If you thought my kids were weird....

Meet my niece. She is six weeks older than my son. The two of them have always had a special bond like twins.


Unfortunately, Peeve doesn't find her as exciting as my son. See how he stares in horror and thinks she's a weirdo?


Sassie and Peeve spend lots of their time hiding when my nieces and nephew visit. They are carefully choosing their hiding places now because this is what they'll have to deal with Thursday!


It's all five kids from last year's Thanksgiving celebration! Visit Gattiana's blog for more Cats on Tuesdays.

Yummy Chocolate Caramel Truffles

This is another quick and easy addition to a candy basket.
It's great for those chocolate lovers on your list.



Ingredients:
26 caramels
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1-1/3 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Line an 8-in. square dish with plastic wrap; set aside. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the caramels, milk chocolate chips and cream.

Microwave, uncovered, on high for 1 minute; stir. Microwave 1 minute longer, stirring every 15 seconds or until caramels are melted and mixture is smooth. Spread into prepared dish; refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

Using plastic wrap, lift candy out of pan. Cut into 30 pieces; roll each piece into a 1-in. ball. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt semi-sweet chips and shortening; stir until smooth. Dip caramels in chocolate; allow excess to drip off. Place on waxed paper; let stand until set. Refrigerate until firm.

For more delicious recipes, visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesday and Tuesdays at the Table.

The Honest Truth

I have been tagged by Too Many Hats to post the 10th photo from my first folder on my computer. Little does she know what she is asking!
This is my spare child's kitten, Stella.


I'm sure you are wondering, "Why does she have a photo of her spare kid's cat? This woman has way too much time on her hands!"

However, there is a good reason for this! In my daughter's recent bid to become President of the US she was instructed to do a "smear campaign commercial" against her opponent.

Her opponent just happened to be her best friend, so her commercial became, "Who does my opponent care about? The people of the US or Stella?"
Here's the last picture which was in her power point presentation.

Therefore, the pictures came to be stored in my "cat" folder. It's logical, really.



Alexia over at Alexia's Books and Such has awarded me the Honest Scrap award. I'm supposed to list 10 Honest Facts about me. Hopefully, I won't scare everyone too badly.

1. Tuesday was my birthday. I am feeling old.

2. I decided I needed a new look and got a short haircut today. I had six inches chopped off. My son told me all my hair was gone.

3. I have noticed lots of women are wearing their flannel pajama pants in public. I will not be wearing flannel pajamas (or any type of pajamas) in public.

4. I will be wearing flannel pajama pants in front of my daughter's friends if they unwisely show up at our house after 9 p.m.

5. A couple of weeks ago I took a small part time job, in case anyone is wondering where I have been lately. It's messing up my blogging time!!!!

6. Beginning this week and continuing into next week, I have my pre-Thanksgiving deep cleaning before lots of relatives arrive. My kids call it, "The pre-Grandmother cleaning" because it happens before my mother-in-law comes to visit.

7. Sometimes I look at my kids and think, "I have no idea what I am doing when it comes to parenting." Thankfully, it doesn't happen that often.

8. My favorite type of candy is Hot Tamales.

9. I cannot listen to people talk to me while I type blog posts or I end up typing things like, "Sassie jumped on the table and ...said I have a twenty four page American Lit assignment due."
(I felt like I needed a disclaimer when my blog posts don't make sense!)

10. One thing that annoys me is when someone passes me on the interstate when I driving seventy and they have their head down texting. I'm not sure how they are watching the road.

My daughter the President, and the Styrofoam Monster

My daughter is the President of the United States. At least according to the "voters" in an AP Government class. For this campaign she made bumper stickers to show support for her and her Vice President.


With positive campaigns and her gracious acceptance speech including such lines as these:



"There are those among the audience today who are not pleased with the outcome of this election. They may believe me to be the inferior candidate. I will not say these people are wrong, though they are."

Who wouldn't want to vote for them?
All I can say is they certainly don't inspire my confidence.



While my daughter was attempting to win the election, my son was busily creating a monster in our yard. Made of snow? No. Styrofoam!




Of course we always never receive weird looks from our neighbors.

This post is listed under Outdoor Wednesday, Wordful Wednesday.
and Wordful Wednesday.

Awesome Peanut Butter Treats

Each year I try to make candy baskets to give to friends and relatives. Here are two quick and easy recipes that are always a hit.




Marshmallow Puffs

Ingredients:
36 large marshmallows
1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
2 tablespoons butter

Directions:
Line a 9-in. square pan with foil; butter the foil. Arrange marshmallows in pan. In a microwave-safe bowl, melt chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter at 50% power. Pour and spread over the marshmallows. Chill completely. Cut between the marshmallows.





Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter, divided
4-1/2 teaspoons butter, softened
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
4 milk chocolate candy bars (1.55 ounces each), coarsely chopped

Directions:
Drop teaspoonfuls of chocolate mixture into paper-lined miniature muffin cups. Top each with a small teaspoonful of peanut butter mixture; top with another teaspoonful of chocolate mixture. Refrigerate until set. Store in an airtight container.

For more delicious recipes, visit Tempt My Tummy Tuesdays, Tasty Tuesday and Tuesdays at the Table.

Sassie Says--Why I'm Thankful

Because it is close to Thanksgiving, I have decided to list the many reasons my parents should be thankful for me.

I am explaining this because my mom, for reasons I cannot comprehend, was mad when I sat on the printer and made five or ten copies of my cute furry behind when she was not home. Hello!!! Can you not understand a good prank?
You should have heard her complaining.
"What is this? Is this pictures of Sassie's behind?????"

But I digress.
One huge reason my parents should be thankful for me is that I am easily satisfied. You should hear my sister complaining about the things she wants.
A new cell phone. Her own notebook. It's like a whinefest around here.
I am content with a box. Low cost quality fun, I tell you.


Do you hear me complaining that I want to go to the mall? No! I am happy wrapped in my stylish blanket.


Plus, I don't complain about the food like those spoiled siblings. Do I ask for Chinese? Spaghetti? Sonic? No!
I'm happy with Purina. Although I am still confused about why my food says "for overweight cats." Whatever.


I hope everyone understands why I am indispensible and those loud, obnoxious, siblings can go. I bet my parents would be happy. I know I'd enjoy the peace and quiet.

Until next month,



Visit Gattiana's blog for more Cats on Tuesdays.

You Look Like Your Mom

Is this the scariest words a teenager could ever hear? Over the years my daughter has endured countless comments reminding her of this fact.
But do we have evidence? I give you proof.....

Here's me at five and my daughter at six.


















Me at seventeen and daughter at sixteen.



What do you think? Any resemblence?









Even worse is being compared to her father. "They think I look like a man?"


Join Alicia for more Friday Flashbacks.