Friend Making Monday!

Come and join Kenz over at All The Weigh for Friend Making Monday! Answer the questions on your blog and link your blog to hers! 

FMM: A Few More Gender-Friendly Questions

1) What is your favorite physical feature? 
I love my eyes, hair and smile. Working on the rest ;)
2) List three adjectives that describe you. 
Smart, Creative, Funny
3) How old were you when you had your first kiss?
First real Kiss: I think about 14 :) I was a Freshman in High School
4) Do you believe in God? 
Yes I do! I do not post about it on the blog that often, but it is there if you want to read about it.

5) How often do you watch the news? 
Not often enough! I can honestly say that I get most of my new through Twitter! I have recently started reading "The Daily" on my iPad. I do not enjoy nightly news on the regular new channel. I think that the broad casted shows like 20/20, 48 hours etc.... are really insightful. 

Kim in the Kitchen

Keeping up with my goal of cooking more at home and using cook books on hand, I made Ina Garten's book Family Style to make her Mac n' Cheese. You can see the recipe below. Along with this dish I made country style ribs BBQ ribs in the cock pot! There was plenty of leftovers for the week and even enough to send some to my Grandparents.

Ingredients

• Vegetable oil
• Kosher salt
• 1 pound elbow macaroni or cavatappi
• 1 quart milk
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 12 ounces Gruyere, grated (4 cups)
• 8 ounces extra-sharp Cheddar, grated (2 cups)
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3/4 pound fresh tomatoes (4 small)
• 1 1/2 cups fresh white bread crumbs (5 slices, crusts removed)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Drizzle oil into a large pot of boiling salted water. Add the macaroni and cook according to the directions on the package, 6 to 8 minutes. Drain well.
Meanwhile, heat the milk in a small saucepan, but don't boil it. Melt 6 tablespoons of butter in a large (4-quart) pot and add the flour. Cook over low heat for 2 minutes, stirring with a whisk. While whisking, add the hot milk and cook for a minute or two more, until thickened and smooth. Off the heat, add the Gruyere, Cheddar, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Add the cooked macaroni and stir well. Pour into a 3-quart baking dish. (I used a 13x9 glass pyrex)
Slice the tomatoes and arrange on top. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, combine them with the fresh bread crumbs, and sprinkle on the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the macaroni is browned on the top.

If you give you give it a try let me know. I think it is basic enough for family parties where everyone will like it. But if you wanted to turn up the heat with some spices you could do that too.

You're my Obsession

Thanks to my friend Michelle over at My American Dream for the inspiration for this post. Michelle posted about what she is obsessing with right now- or rather whats trending with her.
This got me thinking what am I obsessing over lately?

1. Knitting & Crocheting-  I am still taking classes at Rumpelstiltskin Yarns, in Sayville, NY. I think after taken the Wilton Classes for Cake decorating, my crafty urge has increased.

2. Essie Nail polish and doing my nails- I have been either doing my own nails or getting a manicure since the beginning of the year and love trying new colors.

3. Reading The Daily - it's an online newspaper made only for the iPad. I love it! I have never been someone to read the paper everyday.

4. Paying bills- What a great thing to obsess over! I just want to get them all cleared up and we really don't have any debt at this point at all!

Friend Making Monday!

Kenz over at All The Weigh has posted the Friends Making Monday question. Feel free to copy and paste to your own blog and link it on hers. Take time to look at some other blogs while you are there!

1. Who is your pick for the Final Four? 

 I have never watched a whole Basket Ball game. I know of some players but not enough to know what teams they are on. Hockey and Baseball are my favorite sports. 

2. What is your favorite workout/fitness activity? 

It used to be Yoga but I haven't been there in so long (thanks for the reminder! lol) But in the past month I have been walking on the treadmill and working out in the gym. 

3. Do you have a favorite healthy snack? Something that REALLY hits the

spot? 

I love carrots and celery with hummus. Also Wasabi green peas!

4. What is your dream car? 

My dream car used to be a Cadillac SUV, however after getting my Jeep last July I think I own it! How cool is that!?!

5. Have you set any goals for yourself this month? What are they? 

On my blog I post monthly goals.

 Read about them here:

Read 3 books

6 visits to my Gym

Finish 2 knitting projects & 2 Crochet projects

Roast my first chicken or turkey

Bring lunch from home 3 days a week

Print pics for frames at home (last months goal)

Bake 75-100 cookies

I Love Shopping

Here is a couple of the recent purchases that I have made. Nothing too crazy, but some great buys!

Essie Chincilly nail polish

Hair pins from Old Hollywood at Limelight Market

Coach Madison Embossed Python Wristlet 

Bloggers Day of Silence

While reading some of my favorite blogs today I saw that many were participating in a "Bloggers Day of Silence" and I also will be doing so. I won't be posting any blogs tomorrow, but instead making a donation to SHELTER BOX.  You can check out UtterlyEngaged.com for more details and information to their link for this great cause.

Some of the first bloggers that I read are participating were EatDrinkPretty and  Stilettos and Diaper bags. Please participate and donate a what you can and get the word out.

See Utterly Engaged's blog for all the information.

A Girl Never Forgets Her First

Her first roasted Turkey! I did it! I made a roast! Wahoo! I am proud. I was nervous about cooking something like this. I put it on my 30 while 30 list and now I can check it off.