Group Blog Thursday - Spread Some Joy!!

I love the topic for this week's Group Blog.  This week's challenge is to share a video of something, whether it's a song, commercial, movie...whatever, that always makes you happy, no matter what you're feeling. 

Those of you who know me probably know that I have a dog named Daisy, who is a Dachshund.  This girl brings me so much joy and happiness.  If you have ever owned a dachshund, you know they have special characteristics that make them such cute, and loving dogs with wonderful personalities. 

And so I want to Spread Some Joy by sharing this video, in particular because it always seems to bring a smile to my face and I find myself giggling every time I watch it, and because I hope that it will make you smile and laugh as well. 

** You will have pause my playlist so you can hear this video (sorry).  You can find it at the bottom of my blog. 




If you want to join in the fun or just see what others are posting, head on over to Stephanies' blog. 

Group Blog Thursday - Christmas Recipe Swap

This weeks topic for Group Blog Thursday is a Christmas Recipe Swap.  Either for the Christmas Dinner you prepare, or for the candy making or all that baking you do to prepare for Christmas.  If your interested in joining in or just wanting to get some good recipe's that others have posted, head on over to Stephanie's Blog. 

During the Christmas Season I enjoy making lots of candy to give as gifts for friends, family and neighbors.  So I thought I would share the most yummiest, easiest, Caramel recipe ever.  And its all done in the microwave. 

Microwave Caramel

1/2 cup white butter

1/2 cup white corn syrup

1/2 cup white sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

1.  Using microwave safe dish or large measuring cup, melt butter.

2.  Add syrup, sugars and milk, stir well and microwave 6-8 minutes (depends on microwave and how chewy you like your caramels. I cook mine 6 min.)

3.  Pour into sprayed 9x9 dish and refridgerate for 30 min.

4.  Cut into pieces.  If too firm, set dish in warm water until desired consistency or you can microwave 30 seconds at a time.

5.  I like to wrap mine in waxed paper

I also enjoy baking cookies like snickerdoodles, sugar cookies and Scottish Shortbread.  With Scottish heritage in our family baking this yummy treat is a must.  So I will share this recipe with you also. 

Scottish Shortbread

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1/3 cup white sugar

3/4 cup butter

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 Degrees C)

2.  Blend all ingredients well.  Dough will be stiff.

3.  Press into a 9x9 inch buttered dish.  P rick top with fork.

4.  Bake until pale golden brown on the edges (mine takes approx 20-25 min).

5.  Cool and cut into squares.

Mmmm Yummy!  This is light and very buttery.  Does not make a large batch, but is simple enough to make many batches.  Does not double well. 

Group Blog Thursday - Christmas Shopping

This week's topic is all about Christmas Shopping and how we approach it.  Head on over to Stephanie's to join up and to read what others are sharing.

To be honest, I really hate shopping, period!  Except for Christmas.  I love Christmas shopping and I start getting in the mood for it as soon as it starts getting cold and especially when it snows. 

I used to be one of those people who started in October and got most of it done before Thanksgiving, because besides hating to shop, I hate crowds even worse.  One year I had all my shopping done before Halloween and at first I felt wonderful and organized, but then the Christmas Holidays arrived along with the decorations, the music and the excitment of Christmas and I felt bad that I wasn't out shopping during "The Season".  I missed the Christmas Spirit and the Christmas Feeling it brings when you are out during that time.  So after that I swore I would never again completely finish my Christmas Shopping before the Season even began. 

But I also swore I would NEVER go Black Friday shopping.  Then a few years ago my little sister, Valerie, begged me to go with her and she also talked my other sister, Alicia, and my Mom into going also.  None of us had ever had the desire before and I can't believe I went!  But we had such a great time and got some wonderful gifts for awesome prices, so we made it a tradition and went together for several years.  From that point on I began my Christmas shopping on Black Friday. 

This year, however, I did not do any shopping on Black Friday and I have yet to even start to shop.  What?  This year has been a little A LOT different for me.  It's just my husband and I after just moving to a new State and a new town.  And on Thanksgiving weekend my kids came to visit and I just wanted to spend all the time with them and didn't have a desire to get up early on Black Friday, nor did I have anyone to go with, plus I didn't have the money I had hoped to have to spend on Christmas shopping that weekend either.  That took all the fun out of it!

I really wanted to do more handmade type gifts this year...you know... gifts from the heart?  But with the move and everything I just have not had the time to do it.  So to come up with ideas for what to buy the people on my list was a real struggle.  And maybe the desire just hasn't been there either.  It's the first year I will be away from my kids and my family for Christmas and I think it's got me down just a bit. 

The good news is I have finally made my list and I have an idea of what I want to get, and now I am feeling the rush and the desire to get it done because Christmas is in just 3 weeks....... Eeeek.... THREE WEEKS????   Now if payday Friday would just get here! 

How do you approach or handle your Christmas Shopping? 

Group Blog Thursday - Thanksgiving Recipe Swap

Our group blog this week is a Thanksgiving Recipe Swap.  I am excited because I just love getting new recipes and trying them out.   So join in the fun and post a recipe and link up with all the rest of us over at Stephanie's.   

When I think of Thanksgiving, I think of Pies.  Yummy, Yummy Pies!  I know that most people would think of Turkey and Mashed Potatoes and all the side dishes that make the traditional meal... but not me.... I'll just jump right over the dinner and into the dessert.  I mean, come on, what is Thanksgiving without Pies? 

Today I am going to share with you a favorite recipe that many people in my family and our friends really love.  Because it is a favorite, several (more than 6) of these pies are made for our Thanksgiving each year.  I can't take all the credit though... it's my mother's recipe... so THANKS MOM!

Mud Pie

1 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

2 eggs

2-1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup margarine or butter

1 tsp vanilla

1-2 Cooked Pie Crust(s)

Mix sugar, salt, flour and cocoa together well.  Add the eggs. 

Heat milk slowly in microwave.  Add 1/2 of the milk to mixture above.  Mix well.  Add rest of milk. 
Cook on low heat, covered, stirring often. 

When thickened good (it will be lumpy) take off heat and beat with beaters until smooth. 

Add the margarine and vanilla.  Chill in fridge. 

Then add to cooked pie crust. 

Top with whipped cream if desired. 

Group Blog Thursday: Halloween Traditions

Often times I have such a hard time coming up with things to write about. So when other bloggy friends have day to day themes, I get excited to join. I enjoy participating in group blogs and I found a new one for Thursday. So here is my first post for Group Blog Thursday. If you would like to join in the fun just head on over to this blog for details.

This week's theme is Halloween Traditions.  Traditions we had when we were young and traditions we have now that we are older. 

To be honest I don't get into the whole Halloween thing anymore.  I haven't dressed up in a costume in years! The only thing I really enjoy is watching the scary movies.  I am always up for a good "boo-you" movie!  And we usually see many throughout the month of October. 

When I was young I loved to dress up and go trick or treating and carve pumpkins.  When my children were young we would get together with all their cousins one night before Halloween and carve really cool designs in the pumpkins.  On Halloween, we would take them around trick or treating. 

As my kids got older I put together a Halloween Party for my kids and their friends, rather than go trick or treating.  This was very fun!  They came dressed in costumes and we gave out awards for best costume, scariest costume etc.  I made my witches brew using dry ice for the drink and we had pizza made to look like a pumpkin and lots of treats and games etc.  They also got to watch a halloween movie of their choice. The 2 years I did this was the most fun Halloween memories I have.

In most recent years we participate in our Church (Ward) Trunk-N-Treat Party.  Usually there is a chili cook-off, awards given for best pumpkin carving,  the kids go around to the cars in the parking lot with trunks decorated for some trick or treating.   Once this is over we head home to watch a scary movie and give out candy to trick or treaters that stop by. 

What are your traditions?  You can comment here or join the group blog and create your own post. 

Happy Halloween Everyone!