The last major deadline of the filing season is finally behind me!! I finished getting signed forms from clients around 6:30 last night and it felt so good to be done!
November 15 is a deadline for some Not-for-Profit entities, but most of mine will be extended until February and can be extended again until May.
I looked at my calendar for the rest of the year yesterday and, at most, I will be in Nashville for four weekends between now and the new year. Between trips to Gatlinburg and Florence, Thanksgiving, my trips to Disney World (fun trip) and Chicago (work trip), the choir Christmas cantata and my Christmas break from work the weeks add up! I think since I'll be working for most of the first four months of the new year, I should enjoy weekends away as much as possible!
I'm also, most likely, not going to have to work outside of 8-5 until January. That is, hands down, the best part about the slower time at work. I did have to work late today because of a wreck that shut down Interstate 65. My 20 minute commute became close to two hours, but thankfully that is the exception, not the norm. It's an extra (and much needed) incentive to get moving in the morning when I know I only have to work for 8 hours and not 10-12!
Hopefully, now that I have "extra" time on my hands, I can get to a dry cleaner. Otherwise, I am going to be completely out of work clothes. It's starting to get ridiculous!! :)
I can't keep my eyes open any longer, but I'll try to post pictures of the changing leaves in Gatlinburg after the weekend!
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Klutz is Back
Mother wanted to name me Grace when she was pregnant with me. Daddy said no. For years, I've said it might have helped to make me more graceful had Daddy agreed. Either it would have been helpful or very ironic!
Anyway, I've showed just how much of a klutz I am over the past few weeks. It all started because I was cleaning my kitchen after dinner one night. I put a baking sheet away and somehow managed to dislodge my pizza stone which rolled out of the cabinet and on to my big toe. I know I shouldn't keep a round object on its side in a cabinet, but I don't have a drawer that is wide or deep enough for it. To make a long story short, I cried for several hours, took some medicine and didn't sleep all night from my poor throbbing, rapidly-brusising toe and toenail. I couldn't walk easily the next day and ended up at the doctor for an x-ray. I also expected they would drain the blood under my toenail to relieve the pressure, but they didn't. I ended up with this:
Two weeks later, I finally felt better and, of course, on the first day I wore heels, I broke another toe. I was rushing to get to work early because I had to give a presentation and had yet to print my PowerPoint slides. As I was going into my closet to get shoes, my foot had a close encounter with the closet door. After straightening out my now crooked toe, I put my big girl panties on, shoved my aching foot into a heel and went to work. Needless to say, I did not have the best day.
So far, I don't have any new injuries. Knock on wood!! Let's hope I've gotten a good bit of my clumsiness out of my system and will have an injury-free several months. That doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to the handrail going up AND down any stairs. We don't want a repeat of the Florence Post Office incident*.
*Really embarassing story: I was 9 and fell down all the Florence Post Office stairs. I was wearing a dress. People stopped and got out of their cars to make sure I was ok. Not my finest moment.
Anyway, I've showed just how much of a klutz I am over the past few weeks. It all started because I was cleaning my kitchen after dinner one night. I put a baking sheet away and somehow managed to dislodge my pizza stone which rolled out of the cabinet and on to my big toe. I know I shouldn't keep a round object on its side in a cabinet, but I don't have a drawer that is wide or deep enough for it. To make a long story short, I cried for several hours, took some medicine and didn't sleep all night from my poor throbbing, rapidly-brusising toe and toenail. I couldn't walk easily the next day and ended up at the doctor for an x-ray. I also expected they would drain the blood under my toenail to relieve the pressure, but they didn't. I ended up with this:
Two weeks later, I finally felt better and, of course, on the first day I wore heels, I broke another toe. I was rushing to get to work early because I had to give a presentation and had yet to print my PowerPoint slides. As I was going into my closet to get shoes, my foot had a close encounter with the closet door. After straightening out my now crooked toe, I put my big girl panties on, shoved my aching foot into a heel and went to work. Needless to say, I did not have the best day.
So far, I don't have any new injuries. Knock on wood!! Let's hope I've gotten a good bit of my clumsiness out of my system and will have an injury-free several months. That doesn't mean I'm not going to hold on to the handrail going up AND down any stairs. We don't want a repeat of the Florence Post Office incident*.
*Really embarassing story: I was 9 and fell down all the Florence Post Office stairs. I was wearing a dress. People stopped and got out of their cars to make sure I was ok. Not my finest moment.
Monday, October 8, 2012
New Recipe: Sugar Cookie Bars
I needed a quick and easy recipe for a sweet coworker's birthday last Wednesday and guess where I turned? That's right, my good friend, Pinterest! It's pretty obvious that I like to cook (and eat) since nearly half of my total pins are food-related.
I decided to make these sugar cookie bars from High Heels and Grills. I love how I keep finding new food blogs to follow from pins I like on Pinterest! There are tons of interesting recipes on this blog and I can't wait to try something else soon!
Ingredients:
Cookies:
2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
Several drops of food coloring (optional)
Directions:
COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. I sifted my dry ingredients. Just something I always do when baking.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)
Add egg and combine well.
Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.
Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)
Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
Set aside to cool completely.
FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.
Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.
Add food coloring until desired color.
Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
Cut into squares and serve.
These cookies are VERY good! The cookie turns out to be almost like a shortbread cookie. Since shortbread is one of my favorites, this was a definite plus!
I made one recipe for work last Wednesday and there were none left at the end of the day. I liked them so much (and I had sour cream and half and half left), so I made another recipe on Saturday for my family. I think it would be fun to use different colors and maybe add sprinkles for different holidays or occasions!
I'll definitely make these cookies again!
I decided to make these sugar cookie bars from High Heels and Grills. I love how I keep finding new food blogs to follow from pins I like on Pinterest! There are tons of interesting recipes on this blog and I can't wait to try something else soon!
Ingredients:
Cookies:
2-1/2 cups bread flour (or all-purpose flour is fine)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 Tbsp. sour cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup half and half
1 tsp. vanilla
Pinch of salt
Several drops of food coloring (optional)
Directions:
COOKIES: Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. I sifted my dry ingredients. Just something I always do when baking.
In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. (The longer you beat it, the fluffier your cookies will be.)
Add egg and combine well.
Add sour cream and vanilla and mix until completely blended.
Slowly add the flour mixture and stir until well combined.
Gently press the batter into the greased baking dish and spread out with hands. (If you butter your hands, this will help with the stickiness.)
Bake 17-20 minutes, or until edges become lightly golden.
Set aside to cool completely.
FROSTING: In a medium bowl, cream together butter, powdered sugar, and half and half until light and fluffy.
Stir in vanilla and salt, combine well.
Add food coloring until desired color.
Frost your cooled cookie bars evenly.
Cut into squares and serve.
These cookies are VERY good! The cookie turns out to be almost like a shortbread cookie. Since shortbread is one of my favorites, this was a definite plus!
I made one recipe for work last Wednesday and there were none left at the end of the day. I liked them so much (and I had sour cream and half and half left), so I made another recipe on Saturday for my family. I think it would be fun to use different colors and maybe add sprinkles for different holidays or occasions!
I'll definitely make these cookies again!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
