My Afflation

Josh carving the turkey. Even though it was only 13lbs, there was A LOT of meat left over. Friday: Make stock Saturday: Finish making stock and eating some of the leftovers. I have missed King's Hawaiian rolls so much. Like, crack. Good thing I don't plan on moving much the rest of the weekend. So much stock. I wonder if I should try Phở? Sunday: Turkey Shepherd's Pie  with sweet potatoes - modified from Paleo Shepherd's Pie. Monday : Turkey (Noodle) Soup Tuesday : Turkey Pot Pie Wednesday : Turkey Waldorf Salad Turkey Waldorf Salad from FoodNetwork.com Thursday - Saturday - someone else is doing the cooking. What are your favorite Thanksgiving leftover recipes?

Wishing all of my friends a happy and prosperous New Year. Year of the Horse by uniqueLegend on deviantART No red envelopes will be given this year (not that that's new for my son). Pin It Related articles 8 Reasons Why We Love Chinese New Year! Gung Hay Fat Choy! 9 Ways to Celebrate Chinese New Year

Checking on sweet potato pies as I work on the cheesecake Not everyone in my immediate circle is a fan of sweet potatoes, though I am slowly wearing them down. As a compromise, two years ago I made my first cheesecake -- pumpkin flavored! At the time, I took lots of pictures because I meant to blog it. Well, I'm finally getting around to that. Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe by Adapted from Pillsbury Classic Cookbook #344 pg. 73 Prep time: 35 minutes Cook time: 1 hour 25 minutes Total time: 8 hours 40 minutes Yield: 16 servings Calories per serving: 440 Fat per serving: 28g Ingredients Crust 2 cups cinnamon graham crackers 1/4 butter, melted Filling 4 (8oz) packages cream cheese, softened 1.5 cups granulated sugar 4 eggs 1 cup canned pumpkin (NOT pumpkin pie mix) 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice 3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom or allspice ...

This isn't quite the recipe that I made growing up, but it's pretty darn close. And I get to use less sugar than the original.  Sweet Potato Pie Ingredients 1lb sweet potatoes (orange flesh not yellow, might be labeled yams) 1/2 cup butter softened 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 1/2 cup milk 2 eggs 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (or to taste) 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (or to taste) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 (9in) unbaked pie crust Directions Peel sweet potatoes, cut into large chunks and boil for 30 minutes or until soft.  Preheat oven to 350F.  Drain sweet potatoes, then break apart. Add butter and mix well. Stir in sugar, milk, eggs, spices, and vanilla. Beat until smooth.  Notice the orange hue. If it's yellow, you got the wrong kind of sweet potato. Pour filling into pie crust.  Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool before serving. Whip cream is optional. Pin It

As much as I love Disney, Knott's Berry Farm is offering an incredible deal until the end of the month. And you really can't beat paying off your season pass for just over $10/month. I know that when my daughter gets bored and we don't have chores, soccer, or softball, we usually head down to Anaheim. She loved Knott's when we went in February and I am sure that we would go to Soak City multiple times. Here's all that you get when you take advantage of this discounted offer on a 2013 Knott's Berry Farm season pass: Unlimited visits to Knott's Berry Farm One free visit during the 2012 season* Additional visits through December 2012 for just $9.99 per day** Exclusive Ride Time Season pass holders get early access to some of your favorite rides during the summer- Labor Day Weekend. Food & Merchandise Discounts Halloween Haunt Discount Tickets *Per Pass holder / non-transferable **Per Pass holder / per day / non-transferabl...

Image from http://www.duy.im/2011/10/happy-new-year-2012.html   This has been quite the year! Last year about this time I thought I was dying, but it was just a kidney infection . This New Year's Eve I am stuffed up and alternating between being a mouth-breather and imitating Niagra Falls. I can't remember the last time I had a good New Year's Eve. Probably back in Oregon when I threw Shindigs (as in Browncoat parties). I've been debating for days what this last post of 2011 should be. A Best of? A collage? A worst of? A general summary? I'm still debating. I'm just glad it's over. It wasn't a bad year overall, started out sick, ended sick, and in between ... I managed to finally lose ten pounds and gain about five of it back in the last two months. I have about (1)50 posts in drafts, so if you read my blog via RSS, you're not going crazy, I'll just be knocking out the relevant ones. So let's try the recap approach. I take photos a...

And still under 190. I'm at 185 this week and blaming the one pound weight gain on water weight -- not on the candy corn. I've actually been pretty good, it took me about a week to go through one bag and I only raided the Halloween candy a few times. I keep thinking "portion control" and "stay UNDER 190!!" After about 6 weeks of little to no activity I rode my bike into work the past two mornings. My legs are confused and I have never been so glad to sit at my desk. Riding gets my blood moving but I think I need a chiropractic adjustment to get those endorphins into my brain. You would think that a 3-4 mile ride in brisk air would wake a girl up! It's good to be moving again and I am so happy that despite not exercising a lot I have been losing weight.  Regarding Halloween candy -- The Teen is allergic to food dyes but has the OK from his doctor to eat fatty foods because he's ectomorphic . I keep telling that will be in his favor until he ...

You know, the older I get, the less I want, at least around holidays. I like to get gifts throughout the year (who doesn't?!?) This year, all I really, truly,unequivocally want … I just want my kids to behave. Preferably when they are together, but as singles too. For one, it won't matter. He's off to NY to visit family. The other ... who knows. It's been a hard few months since August and it feels like more than a year has already passed in the emotional investment arena. I just want a relaxing, temper-tantrum and drama free Christmas. As I write this I feel as if it's wishful thinking.   Though if you insist on getting me something, my Amazon Wishlist is mostly updated.

If you didn't catch my tweets pimping @CynicalDad , you have to watch and listen to this all the way through. It's HI-LARIOUS! And the chick's voice, I dig it. Er, I really like it. She's phenomenal cuz you know, I don't think there was much studio editing the way there is for all the pop divas. Her voice kinda reminds me of Etta James... but anyways, I present Paloma Faith and Josh Weller for your listening and viewing pleasure.

Truthfully, I know about the Star Wars one because of Tim . I think I saw the He-Man/She-Ra one, I wasn't allowed to watch the Pee Wee Herman one, and I never heard of the Pac-Man one. How about you guys? (Disclosure: this was sent to me by someone else who had the time to do the research on "forgotten" Christmas specials. I thought it was good enough to pass along)   1. " The Star Wars Holiday Special " (1978 - CBS): On the planet of Kashyyyk, Chewie’s family anxiously awaits the return of Han Solo and Chewie for the celebration of ‘Life Day.’ The duo must battle their way through Imperial forces to join the party. *Key moment: Princess Leia performing the "Life Day" theme song to the tune of the original Star Wars’ score. 2. " He-Man & She-Ra Christmas Special"   (1985): Two children unwittingly get caught up in the battle between good and evil when Skeletor believes that the spread of their...

Your task for the week, should you choose to accept it, is to perform at least one random act of kindness. Now, generally I try to follow Matt 6:1-4 1"Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. But Jyl and Carissa have an awesome idea for spreading some Holiday Cheer: Identify and perform at least one random of act of kindness this week (December 2 through 9). Post about the experience in written, picture, and/or video format(s). ...

I'm in an odd place today. I shouldn't be stressed, but I feel a little anxious. I'm down because this Thanksgiving, like last year's, is not what I envisioned. I guess it helps some that I didn't plan ANY vision for this year. That's a lie. I had envisioned a cozy dinner at my mom's place with my kids, my nieces, my sister, and a few displaced friends. Because I always find some extra people to feed during the holidays. It's what I was raised to do. I was hoping that a good friend from Oregon would be able to make it down. He's been having a hard time and, well, misery loves company, right? Long story short, he can't make it. My sister made other plans, my nieces will be at their father's and all other family members are either in OR, Northern CA or NV and not traveling. I'm not even sure my dad celebrates Thanksgiving with his new family. We weren't invited last year and I haven't heard from him this year either. This is the...

(anti valentine sentiment) Things have come to a pretty pass Our romance is growing flat, For you like this and the other While I go for this and that, Goodness knows what the end will be Oh I don't know where I'm at It looks as if we two will never be one Something must be done: Chorus - 1 You say either and I say either, You say neither and I say neither Either, either Neither, neither, Let's call the whole thing off. You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto, Let's call the whole thing off But oh, if we call the whole thing off Then we must part And oh, if we ever part, then that might break my heart So if you like pyjamas and I like pyjahmas, I'll wear pyjamas and give up pyajahmas For we know we need each other so we , Better call the whole off off Let's call the whole thing off. Chorus - 2 You say laughter and I say larfter, You say after and I say arfter Laughter, larfter after arfter, Let'...

Happy New Year! There are so many holidays this month! Wishing you a happy and prosperous new year.

Someone asked... What is Fat Tuesday? Fat Tuesday is Mardi Gras, the festival New Orleans, Louisiana, is famous for. "Gras" is French for fat and "Mardi" is French for Tuesday. The annual festivities start on January 6, the Twelfth Night Feast of the Epiphany, when the three kings are supposed to have visited the Christ Child, and build to a climax on Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, which always occurs on the day before Ash Wednesday. The parties and parades will continue until Lent begins at the stroke of midnight on Tuesday. Mardi Gras is a legal holiday in New Orleans. It is scheduled to occur 46 days before Easter. Since the actual date Easter occurs on changes yearly, Mardi Gras can happen on any Tuesday between February 3 and March 9. For two centuries it has been an annual event in New Orleans, except during the two World Wars. More info can also be found at this site .

Check out the other videos these guys have done

All of these photos and videos were taken on my Dash. Like a goof, I forgot my regular camera at home. It was one of those days.

Come see the photos Joy and I took at the Zoo. Some of the ones she took are really good. Try guessing to see who took which ones. :HOWLOWEEN AT THE ZOO Kids love trick-or-treating, and Oregon Zoo provides a fun and safe setting for this traditional Halloween activity. Trick-or-treaters will complete an intriguing scavenger hunt leading them to activity stations around the zoo. Goodie bags filled with candy and prizes will be given out for completed hunts at the zoo’s exit. Saturday - Sunday, October 28 - 29 | Time: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Technorati Tags: photos , Howloween , Halloween , Oregon Zoo

How many of you know that when the porch light is out that means that the person(s) is not home or not participating in Halloween? Well, a bunch of people in our neighborhood apparently have forgotten or choose to ignore this little bit of etiquette. Both Tim and I had the idea to make a sign for our front door. Here's his: For those of you who are visually impaired, or just plain (insert expletive) stupid, our porch light is OUT - this means we are NOT participating in Halloween. The next idiot who can't figure this simple thing out will receive one hollow-point 9mm to their (apparently) already empty head! Here's mine: WE HAVE NO MORE CANDY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guess which one got put on the door.  

Today is already starting out different. Josh actually woke up to his alarm, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Even more so after his shower. Halloween really is his favorite holiday. We practiced getting some of his make-up on. I'm to bring it and the rest of his costume (gloves and such) to school when I go in. I decided that I would get into the spirit of things somewhat and dress as a witch. I'll dress Joy in her Piglet costume and we will be all set. Tim got up around 6:30/6:45 (joy was waking). He played with her and kept her occupied till I Now ... anyone have any ideas for weaving patterns?