SUPER BOWL AND SUPER DADDY!

IT'S  A LOT MORE THAN JUST SUPER BOWL DAY!

IT'S SUPER DADDY DAY!

HAPPY 82ND TO PAW PAW PETE.

FEBRUARY 5, 2012

I know everyone thinks their daddy is the best in the world but mine really is. If I searched the world over I could not find a better man on this earth. As presumptuous as that may sound I am certain all of you who know him will agree. So with that being said,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

YOU ARE SO LOVED!


In addition-Happy Super Bowl Day!
For those looking for a last minute recipe just scroll down to my last blog.

AND GO GIANTS!

SUPER BOWL

"Oh, When the Saints go................................oh well so we won't go marching in. But we sure had fun trying. Not the end of the world since I do love the Giants so all is well and still looking forward to the game. I sooooo hope they win. 

The 46th Super Bowl will take place on February 5, 2012 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 ET on NBC. 

I found these recipes on Pinterest of course. This is a guy from Canada named Kevin. He has got some great recipes and a really neat blog site. All I need is one more blog site to sink my teeth in. But check out this Pizza Dip recipe. I, myself will be taking this to a Super Bowl Party on Sunday

                                       

http://www.closetcooking.com/

Pizza Dip

A layered, hot cheesy dip with all of the great pizza flavors including pizza sauce, cheese, pepperoni, olives and green peppers. Can add anything really that you normally add to your pizza.

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup mozzarella, grated
• 1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
• 1 cup pizza sauce
• 2 ounces pepperoni, sliced
• 2 tablespoons green pepper, sliced
• 2 tablespoons black olives, sliced
• mushrooms

Directions

1. Mix the cream cheese, sour cream mayonnaise, mozzarella and parmigiano reggiano and spread it across the bottom of a pie plate.
2. Spread the pizza sauce on top and sprinkle on the cheese, pepperoni, green pepper and olives.
3. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until the cheese has melted, bubbling and golden brown, about 20 minutes.

This next recipe also came from http://www.closetcooking.com/

He has plenty of good recipes..

           

Bacon Double Cheese Burger Dip
http://www.closetcooking.com/

A hot cheesy baked dip with all of the flavours of a bacon double cheese burger that makes for some great game day snacking!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients

• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 6 strips bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
• 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoon ketchup

Directions

1. Cook the ground beef in a pan over medium heat, set it aside and drain the grease from the pan.
2. Cook the bacon in the pan until crispy, about 6-10 minutes, set aside and drain all but a tablespoon of the grease.
3. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
4. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about a minute.
5. Mix the ground beef, bacon, cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, mozzarella, cheddar, worcestershire sauce and ketchup and pour it into a baking dish.
6. Bake in a preheated 350F oven until the top starts turning a light golden brown and then sides are bubbling, about 20-30 minutes.

Drink Ideas

Clinton Kelly's Super Bowl® Punch

http://beta.abc.go.com/shows/the-chew/recipes/Superbowl-Clinton-Kelly-Super-Bowl-Punch

Red one in the back

Ingredients

• 1 cup Vodka
• 1 cup Tequila
• 1 cup Rum
• 1 cup Gin
• 1 cup Triple sec
• 1 cup Fresh lime juice
• 2 cups Cranberry juice
• 4 1/4 cups Ginger ale
• 2 cups Blueberries
• 2 cups Sliced strawberries

Yea, you guessed it!

Long Island Ice Tea

Yield: 1 Cocktail

Ingredients:

• 1/2 oz triple sec
• 1/2 oz light rum
• 1/2 oz gin
• 1/2 oz vodka
• 1/2 oz tequila
• 1 oz sour mix
• cola
• lemon wedge for garnish

Preparation:

1. Pour the spirits and sour mix into a collins glass with ice.
2. Stir well or shake.
3. Top the glass off with cola.
4. Garnish with the lemon wedge.

Manhattan

1 1/2 oz. Bourbon
3/4 oz. Sweet Vermouth
1-2 dashes Angostura Bitters

Garnish – Maraschino Cherry

Combine all ingredients in cocktail shaker filled with ice. Stir well and strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

Variations:
Dry Manhattan: substitute dry vermouth and an olive garnish
Perfect Manhattan – use half dry vermouth and half sweet vermouth and garnish with a lemon twist

Refresh-I posted these last years. So darn cute!

HAPPY SUPER BOWL!

FD HIDDEN DIV

MARDI GRAS AND A LITTLE OF THIS AND THAT.....

Just about the time we finally get our Christmas decor put away "BAM" it's Mardi Gras.  This year it really snuck up on me.  Check out the schedule.  This is a list of all the parades and dates.  Great web site to bookmark.  Bottom Line-Mardi Gras Day is in 24 Days/5Hours/38minutes minus about an hour with the time that it will take me to finsh this blog.  But that's just Mardi Gras Day.  Folks, the festivities have long started.

http://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/

I decided to step up the plate this year with my Mardi Gras decorations. I was feeling pretty energetic and festive so it was off to Hobby Lobby and Gordon's to add to my purple, green and gold ensembles.  I had just about secured all my props so I went into full decorating mode only to be abruptly stopped in my tracks.  And I do mean tracks.  You see I decided to swap out the Christmas lights in the flower bed with some Mardi Gras lights.  I delicately draped them through the flower beds and proudly plugged them in for their big debut.  As night sets in so does my daughter. She was returning from a trip to North Carolina/South Carolina, Georgia and anywhere else she could find in between. After a quick reload we walk her out to the car to see her off to school.  After a quick hug and a wave off she went.  So I Thought.  As she is rolling out of the driveway I hear her yell "MOM" from her car window.  "The Mardi Gras lights don't look good. " You can't really see them" "You need to move them up higher".  Well okay!  A quick step into the flower bed followed by a slow reversal out landed me straight into the St Tammany Emergency Room.  Imagine that!  You know when the security guard knows you by first name there is a problem.  Five hours later (and that's a record my friends) I am sent home with a brand new black boot that the kardashian
sisters would be envious of.

Most recent picture with the swelling somewhat down,

Blah, Blah, Blah. 

Bottom Line is I have an avulsion fracture that entails three weeks of non-weight bearing activity and an elevated cankle.  Yep, that's where you come in (ALL 16 OF YOU) that follow my little blog, which by the way I now consider a medical journal. You see I didn't lose my typing privileges so your ----- out of luck.   SERIOUSLY!

But enough of that-I want to share a couple of things that I have run into in my bored quest to amuse myself.

I think the best kept secret is finally out.

PINTEREST

 http://pinterest.com/

   I have been pinning for sometime now and I am still in awe over the creativity that so many people have shared. WHO KNEW?  It really is the coolest web site I have ever seen and has something for everyone.  I have even started seeing men Re pinning.  The recipes are incredible.  Here is one that I recently tried however I used my own version. Basically I cheated!

King Cake Cupcakes 

2 cans of Cinnamon Rolls

Brown Sugar

Cream Cheese

Almond Extract

Place a Cinnamon Roll in a cupcake liner.  Press a hole into the middle.

Combine about 1 cup of brown sugar, 1/2 package cream cheese and one little dash of Almond extract.  Mix and then fill each hole in cinnamon roll.  Ice top of cupcake with glaze that comes with Cinnamon rolls and cook according to instructions  I like mine sort of undercooked.

Sprinkle with yellow, green and purple sugar or anything Mardi Gra-ish.

That simple!

Here are a couple of more cute ideas I found here and there.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/90461779/set-of-two-mardi-gras-wreaths-carnival?ref=sr_gallery_32&sref=&ga_includes%5B0%5D=tags&ga_search_query=mardi+gras+wreath&ga_page=1&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=


  This was on Etsy but is already sold.  But a cute idea!

Baby Tripp has the world hard at work bringing Awareness to EB.

And finally as we continue to mourn Baby Tripp I am still in amazement with all the people that are working tirelessly to help with EB Awareness. Check this one out. One of our very own here in the New Orleans is Scott Walker  He will be raising money for EB by running the Rock'n' Roll Half Marathon on March 4th.  Help him out if you can! 

Scott Walker

                     http://www.crowdrise.com/runningfortripp/fundraiser/scottwalker6
BENEFITING: Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association of America, Inc.
EVENT DATE: Mar 04, 2012
DEADLINE TO GIVE: Mar 04, 2012                                                                HERE'S THE STORY:
I'm running the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on March 4 in New Orleans in memory of Tripp Roth, to heighten EB awareness and to raise money for DebRA of America - the Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association.
Please help bring me bring attention to this horrible disease.
Tripp was born May 14, 2009. He died on January 14, 2012.
Tripp, who lived with his mother in Ponchatoula, was diagnosed with a rare genetic skin disease called "EB." Any type of friction on his skin caused painful blisters. Doctors said he wouldn't live to be a year old. He made it two-and-a-half years before losing his long, brave battle.
But the fight in his honor continues.

You can read more about Tripp's journey here: http://www.randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com.
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO JOIN MY TEAM (YOU DON'T HAVE TO RUN) AND RAISE MONEY FOR EB AWARENESS, CAN EMAIL ME AT SCOTTWALKER@HEARST.COM

LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

 A long week to say the least and without a doubt a "Sad" one. As the world knows our precious "Baby Tripp" passed away but not before completing his work here on earth. If you noticed I used the word "OUR" Baby.  That's because at some point that's what he became to so many very many. All because a mother so unselfishly reached out to the world to ask for our help and prayers.  I for one have never seen anything like it in my life.  His story has been so perfectly told and shared by his mommy Courtney and so many.  I am forever grateful to Courtney, Tripp and their family for making me a better person all from afar.  With that being said I would like to say 'THANK YOU" to those of you who helped me to help them. I know your kindness, generosity and prayer has moved mountains with this family as well as many others.  I have included the links to Courtney's blog for your continued prayer and support as well as the EB organization.  Continue to spread the word about this horrific disease as there are many others who continue to need our help.   

http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/

www.Debra.org

Rest in Peace little Angel

2012 A "Tripp" Inspired Resolution

Happy New Year to Everyone!

ELMO

Wow it has been a while since I posted my last blog but I'm back at it with a lot of catching up to do.  Prior to starting this blog I reviewed my January 2011 New Year's blog and literally busted out in laughter.  Those annual New Year's resolutions just don't come easy now do they? 

RECAP: http://mojonesaldridge.blogspot.com/2010/01/happy-new-year-everybody.html

I HAVE FOUND myself these last few days reflecting on the past year and making a game plan for the NEW YEAR. As the NEW YEAR arrived I like so many people, asked, WHAT'S THE GAME PLAN? WHAT AM I GOING TO DO DIFFERENT? WHAT'S MY GOAL? The answers are usually very shallow having to do with one's physical aspects such as losing a few pounds, training for a race event or getting my teeth whitened. BLAH BLAH BLAH! This year I find myself on more of an emotional and spiritual conquest. In other words, I am so over it! Now, I know that a lot of this new found wisdom stems from the fact that I've been on this planet for almost 50 years and that life's little lessons certainly mold you into whoever it is that you are supposed to be. Some of it is in our control but so much more of it is not. I get that now, but what I don't often get is what to do with that information. So with that being said, my next series of blogs will be directed toward my attempt to better myself from an emotional and spiritual stand point. Going to be quite the challenge for someone as high strung and tunnel visioned as myself . BUT WHAT THE HECK? Sure, I am going to do my best with the physical care-taking issues, but my focus is to acquire a settled mind and to realize that I am not in control even on a good day. I can assure you that there have been more years than not that I didn't achieve my NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION'S but you gotta at least try. RIGHT? So, hoping you guys who have been following my blog for the last few months will join me in this adventure. Stay tuned for some comic relief and some topics that are sure to hit close to home. We're all in the same boat of LIFE with all its up and downs. LOVE TO EACH OF YOU and wishing you much success with whatever comes your way. OK, I confess I really do want to feel good in a bathing suit this spring, but only from a 50 year old perspective. HAPPY NEW YEAR!

As history often repeats itself, I FAILED, miserably.  Well I sort of got a handle on the "I'm not in control" issue but not so much on the "acquire a settled mine".  I have now decided that the owners of settled minds are few and far between.  I know they exist but I think you could count those rare specimens on one hand.  At least that is what I believe.   Needless to say, I have no 2012 Resolutions.

Courtney and Tripp

 Okay well maybe I have one and it's a big one. You see at some point in the early months of 2011, I was blessed like so many with the opportunity of hearing about a special little boy who was and is struggling with a disease that most of us have never heard of.  It is a disease that is so brutal and painful that I still almost a year later have not been able to wrap my brain around.  Your probably asking "What does this have to do with your New Year's Blog?.  It has everything to do with it.  So many of you already know this story but if you don't I am going to provide you with a link to tune you in.  It is painful and very difficult and at the very least will change the entire course of your day but it will also open your hearts and just maybe widen ones level of compassion. 

BABY TRIPP and ELMO

His name is Tripp and he has captured the hearts of the world.  His mother Courtney has opened her heart by telling the most incredible story ever and educating each of us about a disease (Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa) that so many of us have never heard of.  She is without a doubt the strongest, most courageous individual that you will ever encounter.  Baby Tripp has spread a message that is just down right powerful on many levels.  

So with that being said, my New Year's resolution was a no-brainer.  More compassion, less self-pity................but most of all I have restored my faith in the lengths that some people will go to reach out and help someone.  I know they feel the love.

God Bless Baby Tripp, Courtney and family. I thank you for sharing such a painful yet beautiful experience.  You have inspired so many of us with your love and courage and for that I am thankful. 

WE LOVE YOU!

Courtney and Tripp's Blog Link

http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/

EB AWARENESS WEBSITE
http://www.debra.org/

Tripp's Elmo Article-check out Courtney's blog for the song.
http://www.heraldguide.com/details_archive.php?id=9843