Hodge Podge Wednesday 1-9-13

1. What is one thing or area in your home or life you hope to report is completely organized when 2013 draws to a close?  Do you have a plan to make it happen?

 The kitchen is my main goal for this year. Due to the remodeling its a mess. I want to remove one wall and add more counters. Basically we are gutting what is currently there and I want it all done and everything organized.

2. What's the worst uniform you've ever had to wear for a job?

 When I worked in the mail room at the prison we had to dress business casual, hated it because it was a dirty job and all my good clothes would get dirty or stained, second of all we never saw anyone other than inmates and other staff and everyone wanted to just wear regular clothes so it caused lower moral.

3. What was your last kitchen 'mishap'?  This question comes to you courtesy of Betty who blogs over at A Glimpse into Midlife...everyone go say hi to Betty!

 off the top of my head I can't think of anything recently so I will tell my biggest one :). The first time my oldest was going to camp I was a nervous wreck. I had call forwarding added to the phone so that no matter where I was I wouldn't miss a call (this was before cell phones were common) so I decided to make her favorite dessert which is a hot fudge cake. I had made that cake a millin times and I guess because of my nerves this time it didn't turn out. I thought it looked weird going in the oven and then it started to smell funny. The flour burned, I had forgotten to add any fluids to it :)

Here is the recipe I always use

1 cup flour
3/4 cup sugar
6 tablespoons baking cocoa, divided
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 3/4 cups HOT water
whipped cream or ice cream, optional

In a medium bowl, combine flour, sugar, 2 tablespoons cocoa, baking
powder and salt.  Stir in the milk, oil and vanilla until smooth.  Spread
in an ungreased 9" square baking pan.  Combine brown sugar and remaining
cocoa; sprinkle over batter.  Pour hot water over all; do not stir.  Bake
at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.  Serve warm.  Top with whipped cream or
ice cream if desired.

4.  How do you protect yourself against other people's negativity?

 I am at a point in life where I can walk away from negative people. I don't have a job so I don't have to put up with anything there but when I did work and people were negative my biggest response would be to pray.

5. Who in your family do you most resemble (physically)?  If you have children, who do people say they favor?  Do you agree?

 I resemble my mother more than anyone else. Depending on if she is with me or with her dad thats who everyone says she resembles. Shes a mix of both of us and if either of us are around you can see that person in her, my youngest resembles me more than her dad.

6. January 8th is National Bubble Bath Day...will you be celebrating?

 I celebrate bubble baths almost daily. Even as a child a bath was a ritual for me. I have an addiction to buying bath products. I love salts, bubbles and oils.   It is also Elvis's birthday and this year was the first time in years we haven't done anything for it. I had a horrible headache and didn't feel like up to it.

7.  Some of the 'world's best winter festivals' are...Mardi Gras (New Orleans), Quebec Winter Festival (Canada), Sundance Film Festival (Park City Utah), Rio Carnivale (Brazil), Sapporo Snow Festival (Japan), Venice Carnival (Italy), and the Harbin Ice Festival (Northern China).  Of those listed (and if cost were not a factor) which would you most like to attend and why?

 Probably Mardi Gras because its the one I have heard of for longer and dreamed of attending. Plus I so want to explore New Orleans.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

 I had a scary event this past weekend. There have been a lot of home invasions around here so I have been more leary, someone came to the door wanting in to use the phone claimed it was an emergency. I don't open the door after midnight esp to someone I dont know  They just kept saying it was an emergency and needed to use the phone which is exactly what the home invasions did.  I called 911 myself so if they need help it will be here. They aren't coming in my house. The police did 2 drive bys but apparently didn't see anything nor did they come by my house.