rasgele: it's Turkish

Yesterday I spent the day with moms in Manhappenin.  We shopped.  I bought an adorable vase with silk hydrangeas.  It's daaaaang cute.

And I perused Baby Gap.  The lady asked what I was looking for, and I told her my sister-in-law is pregnant with twins.  And she congratulated me.  So congratulations, Tammy, from the lady at Baby Gap.  She is real excited for you.

I had lunch with this lady last Friday.

She's moving away, which makes me real sad for me, but real happy for her.  She's beginning a new journey, and for that, I am pumped.  She was a counselor at my school, but she did far more than counsel many of my kiddos.  She counseled me, too.  You see, she understood what it was like to be a first-year English teacher, so she could relate.  More than that, however, she was a friend who befriended me at some of my lowest moments during the school year.  So sweet Kelli, you may never know how much of a blessing you were to me.  Thank you for being my friend. :)

And to everyone else, my "counselor friend Kelli" does exist!  The picture above proves it. 

My first-cousin-once-removed sent me the recipe for Red Lobster's cheese biscuits!  I will be making them this weekend.  You should make them, too.
My Best Red Lobster Biscuits
1/3 cup shortening
1 3/4 cups flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp soda
3/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic powder (I usually do more--I like garlic)
1/2 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
1 cup buttermilk
Heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut shortening into dry ingredients until mixture resembles fine crumbs. Stir in cheese. Stir in buttermilk until all dry ingredients are moistened. Drop by spoonfuls onto sprayed cookie sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes. After baking baste with:
3 TBSP butter
1/8 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp dried parsley
serve warm...YUM!

We ate our wedding cake last night.  And it was still moist!  Shannon (cousin Shannon), if you're reading this, know that you are gooooood at all things cake.

Our apartment is being "inspected" today by the powers that be.  I'm not entirely sure what that means or what they're looking for.  Yikes.  But it's real clean.

Now I bid you adieu until next time.  Thanks for being loyal readers of the mundane, the exciting, and the complete randominity.

Love and cupcakes.

One Year

 To celebrate the gloriousness of our one year anniversary, Daniel and I decided to drag it out as long as possible.  We began Thursday night by venturing into a far-away land called "West of Topeka." 

 We found our beloved Carlson Road, so naturally, a picture was a must.  Daniel was pretty pumped to be at the corner of Carlson and Stallion.

 On our way back into town, we were determined to stay off well-traveled roads, but we accidentally ended up on a field access road that was not meant for our sweet Dakota.  As you can see, I-70 is directly to our left, but we, of course, refused to travel it.  That is, until this road ended in a corn field.  We pondered traversing the corn field in an attempt to reminisce about the newlyweds, alas, we made a wiser decision.

We spent Friday night with 50% of Topeka's "over 60" population at Red Lobster.  I had coupons.  And we are mildly obsessed with their cheese biscuits.  Yum.  Has anyone been able to successfully copy their recipe?  Do share.  It was an enjoyable eve.

After meeting up with the 'rents and Jules and Peg to do a little gift swap on the morning of our anniversary, we meandered over to the local Daylight Donuts.  Anyone who knows Daniel knows that donuts comprise numbers 2-7 of his favorite foods. 

 It was pretty delish. 

 After some mild yard work (aka trying to nurse my baby cherry tomato plant back to health - why oh why must that plant be the one to die!?), we ventured to Perry Lake for an afternoon of "swimming," napping, magazine-reading, and looking googly-eyed at the adorable pregnant lady also enjoying the day.  (Note:  the latter was done by me only.  However, that does not mean I want a babe of my own.  I'll have 130 new ones in a few months.  They'll do just fine for now.)

 We cleaned up and took off for our next adventure - Row House Restaurant.  Oh em gee.  So yum mee.  Seven courses.  Each will be found in heaven.  At one point I told Daniel that we would need to run through Spangle's drive-thru after dinner because I was convinced the "tasting-size" portion would not be enough.  I was wrong. I was fuh-ull by the end. 

 Ain't it lovely?

We were a tad shocked by the sticker price ($50 a plate by the time you add a drink a person).  Yikes!  But we decided we could swing it every now and again.  So go there.  Tomorrow.  I jk.  You can't.  They're only open Wednesday-Sunday evenings.  Go there Wednesday.  Or Thursday.  Or Friday.  Or...you get the idea.

But don't be like us.  Don't be shocked by the sticker price.  Know that you'll pay a pretty penny.  But it's totally worth it. 

 After enjoying a Sunday afternoon dinner with sweet family, I convinced Daniel to go to an evening jazz concert in the park.  Just a tad reminiscent of Thursday nights in Abilene.  Sweet times. 

 If this isn't absolute relaxation, I don't know what is. 

 He was such a good sport.  I asked him what kind of entertainment he would like to watch, he answered, "A magician."  Only my hubs.

 And finally, here is the gift from my 'rents.  The beginning of my China!  I love it much.  Many, many thanks to moms and dads.  What a special surprise!

This is the salad plate.  Birds!

 And the dinner plate.  Teal!

So come to my house.  Bring a friend.  And I will feed you on my China.  Wahoa!

Overall, we enjoyed the weekend a whole lot.  At one point I realized we were having a "Stay-cation."  I was first introduced to this term by her.  And it fit perfectly for this weekend.

I be loving my hubs, my new China, and my Topeka.  I certainly have a new-found love for the citay.

PS:  I made these this morning.  Um, yum.

A year ago today...

I said "I do" to my bestie.  And while it hasn't been "cupcakes and daisies" every day, it has certainly been better than I could ever imagine. 

A year ago today...

...I was ordering my besties around like minions in preparation for a glorious day.   And they were all troopers. 

 This pretty one just became a Glanzer!  And those pretty baskets are still sold at Hobby Lobby.  When I stopped by Hob Lob a few days ago, I thought about stocking up, and then the voice of my hubs popped in my head, and I realized that we already have two. 

 Oh Russell Stover's chocolates.  You are so good to me.

 There's the cake baker herself - my cousin!  Our wedding cake was so so so yummy and gorgeous.  Not sure if she's for hire, but if so, you should hire her. 

My ex-roommate.  Oh Ches, only you and Katherine could have put those tables together in such a beautiful way.  Many thanks.

 Just before lunch, the hubsies showed up!

 Lunch was had, and then back to work.  So much to do.  You know how nothing ever goes as planned?  Well, I had every intention of being heavily involved in every part of the decorating.  BUT, every 5 seconds someone would say, "Heidi, what do you think about this?"  Alas, I answered questions all day, and my heroic friends and family did all the work.  Super thankful.

 And Kat lovingly arranged the wheat stalk by stalk.  She has much more patience than I.

 The boys should do something. 

 Sweet friend, Mel, came all the way from Canada to celebrate with us.  So special.  And Misty hobbled around on crutches like a champ.

I still have my bouquet.  Made out of pencils!  Perhaps it will find a home in my classroom...

 Introducing, instructing, ordering, etc. etc.  I think some tears were shed about this time as well.

 "Be here at 1:00 tomorrow."

 Oh jk, I love him so.

 Friend Amanda from Colorado! 

 And sweet Mistay.

 Our last formal picture as singletons.

 And the bridesmaids from heaven.  They rocked my world.  Yipee!

 Abilonian friends.  Always so special.

 Mom and dad!  Another thanks for giving us such a beautiful, perfect wedding celebration.

 Nicholas!  He's married now.  So now we can take family vacations together.  Yahoo!

 We still love each other a whole lot.

  Saying farewell to my blankie and loving time with my bestie.

Next up - the nuptials!  Woohoo! 

Today is full of craft-finishing, reflecting, and lunch with a dear, dear friend who is leaving WRHS for a new adventure! 

The widening of life, and other thoughts.

No, I'm not referring to gaining weight.  Daniel and I had a conversation last night, and we came to the conclusion that sometimes our lives seem narrow.  Work, dinner, relax, go to bed, work, dinner, relax, go to bed, etc.  We're not the biggest fans of this.  So because our anniversary is coming up (2 days!!), we hope to brainstorm ways in which to "widen" our lives.  Any suggestions?

When I woke up this morning, the first thing I saw was a spider right above my head.  I had planned on hitting the snooze, but seeing that devilish creature prevented me from doing so. 

Yesterday I was real crafty.  I'm making all kinds of goodies that I can't wait to show you.  It was a great day, and time passed fast. 

As I mentioned earlier, I spent Monday in Lawrence because I couldn't handle the thought of staying home alone after having such a wonderful, people-filled weekend.  My day started out with sweet gloriousness at Panera.

 Naturally, I had to be the first customer at ON.

 But I found some new shoes for $2!

 And just had to buy these adorable onesies for the twins.  (Disclaimer:  not my twins.  Sis-in-law's.)

 Whilst I waited for the hubs, I spent time in a lovely little park.  (Actually, he told me later that it is the crappiest park in Lawrence.  Oh well.)  See my battle wound from the wedding?  That's how much I love my brother and my sissy.

 Lunch at El Mezcal.  Yummo.

 And a treat for me.  CS finally had Oatmeal Cookie Batter ice cream, and I was pumped.  Sadly, the lady gave me the wrong kind, and I didn't have the heart to tell her, so I downed my hazelnut ice cream.  It was just okay.

 And this is where I spent my afternoon. 

A good day. 

Today I will sew some more, walk to Joann's (my new favorite afternoon entertainment), purchase some cheap movie tickets from AAA, and make homemade pizza for supper.  Caution:  fun times ahead. 

Happy Thursday!  The best day of the week.