Countdown to 2009.......

If you are hosting a party this evening http://hostessblog.com has some beautiful ideas for your guests and your home!

Quick Recipe for a New Years Eve Party

If you need a quick recipe for a pot luck or to take to a party this cocktail meatball recipe was a huge hit at the last party I took them to. The recipe took no longer than 10 mins. to make!

Ingredients

(8 ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce (right beside the canned fruit)
3/4 cup chili sauce (right beside the Ketchup)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 Package of Frozen Meatballs

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a slow cooker or large saucepan over low heat, blend the cranberry sauce, chili sauce, brown sugar, and lemon juice. Add meatballs, and simmer for 1 hour before serving.

Painting Your Face

This excerpt is so HILARIOUS! This is a segment from "Whatever, Martha!". Watch it, I promise you'll laugh outloud!

Whatever, Martha!

With the title of my blog you'd think that I am a big Martha follower. I can't say that I LOVE her but I do find some of her ideas quite fun. On the other hand I do find some of her idea's really ridiculous. I came across this show on the Fine Living Network and I fell in love with it! "Whatever, Martha!", is hosted by Martha's daughter Alexis and her best friend Jennifer. They watch an episode of Martha Stewart Living and give their hilarious commentary on her ideas. Alexis also talks frequently about life with "Martha".
I think it's on Mondays and Tuesdays at 9:00pm and 9:30pm. If you catch an episode tell me what you think!

http://www.fineliving.com/fine/whatever_martha/0,3218,FINE_32396,00.html?pn=1

Chicken Pot Pie

Let me tell you, I can cook very few edible dishes. But this recipe from http://allrecipes.com/ entitled "Chicken Pot Pie IX" is so good there are never any leftovers. In fact, I had Katie over tonight and we had to pull ourselves away from it. (Ryan is currently finishing it off as we speak.) I promise it's an easy recipe to follow and it's fool proof!!

INGREDIENTS
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup milk

2 (9 inch) unbaked pie crusts

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C.)

In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas, and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.

In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper, and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.

Place the chicken mixture in bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

(Note from The Martha Reject: I bake for 30 mins. and brush egg whites on the crust every 10 mins. )

Christmas Day Pictures.........

Here are a few randoms pictures from Christmas. We had so many stops to make but we so enjoyed being with everyone. Everyone says how happy they are that Christmas is over, but I am a little sad. I just love that cozy feeling that the lit trees make your home feel and I love the bustle of the season. Oh well, 362 more days until Christmas is here!

Christmas morning, my two favorite gifts from Ryan, "Forgeting Sarah Marshall" and "Horton Hears a Who".

Dave in his Emeril apronRyan seeing if he struck it rich with his stocking scratch offs.Grandma Phyllis enjoying her mimosaKyle and I with our Christmas merry-mentMy mom and I My 2 tier cupcake carrier. My brother Nick opening a gag gift from my parents.
Nick, Ry, Sami

My sister gave me, my most wanted book!

Ryan asleep before the festivites started

My parents

Christmas Eve

Tonight was spent celebrating Christmas Eve with the Farley side of the family and then back to my husband's parents home for a gift exchange. I still can't believe that tonight is Christmas Eve. Anyone else think this month has flown by????

Ry, Dave, Angie, Kyle, Me

Me and Ry

This is what Kyle got his parents! A two seater bicycle! They were shocked. I think they'll get a lot of use out of it this spring and summer!

All of my books I wanted. Three of these books mean a lot to me. The one up at the top, my Aunt Barb got me when I was 4 for my birthday. It also came with a record. This was the books 35th Anniversary and it came with the CD. I am so excited to read it and visit my childhood memories again. The other two are apart of the Pigeon series. I bought all of these books for Evan and I have a lot of good memories reading them with him.

This DVD made me cry when I opened it. If you haven't seen it you must! Jim Henson circa 1983ish. It means so much to me because my Meme (grandma) and I would watch it every Christmas when I was young. Recently my Meme entered a skilled nursing facility due to vascular dementia. This will be our first Christmas without my Meme with us Christmas day.

Kyle got us matching Bears scarfsRy, Me, & KyleThe infamous always asleep at family gatherings picture of Ryan and his father
Anyone wondering why I am wearing this crazy pink dress? My father in law is an Ebay fanatic. Seriously. He saw this Georgio Armani originally priced $4,000.00 for $13.00. Seriously? He thought it was such a great deal he bought it. It didn't fit anyone so I tried it on. It fit sort of. It was ill made and truthfully I feel I could have sewn a nicer dress than this frock. I am going to go ahead and guess that Dave was fooled again with Ebay trickery. Yes there is a designer label inside but I'm pretty sure Georgio wouldn't put his name on this hot pink hot mess. It was fun struting around in it anyway. Dave said I should wear it for New Years Eve. Simply hilarious.

What in the heck is that?

It is my dinner! I can't believe that I am blogging my what I ate but for me to cook something that is a success is totally blogworthy! I fixed pan seared tofu. It was wonderful! Ryan even tried it and really liked it. I made a plum soysauce glaze for it. I know my Aunt Barb will be proud!

Gift Exchange

Katie (The Parrish Family Link) and I got together on Monday to do our gift exchange. Katie and I have known each other for over 15 years. About 2 years ago Katie and her husband moved back here to Southern Illinois and we have been very close since. We have the same job so it's easy to call each other up to vent, complain, or just have a good laugh. It's been such a joy to see her son Jackson grow from birth to now 6 months. When we were younger I always thought of Katie and myself being completely different. It's so strange that now I can say that our lives are almost parallel!

My pink and green gifts to Katie

Katie gave me a year subscription to House Beautiful and a North Face jacket I have been wanting! Jack watched us while we opened the gifts.

I watched Jackson while Katie made another batch of her ridiculously good fudge. Not even close to being on my diet!

Christmas Elves of all Shapes and Sizes

I caught a glimpse of one of Santa's helpers. I found him in my bathroom sink taking a break and catching a quick drink!

Happy Birthday Baby Brooks!

On Saturday afternoon, Beth and Ryan welcomed another baby boy, Cash Eli Brooks.
9 lbs., 15.7 oz
21 in.
12.20.08 at 3:32pm

a Huge congratulations to them and big brother Cade!

Watch this video......

My Aunt Barb sent me this video and I loved it so much you all have to watch it too. I promise it will make you smile!!

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/?fbid=t_CwQtU2Y5Z

Some of my favorite things........

I love it when bloggers give a shout out to some of their favorite products they use. I wanted to give a few of my own.

I'm a HUGE loyalist to moisturizer. I have very dry skin which is great for little to no blemishes but horrible for future wrinkles. I have finally found the one moisturizer that my face loves and I have to say I can tell a huge difference since I have been using it. (About one year.) It's called Future Perfect. The last time I was at Dillards purchasing it, the Estee Lauder woman told me that they are changing it to a new formula and calling it Time Zone. Of course! But I can give my full confidence in saying that if it is anything like Future Perfect it's a go! It is a little pricey around $70.00. I always tell my sisters, buy yourselves a good moisturizer, a good black dress, and thank you cards. With all those items you're set!

Another favorite is a good burger! I have been changing my eating habits for the past month. I can't believe how much better I feel and some weight is falling off too! I am in LOVE in MorningStar's Grillers Prime. I really could leave meat forever but I have always heard I still need it for protein and iron. Not so! I find that these are wonderful tasting and not the creepy texture you get from some veggie burgers. I highly sugest these if you want a meat alternative! I put mine in the microwave and they aren't soggy. Ry has even grilled them for me and they are wonderful.

The other three favorite things are books. I could spend my whole life reading if it would pay the bills. My favorite adult reader right now is the book below. I read it in 2 days. Just a wonderful warm fuzzies book. Loved it!!! Five Stars

I also have a huge passion for children's books. I LOVE to sit in the back of Barnes and Noble and read all the newest ones on the back wall. My all time favorite is, "On the Night You Were Born". I cry every single time I read it!! Love it. No kids yet for me but I can't imagine reading it if I did! Ryan would have to lock me away. My newest favorite out right now is, "Bats at the Beach". I'm hoping to get it for Christmas. The illustrations are just great. I laughed the whole time I read it at B&N. I'm sure people thought I was nuts.

Misc Pictures....

Not alot going on in the Farley household lately. But here are some random pictures from the last 2 weeks.

Ryan digging in our yard. I think this was the coldest weekend of the year so far. Ry and I at his company Christmas party

Brooke and Andy, who are about to have a baby any day now!

The boys

Our Christmas tree in the den

Our Christmas tree in the living room

Ryan and I FINALLY picked out the flooring for the kitchen.

It's a very long process, let me tell you!

Thanksgiving Recap......

I know, long time no post. I have no excuses! Here are a few of Thanksgiving weekend and later on that Saturday night.

Ryan and Kyle celebrating their 28th and 26th birthdays

Ry and IKyle and IWe always go out with Ryan's family the night we celebrate Ryan and Kyle's birthday.

Jenna, Mallorie, Rachel, John, Ryan, Debbie, Mike