Are You Ready for Some FOOTBALL ???

I was ... until the Cowboys disgusting loss on Sunday night. I guess my 'boys are back ... in the same style as last year. How lovely. How fun.

Today we are having a football themed potluck at work. We have them a few times a year, but this is the first this year. I got lazy. I am typically the hostess for these events and I don't know why. Probably because they are not super fun to organize ... trying to get a sign up sheet going and then sending out reminders. Set up and clean up ... OMG.  I started them when I first came here, because I had done them at my other job in Dallas.... and they caught on. I tried to hand it off to someone else in my group, but nothing doing. I am stuck with the honor! :)  ... so I theme them the way I want too- and this one was FOOTBALL.

So what better thing to bring for fall, football, etc. than my grandma's chili?

How to tote such a thing into the office? Crockpot!

What kind of crockpot?

FOOTBALL CROCKPOT!

I KNOW. How cute is HE? I lurve him. One of my prized possessions.

I love the football lid.

and I love the little football nob.

As you can see it's made by Rival. I have never been able to find another one. I wanted to see if I could find one for other people - you know, gifts. I've looked- online and different places. I didn't even know they made themed crockpots but I love mine. Can't find another one!

Even though the Cowboys promise a disgusting, hate-filled season ... I am ready for some football. Along with it comes fall, college football, cooler weather, sweatshirts, Halloween, lazy movie Saturday's, cuddles with my dog ... so I am looking forward to it!

Kah

Never Forget

I got up yesterday and scrubbed this house (YAY) - and headed out to the library and as I was driving through the little downtown section of my town - where all the little shops and restaurants are I was stunned into silence. Every single store had an American flag flying in the breeze. I wish I had gotten better pictures- because lined up - side by side, etc ... it was a stunning site. (If you click on the pics, it enlarges them and you can see better) It stopped me in my tracks.

In December of 2002, my dad, sister and I stood at Ground Zero for what seemed like an hour. It was just a giant crater in the ground, twisted metal and a chain link fence. It was still very sad - and as the city moved and lived behind you - loud and you know "New York" - the area at Ground Zero was strangely silent. No one spoke. It was very erie.

Sometimes I think to myself "what have I really done with my life" ... and it's easy to get caught up in that when you get up and go to work, come home, sleep and do it all over again. The truth is I've been to a lot of places- 3 countries (4 soon!), 41 states ... and have had many experiences most people haven't. Being able to go to Ground Zero a year after the attacks, was one of them. I don't know that many people who have stood at that chain link fence and I am happy I was with some members of my family when I did.

God Bless America.

Kah

So Ugly They're Cute

I've got my mom's weird obsession with odd/cute/unusual shoes. I don't think I used to have it, but it's been presenting itself lately. I mean, really who else has monkey shoes?

HOW CUTE are these?
HOW UGLY are these?

Yes, they are both!

I know! They are adorable. I got them at Kohl's last weekend. LURVE them. Wore them as SOON as we came back to work from Labor Day. I had quite a few comments from coworkers and most of them were, "Those are Karyn shoes!" ... I don't know what that means, but I'll take it.

Need a close up?

I know, you're super jealous. Well go to Kohl's and get them then - they are on the clearance rack. These were ORIGINALLY $55 - and no way would I have EVER paid that for these ugly shoes. But they were actually $10 - and I could swing that. Even if just for the shock value. Conrad stood in the shoe department with his nose wrinkled up. THAT sealed the deal and they came home with me!

LURVE them.

Kah

Thoughtful Pose

When she looks this way, it's like ... she's begrudgingly committed to something.

Kah

What a Difference 20 Years Makes

Oh YEAH ... that IS my car and I DID parallel park it.


YES I sure DID fail my drivers test 4 times ... and in 2 states (Texas and South Carolina) ... and I failed them because of parallel parking. But now? HA! Now I can slide that car in between two others like it had been rubbed down with a stick of butter. Like BUTTAH'.


So take THAT Texas (and SC) Department of Transportation!!!!! You broke my heart into a million pieces 20 years ago - but you have no power over me now.


Kah

Cookbook Review: Guy Fieri Food

I have gotten SO MUCH smarter with my cookbook obsession. I now rent them from the library before I buy and BOY has that saved money! Some of them newer ones I've seen lately have really not been all that great.

The exception is the new book by Guy Fieri (you know, Guy's Big Bite and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives). The book is called Guy Fieri Food: Cookin' It, Livin' It, Lovin' It

and I LURVE this book. I am SO getting this book. I hope I get an Amazon Gift Card (HINT HINT) for Christmas so I can buy this book. I want to cuddle up in bed with this book. I want to have one in my car, office and house, so I never have to be away from this book. I want to marry this book. I wish it was scratch and lick ... Ok?

It's illustrated by his tattoo artist (I know, cool, right?) ... and it has lots of fun stories and stuff from his and his family ... its dedicated to his sister, who died in February (sob), and is FULL of super fun rockin' recipes. I am SO going to be cooking from this thing for the next few weeks. I think Target is carrying this book for under $18 right now. Run, don't walk, and get yourself a copy.

One of the recipes: S'mores Pizza (this recipe is on Amazon, I am not stealing it and posting it)

Ingredients: 2 pizzas




2 store-bought 1-pound pizza dough balls


1/4 cup slivered almonds


3 tablespoons unsalted butter


1 sleeve graham crackers, crushed (about 1-1/4 cups crumbs)


1/2 teaspoon chili powder


1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper


1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt


1/2 cup all-purpose flour


1/4 cup fine cornmeal


3 cups mini marshmallows


Two 4-ounce dark chocolate bars, broken into 1⁄4- inch chunks


Special Equipment: pizza peel and pizza stone (or pizza pan)



I say it on Triple D all the time— everything has a “kicker.” It’s what it takes to make the dish outta bounds. The kicker here is chili and cayenne. . . . Ooooh yeahhhhhh!


Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.


2. Form the pizza dough into two 12- to 14- inch rounds, 1/4-inch thick. Bake, preferably on a pizza stone, for 4 to 6 minutes, until just beginning to brown. (See page 157 for more help on shaping and baking pizza crusts.) Leave the oven on at 400°F.


3. While the pizza crust is baking, toast the almonds in a dry medium skillet over medium- high heat. Transfer the almonds to a plate to cool.


4. Melt the butter in the skillet. Add the graham cracker crumbs, chili powder, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the crumbs are well- coated. Remove from the heat and set aside.


5. For each pizza, top the crust with half of the marshmallows and scatter half of the chocolate over the marshmallows. Return to the oven for 3 to 5 minutes, until the marshmallows are puffed and lightly browned. Sprinkle the pizza with half of the graham cracker mixture and top with half of the almonds. Let rest 3 to 4 minutes, slice, and serve. Repeat to make the second pizza.

Uh, you're WELCOME!
Kah

Dunkin' K Cups

Oh happy day!

For two years in a row, Conrad has gotten a $15 gift card for Christmas ... to Dunkin Donuts. It comes from one of his companies - which is GREAT- but I didn't know Houston had any Dunkin Donuts. Well they DO and one of them is about 4 miles from my office.

Imagine my surprise the other night when I see a commercial come on, talking about new Dunkin Donuts K-Cups for the Keurig!!!! YAY!!!

So I went in this week at lunch and BAM, walked out with two BOXES of K-cups for free! I even got one of their delicious blueberry muffins (a favorite since I was a kid), and STILL I have $5 left on a gift card.

I enjoyed two cups of deliciousness this morning. FREE stuff tastes so much better!

HAPPY Labor Day indeed!

Kah