I'm Back- Where do I Start?

I'm back sort of.  I'm not making any big promises about a regular posting schedule, but I have missed it and can only imagine how desperate you must feel every week when you check over here and you still see the sad picture from the last post!

Since we last spoke:

Temporary Job now Permanent

Bad news-- after announcing that "something would have to be wrong with the person who would take this position", I proved once again that something is wrong with me and took it.  The good news is it is still only Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.  And you can't beat a steady paycheck.  (Did that just come out of my mouth?  What has happened to me?)  Besides, this company has stories that make me giggle almost every day and I wish I could share them, but, really, they are too juicy to share with the interwebs.  Unless I create an anonymous blog.  Hummm....  But I haven't been keeping up with this one, so forget that idea.

Don't panic.  Jcaroline is still kicking and I work there Mondays and Fridays.  And sometimes Wednesday evenings, Saturday mornings, and Sunday nights.

Cooking on Steroids (not me- the cooking.  I just cook on alcohol and prescription drugs.)

I bought a couple of books off of the interwebs, Don't Panic - Dinner's in the Freezer and The Everything Meals For A Month Cookbook. I prefer the first one, though the second one did have some good tips.  It's just that the second one really does have you cook EVERYTHING for one month (there is actually an acronym, OAMC!) and I am overwhelmed at that thought.  So, I've been making 3 or 4 different things on the weekend and freezing and that seems much more manageable to me.  The biggest tip from these books:  don't use containers in the freezer because they take up too much room (and I can never find matching bottoms and lids anyway).  I seal everything in FoodSaver bags, which I used to laugh at that machine and now I'm drinking the Kool-Aid.  Armed with those bags and a Sharpie marker, I've got 2 gallons of spaghetti sauce, 1 gallon of Chicken Noodle soup, 8 dozen muffins in a four different varieties, 4 servings of Macaroni and Cheese, 4 servings of Beef Stroganoff and a lasagne safely tucked away in my freezer.  Which makes me envision this future conversation with my husband:

Husband:  "Caroline, I just brought home some chicken breasts to grill for dinner."

Me:  "Well, honey, there is no way I have time to freeze and thaw those out before 7:00!"

Chair Redo

I'm working on an awesome chair for Kay Whitt (pattern maker extraordinaire and author of Sew Serendipity: Fresh and Pretty Designs to Make and Wear) for Fall Quilt Market. It is awesome, if I do say so myself. Let me put on the finishing touches and then I'll share.

Fabric 2.0

There will be a Fabric 2.0 party this Quilt Market and it will be a REAL one, as opposed to the light, buy-you-own version of the last three markets.  Details and hosts to come, but mark your calendar for Friday night, October 29, 6 to 10 p.m. at the Grove in Houston.

Silhouette Cutter

I am so easily influenced, but I had seen this digital cutter on Melissa Esplin's blog and now Jessica's.  And Jessica is currently offering a giveaway of one through October 11, so go over there to win.  And she also has a coupon code for $50 off the cutter with some additional goodies included, so I did it-- I ordered one.  Hurry!  The $50 coupon is good through the 16th.  Jessica just got hers, but Melissa has been doing some awesome things with hers for months now.  I am dying to try cutting fabric that has Heat 'n Bond ironed to it.  I'll report back.

Birthday Present

My birthday was in September (44 for those counting at home) and my husband bought me

an IPad!  So forget everything I ever said about my Dell Netbook.  I am officially IPad obsessed including books from ITunes.  Check out "Enhanced Books"-- my daughter loves them.  They have little videos embedded in the book either reading the story or adding additional bits of information.  I'm much too busy cooking to be reading to her!

Okay, I have held you hostage long enough.  If I would post more often I wouldn't have so much to say, now would I?

Comments

[* TONYA *]

I'm so glad you are back. I have been missing you. Happy belated birthday. Had I known, we could have had an early birthday celebration in August when I saw you :).

[min]

Ooh, I just bought Steve Spangler's enhanced book for my iPad. My daughter wants to do every kitchen science book in there. Is fun.

[Account Deleted]

Welcome back!

[SuzK]

Nice to hear from you again, we missed you! BTW - how do you do use the freezer bags for muffins? I tried it with bagels once - poor little, flat bagel!

[Melissa]

I'm thinking I need to buy that freezer cookbook. Most days we eat crackers & meat & cheese for dinner. I'm such an awful homemaker.

I'm so glad to hear that you bought a Silhouette! I'm still very much in love with mine. They're the best. Hope you enjoy it!

[Melissa Stramel]

I have those cookbooks! I use them once in awhile. Sometimes it is easier to make several servings of one thing at a time and then you have some for later. I'll be at quilt market. Do you have details for Fabric 2.0? Can I come between schoolhouse and sample spree?

[Trish]

You are so funny! I'm glad I haven't missed much.

[HVAC contractors]

That is a really nice cutter. I had to laugh when you said you only cook on alcohol and prescription meds. Your dinner must be to die for.