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Saturday, October 31, 2009

WSU vs. Oakland University

For the first time in 5 years, I sat on the sidelines of a Wayne State Swimming and Diving meet. It was strange to sit and watch and not be more involved. This Saturday, Wayne State's Swimming and Diving teams headed out to Oakland University for a dual meet. The swim teams helped to raise money and awareness for breast cancer and fashioned pink shirts and caps at the meet.
Here, the women's 200 medley relay just finished with an NCAA qualifying time.
Getting ready to swim.
Some diving photos.
Here's the team cheering on the divers.
Divers :)


Although neither team won, they sure did give the Golden Grizzlies a run for their money.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Breakfast for Dinner

Wednesday nights are my nights to cook at home. In this months issue of Southern Living, there was a mouth-watering recipe that I just had to try. It was for One-Dish Blackberry French Toast and it couldn't wait for a breakfast. Click on the name for the link for the recipe on SouthernLiving.com or follow me through the steps!
1. Begin by cutting a 12 or 16 oz. French bread loaf into 1-1/2-inch cubes. Place half of those cubes into a lightly greased 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
2. Cube an 8 oz. block of cream cheese into 1/2-inch cubes and scatter on top of bread cubes.
3. Cook 1 cup of jam (any flavor will do, this time we used blackberry) in a small sauce pan for a few minutes until it is melted and smooth.
4. Drizzle the melted jam over the bread crumbs and cream cheese cubes. Then top with the remaining French bread cubes.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups of half-and-half, 4 large eggs, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
6. Pour the egg mixture over the bread crumbs.
7. Tightly cover the entire dish and chill in the refrigerator for 8-24 hours.
8. Bake at 325 degrees covered for 20 minutes. Uncover the dish and bake for another 10-15 minutes or until the bread is golden brown and the mixture has set.
9. Serve with butter, syrup, or whipped cream and....
ENJOY!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Craft Show Disappointment

On Sunday, I had my first craft show of the season, the Kaleidoscope show at the Life Christian Church Fellowship Hall in Troy. I was so excited getting all of my things together. I worked so hard to make new and beautiful items over the past few weeks and struggled loading everything into my car. I arrived at the hall almost 2 hours before the start of the show to begin setting up my table among the 40 or so other crafters and vendors.
Scattered over my table I had decorated canvas frames, knit hats, journals, mini scrapbooks, and much more. When the show finally opened, it was noticeably slow and the only people walking around were fellow vendors sipping coffee and snacking on donuts and bagels. We were sure there would be large crowds once the church services were over but we weren't so lucky. People trickled in and out throughout the day but never large crowds.
By 1pm I had only sold two things, a knit hat for a woman's cat and a card to a Chinese foreign exchange student. Things weren't looking well and the vendors were starting to get really frustrated, many vowing not to return, including myself. It became clear that the organizers had failed to do effective marketing and advertising. Someone even informed me that they had even failed to make announcements at the end of their church services about the show held a few rooms away.
Luckily, the show was close to both my family and AJ's family and I was so happy to see AJ, his little sister Kira, his mom and my grandparents. My grandma even brought be a delicious packed lunch and my grandpa wandered around his first craft show ever!
Fortunately, I was able to talk with fellow creators and get a sense of how to set up nice displays as well as which shows are worth doing and those that aren't. Additionally, I received many nice compliments about my things which made me feel really good about what I am doing. So I tell myself, it was worth the experience.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

WSU Cross Country at GLIAC Championships

While AJ was in Indianapolis with the WSU swim teams today, my parents, grandparents and I ventured near Saginaw to watch my little brother run in the GLIAC Championships for cross country.
Here is Wayne State's team in a huddle just before the race began. It was not warm today and lightly drizzled throughout the entire race. While we were all bundled in several layers, the runners stripped down to their uniforms just before the race began and made us colder just watching them.
Go Travis! GO!!
Travis finished the 8k race in a personal best time dropping 20 seconds and we are so proud of him! Here he is getting some sugar from bundled up Grandma B.
Here's Travis and me! Trav moved up 82 spots from last years finish!!! He was fourth on the team and 32nd overall. It might have been the rain, or maybe I had something in both of my eyes, but I was so happy for him!
After the race we headed to Frankenmuth to enjoy a chicken lunch. We sampled the stuffed chicken, fried chicken, Michigan salad, spatzel, squash, and much more. It was scrumptious and all of us cleaned our plates. We were lucky enough to have the Zendor's chicken come out and say 'hi' to us all. I couldn't miss the photo op with dad!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Counting Inventory

While I am preparing for a craft show, AJ is heading to University of Indianapolis with WSU's swimming and diving teams for the first meet of the season. The swimmers and divers will be competing against Ashland, Truman, and UIndy and I wish them the best of luck.
On Sunday, October 24, I am participating in a craft show hosted by the Clawson-Troy L'Kettes. Because of the number of crafters selling jewelry, I was asked to sell other items and I have been working day and night to create journals books, frames, mobiles, and much more.

Creating an inventory. Filling up my room with stuff. His and Hers Keyhooks. Pencil cans.

Now that my room is all clean and I can finally see my floor again...it is time to start making jewelry for several jewelry parties I am planning for this fall and winter. I got so many great ideas while AJ and I were traveling that I am so excited to start making things.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Apple Picking and Corn Mazing

This Saturday AJ and I had a wonderful fall day. Two of our friends, Maggie and Sara came with us to Apple Charlies, an apple orchard a little south west of Detroit. We bought a large bag to fill and wandered through the many rows of apple trees.
Maggie and AJ
Row of trees with thousands of red apples.
Taste testing a few Me and AJ
Sara was by far our most adventurous apple picker. We would turn our backs on her for a few seconds and return to find her up in the apple trees.
Maggie picking some apples
Maggie, Sara, AJ and me. Of course we made our way into the bakery where each of us indulged in some freshly baked cake donuts.
Halloween isn't right without the perfect pumpkin. We made our way to the pumpkin patch and spent almost a half-an-hour picking just the right one. While ours weighed 25-pounds, Maggie's weighed 30 and one ambitious carver found one that was 85!
Maggie and Sara taking a break
Next we went on to another friend's house to venture through her family's corn maze. Meghan's family has been challenging people in their corn mazes for 8 years now and this year, the swim team took a trip down to find their way through the crazy design.
Me and Meghan
Maggie and Ashley lost in the field of corn. We got lost so easily and couldn't imagine trying to make our way through it at night.
On Sunday AJ and I carved our pumpkin. It seemed a lot smaller when we bought the 25-pounder and we realized it was a really big pumpkin.
AJ's Frankenstein looked wonderful and petrifying! I love making holidays last way longer than just one day!
12 days until Halloween!