Mountain Pies - aka - My Country Education

I spent Saturday with a combination of husband's college roommates, their spouses, children, and additional people I have never met before. I love these girls (and their guys), and the Fall Fire on the Ponderosa was a success to say the least.  I tend to enjoy "byo-whatever" parties, and this was no different.  A fire pit, beer, crock pots, and cupcakes was easy for everyone to transport and allowed for minimal clean-up.  The real learning experience came in the format of Mountain Pies.  Apparently I grew up too much in "the city" as at 27 this was my first experience with Mountain Pies. 

Many of you may feel this is an entirely too long explanation, but who knew there were so many variations?! Really, a mountain pie is like a giant grilled cheese that you stuff with toppings and shove in a fire.  Now, doesn't that sound appealing?

First, you need good friends that are guaranteed to laugh at/with you, and help you keep an eye on your Mountain Pie lest it get burnt to a crisp.  Note, I still burnt one, and my mouth, but that is a whole 'nother story.

Second, you need a plethora of toppings/fillings and bread.  We went through 3 or 4 loaves of bread making these just in one night! I know I referenced grilled cheese earlier, but that is exactly how this assembly process works. Butter the outside of the bread, stick in the press, and add toppings.  Pizza-style with pizza sauce, cheese, and pepperoni was my favorite but Kevin made a smores Mountain Pie with chocolate, marshmallow, and a graham cracker all inside too!

Now, this press device.  I have never seen anything quite like it before but I certainly understand why it is needed.  It smooshes the bread just right, heats it up and gets the outside all crispy while the cheese inside melts to ooey gooey burn your mouth perfection!

That is about all of the education I can provide.  I promise they are easy and fun - also relatively cheap once you or some friends invest in the presses!

Hoarding Gift Cards?

Hi, my name is Jessica and I hoard gift cards.

Am I the only person that hoards gift cards?  Please someone tell me I'm not. 

Last night, while cleaning out a "junk basket", I found 7 gift cards.  I'm sure I knew they existed at one point or another, but had forgotten about at least 5 of them.  The other 2 I specifically hid from myself so I wouldn't run out and spend them and then promptly forgot.

Some of those gift cards are so old, I'm really not sure who gave them to me/Kevin or when.  Prime Example - there is a $50 American Eagle gift card in there.  When was the last time that either of us shopped at American Eagle?  Oh wait, I know - when I was shopping for my 17 year old cousin a year ago.  So, I'll guess this one is 4 years old?

Gift Card #2 - Starbucks.  This one is only for $15, and I specifically remember hiding it from myself so I would have it on a rainy day when I realllly needed a grande caramel macchiato and as many of those little petite vanilla scones as I could afford.  But really, when do I have time to go to Starbucks and why would I go when the hotel has an UNLIMITED SUPPLY OF COFFEE? This sucker went in my purse, and one of these days I'm going to treat myself.  And maybe my husband too if he is behaving himself.


Gift Card #3 - Bed Bath and Beyond.  I think I got this one as a freebie during the 2010 wedding-palooza Kevin and I had going on.  You know, because I bought approximately $500 worth of Calphalon products in one shopping trip.  And you know I kept that gift card for myself.  Except now, I don't want to spend it because whatifimightneedit?! Seriously, no one is getting married between now and the end of 2012 and I really seriously am dying for new pillows.  Hello, one free pillow for Jessica!

Gift Cards #4 and #5 are both for IKEA.  These are from our wedding and I am saving them for when we get our own house.  Right, I am well aware that was supposed to happen in 2009, but HELLO LIFE. So, back in the basket they went.


Hello My Love.... (and Meatballs!)

 Gift Card #6 - Banana.  Oh yes, I just found a way to validate the ridiculously expensive blazer that I want.  It's on sale RIGHT NOW for $148, and there is a 25% off code (BRCREATE until 10/21) and I have a $50 gift card.  Dude, that $198 blazer is going to be mine for $61.

Gift Card #7 - Dicks.  I'm sure this is hubby's, but I could really really really use some new yoga-ish pants for the fall.  My UA is cold-gear so I sweat like a man when I wear it, and my grey yoga pants def have a hole in an inappropriate location.  Decision time: should I assume KG forgot about it and just swipe it, or should I ask nicely and put emphasis on the hole in my current pants?

So, I guess I can do a little shopping in the next few days and not feel totally guilty about it.  That's a win.  And I got a basket of miscellaneous crap cleaned out, so that's a double win!

Happy Rainy Friday, now go spend some dough :)

Mom: Goals for 2013 - Part 3

I think these 6 will round out my activities in Mom's memory for 2013.  It was harder than I thought to decide but I am excited to share these opportunities with our friends and family. 

7. Frisbee Golf - There must be a half dozen frisbees at Mom & Dad's house that all say Little Debbie on the back of them.  Mom may not have been as skilled as dad (heck, no one is), but she loved to throw frisbees in the backyard or frisbee golf at French Creek.  The course at French Creek isn't there anymore, so I'll have to find a quality alternative.  

8. Decorator Showhouse Tour - We first attended the Vassar Show House & Gardens the year I turned 11.  I know that Grammy Moyer, Mom, and Aunt Linda all went for a few years prior, but you had to be 12 in order to visit the house.  I was so excited when they fibbed a year and I could go along to tour the house and have lunch.  (side note: are we noticing a lunch trend here?). Vassar stopped hosting their house tours in 2008 or 2009, and I was so excited last year when the Oxford Arts Alliance hosted a house tour.  I've heard great things about the house tour that Bucks County hosts and hope to continue to get more information.  These tours are usually in May, and I can't wait! 

9. Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center - We have a wedding dress from my great grandmother to donate and I am excited to spend some time with my mom's brothers learning more about our family history.  

10. Gone With the Wind.  Mommy's favorite movie and a tradition we tried to maintain by watching the.whole.damn.movie once a year.  She was so excited when she found it on dvd since her VHS tapes had seen much much better days.  

11. Sewing - This may not seem like a group project, but I assure you, it will take an army to teach me how to sew as well as my mother.  I think a small counted cross stitch piece from Dimensions will be my first project.  I would like to have it properly mounted and framed in honor of mom. Maybe one like this? Mom usually did traditional pieces, so I think a sampler is in order! 

12. Make Her Proud - I know it is not a specific item, but Dad is going to have a tough 2013, and Christopher is deploying.  I hope to send Christopher off with enough fan fare to make him smile and to give me a few extra moments to spoil him.  Maybe I'll sub this out for a more specific goal later, but I'll stick with the 12 I've got for now. 

I Love You Mom, I'll keep your memory first in my mind always, and 2013 will be the year to honor you. 

Mom: Goals for 2013 - Part 2

As I've been researching places to visit for my 2013 Goals, I have been trying to keep in mind the people I would like to join in these journeys with me.  I think my best friend will be a willing participant in most, and I am hoping to invite my Mom's "Ladies Night" group on several as well.

So far, keeping in mind we are going with attractions in driving distance, here is my list as of today:

1. Philadelphia Museum of Art - This is the numero uno on my list, and always due for a visit at least twice a year.  I know there are some great exhibits coming in 2013, including Double Portrait (about graphic design) and one featuring sculptures related to Malcom X.  This absolutely must include either brunch in the Granite Hill restaurant or lunch in the cafeteria. 

2. Nemours Mansion - Mom and I wanted to visit for many years, but with Nemours being closed for renovations from 2005 to late 2010, that provide problematic.  It recently reopened in 2011, but is one of my IOU cards from this past birthday.  Mom wrote that she owed me lunch and a tour at Nemours.  I think this will be a hard one to get through with dry eyes, but I am excited to finally go.

3. Longwood Gardens - I know I mentioned previously that I thought I might skip the lights this year, but I think after the holidays, in the beginning of January that a visit for the lights will be a positive thing.  My mom's cousin mentioned earlier this week that she would like to go, so I know there is one person on board.

4. Hiking at Ricketts Glen - Camping at Ricketts and spending a week there during the summer hiking, canoeing, and picking blueberries was one of my favorite vacations! With best friends J&K and god daughter Autumn living so close, I hope to be able to enjoy this goal several times next year.  Packing lunch to enjoy by the waterfalls and sneaking in a beer will be a must for this girl.

5. LiveStrong/Relay for Life Event - My best friend's mom is hugely active in our local Relay for Life (Go Team Dragonflies) and I am thinking that either participating in relay in June or participating in a local Livestrong event (or both) would be a great goal for Kevin and I to work towards together.  Add in some friends and family and I feel as though we could have a real impact financially for these organizations as well as a positive emotional impact on ourselves.

6. An American Cancer Society Lung Cancer Event - There aren't a lot in our area that I know of, but I think that completing Goal 5 as well as Goal 6 will help me have something to work towards physically while putting myself back together mentally. Specifically raising money for something so devastating to our family is very important to me.

I'm halfway to my goal, with 6 out of 12 decided.  I will need to think a little harder about the next 6, but they will all be Mom-Inspired and I am excited to see what next year brings!

Mom: Goals for 2013

Beginning the process of organizing my parents house is exhausting to say the least.  Challenge #78493278 was helping my dad find the down comforter for his bed so he didn't freeze at night.  And I know that is only the beginning of the roller coaster we find ourselves on. I have been tasked with finishing Chris's wrestling scrapbook that Mom started to recount wrestling from k - 12, with emphasis on his kick-ass high school years.  This meant tackling Mom's "Sewing Room" this past weekend to gather supplies and bring them home with me. I won't lie, I cried going through those shelves, dressers, and her desk.  I also need to mention that if I use ALL of the materials that Mom saved, I will have 6 inch thick scrapbook. 

I'm excited to make this scrapbook for Chris because my Mom made an incredible one for me several years ago that recounts my own high school track career.  I cried when I opened it on Christmas day, and while I know Chris won't cry, my goal is to finish it for him before he deploys. 

Anywho.  That was a long winded way of getting to my point.  Which is - I found lots of photos, ticket stubs, and brochures from trips and attractions Mom and I had visited with friends and family.  I am instituting a goal for 2013 that each and every month I will do a Mom-inspired activity.  There are a few things that we never got to do together, including visiting Nemours Mansion and that is absolutely on the list. This is absolutely about me, and maintaining the traditions and learning experiences that Mom, Grammy Moyer, and Grammy Bookheimer instilled in me. 

I hope to finish my list in the next week so I can invite others to tag along.  I'd like to have one or two people go to each attraction/exhibit with me and as Mom always did, have lunch afterwards.  I hope this will be the beginning of traditions with my friends and family, and something that I will continue with my own children someday.  Mom led by great example, and my love of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Longwood Gardens is thanks to the wonderful ladies in my life. 3



Love my family

Off to research some of my favorite places and maybe find a few new ones as well.  Any suggestions?