No Phone Zone

You've seen it... the SUV driving really slowly on the interstate, the sports car weaving slightly into your lane and on to the shoulder of the road, trucks flying by with no regard to others. A quick glance into the vehicle and YEP, they are on the cell phone!! We all think we can do it, but honestly, we can't.

"I pledge to make my car a No Phone Zone. Beginning right now, I will do my part to help put an end to distracted driving by not texting or using my phone while I am driving. I will ask other drivers I know to do the same. I pledge to make a difference." Go to http://www.oprah.com/questionaire/ipledge.html?id=4  to make your pledge public.

Oprah, once again, is doing her part to bring awareness to the dangers of texting and talking on the phone while driving. I know that I am guilty of this pleasure, even though I try to make a conscience effort not to spend too much time on the phone while in the car. It only takes a moment for an accident to occur. Please do your part. Statistics are showing that texting and talking while driving are more impairing than drinking and driving.

Until next time....

Nutty Cocoa Banana Muffins...

I made these this afternoon to explore a new recipe. The muffins look wonderful and taste even better. Just in case you want to try them, here is the recipe.

2 bananas mashed

2/3 cup of sugar

2 eggs

1tsp vanilla

6tbsp melted butter

2 cups of all purpose flour

2tsp baking soda

1/4 cup buttermilk

2/3 cup chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350. Combine bananas, sugar, and eggs. Mix well. Add vanilla and melted butter. Stir. Add flour, baking soda, and buttermilk. Mix with a fork until well blended. Add chocolate chips and nuts. Stir. Line a muffin pan with liners. Fill liners to the top with muffin mix. Bake for 20 minutes or until brown.

Enjoy!

Until next time ......

XOXOXOXO

My top 20 memories of 2009....

20.Moving my kitty cats from inside to outside for good. This necessity broke my heart.

19. Attending my first boat parade.

18. Discovering the recipe for our new favorite dessert, Blueberry Apple Cobbler.

17. After watching Julie vs. Julia, ditching the Country Crock and cooking with "real" butter.
16. Seeing the lights at Bellingrath Gardens.
15. Going to see Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time.

14. Eating oysters. Yes, they were raw the first time. :)

13. One disaster after another at our 99 year old house when we were trying to sell it. Yippie!
12. Learning how to re-plumb a toliet.
11. 10, 000, 000 mosquitoes covering my body and Wes' at Crater Lake.

10. Discovering Mignon Faget.

09. My first Mardi Gras parade, The Bacchus Parade.

08. Being close enough to touch a baby sea lion on a beach on the Oregon Coast.

07. Going to the Grand Ole Opry.

06. Lounging by a pool that I own!!!!

05. Getting a job at a wonderful school with a fantastic, established library program.

04. Meeting the awesome people that work at that school that I now call my FRIENDS!

03. Living 5 miles from the J. Crew outlet and the BEACH!

02. Going to the Jewel concert with my sisters and mom.

and finally.....

01. The grandness and stillness of the Redwood Forrest.

2009 was a great year that blessed Wes and I with many things. I am welcoming 2010 with open arms, and I am hoping that you are doing the same.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!