Funky, Punky, and Plump

Wow... 2014 already!  The last of 2013 went by pretty quickly, but I don't know that I have a super lot to show for it. Well, that's not entirely true.  I've been pretty busy with the new site .  I've been having so much fun cooking and I think my photography skills are definitely improving when it comes to that part of the blogging.  I have been doing some creative things as well, though, especially over the last couple of weeks.  I received some money for the holidays and decided to invest in myself by getting a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (the original, not the new model) for the sole purpose of drawing.  I know, I know, it's completely wasting the bells and whistles of the technology, but I did some research and decided it was the best yet economical choice for what I want to do.  And, so far, I am not disappointed. I upgraded my S Pen and it really feels like I am drawing "the old fashioned way."  Even when I sketch out my design first, it ...

I ate too much dinner tonight.  Seriously.  Hours later and I am still sitting here like a stuffed woodtick, semi-regretting all the food I ate. No... that's not true.  I regret nothing! Well, maybe a little.  My stomach hurts from all the delicious food I ate.  Next time, do I what I say in the recipe I'm about to tell you about rather than what your tastebuds think you should do.  You'll likely thank me later. Tonight for dinner, I made these fabulous Sausage and Pepper Joes ... every time I see the name as I write it, I read it as Sergeant Joe Pepper... I'm sure he is a nice guy but this post is not about him. Click on the sammich to get the recipe! But... dinner. Man, my tummy hurts!  With these joes, which I mistakenly served on hoagie rolls instead of hamburger buns, I made the perfect potato skins .  I will rarely say this about my food but I truly think they rival skins served in restaurants.   Click on a tater to get...

This was one of those weekends where I seemed to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  But I did manage to get my hair recolored and cut! Here is what it looked like on our roadtrip 2 weeks ago.  I was letting it grow out a bit but by this point, I was in need of getting it reshaped.  It's hard to see here but the back was getting really shaggy and tickling my neck! I *love* this picture of 1920's actress Louise Brooks so this was the inspiration I gave to the stylist. After making me look like a potato for a bit... ...this is what she did!  (Pay no attention to my lack of make-up and pre-menstral pimple. :P ) I *LOVE* it!  This is the first haircut I have had in a VERY long time that I am really and truly happy with. :)  I started going to the Paul Mitchell School in Atlanta and I am really glad that I did.  The girl that I have seen twice, Rachael, is super sweet and eager to learn.  It was amazing how much more confident sh...

How has your new year been treating you?  Mine has been pretty good so far, though not a super lot has been going on... which has been nice.  Here are a few pics from the last couple of weeks. :) I spent some of my Christmas gift money at the restaurant supply store and replaced a few kitchen basics.  I got 2 new saute pans (and threw away the warped, flaky non-stick ones), 2 half-sheet baking sheets, 1 full-size one for home ovens, 2 baking racks, a dough cutter, a high-heat temp rubber spatula, another set of measuring spoons, and some butter knives.  I have no idea why but my silverware at home is disappearing so I've been adding to our existing set with inexpensive ones from the restaurant supply store.      I've doodled at work a bit while waiting for reports to run and during lunch. :)  You can tell in the t-shirt doodle that my new markers from Secret Santa are starting to dry up.  Oops! :P The guys and I decided ...