Thankful Thursday

A little late today, but I'm here.
Does anyone else watch Sons of Anarchy? Was that finale not phenomenal? My goodness!! Season 3's finale is still my favorite, but Season 4 just blew me away.
Okay, back to what I'm thankful for:

1. My ears. I've been sick this week, and have had a tough time breathing, and nothing makes appreciate the norm like not having it. However, when I got a little spastic about my car not recognizing the new song on my USB I realized  how thankful I am for my ears. And the Broadway channel on XM.
2. My parents. Awe... I know. Honestly though I really do have amazing parents. Still married, in love, driving each other nuts and giggling about it, loving me and my sisters beyond reason, and going out of their way to ensure a good life for us. I am more than blessed with these two.
   
   
   
   (Back Row R-L: Lora, Me, Dad, Mom  Front Row R-L: Melissa, Andi)
3. Jesus. Sometimes I get carried away with life. Sometimes I get caught up with the have nots, and hard pathway, and then I remember the joy that comes from knowing Christ. The peace, the love, the joy, the compassion, the grace, the healing, the help, the favor... and I remember why this man changed my life. And why I've dedicated my life to following him.

So what song was I having a cow about? It is a cover of "House of the Rising Sun", but the lyrics have been changed for Tara/Jax on Sons of Anarchy and done from Tara's point of view.  Just phenomenal, and I hope you take a listen:



House of the Rising Sun
by: The White Buffalo & The Forest Rangers

Much Love,
Kelli

We Interrupt This Posting....

So from Thursday to today (Monday) I have had no less than five major technological issues.

1. My phone on Wednesday night gave me the white screen of death. Dead it was. Sad, so very sad.
2. My laptop decided it didn't need to have a bright screen.
3. My camera hooked into my computer. My computer recognized my camera. However, it would not let me take any of my photos (which is why I still haven't posted any new hair pictures).
4. My new car doesn't recognize my new phone.
5. When I logged onto my computer at work today my mainframe was... something. Technical support had to un-install and then reinstall to get it to come back.

Perhaps #4 isn't a major one, but after everything it is a pain in the butt.

However, the following happened:

1. AT&T replaced my phone with a new one, same model.
2. Thanks to Google and Boards to get my screen back all I had to do was press the fn button and the arrow up button - to brighten. Much better.
3. I haven't tried the camera and computer together. One issue at a time.
4. My car still doesn't recognize my phone. Will probably have to employ the Google/Board combo again.
5. After 30 minutes this morning my computer is back to good.

So while there should be a nice post here of my long hair before and short hair after there isn't.  And due to those issues no pictures of the Pineapple Upside Down Mini Bundt Cakes. Oh well. Hopefully I'll get to bake some cookies this week.

Oh, new song I like:



Start A Fire
by Ryan Star

Much Love,
Kelli

Thankful Thursday

Thankful people are happier people, or so I am told.  The Bible certainly backs up this thought, so why not dedicate a day to being thankful. We could call it something like Thanksgiving...have it in November when the cold wind makes you hungry...

Perhaps that already is a national holiday, but being thankful at least once a week is not.  So, I am going to try every Thursday to post three things I am thankful for.

1. My new car. - The engine was about to drop out of my beloved mustang. Plus, I don't have much credit, so the fact I was able to get the exact vehicle I wanted is nothing short of God's grace and favor on me. I am most grateful.
2. My sister being home. - Lora surprised us on Thanksgiving by coming home. I've missed her.  I know there are opportunities for her to leave again, but I am thankful for the time she is home.
3. Not having to work this Friday. - I got to take the day off and still get paid for it. I don't think you can get much better than that in the working world.  So I plan to get my hair cut off (donating to locks of love), and making pineapple upside mini bundt cakes for my bff, Shas, for her birthday.

I will be posting pictures of both my new hair and recipe after Friday.  Until then I hope you find three things you are grateful for, and I hope it brings a smile to your face.

Good Life

by OneRepublic

Much Love,

Kelli

Sour Cream Cherry Streusel Pie

(Tastes & Looks Better than the picture!)

Adapted from Sugar Plum's Chocolate Chip Struesel Topped Cherry Sour Cream Pie

I changed a few things for convenience... and with it being a day before Thanksgiving some ingredients had already been taken from the shelves. However, it turned out beautifully and tasted wonderfully.  I made this for the office, but I will make it again soon, and this time I will use white chocolate chips as my family are not big chocolate fans.

Ingredients:

Pie:

1 Can of Cherry Pie Filling

1/2 Cup of Sour Cream

1 Pie Crust - you can make your own or buy it.

Streusel:

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup dark chocolate chips

1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into tiny pieces

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the cherry filling and sour cream. Should look neon pink. I really wish I had a picture of it.

Place pie crust into baking dish (if you actually made yours, well there are instructions for that).

Then pour the filling into the uncooked crust.

I baked mine for 15 minutes without the streusel because my oven is wacky and would have burned the streusel before even getting to the pie. (So in real oven terms you're looking at 20-25 minutes).

While the filling is baking put all of the streusel ingredients together. I ended up just cutting my butter with a knife into the topping and then with my hands combining it all together.

When the filling had baked I took it out and covered it in the streusel.  Then I put it all back into the oven and baked it for another 15 minutes (again, if you're oven is normal 20-25 minutes).

It really was delicious. I can't wait to make it again.

As for the song... I just couldn't resist:

Cherry Pie

by Warrant

Much Love,

Kelli

Busy Body

As some might have noticed I've been a little MIA lately.  I took an unannounced break from blogging while I focused on different perusals, like Pinterest. Ha! Except I have been on pinterest a little too much for saying I'm a casual visitor.

Blessings have been abounding in my life. I read posts from myself this time last year and to say that God has more than abundantly blessed me would be an understatement.  Just keep leaning on him if your season right now isn't exactly what you had hoped for.

To make this easy I've compiled a list of things that have changed:

1. I got a new car:
   

It was exactly what I wanted.

They even ended up having to give me a great amount on the trade-in of my much beloved yellow mustang.  The best part was I did it all by myself. No parents.

I really am starting my thirties out much more differently than I did my twenties, which I am more than grateful for. I know this is going to be a great decade for me. I can't wait to see what else happens.

As for other things... no... that might be about it actually... not to worry though I have lots of stuff coming up.  I've been baking up a storm, and on Friday I'm chopping off all my hair and donating it to Locks of Love.



In the meantime I have this gem:

Love & Memories
by: OAR

Much Love,
Kelli

Two Things

So this weekend was wonderfully doused with rain. I couldn't praise God enough for that.  And in this weekend two things have captured my attention.

1. Buster Keaton

A silent screen comedian/actor/director/writer.  I didn't know much about him until today when I was watching TCM and they had his movies on screen. I love classic movies, but I don't really watch many silent films.  For Buster, though, I believe I will have to make an exception.  Truly funny, and his effects astound me.

2. String Quartet Music

I started listening to this genre of popular songs being re-done in string quartets since I discovered, "Black Hole Sun" by The Section Quartet.  Beautifully done to say the least.  So, Friday night when I was watching the Greatest Songs of the 2000's they played "Pocket Full of Sunshine" by Natasha Bedingfield. I like that song, and went to see how much it would cost me to download. (A $1.29 by the way.)  However, they had a string quartet version of it, and I was intrigued.

I've been enraptured by this movement all weekend.  If you haven't heard it before may I be the one to introduce it to you.

Pocket Full of Sunshine

by Vitamin String Quartet

Much Love,

Kelli

Courageous

I went and saw this movie today with my dad and church family.  It was a wonderful movie, and I highly recommend it to anyone.  I have to say my favorite part though was the reaction from the audience.  In one scene a father is telling his fifteen year old girl that if the boy she likes doesn't respect her parents then he won't respect her.  There was a chorus of women going, "Mmmhmmm." and you could practically feel the head move that came with that.

This was a fabulous Christian-based film.  See it and support it if you get the chance.

And I can't wait until this movie comes out:

A Joyful Noise!

When I saw it had Dolly Parton AND Queen Latifa I was sold. I love both of those women.  There are some good movies coming out and I can't wait to see them!

And on a personal note, I'm starting a new blog. I don't know if I'll keep this one or not, but I feel the need to start a new one.  You can view it here: Defending Awkward (Since 1981)

Much Love,
Kelli.