recipe. If you are disorganized, cluttered, and stressed trying to do it all, then FlyLady.net is for you. Everyone praises me for being so "together" and I again credit FlyLady's system. So, here's FlyLady's recipe for saving yourself that daily cost of a mocha coffee:

Making your own Café Mocha does several things.


1. Saves Money


2. Saves Time


3. Saves the Environment when you use your own travel mug.


4. Warms you up on a cold day


5. Best of all; You feel loved


That is five good reasons for a cup of something warm and wonderful.


Here is my recipe.

Café Mocha

You will need a:


box of good powdered milk,


a jar (8 oz) of instant coffee (decaf or regular)


Nestles Quik chocolate milk powder.






I take the jar of coffee and pour it into a mixing bowl. Then I use it as the measuring cup, because this is a proportional recipe and the jar is the guide. Then I add two jars of the chocolate milk powder (16 oz) and three jars of powdered milk (24 oz). Stir with a spoon. If you use a less expensive/coarser powdered milk, you can put all of it into a food processor or blender and mix it better. I have even used the Hazelnut instant coffee and it is great too.

To Use: Scoop out 1/4 of a cup for each mug (mix with 1 cup of hot water) you make.




I keep the Mocha Mix in a glass canister with the 1/4 cup scoop in it. It also makes a great Holiday Gift! I did purchase some really fancy chocolate milk mix once and it didn't taste as well Nestles. LOL

This is a great no cook recipe for a gift! Put in a glass jar with a pretty mug lined with plastic wrap, add directions, a measuring spoon and a bow and you have a nice little gift.

We have a great mug that keeps your café mocha hot. You know how we


forget to drink it after we make it. You don't have to travel to use a


travel mug to keep your mocha hot. It is good for those of us who get


sidetracked!


http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_purple_mug.asp

Lena here. I keep a box of dry milk powder around. It's amazing how you can stretch an expensive gallon of milk into two gallons by making up a gallon of dry, then mixing the two. You cut the fat and carbs as well! The nice part is, I can cook with the milk I make with the dry powder in emergencies.

New Release!! Sugarplums: Make the Yuletide Gay by Lena Austin

New Release Today!!

Sugarplum: Make the Yuletide Gay
by Lena Austin
Cover art: Reneé George

ISBN: 978-1-60521-520-4

Genre(s): Guilty Pleasures (Contemporary), Hot Flashes

Theme(s): Christmas, Seasonal Themes, Gay and Lesbian

Series: Sugarplums

Length: Hot Flash

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1507

Blurb:

Dr. Gary Lord was comfortable and out in his homosexuality anywhere but his southern hometown and certainly not at his parents' house. But, in Yulee, Florida, secrets are very hard to keep when the folks across town know how you season your greens the minute you say, "Pass the salt."

And there's an old high school classmate who's been waiting patiently for Gary to come home... and he plans to crash Gary's Yuletide celebration in a big way.

Excerpt:


Adam stood right behind him, trapping him with his arms, one on each side of Gary’s head. Adam looked a little like a cowboy Phantom of the Opera, with the light only illuminating one side of his face and his hat still on his head. “Only mine are gone, and they don’t need to know their son is gay. You’re still in the closet to yours, too, I guess.”

Gary admitted nothing. He didn’t care how much he wanted those firm lips on his or how much he’d fantasized about those rough, weathered hands on his body, Gary still didn’t want to believe his high school crush was within reach and offering. Somewhere, down deep in his soul, Gary dredged up one word. “Why?”

“You mean why am I doing my damndest to get you to do a horizontal tango with me? Hell, Gary.” Adam lifted his arms away from the wall and backed off. His left hand scrubbed at his forehead. Gary’d forgotten Adam was a southpaw. “I wish I knew what attracted me to you, but I’ve been running scared from you since our sophomore year, when I finally came to grips with my sexuality. You kept pushing those damn glasses up on your nose and sticking your chin in the air when you were outclassed in gym, and… aw, hell, you drove me nuts.”

“I had laser surgery on my eyes three years ago.” So maybe it wasn’t the most intelligent thing to say and in some ways was cowardly, but Gary just couldn’t accept what Adam was saying. “I don’t get it. You could have anyone. Why the nerd?”

Adam chuckled under his breath. “Finally, I get a real question. Best answer I have is that opposites attract. I’ve been waiting all year for you to come home for the holidays so you could make my Yuletide gay.”

“Very funny, Adam.” No one had popped out of the woodwork with a camera, yelling how they’d caught him in the act and were going to tell his parents and ruin their holiday, so Gary got a little bolder. “You realize I’ve no reason to trust you? Right?”

“Ye-up! I know.” Adam’s voice deepened, torturing Gary just a little more. “Guess I’m just gonna have to prove I’m serious.” His right hand touched Gary’s shoulder and gently pressed him against the wall. His left caressed the outline of Gary’s cock. “Leastways one part of you believes I ain’t lying.”

Gary had held fossils that were less hard than his dick was. So much blood had left Gary’s brain he was light-headed. Gary’s ass craved what Adam could give, and Gary let the ex-jock push him up against the chilly wainscoting for fear he’d do something stupid like beg if he opened his mouth. Hell, he’d dreamed about Adam for the past fifteen years, and now Gary was afraid to accept what Adam offered. “Fifteen years ago, I’d have been on my knees thanking Upstairs if you’d so much as blinked in my direction. I kinda idolized you.”

“I was a wuss.” Adam tossed off that statement and leaned in until Gary could feel his breath on his right cheek. “I took the easy road and let everyone believe I was the Marlboro Man, all perfect and shit. I wasn’t. Far from it.” Adam’s lips brushed his, and then Adam backed off to study Gary’s face for an objection. “Instead of all those squishy girls, all I wanted was a skinny nerd more interested in amphoras and some weird-ass device from Anti-something Greece.”

“Amphorae. The plural is amphorae. And the place is Antikythera.” Gary’s correction was automatic, considering how Adam was scrambling his brain and his pulse. “I… I can explain.”

“Later.” Adam reached around and yanked him right up to him for a little tongue duel.

Was Gary a sucker for a little domination? Okay, yes, he was. Working around Egypt, knowing his work could be yanked away at the least provocation, was stressful. Gary craved letting go and allowing someone else to take over, so he could stop thinking even for an hour. With Adam, that part was easy. Gary’s brain clicked offline as soon as Adam’s hand slid from his waist to cup Gary’s ass. Fortunately for him, Gary had a subconscious with more sense than intelligence. In response to Gary’s rising lust levels, one of his hands reluctantly slid around Adam’s waist and completed their clinch.

How long they locked lips was anyone’s guess, but eventually Adam broke off. Adam studied Gary’s glazed eyes and nodded. “’Bout time you stopped fighting me. Mind if I just bend you over the sofa? It’s the right height, I think.”

He wasn’t a shrimp, but Gary was about an inch or two shorter, so Gary gave the big leather-backed sofa a glance. “Looks pillow soft, but I won’t break if it isn’t.”

All Gary could hear was Adam’s breathing. Then Adam released him entirely. “Get naked. I want to see you. All of you.”

“Same goes, cowboy.” Gary lifted his chin and dared Adam like they were still in the schoolyard.

Adam nodded. “Fair enough.”

http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=1507

Impossibly Easy Octoberfest Pie

Impossibly Easy Octoberfest Pie

1/2	lb fully cooked bratwurst (about 3), cut into 3/4-inch pieces
1 1/3	cups drained sauerkraut (from 14-oz can)
1	cup shredded Swiss cheese (4 oz)
3/4	cup Original Bisquick® mix
1/2	cup milk
1/2	cup regular or nonalcoholic beer
2	eggs

1. Heat oven to 400°F. Spray 9-inch glass pie plate with cooking spray. Sprinkle bratwurst, sauerkraut and cheese in pie plate.
2. In small bowl, stir remaining ingredients until blended. Pour into pie plate.
3. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Success

Pie plates vary in size from manufacturer to manufacturer. Using too small a pie plate will cause the pie to run over while baking. Pie plate sizes are usually marked on the backs of the plates; if not marked, measure from inside rim to inside rim.

Serve With

Make a quick salad of sliced beets and red onion rings on a bed of greens drizzled with vinaigrette dressing. Serve rye rolls or bread on the side.

Nutrition Information:

Nutrition Information:

1 Serving (1 Serving)

• Calories 300
• (Calories from Fat 180),

• Total Fat 20g
• (Saturated Fat 9g,
• Trans Fat 1g),
• Cholesterol 110mg;
• Sodium 980mg;
• Total Carbohydrate 15g
• (Dietary Fiber 2g,
• Sugars 4g),
• Protein 14g;

Percent Daily Value*:

• Calcium ;

Exchanges:

• 1 Starch;
• 0 Fruit;
• 0 Other Carbohydrate;
• 0 Skim Milk;
• 0 Low-Fat Milk;
• 0 Milk;
• 0 Vegetable;
• 0 Very Lean Meat;
• 0 Lean Meat;
• 1 1/2 High-Fat Meat;
• 1 1/2 Fat;

Carbohydrate Choices:

• 1;

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

A Writing Challenge for the Rest of Us-- A Round of Words in 80 Days

WOW!! THIS is the kind of writing challenge I can do! I'm so excited, I'm beside myself. Finally, a writing challenge that doesn't ask me to give up my life for a specified period of time. Really, NaNoWriMo is, for me, a setup for failure. I can't write that much, nor do I want to. Not to mention that November is a special month here in my home with two birthdays, one holiday, and I'm organized enough to be wrapping up my holiday shopping.

So, I'm in. I'll be linking my blog and starting on Round One in January through March. (Yes, that reasonable a time frame.)

http://aroundofwordsin80days.wordpress.com/

Here's a copy of what she proposes:

Here's what I propose:

• A challenge that happens 4 times a year with a break between sessions.
• Round 1 starts January 3, 2011 (because I like starting things on Monday and this way everyone can recover from New Year's excesses) and runs through March 24th.  (Round 2 would start April 4, Round 3 July 4–okay maybe rethink that–, Round 4 Oct 3–you get the idea).
• You have 80 days for your Round of Words
• Your goal can be anything you like as long as it is MEASURABLE. If you're already in the middle of a WIP, that's fine.  Tailor your goal to suit that.  You may even want to set mini goals (I want to finish the last 40k of this novel.  Then I want to spend the last 20 days revising it at x pages a day.).  There are a lot of elements to writing a book other than the writing itself.  Plotting.  Outlining.  Character Interviews.  Whatever.  Set your goal to match wherever you are right now on your WIP.  If you want to use your Round for editing a novel, that's fine too.  Just know that this is, at heart, a writing challenge, so all the weekly inspirational posts will be geared in that direction.
• There's no mandatory daily word count. Every writer is different, everyone has different schedules.  You set a goal that works for you.  Find a way to make writing a priority in your life in a way that FITS.  But set SOME kind of schedule and be CONSISTENT.
• Once Sign-Ups are open, you'll make a blog post stating your measurable goal and swing by here to link to it in the Linky Tools list. If your goal changes because you've met it before the 80 days is up, just write a new one and link to it on a check in day.
• There will be twice a week check-ins on Sunday and Wednesday where you'll update us via the same method. The idea here is that folks can travel around to everybody's blogs and drop a supportive comment.  We're contemplating dividing into teams under each of the sponsors so that everyone has a manageable list of folks to visit once a week.
• On Twitter we'll use a hashtag of #ROW80 so everyone can follow discussions (though if you're not on Twitter, that's totally fine too).

I don't know about Linky, but I'm trying it.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

It's Friday in Moorooka! Win Free Books For A Year!

 
Moorooka, Queensland, Australia
Current Time Friday, December 10, 2010 at 12:00 Midnight
Current conditions in Moorooka
Passing clouds. Mild. 75 °F
Duration of day: 13 hours, 50 minutes (29 seconds longer than yesterday)

New Releases
    MINE! by Marteeka Karland and Shara Azod $3.49
Larissa has finally met the man of her dreams. Literally.
    The Vampire's Pet by Delilah Hunt $4.49
A vampire discovers his pet wolf is a shapeshifting female of an enemy race.
    SPOTLIGHT: Stocking Stuffer: Werewolf Christmas by Kyla Logan $2.49
Who does that delicious scent belong to and how can Theron claim the owner for
his mate?
    Sugarplum: Just Wink by Bryl R. Tyne $2.99
"What haven't I made clear? Desire. Ecstasy. Satisfaction. In that order!"
    Sugarplum: Christmas in the Zone by Isabella Jordan $2.99
Two guys, two gals, and an aphrodisiac under the tree...
    Sugarplum: Kitchen Witch by Dawn Montgomery $2.99
Sex, magic, and cookies... what a treat!
    Sugarplum: Make the Yuletide Gay by Lena Austin $2.99
Beware the cowboy bearing gifts, who may make Dr. Gary Lord's Yuletide much
gayer than he'd planned.
    Sugarplum: Mistletoe by Amber Kallyn $2.99
What's a great way to spend a night with your mate? Indulge and make his body
your very own buffet.
Changeling's most popular contest ever is back --
Join us for Changeling's 7th Annual Christmas Party!
This year, Changeling is giving away Free Books For A Year -- Times Four!
* Twelve First Round winners -- three winners every week in December 'til
Christmas -- will receive one free Changeling book of their choice.
* Six Finalists will receive two free Changeling books of their choice every
week for the month of January.
Four Changeling winners will receive Free Books For A Year!
*Two First Prize winners will receive two free Changeling books of their choice
every month for a year.
*Two Grand Prize winners will receive two free Changeling books of their choice
every week for a year!
The best part -- there are no codes and no entry forms -- every $2.99 Sugarplum
E-book purchased counts as a chance to win.
And now the fine print -- only we made it bigger.
* First Round Winners and Finalists are eligible to win more than one prize.
* Winners will be chosen from purchasers of books in the Changeling Press
Sugarplum Series; each Sugarplum e-book purchase made in the month of December
2010 before the final prizes are announced counts as an entry.
* Prizes are available as Changeling Press E-books, to be downloaded from
ChangelingPress.com only.
* Free book download links do not accumulate, and will expire if not used.
* Winners will be announced December 31st at the Changeling New Year's Eve
Party, held on our Changeling Press Readers' Loop.

Margaret Riley
Publisher, http://www.changelingpress.com/

Recipe: Friendship Tea to Give as a Gift

When I was a kid, this was the gift to get from my mother.

Friendship Tea

18 oz Tang orange drink mix

1 cup instant iced tea

2 cups granulated sugar or Splenda

1 package lemonade Kool-aid mix

1-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp ground cloves

Mix and place in a well-sealed jar or other decorative container. For hot tea, mix 2/3 T of mix and 1 cup hot water.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

RECIPE: Tres Leches Cake from Lena Austin

I'm lazy! Using a cake mix to save time suits me. This turns out delish! Because it's white, it lends itself to a holiday celebration.

Lena

Tres Leches Cake

Makes 12 to 15 servings

One package (about 18 oz.) white cake mix, plus ingredients to prepare mix

one can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk

one cup milk

one cup (1/2 pint) whipping cream

one container (8 oz.) whipped topping, thawed

fresh fruit

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 13 by 9 by 2 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.

2.  Prepare cake mix according to package directions.  Bake about 35 to 40 minutes or until cake is firm to the touch.  Remove cake from oven; cool five minutes.

3.  Meanwhile, combine sweetened condensed milk, milk and whipping cream in a four cup measure.  Poke holes all around the warm cake, using a wooden skewer or toothpick.  Slowly pour milk mixture evenly over top of holes on cake.  Let cake cool 10 to 15 minutes more to absorb all liquid.  Cover and refrigerate cake in pan at least one hour.

4.  When cake is completely cool, spread whipped topping evenly on top.  Cut into pieces and serve with fresh fruit.  Keep cake covered and refrigerated.

.

__,_._,___

Recipe: Snowballs

I've been making these since I was seventeen. That's over 30 years.

Snowballs

1/2 c. confectioner's 10x sugar

1/4 tsp salt

1 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla

2-1/4 c all purpose flour

1/2 c chopped pecans

More 10x sugar (an extra bag is wise)

Makes 5 dozen, so set up a lot of cookie sheets while the dough chills. You may use silicon mats, if desired.

Mix the first three ingredients together well. Stir in the vanilla. Now gradually add the flour. Be patient. When all the flour is gone, now work in the nuts. Cover the bowl with foil and chill it well, at least an hour or two.

Pour the extra confectioner's sugar into a shallow bowl or pie plate. If you have helpers, give them each their own pie plate and storage container. From here on, everything moves pretty quickly, so being set up in advance makes the process go more smoothly.

Turn your oven on to 400F now and allow it to warm up. Use a melon baller, teaspoon measure, or a small child's hands to form the dough into 1-inch balls. Don't be tempted to make them larger. Place them on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes until set but not brown. As soon as you can pick them up, roll them in the powdered sugar and put them on a rack to cool. Roll them again in the sugar, then put in storage containers.  You may use any leftover sugar to pack around the cookies for storage, if they make it to the pantry at all.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Humor: What is a Calorie??

What is a calorie?   Calories are the little bastards that get into your wardrobe at   night and sew your clothes tighter.    MY CLOSET IS INFESTED WITH THE LITTLE SHITS!    __________________________________________________________

Decisions, Decisions...Will you help?

Please email me at: voiceomt2002@gmail.com

I need help deciding what to take with me to a Christmas party. Here are my choices:

1. Creamy Coffee Eggnog made with coffee, eggnog, whipped topping, and cinnamon (Really high carb, and easily served cold)

2. Crock Pot Chai-- a hot chai tea mix kept warm in the crock pot (Easy, hot, but difficult to transport)

3. Freezer Canapes-- meat spreads served on small bread squares. (Convenient, but I can't eat any because of the bread.)

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

I was quoted on FlyLady!! Wow!!

Pam here: I just found a comment by a novelist who discovered my Stick it Right on the Money Gift kit and wrote about it. I think her sentiments match Jenny's.

This has to be the most innovative way to give a plain old monetary gift some pizzazz to show you really did think about what gift would suit the recipient.
My mother in law used to say that giving money, gift certificates, and gift cards were in a way a cop out and borderline rude. They require very little thought, and while "one size does fit all" it does show a certain casual disregard for the likes and dislikes of the recipient or even little more than a nod to the occasion. However in today's busy world, sometimes giving cash can mean a whole lot more, especially when friends and family can be many miles apart. Cash spends well without having to worry. Now, with Stick It Right On the Money stickers, you can do more than give a nod to the occasion! Each frame and stickers are "Post-it" sticky, so the money isn't damaged. (That's illegal.) See the video at the website. What a great gift idea.
Lena Austin
www.stickitrightonthemoney.com


Note from Lena: I've been a FlyBaby for years, but this is huge. Marla Cilley, aka The FlyLady, has millions of followers and devoted fans. I'm one of them. This is like having Nora Roberts quote me. I'm ready to faint. http://www.flylady.net/ I'm on FlyLady's BigTent site, where her fans can get updates and household hints every day. That's where this quote came from.

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/

Humor of the Day: Do Not Disturb Sign

Yes, I'm easily amused, but this...

I'd love to see some comments on this.

Recipe: Christmas Blondies

Christmas Blondies

Ingredients

• 2/3  cup  butter, softened
• 2  cups  packed brown sugar
• 2  large  eggs
• 1  Tbsp.  cherry brandy or cherry juice (optional)
• 1-1/2  tsp.  baking powder
• 2  tsp.  vanilla
• 1/4  tsp.  salt
• 2-1/4  cups  all-purpose flour
• 1  cup  chopped walnuts, toasted*
• 3/4  cup  chopped white or dark sweet chocolate
• 1/2  cup  coarsely chopped candied cherries

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan.
2. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium speed 30 seconds. Add brown sugar; beat until well-combined. Beat in eggs, brandy, baking powder, vanilla, and salt. Add flour; beat just until blended. Stir in nuts, chocolate, and cherries. Spread in prepared pan.
3. Bake 30 minutes or until golden. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut in bars. Makes 24 bars.
4. *Spread nuts in shallow baking pan. Toast in 350 degree F oven for 5 minutes.

Nutrition Facts

• Calories240,
• Total Fat (g)10,
• Saturated Fat (g)5,
• Monounsaturated Fat (g)2,
• Polyunsaturated Fat (g)3,
• Cholesterol (mg)32,
• Sodium (mg)125,
• Carbohydrate (g)34,
• Total Sugar (g)24,
• Fiber (g)1,
• Protein (g)3,
• Calcium (DV%)5,
• Iron (DV%)5,
• Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet

Lena Austin
http://www.lenaaustin.com/
http://depravedduchess.blogspot.com/