I Just Do Not Even Know #FunnyFriday March 2016

Today’s post is March’s Funny Friday, a regular feature published on the last Friday of every month. Funny Friday is a collaborative project. Each month one of the participants submits a picture, then we all write five captions or thoughts inspired by that month’s picture. Links to the other bloggers’ posts are below, click on them and see what they have come up with. I hope we bring a smile to your face as you start your weekend.

Here’s today’s picture. It was submitted by the fabulous Spatulas on Parade

1. Listen, my first thought was horror movie. Like some monster digging out of the ground, and I got chills. Not funny, I know, but it was honestly my first thought! Eeek!

2. I have nothing. What is this?! What is this?! Please! Someone tell me what this is!! I have no idea, but it looks awesome, interesting, and slightly terrifying.

3. So, I showed the picture to Chad, he said what is that? Cookie dough?
Then Gigi looked. She said what is that? Like eight times, then asked if it was ice cream.

I do not know where they get their cookie dough and ice cream, but they may need to seriously find a new place. For serious. Ridiculous. I may not know what it is, but I know it isn't cookie dough or ice cream.

4. Worms worms, everywhere worms. Worms and bugs, beetles galore. Let's dig, dig some more.

5. Is this some type of root or really awesome fossil?? I need to know!! I must say, for being the picture I have understood the least, it is the one that has piqued my curiosity the most!!

That is it! That is all I've got. I hope you all have a fabulous weekend and a very fun and happy Easter!

I am sorry I fell way short this month! I did not do the picture justice, and I did not bring the funny to the table! I will do better next month! Click on the links below and let some other bloggers make you smile:

Spatulas on Parade

Measurements of Merriment

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

Not That Sarah Michelle

Southern Belle Charm

My Brain on Kids

Baking In A Tornado

Someone Else’s Genius

To Be #UseYourWords March 2016

Today’s post is a writing challenge. This is how it works: participating bloggers picked four to six words or short phrases for someone else to craft into a post. All words must be used at least once and all the posts will be unique as each writer has received their own set of words. That is the challenge, here is a fun twist; no one who is participating knows who got their words and in what direction the writer will take them. Until now.

My words are:

fire ~ caught ~ bench ~ babe ~ portrait ~ jug

They were submitted by: http://Bakinginatornado.com  

I don't want to be some old, bitter lady sitting on a bench one day,
looking back on life with regrets.
I don't want to be some middle aged, wannabe, babe acting half my age.
I don't want to be some wistful dreamer, caught in an impossible dream. 
I don't want to waste the fire of potential raging inside of me. 
I don't want to be an artist, that just paints still portraits of an empty jug surrounded by fruit. 
I want to be a happy old lady, full of a zest for life and happy memories.
I want to be a content middle aged lady, who acts my age.
I want to live up to every flame of potential within me.
I want to paint every scene that catches my eye. 
I want to live.
I want to love.
I want to grow.
I want to evolve.
I want to be.

Links to the other “Use Your Words” posts:

Baking In A Tornado

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

Southern Belle Charm

Not That Sarah Michelle

My Brain on Kids

Never Ever Give Up Hope

Someone Else’s Genius

Confessions of a part time working mom

Spatulas on Parade

The Angrivated Mom

Climaxed

Lucky Duck #LuckPoetry March 2016

As you have probably noticed, my blogger friends and I, have made it a tradition to write poetry each month. This month, we chose luck as a theme. It seems appropriate with St. Patrick's Day right around the corner. I don't know about you, but I really enjoy our monthly poetry sessions!! I am blessed with some talented friends!! Here are my contributions to this month's collaboration.

Poem 1:

You always told me I am your lucky charm.
I am not really sure what good that did either of us.
I hope you know I never meant to do any harm.
I hate to cause such a fuss.
I really just wish we could move past this.
I wish we could just go back in time.
Back before my choices shattered our bliss.
I wish that choosing my own happiness weren't such a crime.
I wish I really were your lucky charm.
I wish we were still together.
I wish we had bought that 100 acre farm.
I wish we were still two birds of a feather.


Poem 2:

Love at first sight
Uncovering a huge chunk of gold
Cashing in stocks for ten times their original value
Knowing your future will be bright and happy

Poem 3:

I am so lucky that God gave me you.
You make me smile.
You make my darkest days bright.
You make my hardest moments easier.
You make my life so much better.
God gave me the biggest blessing, when he put you in my life.
I am so grateful to know you.
I am so blessed to love you.
I am so excited to watch you grow.
You are the best of me.
You are my greatest blessing.
You are my biggest happiness.
You are my luckiest lucky charm.
You are my all.
You are my daughter.

Now, enjoy the other contributions from my fellow bloggers!!!

Karen of Baking In A Tornado

Stuck with Luck 

Robin of Someone Else's Genius 

Schlimazel

Dawn of Spatulas On Parade

Luck, Schmuck, who gives a ...duck?

Candice of Measurements of Merriment 

Lucky Poems

Happy Birthday, IKEA!! **Some Assembly Required

So, listen, let's get some things out of the way. I am not a chef. I am not a photographer. I am not a food blogger. Okay, now that we have that out of the way...

A few weeks ago, I was browsing Facebook, and saw a post wishing IKEA a happy birthday, and it was so hilarious to me. Once I was done laughing, I shared it with my great friend Tamara over at Confessions of a part-time working mom. Not long after that, she decided we should sort of recreate the funniness ourselves. As terrifying as the idea was, of course I was on board. After all, I was the one that brought the graphic to her attention. 

Here is the graphic. I have no idea who deserves the credit for it! Whoever you are, you are HILARIOUS!

So, of course, my magnificent friends all worked amazing magic. I will share links to their greatness below. Now, me. Well, I got there eventually. I probably have ulcers now. I am not sure why I was so terrified to do this post. I guess mostly because I am not a food blogger. I do not create masterpieces in the kitchen. I don't cook traditionally. I am not really a cup of this and a teaspoon of that type of cook. I am more of a handful of this and quite a bit of that and a pinch of this, type of cook. 

I guess it probably should not surprise you that I quickly abandoned the idea of doing a cake. I don't know about you, but when I think IKEA, I think meatballs. So, that is what I decided IKEA needed for their birthday, meatballs. As if I weren't stressed enough, I also decided to experiment a bit. I have been wanting to try a certain ingredient for a while, and I decided why not now.

Now, when discussing my post with Tamara, I had originally decided I was going to include some extra ingredients in the pictures, because if you have ever put together one of their complex storage systems, you know, there are always extra parts. You just have to pray they are truly extra, and you didn't just forget them. Speaking of their complex furniture, is it complex to you? Are you one of the lucky ones that puts it together easy peasy? Me? I get it together, eventually. 

I decided not to include extra ingredients in the picture, because at the end of the day, I was so nervous, I just wanted to get it done correctly. I did have fun thinking of ideas of things to include as extra ingredients. The top of the list was a bag of Swedish Fish! Honorable mentions were a potato, an orange, an apple, applesauce, or some cereal. 

Now, this will just be the recipe for my meatballs. You can pair them with pasta or potatoes. You can mix them with gravy or with pasta sauce. They make excellent meatball sandwiches. They are great on their own. I had originally planned on eating ours with gravy and mashed potatoes, but once they were done, and my pictures were taken, Chad requested a menu change. We ate them plain with french fries. It just what he really wanted. Then today I put some in some marinara and baked them on bread with cheese, for some delicious sandwiches. I froze all the leftovers. These freeze well. 

What you need:

* 3 lbs of lean ground beef
* 1 lb of sausage
* 1 large onion, grated
* 2 large bell peppers, I grate one and very finely dice one
* 1 can (14,5 oz) of diced tomatoes, juice drained
* 2 boxes (12 oz) of stuffing mix (Yes, stuffing. I used Betty Crocker Chicken, Weird. I just one day thought to try it in meatloaf or meatballs, and then finally decided to actually try it. We all loved it.)
* 3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese (You could use fresh, but I went the lazy route)
* 3 tablespoons garlic powder (Yes, you could definitely use fresh, but I went the lazy route)
* 2 tablespoons oregano
* 2 tablespoons parsley
* 2 tablespoons coarse ground black pepper
* 4 large eggs (I only put two eggs in the pictures, because four looked crowded)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Put your meat in a large bowl, and break it up. I like to break two eggs into a bowl, to make sure I don't get any shell into it. Then I pour the egg into the meat.

I then add the stuffing. Using my hands I mix the meat, eggs, and stuffing well. I add the remaining two eggs and the Parmesan cheese. I mix a bit more.

I then add in the peppers, onions, and tomatoes. I mix well, still using my hands,

Then I add the garlic powder, oregano, parsley, and ground pepper. I mix them well. 

I form them into balls and place them on a baking sheet. My first batch, I baked with aluminum foil down, to help with the clean up, but I did not like how they browned up. So the additional batches, I put Pam on my baking sheet and baked. They browned better and had a slightly crispier outside. If you like meatballs that are less brown and crispy, definitely bake your meatballs with a aluminum foil lined baking sheet. If you want them a bit more brown and slightly crispy, then coat your baking sheet with Pam and bake. 

You bake them for 22 to 25 minutes at 400 degrees F.

If you like really large meatballs, you may need to add additional bake time. I don't make uniform meatballs, but all of ours are similar in size, and I usually bake them for about 24 minutes. 

I think they are tasty and moist. I hope you enjoy them! 

Interesting little side note.... I actually let Gigi help a little bit. It was hard for me. I am not a huge fan of kids in the kitchen. I am terrified of her getting hurt. Since I took pictures prior and actually prepped everything, things were organized and in dishes. So, I thought it would be harmless for her to just dump the ingredients into the bowl and the appropriate time. Chad is not a great photographer either, but we did get some photos to share! Overall, it was a great experience! 

Please, if you try them, let me know if you liked them. Also, do not hold your breath for anymore recipes from me! 

NOW!! Check out the other awesome posts wishing IKEA a happy birthday!!

Confessions of a part-time working mom

Spatulas on Parade

Measurements of Merriment

An American In Basel

Sarah Nick

Islands In My Dreams #SecretSubjectSwap March 2016

Welcome to this month's Secret Subject Swap. This week fourteen brave bloggers submitted a secret subject for someone else and were randomly assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and publishing our posts. 

My “Secret Subject” is:

You inherit an island from a distant relative you didn't even know you have. This relative leaves instructions for you--invite anyone you want or need to join you on the island and make it work for 1 year and you will inherit his $700 million estate. The island is stocked with all the essentials, but you have to keep every single person you invite for the entire year and the community must thrive. Who would you invite and what rules would you make?

It was submitted by: http://climaxedtheblog.blogspot.com   

Okay. Let's just get the absolute obvious out of the way. Gigi is going with me. End of story. If I were only allowed one person, she would be it. Of course, Chad gets to come. Not because I want to be stuck on an island with him, but because Gigi needs her Daddy. Plus, he is super strong.

Now, an entire year on an island. Anyone I want. This could get interesting. Well...

1. Myself.

2. Gigi.

3. Chad.

4. Andrea. (Andie Runs Off Crazy)

5. Matt Damon. 

6. Mr. P.

7. Tamara. (Confessions of a part-time working mom)

8. Dr. Randall Yee.

9. Rachael Ray.

10. Ellen.

I would allow Matt Damon to bring his family, if he wanted to, and I am fairly sure he would want to. I would also allow Rachael Ray to bring her husband and doggy. I would allow Dr, Yee to bring his family. I would allow Tamara to bring her family. I would allow Andrea to bring her hubby and pets. I would allow Ellen to bring her family. I would arrange for monthly visitation weekends for the people I bring with me to have outside visitors, except for Chad, Gigi, and I. We won't be allowed visitors.

Rules:
1. No rudeness.
2. No judgement.
3. No invasion of privacy.
4. No leaving the island.
5. No violence.
6. Quiet hours 10 pm until 9 am. From 8 pm until 9 pm, noise levels must be a minimum.
7. Must keep all common areas clean. Clean up any messes you make.
8. No drugs are cigarettes. No excessive drinking.
9. No talking to me before I have had my coffee.
10. Every week, each person must do at least five volunteer hours. They must help with yard work or gardening. 
11. Everyone must participate in the book club! :) 
12. No visitors, except for on the monthly visitation weekend. All visitors must abide by the rules of the island. 

I really think this would be an awesome year, and it would work wonderfully. I think we could each have the comfort of our own space and peace, and yet be able to enjoy each other's company. I feel like we could all benefit from being there with each other. Admittedly, I think I would benefit the most. I would be surrounded by some of my most favorite people. Some of my absolute most favorite people. 

Mr. P is one of my greatest friends. I would be so excited to have him at my disposal for an entire year. We have the most amazing debates! Matt would be the most amazing company. Can you imagine? Andrea and Chad and two of my best friends and greatest loves. Gigi will keep me busy and entertained. Rachael can teach me to cook! Ellen. Ellen will be such an amazing person to spend time with. Dr. Yee is a phenomenal man, and he will make sure I stay alive for the entire year. 

Can we make this happen!? Hello, distant relative!! Where are you?!?!

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

Baking In A Tornado

The Diary of an Alzheimer’s Caregiver

Dinosaur Superhero Mommy

Southern Belle Charm

Not That Sarah Michelle

My Brain on Kids

The Lieber Family Blog

Never Ever Give Up Hope

Someone Else’s Genius

Confessions of a part time working mom

Spatulas on Parade

The Angrivated Mom

Climaxed