Friday Food for Thought

What.A.Week.
Yesterday my work computer crashed. It had a black screen and said, "program memory dumping." Great.

I love Mayo Clinic. In preparation for my upcoming appointment there, KU Med Center could take some lessons from them. Your pre-visit questionnaire otherwise known as your admittance is all in the computer and you can chose to update or leave your information the same.  You waste no time doing it when you get there.  Hence things like your race and sex that don't change don't have to be questioned.  Yes, KU Med, take some lessons from this!

Best part of the week however, my Mama and I have booked an early winter BEACH trip!

First pot of chili made this week. Means its cold enough for Fall but sadly getting close enough to be winter.

My last post included a picture of the fun cheetah pumpkin on my front porch. I came home last weekend to 4 half eaten pumpkins. Thanks squirrels.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of coming home to a very cleaned up-leaf free yard. Thanks Mr. Lawn Boy.

The older I get the more I look forward to the weekends.  The county revealed their voluntary retirement program two weeks ago. Too bad I don't qualify yet.
I saw Jane Pauley speak last week at a conference. She was a very engaging speaker and I was grateful for the opportunity to hear her in person. She's got quite a sense of humor as well.

Never in my life had I really witnessed part of Fred Phelps Westboro Protestors until last week.  What a joke.  Who are they to make such judgements?  I spent 3 days last week in Topeka for training and that very much put a bad taste in my mouth. Welcome to Kansas, my friends.

I about had a stroke last week when I had to pay the sales tax on my new car. And I about had a heart attack this week when I discovered that somebody put a Jayhawk window cling sticker on the back of my new car. There are 3 suspects and they will be caught and paid back!!!! :)

I took away a lot of  sentiment and lessons from the Race for the Cure last weekend in Des Moines but if I could have taken away one material thing I would have taken one of their HOT PINK trash cans for my own house.  Seriously, I was in a world of PINK there.

I saw this on a Facebook post; "Bless instead of blame today; seek to understand someone rather than to correct them; focus on their innocence rather than on their mistakes. THE RESULTS WILL BE MIRACULOUS." Marianne Williamson

It was announced this week that Kemper Arena in KC will be torn down.  I have a great memory of Kemper Arena. Spring 1996 Last Big 8 Tournament, Iowa State vs. KU in the final game.  In case you forgot the outcome, click here. 56-55 Iowa State. 

12 Months of Giving Back

If you've been following my blog you know that on Friday night I was part of a charity event and fundraiser for Mosaic in Kansas City. We had a Chili Supper and Pumpkin Picasso fundraiser. Thanks to my friends who came and supported this great cause and those who bought tickets! I brought home this dandy little pumpkin that I bid on. I was the only bidder. Imagine that!?!

It's a perfect Allison pumpkin don't you think?

Slow Cooker Lasagna

I spent a glorious day at home. No make up, in my sweats and in my new slippers! (See post below!) It was the perfect day to try a new recipe. I have a ton of Tastefully Simple samples I want to try so I put together some Slow Cooker Lasagna. It was delish! And so easy, no messiness of trying to perfectly organize a Lasagna dish. 

Slow Cooker Lasagna Ingredients 2 Tbsp. Garlic Garlic™ 1 lb. lean ground beef 1 chopped large onion 1 tsp. Seasoned Salt 1 - 2 Tbsp. Dried Tomato & Garlic Pesto Mix 29 oz. can tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce 1 cup water 6 oz. can tomato paste 8 oz. uncooked lasagna noodles 4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese 1 1/2 cups cottage cheese 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese Directions Saute first 3 ingredients in large pan; drain. Add next 5 ingredients; mix well. Spoon 1/4 of beef mixture in bottom of slow cooker. Layer 1/3 of noodles over beef mixture, break noodles as needed. Combine cheeses; mix well. Layer 1/3 of cheese mixture over noodle layer. Repeat noodle and cheese layers twice. Top with remaining ground beef mixture. Cook covered on low until noodles are tender, 3-4 hours. After 3 hours check lasagna; if too watery, uncover and cook an additional 30 minutes. Makes 4-6 servings.

Seriously YUM!

LOVE is......

spending a Saturday at home in your new PINK LL Bean Slippers you got for your birthday from your brother! Firing up the crockpot, watching college football and lighting a pumpkin candle.  Happy Saturday!

Friday food for thought

I have some pretty fantastic friends! Thanks for the SURPRISE birthday party, Susan! Pictures to come! Plus multiple other lunch and dinner celebrations with special people made my birth"day" into a week. Thank you!

Recap of last weekend:  Allison survived a near slow death via her flu shot. NEVER getting one again. 

Faith is not knowing what the future holds but knowing who holds the future.

Let's talk commercials.  Can they please quit playing the Vaginal Mesh Erosion lawsuit commercial? Disgusting.  And the "Mommy, I went poopy" clorox commercial. Hilarious.

Did I mention I will NEVER get a flu shot again?

This lead foot is so appreciative of the old fashion driver who flashes their lights at oncoming cars to signal a hiding cop. Thank you!

Time is priceless.

My dear friend Andrea and her family are moving to KC. I could not be more thrilled! She told me this week the Today Show indicated that KC is one of the most affordable places to live. Hmmm. Had no idea!

Apparently I missed something or maybe I knew this, even talked about it and forgot. Brothers and Sisters, one of my VERY favorite shows. No longer on TV. Just figured that out last weekend while I was dying on the couch from my flu shot. 

It's extremely sad the way money has influenced college sports.  Couldn't the original Big 8 just come back together?

It's amazing how much one phone call can make a good day into a great day! I got a phone call from somebody I hadn't talked to in ages this week and it made my heart smile.

Sometimes I would really love a dog. A big dog like a lab or a golden retriever. Definitely NOT a yappy little foo foo dog. But this week while sitting at a stop light I watched a girl walking her dogs have to bend over and put dog sh*t into a baggie and I thought, that's exactly why I don't own a dog!

I could sit in the Wal Mart Neighborhood Mart all day and people watch. Or even Wal Mart for that matter.

I vacummed with my new Dyson this week. I think I'm in LOVE.  A little embarrassed at all the junk it collected though.

Oh, ps. I am NEVER getting a flu shot again. Don't even ask me to Mama! :)

Friday food for thought

It cracks me up that the Smart Source coupon flier in the Sunday paper still has advertisements and mail in forms for purchasing clothes, slippers, bras and shoes. Do people really buy them out of there?

The Cyclones were sure a hot mess last Saturday night.  What can I say, adversity builds character.

Last Friday I ran into Von Maur in West Des Moines. Von Maur instantly reminds me of my Grandma Foss. The smell, the sound of the piano playing, the clean crispness of the store.  I could sit in their store for an hour just to hang on to the memory. 

I wish it would rain. I am entirely too lazy to have to use the sprinkler to water my lawn.  I love to be in the yard but running the sprinkler and moving it where it needs to be at certain intervals is why I need a husband!!

Guilty pleasure of the week = Casey's breakfast pizza. YUM.

My sister is running the Chicago Marathon this week. Very proud of her! Wish I was there to cheer her on.  The last time I was in Chicago for the Chicago Marathon I was 8 years old watching my Dad. It was also the weekend I got a pair of polka dot Keds from the State street Marshall Fields!

Now that we have a Nordstrom Rack, J. Crew Outlet and Trader Joes in KC could we please get a Ross?  Thank you very much.

Intentions Sushi in old Overland Park recently closed.  It has re-opened as Intentions Cabaret.  I only noticed this because they had a Groupon for it.  I had to do a double read as I was certain by the name it had re-opened as a strip club. Doesn't that sound like a strip club?  Have no idea what the food genre is but it makes me giggle for sure!

Earlier this week I saw the lady down the street "walking" her dogs by riding her motorized scooter while holding their leashes and having them "walk" next to her. 
 
I'm not sure which is more exciting, the fact that today I turn 32 or the fact that earlier this week I became the proud new owner for a Dyson Vacuum!!

Speaking of 32, I'm excited for the new year ahead of me. Cheers to lots of great things! I  have learned a lot this year, a lot about myself, a lot about others and I am deeply blessed with some fantastic people in my life.  You know who you are. Thank you! :)

Pumpkin Cookies

My mama brought a special treat to the football game last weekend, one of my childhood favorites! Pumpkin cookies!

Great Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies

4 c flour

2 c oats

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1  1/2 cups unsalted butter, softened, but not melted

2 c brown sugar

1 c sugar

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

1 15 oz. can pumpkin

Mix all of the above in mixer and stir in:

1 c chocolate chips

Drop by tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet and shape into round shapes.  Cookies will not change much when they are baked. 

Bake 20 minutes in a preheated oven of 350 degrees.  For decoration after cooled:

1  bag of plain m&m's

1 bag candy corns

1  1/2 - 2 batches of white frosting dyed orange with red and yellow food coloring

Frost each cookie and make a pumpkin face with candies.