Only One More Left...

Of Big Brother :( This saddens me greatly!!  The end of Big Brother means the end of Summer, the end of seeing Big Jeff!

So here is my recap from Wednesday & Thursday's show - and there will be a spoiler, so if you don't want to know... don't read ...

Wednesday was a pre-recorded episode of Big Brother and an eviction night at that. Rachel nominated Kalia and Porsche; her reasoning, 'because you're coming after me.' In the diary room she tells us that Kalia has tried to get her out more times than she can count, which is probably true seeing as Kalia has only gone after Rachel once or twice. Porsche says that she and Kalia are the “biggest competitors in the house”. Also true, but only because all either of them ever do is eat or sleep.

This entire episode was about Kalia and Porsche speculating if Adam, assuming he won the veto, would use it on them to ensure that they both stay in the house. Meanwhile Jordan is also concerned, so she goes to talk to Adam about it, who is sitting by himself in the purple room. She walks in and greets him with, “What are you doing?”, to which Adam replies, “Just laying here”. I couldn't help but laugh to myself because that same exact interaction could’ve theoretically gone on verbatim during any competition throughout this entire season.

So far Wednesday's episode has been a busy one, thus far and the veto competition takes flight. Another competition that we have seen before (BB12 w/clams and cd's). But clearly the Big Brother gods have something against Kalia, because we can’t really be expected to believe that with the entire back yard littered with desserts, she will have the ability to remain focused on the task at hand. Unlikely, Big Brother…and I’m on to you.

Round one, Jordan is 'almost embarrassed' when she is kicked out the first round! Really Jordan, come on.

Round two, Rachel doesn't make it in time.

Round three, Kalia is out and starts to cry.  You know it’s outlandish when Rachel is calling someone out for their overdramatics.

Round four, Porsche mishears “lost all seventeen competitions they played in“ for “left after seventeen minutes they were in the house” and grabs Keith’s pie. Adam correctly grabs Shelly’s pie and wins the competition.

After the competition, we finally get to see Big Jeff inside the Jury House. As you remember, Shelly was evicted from the BB House last Thursday and is now gracing everyone with her presence in the Jury House. Here is the recap of what went down...

JEFF: I wanna hear the story of the person that got me out. What’s up with us, Shelly?

SHELLY: Well, Jeff – I was playing this game called “Big Brother” where I was trying to win a half-million dollars by whatever means necessary.

JEFF: But I was trying to have a three-month vacation with my girlfriend! Where do you get off breaking up my summer of passionless platonic romance?!

SHELLY: If I didn’t evict you or Jordan when I had the chance, I wouldn’t have stood any shot against you two in the finals.

JEFF: But I’m Big Jeff! CBS’s golden boy! You had no right to get rid of me! Didn’t you read the “It’s Jeff’s Way Or The Highway” clause in your contract?

- - That's my Big Jeff! :)

Quickly we go back to the eviction speeches, where Porsche goes first. She says that she’s “already been funny” in her speeches (intentionally?…cuz I must have missed that one) and then goes on to say a bunch of nice things about everyone, which means that she knows just as well as we do that she’s not going anywhere. Kalia, on the other hand, shows that she knows she’s on her way out the door by saying plenty of legitimately insightful things (“Adam – start playing like an all-star and stop playing like a fan”, “Rachel – you can’t keep complaining about putting out people that play this game if you’re going to keep doing it”, etc) yet she still somehow comes off like a scorned lunatic.

Time for the voting... Jordan votes out Porsche, but seems a little confused as to why... Adam votes to evict Kalia so with the tie, Rachel has the last say... Kalia is evicted from the BB house. Then a ChenBot does a quick one question interview with her and then plays the good-bye messages...

REFRIGERATOR: [crying] I’m going to miss you so much! What am I supposed to do now with all this ice cream and frozen pizza in me?

MATTRESS: I’m really proud that you made it as far as you did! I know that we probably spent more time together than anyone else in the house, so it’s going to be really sad around here without you. At least I still have your indentation to remind me of all the good times we had!

After another commercial break, we get to see Big Brother finally make use of the fortune teller machine.  The remaining houseguests are kept up all night by the fortune teller spewing out predictions that will be used in the next HoH:

• “Shelly will be diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome after spending months continually writing sentences to her daughter as punishment for all the lies that she told”
• “Adam will lose the game of Big Brother when he walks into the back yard and literally floats away over the walls of the house”
• “Daniele will begin selling her own line of fashionable self-defense pocket tasers called ‘The Shockkkerrrrr’”
• “Lawon will receive a special power from CBS on his 50th birthday that will allow him to return to the house during Big Brother Season 24”
• “Keith, Cassie, and Dominic will open up a bar called ‘Regulators’ which will be shut down three weeks after its grand opening due to their employees revolting and taking over”

Finally the HoH comp starts, the remaining houseguests are read a fortune and they need to answer “TRUE” if it was something they heard the night before or “FALSE” if it was not exactly as they had heard it.  Adam FINALLY WINS one and upon winning HoH, Adam proclaims “I’m an All-Star, baby!”, which causes all of America to bond in a collective fit of laughter.


Thursday Recap:

ChenBot pops on to greet us and send a reminder that Adam won HoH last week by saying, “He can no longer follow the power…he is the power”.
\

We of course have a flashback of Kalia leaving the BB refrigerator and bed behind and Adam tells us in the DR that by voting to evict Kalia he is “firmly with the veterans” and that he has chosen his side. Oh yes – you heard that correctly…with 6 days left in a 77-day game, Adam has just now chosen his side. {---- We shall see how long that lasts...

The next thing we flash back to is Adam’s HoH victory. Which segues into Adam sounding pervy when he talks about him kissing girls’ butts and girls kissing his butt. Which segues into the most obnoxious “WHO WANTS TO SEE MY HoH ROOOOOOOMMMM! ARRRRGHHHHH!!!!” in the history of Big Brother. Adam’s HoH basket is filled with bacon, bacon and more bacon.. I'm talkin' gummy bacon, bacon band-aids, oh and Tori Spelling’s pinky finger (wrapped in bacon). Rachel said that “if Adam could, he would probably marry bacon”. 

One by one Adam’s Angels come up to big bacon daddy's den to plead their case as to why they should remain off the block. Porsche plays the “newbie” angle, Rachel says “obviously” no less than twelve times, obviously... and Jordan wastes her time and ends up “FUSS-trated!” (Gosh, I love Jordan! MUAH!)

Adam couldn’t play the “creepy old man” card any more convincingly when he pops into the bedroom to announce, “Hey girls – it’s time for the nomination ceremony”. {--- Tell me you got that too, that I'm not the only one! bahahaha!  Rachel ends up being the only one safe from nominations this week (“obviously”), and Adam gives us this so Adam ironic gem of a quote:

ADAM: “If you want to be in the final three, you have to earn it!”He follows that up with, “Porsche and Jordan – I want to see what you are made of!”.

I’m guessing silicone and air, respectively, but what do I know? And Poor Jordan... Honey, why didn't you step it up?

Between last week’s OTEV clues and this week’s veto competition being titled (overly-appropriately) “Jukebox Veto”, I am certain that the creative team in charge of veto challenges has thrown in the towel on this season as much as I wish I would have. The premise is similar to competitions we’ve seen in the past (shockkkkerrrr!) where you have to match up a set of names that fit a set of clues. For example:

Okay, you get the idea... Porsche ends up winning. Immediately upon Porsche’s victory, Adam (not wasting a millisecond contemplating floating towards the latest person in power) says, “Even though I’ve been working with Jordan and Rachel, it would be kind of good for another newbie to be in the final three, so this might work out for me!”. ADAM FOR ALL-STARS 2!

I have to give it Rachel for the first time in a long time we get to see her do her magical “tear-less crying”. I kind of miss it, actually. This goes on and on right up until the LIVE pre-taped veto ceremony. This ceremony is catered perfectly towards Adam’s season-long “Reign of Mediocrity Terror” because when Porsche uses the veto Rachel is the only one left to go up as a replacement, so Adam is able to continue not having to make a decision on his own. SHOOOCKKKERR!

Right after the veto is used, the eviction ceremony begins. Rachel’s speech is first, and she asks Porsche to use the veto on her, then if she can use the veto on Porsche, then if Porsche will be her best friend, and every question other than “will you please vote to keep me?” Jordan announces that she’s going home, compliments Rachel and Adam, and then says that all she knows about Porsche is that she wears bikinis and hosts competitions. 

Jordan gets the boot, and she takes the walk of shame down to ChenBot for the first time in two seasons of gameplay. :(  ChenBot plays the good-bye messages:

PORSCHE: [off to the side] Who? I don’t know who that is. What did you want me to say again? Oh – okay. [into the camera] Gordon – I’m really sad to see you leave. [off to the side] What? Oh. [into the camera] JORDAN – I’m really sad to see you leave.

ADAM: I am SO thankful to you for showing me how to play this game and be another mega-floater with a shot at winning a half-million dollars.

RACHEL: I’m sorry that I couldn’t save us in the final veto. We’ve worked together all summer and become really good friends, and I mean that through the bottom of my heart. You are an amazing person, and I feel like I’ve made a lifelong friend in you….Oh, and also – NOBODY gets between me and MY man, and I don’t want your STUPID vote ANYWAY! (okay that was from last season, but hey... it sounded good!)

The houseguests walk out into the backyard to begin the first part of the final three-part HoH competition. This one is called “Big Brother Mixer” and (why bother with originality this late in the game) it’s pretty much the same thing as the paint can endurance competition from last season. Basically, the three contestants spin around on the beater of a giant mixer while it churns butter. Big Brother also has some leftover paint cannons from last year’s similar competition, and the fact that firing paint blasts has nothing to do with baking does not stop it from being part of this HoH comp’s distractions.

ChenBot reads the rules, and after a quick commercial break we come back to find Adam floating face-down and presumably dead in the pool of butter. Who will win the final HoH competition and be crowned the winner of Big Brother 13? Will Adam be resuscitated in time to win his inevitable $50,000? Will Kalia go into a jealous rage when she finds out that she just missed a competition involving hundreds of gallons of butter? Tune in Wednesday at 9:30/8:30 to find out.

Okay *SPOILER ALERT!* Rachel wins this comp so Rachel will have the say as to who she wants sitting next to her on Wednesday. By the looks of it.. Adam may be next to go to the Jury House. While Adam is dreaming about Bacon and Tori Spelling, Rachel seems to be helping Porsche

study the memory wall pictures incase the HoH Part 2 is a morph comp...

Who do you think will win???

I'm TEAM RACHEL!!

 

Labor Day Weekend

Labor Day Weekend was a fun filled weekend with a bunch of FIRSTS for the Williams clan.

Saturday Jeff and I took Izzie to get her FIRST pair of tennis shoes; New Balance to be exact!  Most of you know that Isabella is practically RUNNING through the house now and she has never had a 'real' pair of tennis shoes. She has had the soft shoes for walkers, but not the big girl shoes. So this was a big day for me - yes I'm a softie, and yes I'm one of those moms that wrote this day down in the baby book... "The day we got Isabella Big Girl Shoes..."

Modelin' her new shoes

 

I think she likes them :)

Sunday I went out with some of my girlfriends to see The Help. FIRST time I had been to see a movie since I was pregnant, over a year ago. Can't express how much I absolutely adored this movie. One of THE best movies I had seen in a long time. I reccomend this movie to any one who loves a good heart-felt movie, but please remember to bring along your hanky - you will need it! After I got home, we didn't do much of anything which I enjoyed. Seems like all we do on the weekend is go go go and after we get back from vacation house remodeling starts - so I'm going to enjoy this not so much to do as much as I can while it lasts!

Today we [Jeff and I] took Isabella to The Louisville Zoo, for the FIRST time. Along with us, everybody else decided to go today as well. Shoo - wee was it packed! I hadn't been to the zoo in about 10 years so I was very excited to see all the new exhibits and to experience the zoo with my family! Isabella had a blast! The weather was perfect. It was a little chilly at first, but it got better as the day went on. Here are some pictures of our trip to the zoo. We hope you enjoy them as we much as we had making them! :)
Talk to you soon!!

Ready to go to the ZOO!

Photo Opp with Mommy while Daddy got ready...

Had to do a Re-do - last pic Izz had her eyes closed!

Wanted to bring her "BAAIRRR" as she calls it

One of my fave pics!

If you like toast... I like toast...

That's the way it's suppose to be right?

Nope!

People are different. Why? Because God made us that way. He made us all different kinds of colors, shapes and sizes.  If he wanted us to be the same, he would have made us all the same.

So since we are all different, we all can't be as perfect as I (ahem *cough * cough * cough *) kidding... we treat people differently and we can take those people that we love for granted and it down right, hurts sucks!! We've ALL been down that road, some more than others, but you know how you felt when it happened to you.

In the Bible the Book of Matthew 7:12 reads, So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Yes, I know not everyone reads the bible. I admit I'm a Christian, but I SADLY admit I don't read the bible like I should nor do I go to church like I should. I am really trying to be better about that, especially now that Isabella is growing older. I want her to know who God and Jesus is and why they are so great! Every night we say our bed time prayers - I know God is a lot more than that, but I'm trying... any way...

I know I have been stuck in situations where things happened; why I don't know. Situations to where people have just walked all over me, treated me like dirt and I just gave these people chance after chance after chance. I have always been one to easily forgive someone once they have done me wrong, always trying to find the good in that person who did the ugly deed, but as I got older, even NOW, I admit its harder for me to forgive and easier to hold grudges and keep them there. I am one of those people where I will forgive you but I won't forget!

Is that the way it's suppose to be?
--- Wrong again!

How we handle being hurt is different for all of us. Some of us hold it all in until we explode on whoever is standing next to us (again, I can do this ugh!), there are some who just lash out then and there, some who punch walls (not recommended), some talk it over with people who shouldn't be or get involved, some talk it over with a best friend and/or husband/wife, and some who drink a beer or a few glasses of wine to help calm our nerves or hide their broken hearts.

Just like I'm sure many of you reading this we are all stuck in our ways of how we handle being hurt or betrayed. The best thing for all of us to do is take a deep breath and talk it out with that loved one or friend, or who ever may have hurt you.

When I say talk it out. I don't mean, text, email, or over the phone. I'm talking face to face sit down, hey this is how I'm feeling and I want you to know. To me personally, phones are so over-rated at times. If you've done something horrible to someone and you want to apologize man up and meet that person and say hey, I'm sorry. Or if you need to talk to someone about how they make you feel about something, please let them know, because you know what? They may not know they are making you feel that way, unless you tell them.

Some people say, well I can get all my feelings out better through writing a letter or email. Well if that's the case, type it, print it, then find a time and place to meet up. An apology or a sit down talk about how someone making you feel is more sincere and more heartfelt when you can say you are sorry or look, I really don't like the way you said this.. or I feel like you don't care... to some one's face then hide behind a computer screen or phone screen.   

So I go back to my earlier scripture... So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Basically what this is saying is that if someone does something mean and nasty to you, don't in turn be mean and nasty back to them, talk to them and say, DUDE SERIOUSLY?!  ha :) 

I don't mean to get all mushy and gushy on everyone tonight, but I know that there is someone out there that can benefit from what I had to say or there could be those that will agree to disagree with me.

So I want to know...how do you deal with being hurt?  Do you turn the other cheek and move on?  Forgive AND forget? Forgive and don't forget? Or do you hold grudges?

Recess: Do you need a break?

Why yes I do! I definitely know my hubby needs one as well. In 16 long short days we will be flying to Myrtle Beach, SC! So excited. This will be our FIRST family vacation since we had Isabella. I'm excited to see her reaction to the sand and beach.  Now that she is walking running everywhere, I can't wait to see her wittle toes in the sand! Ahhh.....

This will be our home for 7 days...

And this will be our view...

Okay, Okay, Okay... Enough about our trip haha eeek! What can I say?! I'm so stinkin' excited to go to the beach again, FINALLY! However, while we are there I will have to do school work! BOO!

On a lighter note BIG BROTHER comes on tonight!! YAY!! Hopefully we will see Shelly Saw be EVICTED FROM THE BIG BROTHER HOUSE MUAHH HAHAHAHAHA (YES, that was my attempt at an evil laugh!)

So as a recap from last night's episode.... Floater Porsche was all excited that she had nominated Jordan/Rachel for eviction and was all was great in VIP Waitress land until she decided to open up Producer's Pandora's Box which released a new twist on the house which ensures the safety of Rachel/Jordan.

Later on... Porsche pops out of the Diary Room and announces that it’s time for the veto competition in her standard awkward and uncomfortable delivery.

PORSCHE: This competition is called “The Duo Do-Over”. Our original partners have parachuted into the Big Brother backyard to help us float through this veto competition…

ADAM: A floater competition?! YEEEEAH! Finally! THANK YOU, BIG BROTHER! You’re going home, Rachel!!!

PORSCHE: …Hop on to your previous partner’s back, and hold on for dear life. Because the last houseguest hanging on will win the Power of Veto!

ADAM: Endurance? Wha???  Damnit.

Oh my gosh! What will happen?! The suspense is killing me! Could Rachel possibly win a competition where she has to hang on Brendon the longest? I don’t know! I mean, she has been practicing for this every day for over a year now. But anything can happen in the Big Brother house!!

No Surprise: Rachel WINS Veto and takes herself and Jordan off the block making Kalia Porsche nominate the only other possible duo; Adam/Shelly.

After Veto Shelly and Adam are discussing their inevitable demise. Shelly says something that has only been spoken previously by Porsche’s VIP Clients and says --- “Porsche opens the box, and unleashes the fury.” Then Shelly tries to make funny “zing” by saying that Porsche “has more stuffing in her chest than in her head.”  ::CRICKETS IN THE BACKGROUND:: Think about that statement, it actually isn’t very humiliating and would’ve made more sense if Shelly would’ve said it the other way around!!!

Tonight should be interesting since we will get to see BIG JEFF! drama unfold in the Jury House (oh yeahh!!) ... Adam and Shelly will both be dressed in their very best; Shelly in her camouflage man-shorts, and Adam in his finest quirky bacon-phrase t-shirt. Shelly, Addio uomo Virile (Good bye Manly Man)

Waverly Hills Sanitarium...

Yes, I am one of those people who likes to watch any TV [haunting] show about Waverly. I am fascinated with Waverly Hills history and the many many stories behind that old building that stands in Louisville.

I am one of those "I have to see it to believe it" people. I would absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE to take a tour at Waverly, but I think I would be scared out of my mind if I were to ACTUALLY go. Maybe if I had some not so afraid friends to go with me [hint, hint] I would go.

So what do you think? Is Waverly really haunted? Some of the stories are so crazy they are hard to believe then there are some stories that have so many different versions that are again hard to believe.

Some urban legends claim that "63,000 deaths" occurred at the Sanatorium. According to Assistant Medical Director Dr. J. Frank W. Stewart, the highest number of deaths in a single year at Waverly Hills was 152. Stewart wrote that the worst time for deaths was at the end of the Second World War when troops were returning from overseas with very advanced tuberculosis cases. Some independent researchers suggest that since 162 people died at Waverly Hills in 1945, the highest total number of deaths possible over 50 years was approximately 8,212.

The most popular story at Waverly is Room 502.

Here are a few of the different stories...

1. (the most popular) The head nurse in Rm 502 was found dead hanging in rm 502. She had committed suicide by hanging herself from the light fixture. She was 29 years-old at the time of her death and allegedly, unmarried and pregnant. Her depression over the situation led her to take her own life. It's unknown how long she may have been hanging in this room before her body was discovered.

2. Another nurse who worked in Room 502 was said to have jumped from the roof patio and plunged several stories to her death. No one seems to know why she would have done this but many have speculated that she may have actually have been pushed over the edge. There are no records to indicate this but rumors continue to persist.

And my favorite...

3. A crazy patient murdered a nurse in Room 502 by stabbing her to death. People claim to see the patient's ghost running out of the hospital's front door in a white nightgown, screaming at the top of her lungs. 

Halloween is just around the corner, any takers to go to Waverly for a tour ???

You Are What You Eat...

We’ve all heard the old adage ‘you are what you eat’, but have you ever stopped to think exactly how true that is?  When I was pregnant with Isabella I gained 33 pounds. So that means all that extra weight I had was pre-Isabella - eeek! 

After Isabella was born I came upon some pictures that I had of me when I was in college....

And I thought I was FAT then! PUH-LEASSE! Anyway... after I started going through all of these pictures I really started feeling bad about myself. How could have I let myself get to where I was? Then it hit me. I have a family now. Not only does my husband depend on me, but my daughter depends on me as well. I've got to make a change, and I need to make it pronto. 

Since then I did the yo-yo diet... which didn't work. Then tried Zumba - didn't like it; of course I only did one class, it wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I got frustrated and just gave up for a while.

Then I caught a great deal for BOOTCAMP on Groupon for 3 weeks. LOVED IT!! I had great motivators, good company to work out with, and saw some great results. I lost a total of 9 pounds and 18 inches. I would have loved to stay with it, but it was just too expensive for me, so I vowed to myself to keep it going at home.

No, I don't workout hard core like I did at bootcamp, but I do watch what I eat and make healthier choices and try to get out and walk or do some water aerobics (laugh if you must) atleast every day. Since the 1st of June I have lost a total of 32 pounds and couldn't be happier about it.

Am I boasting? YES! But I am also hoping to help those of you who need a little motivation to get out there and get at it as well.

So those of you who do exercise on a daily basis what do you do, to keep you going? Tips or advice? Inquiring minds wanna know! :)

 

Big Brother

You either hate the show, love the show or have NO clue what I'm talking about. BUT most of you know what I'm talking about. I'm a HUGE Big Brother Fan! And this is what this blog is about!

LOVE the show, hate the huge twist that has brought so much drama into the BB house. Okay, so not really - that's what draws me into the show - drama! What I don't like is Shelly's character. If you are team Jeff/Jordan, you know why......

However, fans of BB have taken the double eviction that sent Jeff home, a little too far. These so called "Big Brother fans" are actually sending death threats to Shelly's family and to Shelly's 8 year old daughter. Which is just down right wrong. I don't like her character as much as the next person and if you know me you know that I don't like liars, backstabbers, nor two-faced people. Those kinds of people I don't need/want in my life, but again BB is just a GAME. Yes, there needed to be a BIG move in the Big Brother house, but you could have been a heck of a lot nicer to my Jeff and Jordan! :)

Any who, In the few years that I have watched and become a fan of BB I certainly liked some houseguests more than others; but, no matter how intense things became in the house, I never hated a houseguest. The closest I ever came to “hating” a houseguest was Rachel. She was just an immature girl who only knew the words, "my man!" And "the only thing honest about her were the pimples on her chin.."  But sending death threats to someone for a game move is just wrong. It is just a game... life after BB will go on and Jeff and Jordan will be Jeff and Jordan once again afterwards....

 and Shelly will still have her adams-apple and "her dignity" (as she likes to say)..

So what's next?? Here are my thoughts...

Duo Rachel/Jordan need to win to POV to get themselves off the block then Porsche who likes to do everything that everybody else tells her to do will have to put up the only duo team of floaters that's left (besides them and since she can't put up Kalia and herself), Adam and Shelly and Shelly will be the next to go to the Jury House.  - - If this happens Rachel and Jordan just might have a shot of going to the final three, they will just need to win HOH this Thursday. Which means JORDAN, honey, you need to step it up "love!"  I'm going to say something I thought I would never say.... Let's go TEAM JORDAN and *GULP* Ra....Ra.....Rachel! (there I said it!!)



For Those Cinnamon Lovers…

Found a great recipe for my momma’s Cinnamon Bread as I was going through one of my cook books yesterday. I had completely forgotten about it and I’m hoping to make it this weekend.

I remember when I was little waking up to the smell of cinnamon bread on Saturday mornings.

YUMM!  Okay so here you go…

Cinnamon Bread

What you will need:

for the topping -
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons margarine, melted

batter -
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 cup buttermilk (see my note)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x5 inch loaf pan (yes you can use nonstick spray) and then just sit that aside.

Topping: In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon and melted margarine. Use a fork to mix together and set aside.

Batter: Place the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.

Using a mixer on low speed combine oil and eggs. Add in half of the dry ingredients and mix to combine. Add in 1/2 cup of buttermilk and mix until blended. Add the remaining dry ingredients and blend. Add the second half of the buttermilk and combine until just moistened. Add in the vanilla. Pour the batter evenly into the pan you prepared earlier.
Drizzle the prepared topping over batter. Insert a knife into the batter and use a light swirling motion to give a marbled effect.

Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean when you insert it in the middle. Let the bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
You can also make morning muffins!! Just remember to watch the baking times, it will be different from the loaf! Just check in on them and use the toothpick test! :)

** BUTTERMILK NOTE **
I found a nifty trick if you do not have buttermilk on hand… I have NEVER tried this… but if you don’t have buttermilk and do not want to venture out to the store this is something to try… Place a tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a measuring cup, and then fill to the one cup line with whole milk – sounds simple enough!

Hope you all enjoy this delicious recipe!

Long Time No Read...

So it's been a very long time since my last post - my apologies. We have been so busy here lately trying to get things ready inside and out for Isabella's first birthday party. I can't believe my baby girl will be ONE YEAR OLD in just a few short weeks. Seems like only yesterday we were bringing her home from the hospital.

Speaking of her birthday, we decided to keep it simple. We are just inviting immediate family, her great grandparents, and just a few of our close friends. Jeff's family is huge, mine not so much, so to draw the line on making this decision was, thinking okay, her party is at the end of July so if we run in to a thunderstorm like we did yesterday (those of you who live where I do you know what I'm talking about) we need to able to fit everyone comfortably in the house. Thus the deal breaker of having just an intimate 1st birthday party for our darling daughter.

Isabella is now 11 months old and is MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE! She's not walking yet, but I'd say she's very close to it. Anything she can get a hold of she will grab and walk with it. If she holds onto your fingers she practically runs.  Her favorite word to say is baby. She recognizes herself in pictures and in the mirrors and if she sees another baby/toddler she points and says baby baby baby.  She's a hoot. She loves to flip pages of her cardboard books. There is one book in particularly that she absolutely loves. Her great grandmother gave it to her and when you open it and flip the pages it plays a song. When she opens it she will just jabber and it sounds like she's trying to sing with it. She has it open constantly and mommy needs to get her some new batteries for it. - Its starting to sound like it's dying haha

She only has 2 bottom teeth although it looks like she may have another popping up on the bottom, so we will see.

We just had her 1st birthday pictures made and can not wait to post them. They turned out really well and it was so hard not to buy all of them. She did so well and she is such a ham in front of the camera.

I guess that's all for now, so here are a few pictures for your viewing pleasure of Miss Isabella.

My little BIG girl, isn't so little any more!

Mark it down!! April 28, 2011, 1 day before Isabella turns 9 months old, she finally has a tooth popping through.

As daddy was saying his good-byes to her today before he left to go to work, Miss Isabella decided to chomp down on daddy's hand, as she usually does, but this time something sharp was felt on daddy's finger!

Of course we sit her down and try to look first. Every time we would try to get her mouth opened she would put her tounge in the way, or move our hands away. So with my (very clean, I might add) hands I started to rub her bottom gum...

SURE ENOUGH... A SHARP TOOTH POPPING THROUGH ON THE BOTTOM RIGHT!

I was so happy I could have cried today. It was however, bitter sweet for me. My little big girl, isn't so little any more....

Happy soon to be 9 months Isabella Jean!! Mommy & Daddy LOVE YOU! xoxo

Blog Award

I received my very first blog award from Building a New Hive! I'm so honored! With this award I am suppose to write seven facts about myself and pass it on!

1. I loathe mashed/smashed/ any kind of potatoes! French Fries are ok, depending on their thickness! Crazy, huh?!
2. I am OCD when it comes to things on my entertainment center!
3. Never liked ranch salad dressing until I got pregnant.
4. I love giving gifts; birthdays, holidays, etc. I love to see who ever I got the gift for, their expression on their face when they open their gift!
5. I am a huge Golden Girls buff. I know I'm a nerd :)
6. I love to bake and would love to take a cake decorating class!!
7. My favorite color is PINK!

Now I pass this award to....

Amy - Miracle in the Making

Erin - Rainer Adventures

Seriously??!

At a very young age I was taught the golden rule; do unto others as you would have them do unto you! I have always been one to believe in karma. Do something nice for someone, somewhere down the road you will have something nice done to/for you or do something horrible to someone and something bad will happen to you sooner than later! I've also been told to turn the other cheek, but how many times can one turn their cheek? Eventually your cheeks will get all red, sore and bruised!

So my question is what is the deal??

Last night I was told again from my husband, the messenger, that our group of furniture that we ordered (sectional and kitchen table) back on March 6, our couch was still missing. Three weeks ago we were told that we were just missing our wedge, that it will only be another two weeks. Two weeks go by and the hubby calls to get an update on our order. It is on the truck. It will be ready for delivery on Friday. Thursday, April 14 comes around, the delivery guy calls and sets up his window for the following day. Everything is good to go. Friday April 15, not a good day in the Williams' household. The guy from the furniture store calls and says, "well we have everything but your couch. Your couch was not on the truck!"

What the crap?! Two weeks ago we just didn't have our wedge. How did we go from missing a wedge to missing a couch? The guy says, "well our computer showed that it was all there, but when we looked in the truck it wasn't. So we are hoping that it will be on the truck for delivery next Friday, April 22."

Okay, so many of you know I am having a get together at my house, with a lot of people that have never been to my house before, on May 1. I NEED MY FURNITURE!! 

So the hubby waited until he got home last night to tell me the bad news. He knew I would be upset about this because he knows how upset I got last week when they called at the last minute and told me that my furniture wasn't going to be delivered. This time the guy at the furniture place gave us a few options The first option was to give us $120 (which isn't even the cost of the shipping) and give us a 5 year protection plan. The second option was to give us $60 back and give us an upgrade to any of the sectionals they had in stock. Then the last option was give us a loaner until our couch came in.

Okay, the first two just doesn't do anything for us, b/c your gonna do this and we still do not have couch!!  So we opted for the last option, give us a loaner until our couch came in.  Okay that is all good in well, but the two options he gave us for a loaner just doesn't work.  One optional loaner sectional does not match our color scheme what-so-ever and the other is just too small to go in our living room, we'd all be better off sitting on the living room floor. You see, we have a open floor plan and our living room is longer than it is wide so we have to put our furniture only a certain way because of our front living room window, so it's not that I'm not greatful for the 2 loan options, it's just that the one sectional physically would not work! And lets be honest, if we're having a get together/party you want everything in your home to look nice and mesh well with all the other furniture in your home!

So yet again, I am NOT a happy camper. I believe the hubby is going to call the furniture place this morning and see if we can get another loaner option like just a couch and love seat. I pray we can work something out, because at this point there is nothing I can do on my end to help the situation. I can get mad and upset all I want but it is not going to do anything.

I mean I understand crap happens, but c'mon! Seriously??!

So I have been up since 5am racking my brain on what to do about this whole furniture mess, what all needs to be done before my get together, and what's not going to happen!  The reason I selected the date of May 1 was because we just knew we would have ALL my furniture well before that date, boy were we wrong?!

Another Wonderful Birthday

Sunday was my birthday! Jeff, Isabella and I spent the whole day together.

I woke up to a beautiful arrangement of flowers, hubby put together himself and two sweet birthday cards from Jeff and Isabella!

We started my Sunday birthday by going to church...

She was such a good girl. She clapped and smiled the whole time.

Then we came home and got ready to go out to eat.

 

Then we went to Rocky's Italian Grill. We had such an amazing dinner. After we finished eating we took Isabella outside to look at the river. It was so windy, but she loved it!

Walking to look at the river

 So windy, but she loved it!

Daddy and Isabella

SMILE!

Loves being outside!

Mommy and Izzie

The wind blown hair look

The bridge

Momma's Girl!

Me and Jeff!

After we left Rocky's we went to Kirkland's and did some birthday shopping!! :) Well, I did any way hehe.  After the shopping spree we piled back in the car and ended the day at my parent's house where we ate some birthday cake and ice cream! 

On Monday, Jeff's mom and step dad took us out to eat for my Birthday. We went to Cheddars. It was delicious! Isabella sat in the restaurant highchair for the first time, and LOVED it!

We ended the night by watching Jeopardy!

Today we have been just hanging out! Somebody is trying to cut a couple bottom teeth so we've been attached to mommy's hip!

Until next time.......