GIVE!

Who is up for a December challenge? It doesn't involve having to post every single day, nor does it involve cooking, cleaning, shopping or any of those other taxing chores that seem to take up most of our time (especially in the month of December).

I read this on the NaBloPoMo website--it's their challenge for the month of December. And I LOVE it. So, I'm participating and I'd like to invite all of you out there to participate with me and check in weekly (or whenever you have the chance).

Ready to hear it? Your challege, should you choose to accept it...

...is to give something, to someone, every day of the month, and then blog about it (at your leisure!) The goal is to act with kindness, generosity, hospitality and love. This does not require money or even having to leave the comfort of your home (though it would be AWESOME if you do!) You can volunteer or donate your time/old clothes/extra food/etc. You can pay someone a compliment on their smile or their sweater. Send an encouraging email to someone who may need it. A text message to someone, just to let them know you're thinking about them. Just do something ...anything!... out of the kindess of your heart for another person. Even when you're feeling crabby, are pressed for time, or just plain ol' don't wanna.

So who is in with me? At the end of the month, I'll hold a giveaway for all who participate. I haven't yet decided what I'll be giving away, but it will be something good! And fun! And of the goodness of my heart...he he ;)

Fire Wife's Kitchen - Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches

Ingredients:
2 sticks butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup of unsweetened apple sauce (**this is the secret ingredient!)
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups Quaker Oats, uncooked
1 cup milk chocolate chocolate chips
1 tub of your favorite Vanilla ice cream


Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350*.
2. Beat together butter & sugars until creamy.
3. Add eggs, vanilla & applesauce; beat well.
4. Add combined flour/baking soda/cinnamon/salt & mix well.
5. Stir in oats & chocolate chips; mix well.
6. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. (The larger the rounds of dough you drop, the better!)
7. Bake 10-12 minutes.
8. Cool for 1 minute on cookie sheet & transfer to wire rack.
9. Allow cookies to cool overnight. (This prevents them from crumbling when applying the ice cream).
10. Allow ice cream to soften for 5-10 minutes.
11. Grab 2 cookies of similar shape & size. Hold one cookie in your hand, upside down, while scooping ice cream onto the bottom of it. Spread ice cream evenly, then top with another cookie. 
12. Smoosh together & place on a cookie sheet in the freezer for 1-2 hours to harden.

ENJOY!

NaBloPoMo - Day 30

Today is the last day of NaBloPoMo. And to be honest? I'm not the least bit sad. Surprisingly, I met this challenge--even if it meant upheaving myself from the warmth of my bed one evening at 9:30pm to sputter something...anything!...out because I received a reminder from my dear childhood friend, Nikki, that I hadn't posted a blog for that day. 


While I'm not sad that NaBloPoMo is over so that I no longer have to post every day...I AM sad that my "Unread" items in my Reader will decrease significantly. I'm not quite sure how I will pass the hours at work now. So. Um. For those of you who were participating in NaBloPoMo...can you just keep going right on through December? It would really make my day go by much faster. 


I'm just sayin'...


XOXO,

NaBloPoMo - Day 29

* After having Thursday-Sunday off, I've decided that I would like to only work 3 or 4 days a week.

* I have a hot date on Monday night with Mr. Lukie. We will imbibe Festive Cocktails while placing Festive Christmas decor throughout our humble abode. 

* Baby Girl came with a 1.5 hour long "instructional" DVD. I've pretty much watched it all weekend long and cannot wait to get out there & start MAKING photos ;)

* I purchased a Pledge Fabric Sweeper at Target today. I haven't used it yet, but I really, really hope it works. I'm so over this dog hair everywhere. Seriously! And, it was only $4.69. 

* Oh! I had an epiphany today. Remember Mr. Lukie's comment about me becoming a great wife? Well. Duh. Because I'm not working full-time AND going to school full time AND planning a wedding. No wonder I've become such a great wife--I've actually had the time in my schedule to do so!

* And I'm back on the bandwagon, guys. No falling off this time, either. I AM going to get back into my routine of doing CrossFit work outs 3 days on, 1 day off. I AM going to get back into Zone Diet eating (without being too obsessive about it). I'm just so done with feeling Blah. And I'm tired of looking thin, but feeling out of shape.

* Have I mentioned lately how AWESOME God is? If I haven't, He is!! So many wonderful, amazing blessings in our life lately. So many wonderful, amazing things I want to share with you, my friends. In time, when I find the words to tell the stories without sounding like I'm boasting. Because every time I type it out, that is how I feel it comes across. And that is the last thing I want, in explaining God's amazing gifts to Mr. Lukie and me.

NaBloPoMo - Day 28

So Christmas decorating didn't happen today.

But Thai food and Ben & Jerry's did.

And I am so, so okay with that ;)

NaBloPoMo - Day 27

• Mr. Lukie is on the last 24 hours of his 72 hour shift. I'm SO ready for him to be home.
• Confession: While I love Thanksgiving, because it's the beginning of the "Holiday Season," and I love to give & show thanks...I'm just *not* a fan of Thanksgiving meal fare. I maybe had 5 bites of turkey, a few bites of stuffing, a tiny sliver of pumpkin pie {store bought...meh}, and of course 1 of my Homemade Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Ice Cream Sandwiches.
• I need to find shoes to go with my dress for the Firefighters Christmas Ball next weekend. I have no idea what will look good with it--open toes? booties? strappy? closed toes? silver? black? 
• And the answer to Wednesday's post? Nancy's My beautiful new SLR! Played with her a bunch yesterday & am still trying to learn how to use her. My goodness, there are so many settings & options--and I am a complete dolt when it comes to photography. Looks like I'll be doing lots and lots of research before I can actually take beautiful photos like I see so many of you ladies do!
• Mrs. Life Accounts is doing her first giveaway from her gorgeous Etsy store--lots of fab jewelry! Go check it out, leave her a comment & become a follower for chances to win a piece of your choice :) Me? My heart is set on the Sea Green Drop Necklace.

Fire Wife's Kitchen - Stuffed Bell Peppers

Ingredients:
1 1/2 - 2 cups cooked rice (I use brown rice) 
4 bell peppers (red & yellow are much sweeter than green, but green still taste yummy)
1 - 1 1/4 pounds of ground turkey  (or ground beef, if you prefer)
1 1/2 teaspoon basil*
1/2 teaspoon of savory*
1/2 teaspoon of marjoram*
1 teaspoon of salt
Freshly ground black pepper (add to your liking--I do 6-7 turns of the pepper grinder)
1/4 cup of olive oil
Paprika
4 slices of Pepper Jack cheese


*Can substitute Italian Seasoning herb mix in lieu of all of the different spices

Directions:

1.  Cook rice. (I cheat & use the frozen bags of brown rice from Trader Joe's that you nuke for 3 minutes)

2.  Cut the tops off of the bell peppers & remove the seeds & stem. Rinse inside & outside of bell pepper.

3.  Heat oven to 350*.

4.  In a large bowl, mix the ground turkey, rice, basil, savory, marjoram, salt and pepper together with your hands.

5.  Place bell peppers (open side up) in a pyrex. (Place about 2 teaspoons of olive oil in the bottom of the pyrex to prevent bell peppers from sticking).

6.  Stuff bell peppers with the ground turkey/rice mixture, leaving about 1/2 an inch from top of bell pepper.

7.  Drizzle olive oil over the bell pepper, making sure to rub on the outside of the stuffed bell pepper as well.
8.  Sprinkle the tops of the bell peppers with Paprika & place on the middle rack in the oven.
9.  Bake for 30 minutes, then remove pyrex & place Pepper Jack cheese on top of each bell pepper.
10.  Return pyrex to oven and continue baking for another 10-15 minutes, or until meat is cooked through.

(Unfortunately, we were starving & I forgot to take a photo of the finished product)