Ridiculously Good Sticky Buns (aka Cinnamon Rolls)

Rule #1 allow yourself enough time to make these since it's of the essence.

Dough :

1 Cup warm milk
1 pkg active dry yeast
1/2 cup brown sugar
5- 5 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup butter
2 eggs
2 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt

Filling :

3 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp granulated sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 Cup chopped pecans
(raisins optional)

Topping :

1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 cup butter
1/3 rum (for adults version)
1 1/2 cup chopped pecans


About a day ahead of time prepare dough. Add warm milk, sugar, and yeast till dissolved.
Next beat eggs, butter, and flour, and rest of dough ingredients until dough is nice and soft. Kneed until smooth. Coat with butter, transfer to a large bowl, cover and refrigerate for 8 hours... (or overnight)

Next day (or several hours of PATIENTLY waiting later), prepare the filling. Once dough has been rolled out into a rectangular -ish shape. Coat with butter and spread filling over. Roll up and then cut dough cross/wise... (whatever if I hadn't seen this or done it before I never would have figured it out)
Place them in a pan, and allow TIME to rise. Only an hour and a half longer!!!


(Huge sigh! Kids nagging "are they done yet? are they done yet?" )

Finally, bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cover with topping! and eat!! eat eat eat!!!

Oh Look! A Wall.

The past few days have been very difficult. I'm beginning to think that I'm such a baby. I hate to think of myself this way, but what else can I say.

Thanksgiving Day, I woke up unable to move. Well, unable to move without an extreme amount of pain. The kind of nauseating, seeing spots, unable to keep yourself from bursting out crying pain. It felt like someone had taken a hammer to me in my sleep.

But, it was Thanksgiving, and while everyone else is being thankful for everything including their last pair of underwear, I was just trying not to scream with each step I took. And that sucked, because I really enjoy it when my family gets together.

But it was like I wouldn't even realize I'd let out a gasp until it was already out. The only comparison I can make would be really bad back labor, or maybe breaking your tail bone.
Well, I managed to make it through the day with a concoction of Ibuprofen, Tylenol, Rum, and Wine.
But Friday, I couldn't take it anymore. I moved just for a split second and a wave of nauseous pain ripped through me.I couldn't see anything but white and black spots.

That's when I gave up and couldn't take it anymore.

Remember when Squints Paladoras finally snaps "I can't take this no more!"

Yep, that was me.

I finally went to the Dr. They walked me to the hospital after giving me a REALLY great shot.
Turns out I had a cyst the ruptured and was leaking "God knows only what kind of horrible stuff" into my abdomen.
A week later, I'm still not feeling so great, but worlds better than last week.

A HUGE hug to anyone who has ever been through this. THESE SUCK!!!

It's What You've All Been Waiting For

I know some of you have been foaming at the mouth for updates on my novel.

Well, I'm writing this to tell you all you wont have long to wait.

I'm currently beefing up a synopsis that is to die for. It's gonna give the main concepts and ideas behind the book. Where the idea came from... and details to the main characters and plot...

In case you're wondering... I wont give away any of the ending...and it's written in a sequel style so... the second and final book hasn't even been written (in complete) yet.

I just hope you enjoy my characters as much as I do...

and don't worry I love them enough not to give up on them.

One day... Adam and Evy will have their say (gasp... oops is that a give away?)

Attack of the Creepy Neighbors!

Ever seen the movie "The Burbs?"

I swear, I have these neighbors. Okay, maybe not burying dead bodies in the back yard creepy, but definitely creepy.

Especially after dark. *bring on the scary movie music*

My kitchen window faces their back yard. Which means when I'm in my kitchen washing dishes, they can watch me. And they do.

Imagine stirring a pot of noodles, turning to the fridge to get some milk, setting it on the counter, and glancing out the window to see a dark shadow looming on his back porch.
It's enough to make me scream!
*Sigh* I hate creepy neighbors.
This summer I'm putting in a tree. A big one!

Lets ALL Go To The Movies!

What have I gotten myself into this time?

I swore I would NEVER do this again. And here I am, doing it again!

Last year, I went to twilight with a handful of girlfriends and my sisters. We stood in a ridiculous long line in the freezing cold for hours, we sat in bad seats, and we didn't hear one freakin word. You wanna know why? Because for some reason, girls that are under the age of 21 scream when they see Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner.

*sigh*
All I can think is why? Why, oh why am I doing this to myself...again?

Well, whatever... maybe secretly I'm just a twi-freak who hates other twi-freaks. Or maybe I'm just impatient. Patience never has been a key character trait of mine.

Oh well, tonight I'm going to "New Moon."
Who's with me? DON'T LIE!

No Subject (No really!)

There are few people I only ever open mail from.

One of the usual email-ers, besides my mom, is my homeschool resource consultant.
And the usual content is something about some reading group, or upcoming event, or reminder that I haven't logged my hours. They usually say "no subject."
Today, I grimaced and thought "well, more paperwork". But NO, OH NO! NO NO NO NO!

The letter said...

"We have ordered too many sheep hearts. Would you like one?"

WHAT?!

What am I suppose to say to this? "Sure, I'd love a sheep heart. And do you have any brains and maybe some courage to go along with it?"

Well, this would be one learning experience my kids will never forget. I think, I'm gonna get one.

And by the way, I will never open up another email from her without wondering what could possibly be inside. You never know.

Half Santa, Half Scrooge!

Confession: I have no Christmas presents hiding in my closet.

You know what this means, right? SHOPPING! And I don't say that in a good way. I say it in a more Alfred Hitchcock, screaming and running in terror, kind of way.

At this time of year, yeah... I'm WAY behind.
Don't get me wrong. I love giving presents. I love finding that perfect gift that practically screams the person's name as I walk by it in the store. Its when I can't find it or its really expensive, that I'm frustrated and irritated and wishing I were somewhere else. Wishing Charlie Brown's Christmas were true and that we only sent Christmas Cards to people we really actually like, rather than every person we've ever met in our lives (and some we even haven't).
But the fact remains, I'm not Oprah with an endless supply of money to spend. And I'm not putting Christmas on credit. (Sorry, but THAT'S BAD!!!)

So this year, Santa Clause is not shopping at Enstoms(tear), Macy's, or the Apple store. Santa is going to the dollar store! An apple, orange, and a bag of peanuts fill a stocking up cheaper than anything else. I still get a thrill from wrapping up a two dollar box of chocolate covered cherries and hiding them under the tree(seriously, it's fun).

Well, now that I've psyched myself up for this... time to get going.

And by the way, we haven't done our Christmas Card photos yet either. *sigh*