Charlie Bit Me!!

This is my new favorite youtube video. We found it today and thought it was so funny. We wanted to share the enjoyment with our friends.


The Remix

Busy weekend

I have had a very busy weekend. Not only was it my birthday weekend it was our friend, Lena's baby shower. Lena and her husband Chris are expecting their first baby in October. I am so happy for them, Lena is going to be such a great Mommy. The shower was Saturday and I co-hosted with 3 other friends. It turned out so cute. We split up the duties of the shower. Angela, who opened her home for the shower did all the adorable decor, Ines did the games, Erika and I did the food. We had a great turn out and great time. Here are a few pictures of the shower. I made the cake and I had many request to do the cheesecake cups. You make em once and you will win anyone over!! Also I made some guacamole dip and Chicken Chili Queso Cups. I will add the recipe for the Queso Cups at the end of this post!






How do we know Lena and Chris?? Some of you know who I am talking about and some don't. Lena works with Deric and her husband Chris is a hairstylist! I know funny.... just the opposite of us! I just love Lena she is so sweet and Chris is such a funny, nice guy. I can NOT wait to meet Baby Hamilton. Lena and Chris have decided not to find out what the sex of the baby is util baby arrives. She is sooo hoping for a baby girl (so am I)!!! HA


As for my birthday(which is today)we didn't do much which is fine with me. We went out to dinner last night after the baby shower with some friends (Marcia, Ken, Val, and Spencer). I decided to go to Shogun for dinner. It is such a great place to eat. It is a Japanese restaurant. You can choose to sit at a grill and watch them cook right in front of you or sit a regular table. We sat a regular table, we have been at the grill before and wanted to sit at a regular table so we could visit better. The restaurant sits up on a hill in Fayetteville so the view from the tables is wonderful. You can see pretty much the whole city while you enjoy your YUMMY food.

Then today Deric and I went out for lunch and then to Sam's Club. So nothing to exciting today. It's funny how when we are younger how much you look forward to your birthday every year. And as you grow older even though it is still an important day to you it just isn't as exciting. I think of it now as just another day, I don't feel any different from what I felt yesterday. Maybe because when we are little kids are parents go out of their way to make the day so special and as adults we don't really need that anymore. Maybe when you hit more of the "milestone" birthday you will feel different!


I do need to do a Shout Out to Miss Ana Kate..... today is also her birthday! The little princess is 2 today! so HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANA KATE. Check out her momma's blog to see how much she is growing!



Now for the Queso Cups.... super good and easy gotta try them for your next party!



RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
2 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup cooked chicken, finely diced
1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack
30 mini phyllo shells
1. Heat the oven to 350°. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, toss together the chicken, chilies, cilantro, and cheese.

2. Place the phyllo shells on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon of chicken filling into each shell, then add about 1 teaspoon of the egg mixture. Let the shells sit for about a minute so the egg can settle to the bottom. Then add about another teaspoon of egg to each shell, filling it close to the top.

3. Bake the cups until the custard is set, about 15 minutes. After the cups have cooled, freeze them for up to 2 weeks. To serve, simply reheat them in a 350° oven until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes. Makes 30 quiches.

Random

So I was on a blogging streak...not so much anymore. This post is sort of "throw it all in". Most of our family knows by now that we got our new computer last week (which is totally awesome, Thanks to my husband!) As I am sitting a typing at this moment our laptop may be on it's way to the house! I told Deric that the laptop is mine and he can have the desktop! HA!
Well with all this new computer business we had to get our office all fixed up. I always wanted a home office that looks professional. I had big plans this time last year to rip down a wall and open the space up to the living room. But now I have had a change of heart......Deric, I know you thrilled to read that! So anyhow, last weekend (not this past one) we headed out in search for a new desk,shelves and chair. We ended up picking a really nice set from Target. Deric and I have always agreed on cheaper but nice looking furniture because we or just maybe me change our decor too much! The set is really pretty and the office looks so much bigger!!! It is amazing what some new furniture can do for a space! Here are some pictures



These shelves are in both corners of the room! Now I am on the look out for a canvas burnt orange color valance for the window. I think that will really bring out the orange in the rug.

Also that same weekend Deric and I decided to try to make different types of homemade pizza. We make pizza quite a bit but we wanted to fancy it up a bit! This is what we came up with. Thanks to Lena(our wonderful almost new mommy friend) for the dough recipe... it was delish!

Finally this last picture is for my mom. She has been asking me to post a picture with me and my new found love of bangs! She couldn't believe I cut them!! I haven't had bangs since I was in grade school like maybe 4th or 5th grade! So here ya go Mom!!

PHILADELPHIA 3-STEP Mini Cheesecakes recipe at Kraftfoods.com

I thought I would just post the recipe of those yummy cheesecakes! I took them into Deric's office yesterday and everyone loved them! The best thing is that they are super easy too! You most certainly need to make them for your next party! In other baking news.... I will be doing a baby shower cake for the 29th. Deric's co-worker Lena is expecting her first baby. I have planned to make the cake into a oneies. So it should be super cute! Have a great day!

What You Need!!

2 pkg. (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
12 OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
1 kiwi
1/2 cup blueberries
1/3 cup raspberries



HEAT~ oven to 350°F. Beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add eggs, one at a time, beating on low speed after each just until blended.

PLACE~ 1 cookie on bottom of each of 12 paper-lined muffin cups; cover with cream cheese mixture. ( I used an Oreo... but other have used Vanilla Wafers)

BAKE~ 20 min. or until centers are almost set. Cool. Refrigerate 3 hours. Peel kiwi; cut into 6 slices, then cut each slice in half. Place 1 kiwi piece on each cheesecake. Top with berries.

August equals birthdays in the Bidwell family

Soooo.... I am calling myself a bad daughter in law!!!! Yesterday was my sweet MIL's birthday. I didn't get her post up in time!! SORRY.
Linda you are so sweet and kind. I am so happy to have you in my life! Deric and I both love you more than you will ever know!! We wish we could have spent the day with you! I am glad you had a good birthday and I am sure you had a great day shopping today with Kim and Kohl. Happy belated Birthday!!! Promise I will be on time next year and maybe I will have to send you a cake!!! LOL

Happy Birthday to a Wonderful Man!!!

Happy Birthday to MY sweet, caring, amazing, funny, and smart husband. I don't even know the words to express how lucky I am to have him in my life. He makes me smile, laugh and love him more everyday.
I was thinking about the first birthday we spent together... which was many years ago. He was turning 18!!! LOL right?? Yea, it was right before he started his senior year of high school! Anyhow, it was our first "date" which happened to be his birthday. I was head over heals about him then and still am!! At the end of that night was our first kiss. Well I decided it was going to be our first kiss. It was awful! He totally agrees! LOL I went right in for it and he wasn't even expecting it.... got him off gaurd! It was a MESS!!!
But after thinking about that day I realize that Deric's birthday always turns out to be more than just a b-day! His 18th b-day was our first date and his little niece, Nikohl, got to come home from the hospital after being in the NICU for about 2 months! This is the day I met Miss Kohl.Then his 20th birthday was when Deric got to go home from the hospital after he was in a serious car accident with his college roommate. He was in bad shape.... brain contusions and some memory loss.Then when Deric graduated from Purdue it was on his birthday... plus his other college roommate, Ray, was getting married that same day! Funny how so many other big events in his life happen to be on his b-day!
Mostly I wanted to post a blog about how much I care and love him. I don't tell as much as I should on how much I appreciate him and look up to him. I am so thankful to have him in my life, I didn't realize when I was younger what a gift from God Deric is! It was that car accident that made me stop and truly think about our relationship and where it was going. I prayed and prayed that God would heal him and guide me. At the time of his accident Deric and I were not together, we had broken up about 8 months before. Everyone says "God has good in everything, even when it is the worse thing in your life". I am here to say an "Amen!" to that! It was this very horrible event that brought us back together. He is such a great man with an awesome, loving family and I am truly lucky to call him my husband!
Deric I hope you have a great day and you enjoy your cheesecake!!! I LOVE YOU



Yes, I had to bake him something for his birthday!!!





PHILADELPHIA 3-STEP Mini Cheesecakes recipe at Kraftfoods.com