foodie Pen Pal October

I love foodie pen pal! I was teamed up with Amy R. We sent a few emails back and forth. We both have a sweet tooth. She hit it spot on with what she sent me. I love sunflowers and I opened them right up as I was looking at my other items Amy also sent me brownie bars from Clif and some mint chocolate cookies. I love mint in everything always have and always will! I took the cookies into my bedroom as sharing them with the family just isn't going to happen! That evening I ate 2 of the cookies. I am not on any kind of diet but have been trying to watch what I eat as well as eating healthier. Amy R. Thanks again for the goodies! This month we exchanged with each other. So I sent to Amy as well. Here’s a detailed explanation of the program: -On the 5th of the month, you will receive your pen pal pairing via email. It will be your responsibility to contact your pen pal and get their mailing address and any other information you might need like allergies or dietary restrictions. -You will have until the 15th of the month to put your box of goodies in the mail. On the last day of the month, you will post about the goodies you received from your pen pal! -The boxes are to be filled with fun foodie things, local food items or even homemade treats! The spending limit is $15. The box must also include something written. This can be anything from a note explaining what’s in the box, to a fun recipe…use your imagination! -You are responsible for figuring out the best way to ship your items depending on their size and how fragile they are. (Don’t forget about flat rate boxes!) -Foodie Penpals is open to blog readers as well as bloggers. If you’re a reader and you get paired with a blogger, you can choose to write a short guest post for your penpal to post on their blog about what you received. If two readers are paired together, neither needs to worry about writing a post for that month. - Foodie Penpals is open to US, Canadian residents & European residents. Please note, Canadian Residents will be paired with other Canadians only. We’ve determined things might get too slow and backed up if we’re trying to send foods through customs across the border from US to Canada and vice versa. So, I’m going to keep two separate lists and match US w/ US and Canada w/ Canada! ***If you’re in Europe, please contact Carol Anne from This Is Rock Salt at rocksalt@thisisrocksalt.com to get involved! check it out if this sounds like something you would like to do and follow up on!

My first homemade cake!

I decided to make my first ever homemade cake. I was like I can do this recipe and I had everything on hand to create the cake. It turned out so very good and the bonus kids loved it! I was surprised but they ate the double layer cake in less than 12 hours! SCORE!! I got this recipe from ALLrecipes.com Simple White Cake You will need: 1 cup white sugar 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup butter 1 3/4 teaspoons baking powder 2 eggs 1/2 cup milk 2 tsp vanilla extract Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x9 inch pan or line a muffin pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, cream together the sugar and butter. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Combine flour and baking powder, ass to the creamed mixture and mix well. Finally stir in the milk until batter is smooth. Pour or spoon batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes in the preheated oven. For cupcakes, bake 20 to 25 minutes. Cake is done when it springs back to the touch. How super easy was this to make? Let me tell you if your scared of making a homemade cake this is the recipe to try. It's a no fail recipe!! Life is good and I often surprise my self! Now what should I make that is homemade? how about some shooters with liquor in them?? yummy!!

Chicken Farming at my brother's house

This is my brother's blog about his chicken farm. I'm really enjoying reading and seeing his photo's of his animals and such. When I get to his house I try to walk down to his farm area to see all of his animal. They have accomplished so much in what seems like a short time to me. I forget that we were raised on farms.. Guess that part of my past I just don't want to remember. One memory I have is going to church with my cousin Brenda the youth director Keith Flannigan was also a veterinarian. I remember leaving church with him and several other youths and going out to Grandpa BR's to help birth calves. That is a good memory. Both of my grandpa's had farms and raised cattle and hay and such. So I guess I really am a farm girl and just didn't want to admit it. Hell all this time I thought I was a princess...At least Mr. C tells me I am his princess.

Fall is here!

I so love the cooler weather. I so need and want to put out some fall decorations. all I have to do is walk out to the shop and find the fall decoration tubs and get busy. I was off Monday and Tuesday and didn't even think about being productive. Then last night I was looking at some blogs where they were decorating for fall. So that got my mind racing and all the neat possibilities I could do with what I already have plus if I only bought a few new things then I could have a AWESOME fall centerpiece. Brody asked me last night if the fall air freshener was the only decoration I had. you know the one I am talking about..the .99 cent one that twist up and use in bathrooms or etc.. Yes it's the only thing I have out right now is what I told him. I didn't realize he paid attention to me decorating the house. I usually only do Halloween, fall and Christmas. I made Oven Baked Taco's Monday night. They were super good and super easy. I got the recipe off of facebook. Although I added my own twist to it. It is something I will make again!

Family Reunion

Today Aaron and I went to Ardmore Oklahoma for The Grigsby Annual Family Reunion. We get there just in time to eat lunch with everyone. Grandma Diane didn't make it in and that was disappointing to me and Aaron. My brother in law Eddie showed up with his children Aiden and Mallory right after we got there. I guess I should say Ex brother in law since my husband Mark passed away. Mr. C. doesn't really like me to attend Grigsby functions but that is part of my son's heritage. I want them to know these relatives and embrace them as family should. I tend to visit with the ones I know. I keep saying next year I will go around and talk. Then I get to Aunt Mary's and go into a shy person. I have got to get over that and be the confident person I can be. When Mark was alive we just didn't visit or be around these family members very much. So now I have to do this on my own for my sons. If you noticed Blake and Trevor didn't attend. Blake had to work as he normally has to on this weekend. Trevor was with his cousin Alison having a good time at a event at Redbud Park here in Marlow Oklahoma. Missed both of my boys very much. Many thanks to Aaron going with me!

Just another day

Hello! I just wanted to stop in and tell everyone hello and thanks for following me! I always think I will write something funny and wise and yet it never seems to come out like I have wrote it in my head. I love to read blogs that seamlessly flow with character and descriptions. I so hope that one of these days I learn how to be a better blogger.

This is my baby boy practicing golf shots one lazy Sunday afternoon. We had a great time. I even tried to hit a few balls and let me tell you it isn't easy at all. Trevor will never be a Tiger Woods nor do I want him to be! But as long as he is enjoying it I will support him 100 percent! We are at Lake Taylor in Grady county in Oklahoma. It's a beautiful small lake not to far from our house. Today I am at flower shop and it's misting and kinda gloomy! The perfect fall weather. If I was home I would be curled up on the couch with a cup of hot tea and a good book to read. Since I am here I plan on getting some arrangements ready to take to the cemetery's. I love being creative! Have a great day everyone!

Football Candy bouquet

I made this football candy bouquet the other day! I enjoy making them and everyone loves to get a candy bouquet. They are super easy to make and make great gifts.

Usually if I make one of these for my boys I like to use snacks in bags like peanuts, chips, big candy bars or even the boxes of candy. Items that I use to make candy bouquets include: Cellaphane hot glue gun glue sticks floral wire Styrofoam cutter of some kind for the floral wire. If you need more details just email me at Kraftykarenj@gmail.com

Good morning Saturday!

I got up early and got ready for this cool windy morning. I went to bank and drove over to Lawton to pay some bills. Then went to Big lots. I like to buy Green Giant corn here for .80 cents! Thats such a bargin compared to our small grocery store. It's nearly 1pm and I am going to Atlantic Bread to have some lunch. I hope everyone has a blessed day!

Heart Scan

At the fair my brother signed him snd I up for a advanced heart scan. He wants it because both of our parents died from heart issues. So we drove to Oklahoma City to take test. Didn't realize it was like a time share thing where they try to upsell you on a total body scanfor wsy more money...as in $6900.00 over a course of several years. We said no thanks. After 45 minute presentation we finally got the heart scan. Should know results in 7 days. Yes I am scared of knowing but hopefully it will help me be motivated to get in better health.