Sunday at the (Pittsburgh) ZOO!

monkey

I’ve been hinting… maybe begging… alright – PLEADING with Marty for months now to go to the Zoo.

leopardIt’s been FOREVER since we’ve gone.  Probably 15 years or so since going on field trips to the zoo when the boys were young.

tiger 2So you can only imagine my surprise and excitement

tiger yawnwhen Marty woke up Sunday morning, and I asked him what he was thinking about for the day…

tigerand he said, “Well – You’ve been wanting to go to the zoo….”

monkey 2

Ya – ahem – I’ve mentioned it maybe a few… (hundred) times….

elephantSo guess where we went?!

gorilla

You got it!  Woohoo!  The ZOO!!

red pandaIt was cool to see the new Red Panda (which looks more like a raccoon) – eh?

galapagos turtleand the giant Galapagos tortoises (that moved way faster than I would have expected!)

komodo dragonThere are even DRAGONS at the Zoo!  Komodo that is.

sharkThe sharks were EERY!

marty sharks

And Marty was enthralled.

But the very BEST of all was the Polar Bear!

polar bearThis 1,700 pound ball of fluffy white fur was worth the price of admission.  He danced for us (I’m hoping that’s what it was – either that or he was completed disturbed!)

polar bear 4and – oh – to walk under the tunnel and watch him swim……

polar bear 2and play – was absolutely magical!

flamingosNot sure what these Pink Flamingos were up to, but they got awful rowdy!

penguinsThe penguins were so comical.  I think they thought it was “5 O’clock Somewhere” the way they teetered around on those rocks near the water’s edge.

ostrichWhat a great day!

Though it did make me realize I desperately need a telephoto zoom lens for my camera (and a class or some lessons to boot!).

Sounds like an excuse to go back to the zoo – sometime in the next 15 years or so.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

Peanut Butter & Chocolate Chunk Cookie Bars

Peanut butter chocolate chunk cookie bars

Does the name just say it ALL?!?!?

PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHUNK Cookie Bars

Oh My!!!!    I first saw this simple recipe on the AverieCooks Blog.  Have you seen Averie’s blog yet?  It’s one of my faves.   I think she could take a picture of a piece of cardboard, and I would want to eat it!

Oh #AverieSunshine – I think you are my hero! (Check out her amazing BLOG here.)    I can only aspire to be like Averie Sunshine (sigh).

 I wonder if it would help if I had a cooler name…??!!  

Maybe I could use Marty’s “pet” name for me……  Do you think Gertrude PIA Wisenheimer has a cool ring to it??!!??  (and if you are wondering… PIA is an acronym for Pain in A$$). 

I guess that’s what I get for calling him Merv.  🙂

IMG_9346

Anyway – We were going to a barbeque picnic Saturday – one of those parties where everyone brings something to share.  (with our buddies from John’s Bar btw)
Marty suggested I make a dessert.   Seems I’m always the dessert lady.
Too bad I don’t L O V E baking!

So I remember these amazing looking cookie bars from AverieCooks, and decided that is what I was making.

But I had to somehow “Jodi – ize” them.   Hmmm…. ????  What could make a peanut butter chocolate chunk cookie bar any better??  I know!  A sprinkling of Peanut Butter M&Ms on top!  Am I a genius or what??!!

IMG_9336

This recipe is seriously so easy and basic.  You probably have all the ingredients on hand already (if your pantry looks anything like mine).  You really don’t even need a mixer, and they only take a few minutes to mix together and 20 minutes to bake.

IMG_9311Note how I measure my peanut butter….  teeheehee!

So here’s the recipe:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, room temperature
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp vanilla
1 Heaping cup creamy peanut butter
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
Pinch of salt  (did you know a pinch is 6 shakes?  Trivial Pursuit Question!)
1 Bag Nestle Semi Sweet Chocolate Chunks

Garnish:  1 cup (ish) Peanut Butter M&Ms

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 13×9 baking pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray.

Mix butter, egg, sugars, vanilla.

Stir in the peanut butter.

Add the flour, baking soda, and salt and stir until just incorporated.

Stir in chocolate.

Turn batter out into prepared pan, smoothing it lightly with a spatula.

Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until center is just set and golden.  (Underbaking is always better!)

Bars will firm up more in pan as they cool.

ENJOY!

IMG_9344Let me know if you make them and how you like them.

IMG_9340Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

Cheers! (or in our case John’s Bar!) – There ARE good people in this world!

images

This past Thursday evening, Marty and I went on our regular weekly “date” to John’s Bar.
John’s Bar is our CHEERS.
It’s our “where everybody knows your name.”
It’s an everyone-gets-a-hug-when-you-leave kinda place.
It’s NOT classy.
It’s NOT fancy.
Dare I say it is a bit of a “dive” (in the most flattering way you can call something a dive).

Don’t ask for a Cosmo at John’s Bar.
Brad (the bartender) laughed when I asked for Bombay Gin instead of Tangueray.
No frozen fru fru drinks.
Appetizers are packs of saltine crackers (if you’re lucky!)
The menu never changes – as many times as I ask to look at it – and even when I try writing something different on the menu pad, like Belgium waffles with fresh strawberries and whipped cream or a chicken quesadilla.
But you can always count on a grilled chicken salad (with French fries),
Or a bowl of cheeseburger mac soup,
Or some pretty darn good wings.

10444566_673875846027896_3689720837522772713_n
Our bill for the evening rarely exceeds $30 – for dinner and drinks!
And we have made lifetime friends we would have never known if not for our regular Thursday evenings at John’s bar.
We get invited to pig roasts and picnics and parties.
We celebrate birthdays and weddings and anniversaries.
We laugh – and laugh – and laugh.
Sometimes we talk politics… and even though my views are a bit more liberal than most at John’s on Thursday nights – they love me anyway.

Well – When we got home this past Thursday evening from our “date,” I realized I had lost my debit card.

ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!
(Dang that Marty for having me pay this week!)

Nick said I looked distraught…
I felt like I lost my left arm (I’m a leftie – so right arm does ME NO good!)…
I called our friends that were still there.
They checked the bar, the bathroom, the parking lot….
No luck.

So Friday morning I called the bank, cancelled the debit card, and ordered a new one.
What a long 5-7 days it will be waiting!  (seriously Mars Bank!?)

Then about an hour later, the bank called me.
Someone had returned my debit card TO THE BANK!
They told the nice lady on the phone that called me that they found it in a – ahem – bar (or maybe restaurant she said kindly) parking lot.

So see! There are good, kind people in the world!
Everywhere!
Doing kind little random things every day.
If you just pay attention.

Thank you to whoever was so kind to return my debit card to the bank! I appreciate you!
(even though the bank doesn’t – ahem – trust – and said they have to destroy it since “someone else touched it!” and issue me a new one)

YOU tried, and I love ya!

pink hello doiley victorian thank you

Hello Doily SU Stamp on Distressed Victorian Thank You Note

Cheers and Hugs,
Jodi

You Overwhelm Me with your Awesomeness

flower patch awesomeness with kinda eclectic

I had SOOO much fun making this card.

I stamped

and I punched out

and I glued

and embellished

and got a bit carried away…

A little overwhelming???….

I think the sentiment matches the card perfectly – a little overwhelming…

a little awesome….

flower patch awesomeness with kinda eclectic 3 inside

I can’t wait to share this card with someone who deserves to know how awesome and BeYouTiful they are.

Happy #FreebieFriday!  Hope you have an overwhelmingly awesome weekend!

flower patch awesomeness with kinda eclectic 2

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

PS   For my SU friends, I used the new Flower Patch and Kinda Eclectic stamp sets for this card, and it was inspired and CASE’d from Nance Leedy.

My Good Fortune

GF Mars 5This past Saturday morning, after Mikey and I got back from our regular Saturday morning walk with our buddies Tracy and Halo, I started doing laundry and some other usual chores around the house, when the phone rang.

On the other end (much to my good fortune), was my buddy Janet letting me know she was meeting up with a couple of old school friends for lunch at Jimmy Wann’s and asked if I wanted to join them.

Well, I thought about it for about – oh – maybe – two and a half seconds – and said, “You bet I do!”

Heck with laundry.

Heck with the chores.

They will be there when I get back.

First of all, I LOVE any time I get to spend with my Janet.

Secondly, I LOVE Jimmy Wann’s!

Give me a bowl of Eight Treasure Rice, a Volcano Sushi Roll, a nice glass (or 2!) of Chardonnay, and some friends to catch up with….

Not too tough a decision.

Lunch with friends – that’s what Saturdays are made for – right?!

GF Mars 1

L-R: Val Danner, Judi (Stanko) Wahl, Janet Adams, Jodi (Rodgers Towle) McKinney

We had the patio practically to ourselves, and it was sunny and bright with just the perfect breeze.

What fun it was to catch up with these girls I went to school with back in 7th and 8th grade at Mars Middle School.

You see – my family only lived here (in the Mars area where I returned and my boys graduated high school from) for a few short years while I was growing up.

It was one of the six different homes I lived in, and one of the five different schools I went to, so I only spent a couple short years here with these ladies (who all went on to graduate together).

But – what I realized was that my good fortune came true… (you see my fortune cookie above?)

These ladies are lifetime friends.

We ate, and we drank some wine, and we talked…

and talked…

and talked,

shed a few tears,

and laughed…

and laughed…

and laughed.

Then we got silly with our fortune cookies (after asking the sweet and ever-so-accommodating waiter who must have filled our – ahem – water glasses a half dozen times during the several hours we sat there) to take our picture by the bamboo bushes.

GF Mars 2

Yep – I’d say it is my good fortune

to have these lifetime friends….

Thanks Judi.

Thanks Val.

Thanks Janet!

Love ya!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

A Bevy of Butterflies – Sheer & White or Bold & Bright

sheer white flourishes and butterflies

I’ve been trying to capture some photos of butterflies lately, but have not had much success – – – YET that is – stay tuned!

So instead, I decided to create some butterfly cards..

I think this sheer white one might make a pretty wedding card.  (And it is that  time of year!)

It is done with white paper stock and white embossed SU Flowering Flourishes on clear vellum and vellum-punched out butterflies. with some pearl accents.

I think it is sheer and delicate and dainty.

sheer white flourishes and butterflies closeup2

And this is one of Nick’s favorites that I’ve ever made (he tells me).  I’m kinda partial to it too.

Though I made it months ago, I haven’t mailed it to anyone yet.  This one is made using SU’s Best of Butterflies with a water coloring technique.

best of butterflies

These butterflies are bold and bright and glittery and sparkly.  The colors just spoke “JOY” to me.  I’m saving it for something and someone special someday.

best of butterflies close up

Which one do you like better?

Sheer & White?

or

Bold & Bright?

 

Wishing you a day filled with Joy – – – and maybe a few beautiful butterflies too.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

 

Crazy Addictive Homemade Caramel Corn

Caramel Corn bowl

Sometimes I like to fuss and make fancy schmansy appetizers and snacks for company or to take somewhere.

Other times, I rely on tried and true no-fail crowd pleasers like this A M A Z I N G  homemade Caramel Corn.

No matter when or where I serve it or what else is on the table, there is rarely, if ever, a kernel left.

I originally got this recipe from one of my very dear friends, Pam (aka Bubby or the Bubster as I affectionately like to call her – have you noticed a trend in nicknaming with me??!!…) who brought it to our house one holiday season years ago.

I have made this stuff (that is literally like CRACK it is so addicting!) to give as gifts, take to parties, or just serve when having a crowd over many, many times over the years since Bubby first brought it and got us all hooked.

You have got to try this.

And then you have to let me know if you have any leftover.

I dare you – even double dare you – to resist this stuff.

You start with 2 bags of Snyder’s Hulless Puff’n Corn Popcorn.  (You know – that melt in your mouth puffy kind that doesn’t have the kernels that get caught between your teeth).  Dump them in a large roaster pan, and turn your oven on 250 degrees to preheat.

Caramel Corn 1

Then you melt 2 sticks of BUTTER and 1 TBSP of peanut butter in a saucepan.

Add 2 cups of packed brown sugar and 1/2 cup Karo Light Corn Syrup, and boil for 5 minutes.

Caramel Corn 2

Remove from heat, and add 1 tsp vanilla and 1/2 tsp baking soda, and watch the crazy chemistry work.  (Not sure why – maybe some of you that paid a bit more attention in high school chemistry class know why – but it just completely grows and changes consistency after that little bit of baking soda.)  And if you didn’t start out with a large enough saucepan, you can easily overflow, so be prepared!

Caramel Corn 3

Pour this mixture over the popcorn in the roasting pan and stir well.

Caramel Corn 4

Then bake at 250 degrees for 1 hour (stirring every 15 minutes or so).

Caramel Corn 5

I made this along with about 10 zillion (ok I exaggerate) other things for our Father’s Day Picnic Celebration this past Sunday, and it is the only thing that I did NOT have any leftover of…..

Just saying……  You gotta try this stuff!

And let me know if you have any leftover…

Caramel Corn bowl

Cheers and hugs,

Jodi

SMILE – It’s Time to Wake Up!

alarm clock
Marty laughs at me because he says I am the only person he knows who wakes up singing to their alarm.

(I’m not sure how valid his point is, because I don’t think he’s woken up with (ahem) that many other people in his life….)

So – tell me – is it really that weird….. ya know…. to wake up singing to your alarm?

My “alarm clock” is my iPhone and my “alarm” is the song “Smile” by Uncle Cracker.

Now isn’t that a great way to wake up?!

Happy Monday!

Let Your Smile Change the World…..

Don’t Let the World Change Your Smile!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

A Father’s Day Tribute – I AM the LUCKIEST!

Many are blessed with a great dad in their life.

Some sadly never know their dad.

I, however, have been blessed with FOUR great Dads in my life.

Well – really three that I call Dad…        …and then a great one I call “Merv” or Marty or Sweetie – my hubby….

the best dad of all – to our amazing sons.

The reason for more than one dad in my life is probably a story for another time or another place.
But I do know that to everything there is a season, a time, a purpose, and a reason.
I started out with one dad…  (I wish I had more photos, but here is one with my dad and brother and cousins and aunt and grandparents – and though I look like a G R U M P – I love this picture!  Thanks Aunt Gwen!)

Dad1

I gained another Dad in the middle part of my childhood who I am eternally grateful for that was by my side during the difficult pre-teen and teenage years and that walked me down “the aisle” and supported me and helped to shape who I am today…

dadwedding

Father-Daughter Dance – April 3, 1982

And then I was so fortunate to have my birth father re-enter my life several years ago…  Who I talk to almost every day… Who has brought a whole new family into my life – who I love so much – and who all love me!

Dad3

Father’s Day 2012 – Dad, Jodi, & Marty

On top of that, I was given the gift of one of the all-time-greatest father-in-laws, who I affectionately called, “Poops.” Those that knew him know why, and oh how we all loved Pap (who we lost a little over a year ago, but think about everyday).  He loved me like his very own, and I know I am also who I am today because of him.

Dad4

Pap’s Last Father’s Day – 2012 – with Nick, Jake and Marty

So as I think about all the wonderful dads in my life, I know that I AM THE LUCKIEST!

And I want to share with you one of my all-time favorite songs (that I first heard at the wedding of a couple of cuties that I love DEARLY and am forever grateful to – and they know why!  Nikole and Michael) and for My Merv – a Great Husband AND Father.

Ben Folds’The Luckiest – I hope you will enjoy it as much as I do.

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi

There’s a Peony Thief on the Other Side of Our House!

peony after rain

Oh how I waited
and Waited
and WAITED
for my peony bush to bloom.

Remember this post from last Saturday when this gorgeous miracle of nature was just a bud?

My peony bush had only two blooms on it this year.  (Anyone know why?  What causes more or less flowers on a peony bush?)

And…  I used to have TWO (2) – not just ONE peony bush,

but one has disappeared – completely – gone – just dirt there!

Do any kind of animals eat peony bushes???

So anyway – I’ve been waiting E V E R Y SINGLE day for those two little buds to bloom already.  Going out each morning camera in hand.

And finally this morning, after a torrential downpour and thunderstorm last night, they decided to make their appearance (or did I forget to look yesterday??)

Maybe I didn’t check EVERY single day……

….because my poor peonies were BEAT UP!

They were downright DROOOOOPY – and looking very sad.

But no worries – I cut them off and brought their beauty and amazing fragrance to the porch where I often sit, and I know I will enjoy them even more than where they really live – on the “other” side of the house.

peonies on the porch

Do you have one of those “other” sides on your house? – the side you rarely go around?

SHEESH!  I better go round that way more often or that rotten no-good scoundrel peony thief might get this one too!

PEONY THEFT (get it? get the play on words?!)  Or am I getting confused? Penny Theft or Petty Theft?  Or are there both?

No matter – around these parts – it’s PEONY theft!

Happy Saturday!

Cheers and Hugs,

Jodi