A Happy Sunny Treasury

It really did snow last night... SO I thought I'd make a pretty, happy, sunny treasury to help me "think Spring"!

'Sun and Flowers' by JennyBunny

It snowed last night in Minnesota! I can't wait for these happy flowers to start growing!

Sunflower Absorbent Til... AngelEllie $16.00	Flower Hair Clip - Larg... BloomDesignStu... $8.00	Sunny Sunflower note ca... lemonlizard $15.00	Enjoy the Simple Things ParadaCreation... $19.00
Sunflower Watercolor Li... AlisaPaints $67.00	Double Sunflower Hoops ... SBJewelry $120.00	SUNFLOWER, Yellow Tutu,... TutuGorgeousGi... $26.95	Sunflowers.....a Scrabb... LittleputLand $14.95
Miniature Sunflower Bob... Flauxers $4.50	Pocket Mirror - Sunflow... HappyBugDesign... $3.00	Sunflower 8x10 inch woo... wayfaringart $50.00	Sunflower Beanie Hat Ne... LandyKnits $22.00
8x12 The Rising Sunflow... designedbydall... $30.00	Outdoor Pillow Cover - ... Mazizmuse $39.00	XL Golden knitted Sunfl... Yoola $39.00	Giant Sunflower 4x6 YourLittleDrea... $7.00

DUMPLINGS!

I baked a chicken the other day with stuffing, potatoes and gravy. It's one of Joe's favorite meals. (It's one of mine too!)

To use the chicken completely, I made soup the next day. The man wanted vegetables and noodles, but chicken-veggie-noodles just didn't sound good to me. I decided I wanted dumplings.

I've never made dumplings until yesterday.... I'm happily surprised at how easy it was!

Here's what I did-
I found my Joy of Cooking cookbook and searched for dumplings. There were seven different variations of them, which surprised me a little. The first one though, on page 334, was the one I needed for a soup!



Whisk together:
1 cup cake flour (1 cup regular flour, minus 2 T is the same thing
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt

Break into a one cup measure (I used my glass Pyrex):
One egg
Then add enough milk to make it 1/2 cup.

Beat the wet ingredients well, then add to the dry.

The stiffer the batter, the better. You can add herbs if you want. I thought maybe some pepper and parsley added would have been yummy!

Make sure your soup or broth is simmering, then drop small spoonfuls of the batter into it. Don't over-crowd the pan since they expand quite a bit!

Cover and steam them for 10 or so minutes. If you are unsure if they are done, stick a toothpick in (just like a cake) and if it comes out clean, they are done!


They were so delicious that I ate six.... Yeah, I need to go exercise today at some point hardcore! :D




The Joy of Cooking is one of my favorite cookbooks! It's the perfect go-to guide for anything cooking related! Buy one! You will be so happy you did!

My nephew is my favorite person...

How true is this - "You are worried about seeing him spend his early years in doing nothing. What! Is it nothing to be happy? Nothing to skip, play, and run around all day long? Never in his life will he be so busy again." ~Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile, 1762

We had a very busy day yesterday.... Now, I'm listening to him talk to his grandpa... And I just love him.

Restless

So, I've been laid off for over 6 months now.... Finally, I'm getting bored, I think. Probably only of the constant day-to-day of "what do I do now?". I own a small business, so I have things to do... and I've really been amping up my listing/marketing/blogging/all that other business-y stuff...

The problem is my lack of human interaction, I reckon. Talking to people on facebook, yahoo messenger and twitter are NOT the same as face-to-face chatting with touch-able people. (Not that I'd touch people, but the option is there. I'm just not touchy-feely.)

I need a job outside of the house....

I went to a place to fill out an application today at a garden/flower place. I was one of many. There were two guys, maybe a little older than me, and an older lady. Somebody had just left too. In my brain, I'm going- "Ok, wow, this sucks. I'm just one-of-many unemployed persons. crap." Then I'm thinking, maybe just maybe I can find two seconds to schmooze this dude into thinking I'm the best...

He asked me two questions- "Do you have any disabilities?" and "Do you smoke?"

There was not much time for schmoozing and thus impressing the man with my awesomeness.

Now I wait.

I'll work on my business stuff, but I really need to get out of this house more.

Cheese/Organizing/Newsletter

I've been craving cheese for the last week again... I think my body is telling me I need calcium. Probably, right? I don't really like milk, but maybe I should eat more yogurt? No, even better... Ice cream!

Whilst ignoring the cheese calling me from the fridge, I've been working my heinie off organizing and listing items on my Etsy shop. It's tiring and lots of fun at the same time. Tiring that I have to do it almost constantly just get all of my 200+ items up there.... and Fun that I get to write all my goofy descriptions. And sometimes I really worry that they are uber goofy... enough to scare people away. It's not like I'm writing life stories about the items... but I just babble sometimes.

Like now.

Which reminds me, I wrote my newsletter for my business last night too... And I do babble! A LOT! Hopefully people find me endearing and not crazy.... :D

Anyways. I shall stop babbling at you now and go back to work.
Spring has sprung and I hope it's lovely for you!

xoxo
JB

Dieting?

I've been craving (I mean CRAVING) cheese for the last week. I even have some unopened in the fridge. I haven't eaten any though. I have to get skinny for the wedding, you know...?

I have an unGodly amount of pounds to lose, so I'm being good and not eating my cheese.

Oh, but I made cookies yesterday. I share half of them, mind you, but I still ate six. What sense does that make?!

Maybe I should have just had the cheese....

Tra-la-laaaa

I was sick all of February, but now I'm determined to get back into shape... Mentally and physically. It's daunting to be sick and feeling like you'll never be okay again...

A week back, I started cleaning up my work space downstairs (the full basement of a four level split) and it was tiring and messy. I annoyed myself with my mess, but I'm 75% there and still working on it.

Then I was going to start editing all my photos and listing things on my site... and the computer blew up. Not really like an explosion (though I wouldn't minded that actually happening) but it stopped working completely. Thank God for my dad having his old one. It was putzy until Joe installed our new virus protection... Who knew that 50 some viruses could slow a computer so much!?

My sister and I also may (I stress MAY) have found an investor for our business. I'm not even going to start telling anyone about it until I work out the kinks, but I'm optimistic, especially when said investor is a close family friend and a very nice man.

Today, I'm humming to myself while working on the mental clean-up. Later, I'm going to exercise. 14 months to the wedding and all.... I'm feeling okay, now, but there is so much to do. See ya!

I'm a slacker...

Seriously, I haven't blogged in forever... And I annoy myself. I annoy myself a lot actually.

Anyways, I've been sick this whole month. First the flu or something incredibly similar that didn't make me vomit or, well, you know, out the other end. I just had the chills and aches and pains.

NOW, I have strep or something of the sort. If I had insurance, I'd be at the doc checking it out, but, alas, I must home heal... Which means lots of hot chocolate and coughing. I'm ok with that. :D

BUT, I'm cleaning today... I'm going to finish organizing my craft room then... then, i'm going to set up the puzzle I bought as a reward for cleaning and work on making a quilt.... And I'm going to do all of this while job hunting, because being laid off is less fun than I thought the first month!

I'll let you know how that goes since I'm (hopefully) on the upswing of the sickness thing... And I'm hoping to keep blogging.

xoxo
JB

Gosh...

It's been a long time since I've blogged. I've been funky. Not in the good way either. I've just been in Jenny-land... Reading.

Yes, that's all I've been doing for the last, well, 2+ weeks.

I'm averaging about a book a day. *nods* I know, I know.... But it's all I have to do, especially at work. I know, I know, you are jealous. Don't be. It's boring. ESPECIALLY when you used to be busy enough to almost drive you insane...... But then, I can't really complain. I AM reading at work... getting paid to read. I'm just really bored.

I will try to be better. Tomorrow I'll have an awesome Happy Happy photo blog for you even! *nods* (Unless I'm reading.... Kidding!)

xoxo
JB

Happy Happy #9 - I love Lunch!

Especially with awesome coworkers! Amanda and I went to California Pizza Kitchen and sat outside... and (omg) enjoyed the weather! It's been raining here more days in June than it's been nice, so it was a great sunny lunch!

There is Amanda with her Red Velvet Cake... And I had a hot fudge brownie sundae! I don't know how I ate half of it even after my delicious Focaccia and Pizza though. I practically waddled back into work!






Regular Pepperoni Pizza and Garlic Cheese Focaccia with Checca! YUMMMMO!


















If you would like to play along and show off your happies (that sounds dirty, but I assure you it isn't), click the photo below!

Catch-up + Ketchup

I'm feeling a little whelmed. Not quite over-whelmed... just sort of whelmed.

You don't think that's a real word? Really..? It is. But I only know because I looked it up here.

Thank God for Thesaurus.com or I'd make many spelling grammars.... and my writing would be interminable, irksome, and insipid (aka boring).

Back to the point, I'm whelmed. My list is getting longer. I'm not freaking out yet, but I could... If I felt the need.

Since the painful dry socket (13 days of agony!) from getting my wisdom tooth out, I've been struggling to catch up.... I was worthless for that whole ordeal. I don't know how anything got done. I was a zombie... Sleep, wake up, shower (sometimes no shower), go to work, leave work early because I was in pain, take a bunch of pain meds in between all those and then pass out.

Now the catch-up! Pray for me, people! Virtually kick me in the rear to get me moving.

Oh, for the Ketchup thing. I just really like it. Even on my carrots!

Love you! ♥

Happy Happy #8 - Gooselake Market, Take 1

Note: There are a lot of pictures because it was all so much fun!

This last weekend, I did my first "Farmers/Artisan Market" at Gooselake Farm in Elk River, MN. It was rainy. It was dreary. And the peacock was noisy. He was so loud that I didn't want to risk getting close to him.

Here is Dee with her wares. She may have been getting sick of all my picture taking by this photo...... :D (Click the photo to get directed to her Etsy shop!) And we saw Belly Dancers! It was pretty sweet!

















Here are a few pics of my jewelry!

















The llamas were not friend and DONKEY (in Shrek's voice) wouldn't even come near me! I think they didn't like my umbrella!















The chickens swarmed you if you got a handful of feed corn from the machine! Kind of freaked me out at first... especially the big ol' roosters! But the day was complete and utter perfection when I found the best pickle in the world. Ask Dee, she'll say the same thing... Delish!



















If you would like to play along and show off your happies (that sounds dirty, but I assure you it isn't), click the photo below!

Happy Happy #7 - Memorial Day

So many photos and so much fun!

If you would like to play along and show off your happies (that sounds dirty, but I assure you it isn't), click the photo below!

Happy Happy #6 - True Blood Season 2

Ok, I know, I know, I'm a bit of a nerd. I'm going to buy this tonight! I wish I had pre-ordered it weeks ago, but I didn't!

I've read all the books this series is based on... I even want to buy the Team Eric shirt. Call me a nerd, I don't care. :D

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY!




If you would like to play along and show off your happies (that sounds dirty, but I assure you it isn't), click the photo below!

Happy Happy #5 - Happy Birthday to Iggie!

My (*favorite*) nephew turns 3 today! Little Ignatius is getting so old....

I remember when he was born. I remember getting choked up, thinking that my little sister made this perfect (not-so)little baby boy.

And I've watched him grow... I've taught him things. I especially love when you ask him "Who is your favorite aunt?" and he says "Auntie Jenny". Yeah, I did that.

Also, when you ask him "Guess what?"... He says
"Chicken butt!"

I couldn't love this kid more if he were my own.

So, Happy Birthday, dear Iggie. I love you tons!




"I'm running... running... running...."














And walking in the grass with Uncle Joe




If you would like to play along and show off your happies (that sounds dirty, but I assure you it isn't), click the photo below!

No rest for the wicked...

I must be very bad. Or really unprepared.... Or a procrastinator. It's probably one of the latter, but I'm leaning towards the very last one!

I had a big ol' craft show this weekend. I slept for 4 and a half hours before it. I don't know what I was thinking. I need to learn to plan my time better!

That's really all I have today, since I'm yawning and stretching and thinking about getting another Pepsi........ :D

Something you may not know about me...

I really love Mexican food. Tacos, chimichangas, salsa, but especially enchiladas....

The cheese! The sauce! The onions and chicken! It's just the perfect little meal! Add some rice and you can't go wrong... Add some beans and you could, but still they are good!

On Sunday we tossed some chicken breasts on the grill... I halved them, seasoned them spicily (is that a word?) and we didn't eat them. I saved them until yesterday for my enchiladas!

I microwaved the tortillas, chopped the chicken and a whole onion. Then as if I were my own assembly line, I made three (yes, THREE) pans of enchiladas. And it took me less than an hour to prep, create and bake all three pans.

Thank God for cans of enchilada sauce, shredded cheese and pre-cooked chicken.

My sister makes her own enchilada sauce, but I'm too lazy for that! Also, I mix a larger can of the mild to go with the hot. It comes out perfect that way!

If any of my awesome readers has a recipe for deep-fried or pan fried chimichangas, you just let me know!

Something you may not know about me....

I'm really in no hurry to get married. Really, I'm not.

I'm 27 years old. I don't have any kids, nor do I want any before I'm 30. I have a job I hate, but I'm working on being self-employed. I have a great boyfriend of 3+ years, who is great. Oh, I said that already. We live with my dad, which is ok. (Really, it is ok!)

What's my rush?

What started this rant? Joe's (the boyfriend) friend, also my insurance agent, just told me that our good friends just got engaged. Just last week I said to Joe that they had been dating for 6 months less than us....

So. He didn't tell me about the engagement because I said that. Really?

How many times do I have to say I'm in no hurry....? And I'm okay waiting for all the good things coming to me... That I'm working for...?

Oh, you men, you drive me nuts!

Oh, carp....

Um. 9 days, people. 9 days until my craft show... And since I've been part of the advertising team, I know it's going to be pretty busy! *eep*

I have stuff in stock... I really do, but I'm trying to be a little bit more organized and make things that are similar and coordinating. The same design of earrings in different colors... and necklaces the same way... You get what I'm saying.

I know what I need to have for set-up and everything, but the time, there is just so little of it! *eep*

Pray for me, people. I need all the support I can get!

Happy Happy #4

Oh, GOSH! I've been running around like a maniac in preparation of a big ol' craft show coming up in two weekends.... And I've been neglecting my blog(s). I need a happy today though... so here are my boys! :D

Joe and Iggie playing in the grass at the lake.... Iggie loves his Uncle Joe.

This is Brutus. He's in the sink. Water theme for ya.... :D

If you would like to play along and show off your happies (that sounds dirty, but I assure you it isn't), click the photo below!