R&B Giveaway

Beth at Tea And Thee is having an awesome giveaway! If you love R&B, you must go enter her giveaway for a CD by Cornielle. Though virtually unknown to an American audience, Corneille sells out arenas in other parts of the world. His albums have reached monumental, Diamond-selling status in France. He has also scored a number of hits in Canada and in Japan. The Birth Of Cornelius is Cornielle's English language debut.

Hello Monday

I do love the first warm days of spring after a long winter when you finally get to breathe a sigh of relief that you made it!! And the reward is warm days, though still a bit of chill in the air, and the sight of spring flowers peeking up from the ground. It really just lifts my spirits like nothing else can. I love these flowering pear trees that seem to be everywhere here, but I have discovered quite the hard way that my allergies disagree. I am feeling MUCH better after a week of heavy-duty allergy meds and am looking forward to more spring flowers! Bring it on! I am armed with my Claritan, Zyrtec, and Singulair! ;)

Hope you have a wonderful, spring-like week!
Hugs,
Sheri

Pink Saturday

Hello friends!

Here it is another wonderful Pink Saturday! I hope you had a blessed week! I decided today to do something a bit different and do a little Pink Saturday jewelry shopping. A girl can dream, ya know! So I picked out some pink beauties to share with you...and as soon as I win the lottery, I'm set to go! ;) ha, ha.

Have a great Saturday and join Beverly over at How Sweet the Sound for more Pink Saturday participants!

Hugs to all!

SheriI have always loved the cameo style!

Sweet Pink flowers!

I used to collect elephants.I don't know if I like the color or the style more. :)

I love pearls & diamonds make it better!


Whispy and soft!

Unique! Pink Champagne with diamond bubbles!

Fit for a queen! Crowns!

Pink Cake! Of course!


Always celebrating breast cancer awareness!Pink heart & diamonds, yes!


OK, now you know if I win that lottery, I'm buying pink Chanel earrings! ;)

Thursday Humor

knitted flickr
Originally uploaded by STEF MCK

Outdoor Wednesday

WELCOME TO OUTDOOR WEDNESDAY! A day devoted to wonderful outdoor pictures by hostess Susan at A Southern Daydreamer.

The photo I am sharing today gives me hopes for spring soon! Nothing like seeing the first robins of spring! I know it is officially spring when my allergies act up and I think I'm dying ;) and I see the first birdies! Hope you're having a blessed week!

Hugs!
Sheri

~~Happy Spring!~~

Tea on Tuesday: Irish Breads

Blueberry Scones

Ingredients:
* 2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
* 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 5 tablespoons chilled butter, cut into small pieces
* 1/2 cup fat-free milk
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1 large egg white
* 1/3 cup dried currants
* 2 teaspoons fat-free milk
* 2 teaspoons turbinado or granulated sugar

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt in a bowl; stir with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal.

Combine 1/2 cup milk, vanilla, and egg white in a bowl. Add milk mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist (dough will be soft). Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Sprinkle surface of dough with dried currants. With floured hands, knead 4 times or just until the currants are incorporated.

Pat dough into an 8-inch circle on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cut dough into 12 wedges, cutting into, but not through, dough. Brush 2 teaspoons milk over surface of dough; sprinkle with 2 teaspoons turbinado sugar. Bake at 425° for 17 minutes or until golden. Serve warm, or cool on a wire rack.

Makes 12 scones.

Nutritional Information:
Calories: 149
Fat: 5g (sat 3g,mono 1.3g,poly 0.3g)
Protein: 3g
Carbohydrate: 23.4g
Fiber: 0.8g
Cholesterol: 13mg
Sodium: 203mg

Irish Brown Bread

Ingredients:
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 tablespoons sugar
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1 1/2 tablespoons cold butter or margarine
* 2 cups whole-wheat flour
* 1/4 cup regular or quick-cooking rolled oats
* 1 1/2 cups plain nonfat yogurt
* Milk

Directions:
1. In a bowl, mix all-purpose flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With a pastry blender or 2 knives, cut in butter until mixture forms fine crumbs. Stir in whole-wheat flour and oats.

2. Add yogurt; stir gently. If mixture is too dry to hold together, stir in milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, just until dough holds together; it should not be sticky.

3. Turn dough onto a lightly floured board and knead gently 5 times to make a ball. Set on a lightly greased baking sheet. Pat into a 7-inch circle. With a floured knife, cut a large X on top of loaf.

4. Bake in a 375° oven until well browned, about 40 minutes. Cool on a rack. Serve warm or cool.

Makes 1 loaf (1 3/4 lb).

Nutritional analysis per 1-oz. serving:
Calories: 64
Fat: 0.9g
Carbohydrate: 12g
Fiber: 1.3g
Sodium: 118mg
Cholesterol: 2mg

~~yummy recipe and photo from: tasteofhome.com~~

Monday: The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY MONDAY, MARCH 16...
~~Outside my window~~

it is cloudy & drizzling rain. It is supposed to be 59* today.

~~I am thinking~~

our mini-trip to Pigeon Forge & Gatlinburg TN tomorrow for St. Patrick's Day.

~~I am thankful for~~

a job! The opportunity to take a mini-trip to my favorite tea place.


~~From the kitchen~~

I am planning on grilled salmon for dinner.

~~I am wearing~~
a light blue top, navy pants, socks.

~~I am creating~~

a mess. ;) I am finishing up a few different craft projects.

~~I am going~~
to work very soon.

~~I am (still!) reading~~

Having a Mary Spirit: Alowing God to change us from the inside out by Joanna Weaver. So far I'm not getting very far. Just trying to find the time to read is the problem.

~~I am hoping~~

that we can stick to a budget and menu again this week. We did "ok" last week...an improvement for us!!

~~I am hearing~~

music in the background, coffee brewing.

~~Around the house~~

I have so much to do! Tried to get some housework done this weekend. Hmmm...failed miserably. ;)

~~One of my favorite things~~

luncheon tea at The Wild Plum in TN.


~~A few plans for the rest of the week~~

Wednesday night bible study at church--hope we make it back from TN in time; Thursday night weight loss support group; finish some more craft projects.

~~Here is picture thought I am sharing~~

Want to read more Daybooks? See Peggy's blog, The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Pink Saturday

Hello friends!
I can't believe how fast this week went by! I hardly got anything done and barely posted! Well, here it is another Pink Saturday and since we've been getting ready to move, I thought I'd share some pics I found of romantic pink bedrooms randomly on the internet. A girl can dream, right?
Join the fun with Beverly and see all the participants this week!
Have a fabulous day!
Hugs,
Sheri

Surprise!

Hello friends!
I was really hoping early this week that maybe, just maybe, spring was coming early this year. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday we had temperatures in the 60's! HA. Big fat chance. I went to bed last night and we looked like this, our normal winter here:

When I awoke this morning...SURPRISE!

Hmm...not spring yet! Well atleast it's the wet slushy kind of snow, so it will probably be gone by the time I get off work tonight. That's our typical March weather. Hope you're having a great Friday!

Hugs,
Sheri

Tea on Tuesday: WW Vanilla Pound Cake

Weight Watchers

Ingredients:
1 spray(s) cooking spray
2 large egg(s)
3 large egg white(s)
2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
8 oz light cream cheese
3 1/2 tbsp unsalted butter
1 1/3 cup(s) sugar
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp table salt
1 3/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour

Instructions:
* Preheat oven to 350ºF. Coat a 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

* In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, vanilla extract and almond extract; set aside.

* In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, beat together cream cheese and butter until blended. Beat in sugar, baking powder and salt until blended. Beat in flour and egg mixture, little by little, beginning and ending with flour.

* Pour batter into prepared loaf pan and bake until a wooden toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes.

* Cool cake in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 12 slices and serve. Yields 1 slice per serving.

POINTS® Value: 5
Servings: 12

Monday: The Simple Woman's Daybook

FOR TODAY MONDAY, MARCH 9...
~~Outside my window~~

it is cloudy but WARM! It is supposed to be 65* today...after being in the 70's all weekend. I love the warmer weather.

~~I am thinking~~

about all the work need to get done, inside and outside.

~~I am thankful for~~

a job! We have more budget cuts coming soon and I hope we don't have to lay off anyone. I hope to keep my job too.


~~From the kitchen~~

is the wonderful smell of coffee this morning.

~~I am wearing~~
a red and blue top, navy pants, socks.

~~I am creating~~

finishing up on my pinkeeps to list for sale.

~~I am going~~
to work very soon.

~~I am (still!) reading~~

Having a Mary Spirit: Alowing God to change us from the inside out by Joanna Weaver.

~~I am hoping~~

that we can stick to a budget and menu this week. We've been failing miserably.


~~I am hearing~~

music in the background, coffee brewing.

~~Around the house~~

I have so much to do! I really need to be more organized than this!


~~One of my favorite things~~

red seedless grapes. I know that sounds funny, but I've been eating grapes for the past week and I love them.


~~A few plans for the rest of the week~~

Wednesday night bible study at church; Thursday night weight loss support group; finish some craft projects.

~~Here is picture thought I am sharing~~

Want to read more Daybooks? See Peggy's blog, The Simple Woman's Daybook.

Pink Saturday

Hello friends!

I totally missed out on last week's Pink Saturday. I was feeling a bit under the weather and just couldn't seem to get it together. BUT! I couldn't miss this one! We enjoyed a bit of winter weather Monday and I am happy we did get a bit of snow. But now I am ready for spring! And nothing says spring like lovely pink flowers!

Enjoy the fun at Beverly's and see other's who enjoy celebrating Pink Saturday too! Have a fabulous day!

Hugs & Blessings to you!
Sheri

Tea on Tuesday: Boston Cream Cheesecake

Ingredients:
* 1 package 1-layer-size yellow cake mix
* 2 tablespoons cooking oil
* 3 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
* 3/4 cup sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 3 eggs
* 1 8-ounce carton dairy sour cream
* 3/4 cup whipping cream
* 6 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
* 2 tablespoons butter, softened

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease the bottom of a 9-inch springform pan; set aside. Prepare cake mix according to package directions, except add cooking oil. Pour batter into the prepared pan, spreading evenly. Bake for 25 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, for filling: In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Stir in sour cream. Carefully pour cream cheese mixture over cake layer.

3. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until a 2-inch area around the outside edge appears set and the center appears nearly set when gently shaken. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 15 minutes. Using a small sharp knife, loosen edge of cheesecake from side of pan. Cool completely (about 1 3/4 hours). Remove side of pan; transfer cheesecake to a serving plate. Cover and chill for 4 to 24 hours.

4. Before serving, in a small saucepan, bring whipping cream to simmering. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in butter. Chill about 15 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened, stirring once. Spoon chocolate mixture onto cheesecake, spreading to cover top.

Makes 16 servings.

~~yummy recipe and photo from: bhg.com~~

Snow Day!!

Hello everyone!
I was feeling a bit under the weather last week and didn't get much blogging done at all. And...

I am running behind in my posting...what a great day Monday was! FINALLY!!! A snowday!!

I didn't make it out to work, but this is how campus looked early Monday morning...

I am happy now. We've had snow for the winter. OK...bring on spring! :)
Have a fabulous week!
Hugs & blessings to you,
Sheri