Yeah for Thanksgiving, even though we already have our Christmas tree up!

Did I mention we have had our Christmas tree up for over a week now? We got really excited one night and decided to play Christmas music and set our first Christmas tree up together. We still need more decorations, but I'll be out on the hunt after Christmas for more. Last year we picked up our tree for 75% off as well as stockings, ornaments, and a few other things. It looks awesome and cozy in our small, very small now, living room!

I'm so glad Thanksgiving is finally here! I really needed a break from the internship and it couldn't have come at a better time. I'm excited to see family we havent seen in a while, eat turkey, take a nap, and watch football :) Not to mention rise early on Friday for the sales! I hear Sam's Club has some pretty hard to pass up sales this year on Black Friday. I hope everyone else does too since we havent really done much Christmas shopping yet this year. Jake really likes to just buy everything all at once instead of doing it like I really like doing it and that is a little here and a little there. It seems logical if you see a gift you like for someone to pick it up, and that way you arent spending too much all at the same time. It will all work out-it always does.

Nothing too exciting here at the Standefords, our work schedules havent been cooperated with us to be able to see each other much lately-but I know we arent the only ones. Working 12-9pm for me isnt fun since I like to sleep in until 10, but only beacause after work I cant wind down enough to fall right asleep. So my days are usually from 10am-1am with a few early shifts squished right between to really make me grumpy. 3 weeks left of this rotation, much of my work is already finished and I'm just counting the days down til January!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and remember not to eat too much-this time of year people usually gain 5-10 pounds...or better yet, eat it all and a whole cheesecake I need a job next year! :)

Fiesta Fish

Today I tested my fish recipe with a few production chefs at one of Purdues Dining Court. Everything went extremely well-with a few minor things that I would change if I had to do it all over again! I'm glad thats over with and on to the next project...does this process ever end?

Jake made chicken cordon bleu tonight for dinner and I must say that he is a really good cook! He even breaded the chicken-with cracker crumbs-which I thought was funny since we had some shake and bake crumbs in the cabinet! I think hes over his cold for good now and feeling much better :)

Biggest Loser is on tonight, so I've got to get some work done before then & Ellens calling me!

VOTE 2008!

Today is a great day...its ELECTION DAY :)

To be completely honest this was the second time I was able to vote, but was the first time I actually voted. I didnt even think about voting early, but it just so happens that the there wasnt a line where I voted! Amazing since all I've heard about are 3-5 hour lines all day in other cities-that may be one reason to truly love Lafayette. I've been trying to keep up with the candidates, but its very hard for me to decipher whos telling the truth even after watching countless TV shows following the campaigns. I'm very excited to see who will become the next US President, but unlike millions I wont be tuning in tonight to see who actually won. Tomorrow morning is good enough for me! I'm kinda sick and tired of all the bash smash going on lately.

Tomorrow I will be testing my "Fiesta Fish" recipe at my foodservice facility. One of our projects is to develop a recipe and make it useful in the dining courts at Purdue all while fitting in the budget and being 'maker friendly'...in other words not hard on the chefs and other workers. My fiesta fish is a lime butter bread crumbed topped tilapia filet with a piqo de gallo topping that is WONDERFUL! I love it, but I cant really take all the credit because one of my friends kinda-sorta gave me the idea, but I implemented it. I guess I will see how that Purdue football/basketball/volleyball players like my fish tomorrow night. For the record, they actually eat more fish/seafood than I thought so I'm pretty excited.

As for the rest of the week, more of the same thing, but Jake and I are headed to Indy on Friday night to see Scott (Jakes Dad) and his new band perform as the opening band at the Neil McCoy concert. Just so happens we got free tickets to the concert so I'm excited about that.

Sam's Club is becoming busier and Jakes hours for the holidays arent looking too good...I forgot how awful retail can be during those times of the year. Thankfully he has Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter off, but I'm hoping it extends to maybe one or two days before or after each of them since I will be out of school. We will see....

Happy Belated Halloween & Daylight Savings Day!

I know it was fall about 3 weeks ago, but now the leaves are really turning colors and falling. It smells so good outside-which may be wierd to most people, but I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about! This month, as well as every other month, has been extremely busy. I cant remember the last time I was able to sit at the computer and browse for nothing on end. Two weeks ago I was hit with a mild cold that left me breathing through my mouth and coughing all night for several nights. It was horrible as any cold is, but it seemed to be so dry in the air-we solved that problem by purchasing a humidifier. Its been working really well in our bedroom since the only real problem happens when I'm sleeping.

Last weekend I was up in Chicago for the Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo from Saturday-Tuesday! It was awesome and so much fun to be in Chicago walking around everywhere...etc. I know you get the point. I would absolutely love to live in/around/near Chicago because there's so much going on all the time. Sometimes I describe myself as attention deficit or more commonly 'easily bored'. If we had the chance to live in Chicago-then I dont think I would get bored for a while! :) Despite the chilly weather, it would really be a cool place to live.

On Halloween, Jake and I dressed up as 'Grandma & Grandpa"! I was a good time and we only spent $15 between the two of us on our costumes from Goodwill. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture, but we were hilarious with our white spray-painted hair and my knee highs and Jake with his too short/too tight sweater! YOU Just had to be there!

News about Jake (since I rarely update on him) He joined a basketball league at our church and is playing on the same team as a few of our friends. He claims they are the best team in the league with 2 college bball players and the rest college athletes. I cant say I've seen them or that I dont believe that that amount of talent wouldnt be the best, but goodness hes only played one game so far! I guess thats just his competitive edge. I'm glad he joined because he needs something to win at and this is going to be a good thing for him to win at for a while... I think in the spring they have different leagues too-but I'm not sure!

Yesterday we went to the Purdue game to see the boilers in action and were so glad to see them walk away with a win-it was getting pretty bad in West Lafayette...Its about time to whip out those nicely done plays that we've never seen actually work and see them work against a Big Ten team (even though Michigan isnt doing so well). We'll always be Boilers at heart.

Today, after sleeping in an extra hour and going to church we watched the Lions vs. Bears game today to root for John in his first regular season game as a Lion! Needless to say they should have won, but some how the Bears came back again-they always seem to do that. Next game we'd like to see a little more action to #16's way! Back to more homework more later on!