Ladies and Gentlemen, start your ovens!

As I was preparing the cutest little chocolate chip pumpkin pies, David realized that he needed to bake the topping for his cranberry cheesecake. The two items are sharing 20 minutes in the oven. One of the pies is going to have to make a sacrific for quality control and then they're being tucked away for later consumption. I'll share a picture of David's cheesecake with you when it's all complete. It's so pretty! ps I just peeked, the pies are looking scrumpious.

New recipes for the kitchen?

I was reading a book by Kristin Hannah this morning while sipping my coffee and laying in bed. One of the characters in the story said she had HUNDREDS of recipes in her recipe box, begging to be tried on someone. That got me thinking about my own cooking....and it's pretty non-existent these days. Mr. York was doing a commissary run this morning so I could quickly make a list of things we needed. Mary's Scotcheroos ingredients are on the list! However, the list didn't look very promising as I couldn't come up with even a few days' worth of meal ideas.

What great recipes do you have that you can share with me? I'm in a major slump, esp wanting to lose 15 pounds. Sometimes it's just easier to not eat. I know, not healthy at all. Please share your menus, recipes for healthy dishes and something that includes chocolate!

You can help get me out of the slump~

February's 10 on 10

Scenes taken from around my house, the classroom and Walmart.

Enjoy!

new RED morning Starbucks cup!

The Beagle Boys!

Homemade Blueberry Muffins baking!

Calendar in the Classroom!

Sweet bears!

Relaxing water fountain!

A bit of Social Studies/Science -- mummified apples or shrunken heads?

Down the Chocolate Aisle at Walmart -- M & M's

Starbucks' Chocolate Bars

Starbucks' Chocolates!

When coffee dreams, it dreams of chocolate!!!

"Spokane Under Snow Seige"

WA State and Spokane!

Where is Spokane? It's in Eastern WA, very close to the Idaho border. We're 300 miles east of Seattle!

The title is taken from NWC.com's post and you can read all about Spokane's battle with the snow/ice/slush/short tempers on their website.

http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_010709WXN_spokane_snow_LJ.164d38f.html

A few excerpts:

• Spokane has received more than 78 inches of snow -- about the height of Michael Jordan -- since mid-December. That's far above its average of less than 50 inches for an entire winter. Normally about 16 inches would have fallen at this point.


• Treacherous roads are a major complaint. Many are covered with ice, heavily rutted and reduced to one lane by piles of plowed snow.


• One man was arrested by Spokane police after gunshots were fired Monday morning at a private snow plow operator who was clearing a parking lot. Police said the motorist apparently got upset when the plow operator honked his horn.


• But two women who work at the Chocolate Apothecary in downtown Spokane have found a coping mechanism. "We are surrounded by chocolate," said owner Susan Davis. "It's all good in here."

Wonder if I can get there from my house today? I think I'll stay in my safe home and work on my stash of chocolates here, plus enjoy my Starbucks Christmas Blend coffee. A perfect time to get caught up on rubberstamping, too!

Chocolate fixes everything...

"All you really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt."

~Lucy Van Pelt, Infamous Peanuts Character~

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Ever since we lived in Germany, we have kept the tradition of St. Nicholas alive and well in our house. The kids still put their shoes out on the eve of December 6th. We laughed this year because neither one of them live at home anymore. St. Nicholas still found them, though. Bring on the German chocolates and treats! I think Mr. York and I will have some traditional German food for dinner, too.

Gratitude Friday list...

...on Saturday! :)

1. Shopping with girlfriends is so much better than shopping alone!

2. Love and laughter!

3. Growing older with girlfriends who have known me since the dorky years! (and they still love me and vice versa!)

4. Having popcorn for dinner while watching a Christmas movie!

5. Starbucks and everywhere we've shopped these past two days! (and don't forget the chocolate stops, either!)

Becky at Starbucks