Great Mocha Shortbread Recipe

These are so good!

Mocha Shortbread Cookies Ingredients

1 ts Nescafe Classic instant 3/4 c Butter; softened
1 ts Boiling water 1 c All-purpose flour
1 pk (12-oz) Nestle Toll House 1/3 ts Salt

Instructions for Mocha Shortbread Cookies
Preheat oven to 250 degrees. In cup, dissolve Nescafe Classic instant coffee in boiling water; set aside. Melt over hot (not boiling) water, 1 cup Nestle Toll House semi-sweet chocolate morsels; stir until smooth. Remove from heat; set aside. In large bowl, combine butter, confectioners sugar and coffee; beat until smooth. Gradually blend in flour and salt. Stir in melted morsels. Roll dough between two pieces of waxed paper to 3/16-inch thickness. Remove top sheet; cut out cookies using 2-1/2 inch cookie cutter. Remove from waxed paper and place on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake at 250 degrees for 25 minutes. Cool completely on wire racks. Melt over hot (not boiling) water, remaining 1 cup Nestle Toll House semi-sweet chocolate morsels; stir until smooth. Spread slightly rounded teaspoonful of melted chocolate on flat side of cookie; top with second cookie. Repeat with remaining cookies. Chill until set. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes before serving. Makes about 1-1/2 dozen 2-1/2 inch cookies.

I love this video, maybe it's just the cute British accent. I love his little expression when he realizes Charlie isn't going to let go. I'm also amazed at big brother's restraint. My son would have tossed his sister on the floor!

2 a.m. Phone call

I'm sure that I'm not the only one who bolts straight up when you hear the phone ring at 2 a.m. and think "Oh crap, who died?!?" Well, recently my phone rang at 2 a.m. and my husband answered it.

hub: Hello
caller: Hey, can I speak to Jodie
hub: And who are you? (the hub said he could hear music & laughing)
caller: This is Kenny, HER BOYFRIEND. Has she never mentioned me to you?
Hub: I think it is time for all 14 year old boys should be in bed. Click

I ask what the call was about and he tells me apparently I have a middle school admirer.

Okay, I do work in a school AND have a middle and high school daughter but, what happened to calling and asking if your refrigerator is running? Seriously, my husband has a sense of humor but it is NOT cool to pick someone out of the directory and tell their spouse that you are their boyfriend. YIKES~

My husband looked at me weird ALL WEEKEND!!!

My Night at the Caucus

I meant to blog this last week and just got busy. I helped at a Kansas Caucus site and the site normally has about 250 voters, we had over 2000 turn up at our site in the freezing rain. I helped several people fill out change of party paperwork but I have to share this conversation I had with the spunkiest old gal I have meet in ages.
Me: Can I help you?
SOG(spunky old gal): I can't read my drivers lic. number for this form.
Me: I'd be glad to help, are you changing parties tonight?
SOG: You bet your bottom!
ME: Well, now you are going to have to tell me the story!
SOG: My husband was a Republican, so I was a Republican. He passed away last year and I have been "paying attention". My daughter is a teacher and they have ruined education with No Child Left Behind. My grandson is in the Military, and we have become the Bully's and I don't like that. She pauses, "My husband was a bully".
She winked at me and said, "I don't miss him" and I sure as heck won't miss George W.

Then she laughed like she was Mrs. Claus!!!

Jane Austin Anyone?

I am a huge Jane Austin book fan and am really enjoying Masterpiece Theatre's series

I had never read North Hanger Abbey and it was really good, this week it will be Pride and Prejudice (the version with Colin Firth). I love him as Mr. Darcy : )

My oldest daughter and I love to watch these movies and my husband & son run screaming "CHICK FLICK" let's go find another t.v. with ESPN!!!

Why Men Hate Valentine's Day

Someone emailed me this yesterday and I didn't think much of it until today. Flower.com made a delivery to my office today and I looked at my co-worker and said, "I wonder who got those, I hate her!" I was just joking as a nearly 40 married forever does when the single gals get roses. My co-worker delivered the flowers and when she got back she said, "You'll never believe what she said!" The pretty, single gal looked at the package and said, "IT ISN'T THE RIGHT DAY!" and she was NOT happy. How much of a PRINCESS complex does this girl have that she wasn't excited? My co-worker and I laughed and said this is a perfect example of why this gal is STILL SINGLE. Then I re-read this email and I really liked it.

Poor guy!

Are you a woman living with a man suffering from AVD (Anti-Valentine Day-itis)? He hates Valentine's Day and refuses to have anything to do with it. And, no matter how hard you try to make him see things your way, he won't change. Well, don't fret. You're not alone.

Women everywhere live with men suffering from AVD. It's a common disease that is triggered in men after they enter a long-term relationship and get comfortable. The original cause is not clear, but it's rumored to have something to do with an excess of cheese, sports and deep psychological fears.

Below are a few of these fears. They are common reasons why your man may not like Valentine's Day. If' he's in touch with his feelings and is not too afraid to tell you, he'll give you one of them as way to let you know that you're not getting anything on Valentine's Day. If he's a little closed with his emotions, he'll keep it to himself. However, his true feelings fall somewhere within this list. Read it and find out what's really going on with him.

1. He's afraid to walk into a mall.

2. The perfume girl at Macy's intimidates him.

3. The last time he bought a woman a gift, she turned it into a pretty cozy.

4. The sight of cupid makes him feel uncomfortable about their sexuality.

5. It requires thought to buy a gift.

6. Valentine's Day forces him to face his deepest fears - his emotions.

7. Last year, you cried for two hours after receiving his Valentine's Day gift.

8. The thought of eating another one of those cheap chocolates makes him queasy.

9. His mother never celebrated Valentine's Day.

10. Jesus never talks about Valentine's Day in the bible.

11. He's broke and only has enough money for necessities like a new boat.

12. He bought you a great Christmas gift and this should last you for the next twelve months.

13. No action packed, violent movies - that you'll watch with him - can be associated with Valentine's Day.

14. Valentine's Day doesn't involve cars.

15. None of his friends acknowledge the day.

16. He thinks it's too commercialized unlike other national events such as the Super Bowl.

17. It usually doesn't involve pizza or beer.

18. He has to buy a gift.

19. He has to buy a gift.

20. He has to buy a gift.

Now that you've read this list, understand that there is no cure for AVD. Female scientists everywhere have been working on remedies, but nothing seems to work for more than a year. The best way to cure this disease is through self help.

On Valentine's Day, instead of waiting for him to buy you something. Take his wallet. Grab a credit card or a few dollars and get something for yourself. It'll help you live comfortably with his disease and not hold unto any hard feelings

Who to Vote For?

I found a really good survey. Fill it out and it will show you which candidate shares your views and then it tells you also what you disagree on. I found it helpful, I've been undecided for awhile.

Link to survey

Do you know a Half-Asser? Do you live with someone with complete lack of any type of follow through?

From the looks of our house since Christmas, someone living under this roof is surely afflicted with this disorder!

I did a quick walk through today:

Toilet paper is setting on top of the rod....to lazy I guess to actually load it.
The laundry I did two days ago are still in the washer and the last load I put in the dryer is still a tiny bit damp. Do you think if they all eventually run out of underwear they will go look there?

I loaded the dishwasher before bed last night and today I noticed that the dishwasher is half empty but the sink is completely full of new dishes.

Maybe I should go on some sort of wife/mom strike. It is going to be a long weekend of cracking the whip, which stinks because the weather here is fantastic this week. Feels spring-like.

The Spiderwick Chronicles were one of my kids favorite series. Nickelodeon Studios is release the movie this February. The have a top notch website for them film.

We have done some very creative book reports on these books, they just inspire the imagination. We are huge Harry Potter Fans and these books are so much easier to read and not quite as dark. Perfect for the younger readers.

I can't wait to see it!

The Year in Review

Favorite Things of 2007

Favorite Moment: I can never narrow this down to just one.
When my new boss said, "What did I ever do without you?"
Many touching moments with my children.

Favorite Music: I loved Emerson Harts solo album, Daughtry and Foo Fighters.

Favorite Movies: I really liked the Bourne Ultimatum, Knocked Up was funny and early in the year I saw the Illusionist and loved it. Cartoon: Ratatouille.

Most Fun: Taking my son on a quick trip to Chicago! So much fun.

Favorite Tv:: Still love Grey's Anatomy, CSI (original), Pushing Daisies, October Road. Daily Show & The Soup.

Favorite Books: I loved the last Harry Potter! I thought A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction was funny. I liked The 13th Tale. I reread The Golden Compass because it was so good and so well awarded when it came out in the 1990's but after all the crazy religous rants about banning the movie I thought I'd better read it again, NOPE I still love it. Darn, apparently I may have damaged my soul. Please, I can't stand book burnings and movie banners. My motto is watch it or not, read it our not, but shut the h*ll up and let other people enjoy what they like.

Favorite Blogs I don't have as much time this year but I still try and read Finding Blanche, Dooce and This Just In at least once a week.

Pop Culture I think Suri Cruise is the most beautiful baby I've ever seen.

Britney Spears shaving her head....I mean seriously.....wtf!!! And now her little sis is preggers. OMG...Lynn Spears, kiss the motherhood book GOODBYE.

The writers strike has lasted so much longer than I thought it would. I miss my late night shows : (

2007 was a pretty good year! I'm hoping that 2008 will be Great.

Happy New Year!

December

I can't believe that it is December already! I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday season.

Happy Halloween

Peace, Love & Candy!
Happy Halloween

My son made the nightly news. And NOT in the way a mother wants their son too!
Teen Swept Into Water

I mean OMG!!! I get a call at work saying, "Mom, Dylan fell into the water on the way home from school today." I talk to him on the phone for a few minutes and he says he is fine but his backpack, all his books, notebooks, $90 scientific calcuator are toast. So, I naturally RAG ON HIM for the damage.

Then I get home and talk to the neighbor who ran for blocks trying to help pull him from the water and then I have a follow up call from the EMT that was on the scene. Then, my dear son causally mentions that the police also responded. He was carried for a block down the fast moving cement water way and then went about 1/2 block through a tunnel under the street and shot out in the creek near our house.

I no longer care about replacing the school supplies and tennis shoe that he lost!

Makes you thankful!!!

Travel to and From Chicago for under $30!

There is a company called Mega Bus
You can travel from Kansas to St. Louis & Chicago. From Chicago you can go to many cities in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin etc.. If you are patient and can get online to order tickets 40 days in advance you can get a ticket for $1, I kid you not.

I bought tickets for myself and my son from KC to Chicago and back for $30 (total not per person). The bus was nice and new and had DVD players to entertain.

We departed KC at 8 PM and arrived in Chicago at 6:30 AM and spent one whole day just travelling around on the CTA $5 unlimited day pass and had a blast. We departed Chicago at Midnight and returned home at 10 a.m. the next morning (we slept the whole way home so it was great!).

I worried about what type of clientele the bus would have but we had 6 KU and MU students from KC travelling to a wedding in Chicago. It was like listening in on a wild sorority slumber party, my 16 year old son was enjoying it. We also had a group of about 6 French foreign exchange student that got on in St. Louis and then we had a menagerie of ethnic diversity but everyone was very well behaved and respectful. Actually the KU girls were the wildest on the bus, I found this very funny as I thought back!

Our favorite activities were the Hancock Observatory and the Shedd Aqarium.


Navy Pier was lots of fun too, rode the Ferris Wheel and took a harbor cruise. They had great fireworks set to Alice Cooper's
"Feed My Frankenstein" and "Phantom of the Opera".

Can't beat that.

I can't wait to the rest of my film developed.

New Music

My husband and I have always liked an Irish band called Tonic and the lead singer, Emerson Hart, has a new solo album that I really like. He is a really talented songwriter. Check him out Emerson Hart

The song "If Your Gonna Leave" is my favorite.

Check out my Slide Show!

1408

I saw this movie this week and I really liked it. It really builds and totally gives you the shivers. I am a huge John Cusack fan and he is really good in this part.

Not your typical horror movie!

Graduation

As I watched graduation this year and they started to play the class chosen song,
"Time of Your Life, by Green Day" I thought back to my own.



Our song that long ago Sunday in 1987 was "Time to Remember, by Billy Joel". I remember all those words still.


This is the time to remember
Cause it will not last forever
These are the days
To hold on to
Cause we won't
Although we want to
This is the time
But time is gonna change
I know we've got to move somehow
But I don't want to lose you know

Sometimes it's so easy
To let a day
Slip on by
Without even seeing each other at all
But this is the time you'll turn back and so will I
And those will be the days you can never recall

And so we embrace again
Behind the dunes
This beach is cold
On winter afternoons
But holding you close is like holding the summer sun
I'm warm from the memory of days to come

This is the time to remember
Cause it will not last forever
These are the days
To hold on to
But we won't
Although we'll want to
This is the time
But time is gonna change
You've given me the best of you
But now I need the rest of you

Seems like so long ago: all those Friday night football games, the dates, the heartbreaks. Graduation, weddings, babies, jobs and soon the big 40! I'm not sure I'm ready!

Teamwork

The Gators end the season 7-1!



My youngest has played with this team since pre-k and are now in 3rd grade. This was taken this weekend after a great 1-0 win over an older 4th grade team. We were hot, we were tired and we were happy!

Good Times!

Happy 14!

My daughter has turned 14! I wonder if her father and I will be able to survive the next 4 years of drama, boys, high school, drama, proms, drama, did I mention we are worried about the DRAMA. Yikes and know she wants to learn to drive!

I tell myself not to worry, she's an honor roll student with great friends. But, look at her! She looks so grown up, and before I know it she will be!