Rebecca Homecca

Here are some pictures from the Maritime Museum that we stopped at on our trip.

Just got back from a fundraiser that required me to buy a frozen custard sundae from Culver’s.

Twist my arm why don’t you.

Luckily, I still had some calories to spend. Dieting is like shopping to me, I have an allowance and want to get the most bang for my buck. Do I want a cookie that will leave me hungry in five minutes or an entire sandwich?

I’ve been writing down everything I eat trying to limit the intake. Hubs helped me download a free app for my Ipod that keeps track and has a bunch of food preloaded. That way I don’t have to google “how many calories are in whatever” every day.

I’ve also been getting up early and riding my bike (doctor’s orders). I have to say, for the most part I have been feeling better, the weight loss will be an added benefit.

There have been a couple of days where I did not spend enough calories during the day and didn’t feel too good, but I’m getting it figured out.

Despite what they tell you, salad will leave you just as hungry in five minutes as a cookie.

Hmmm…I seemed to have gotten a little side tracked here. I think I started talking about fundraisers and ice cream…

Must be the sugar.

We made it back from our supposed back country camping trip. Unfortunately, the back country sites were full, so we had to take a regular tent site. There were only a couple of those left too. Apparently everyone decided it was a nice weekend to camp.

We had to wait for people to exit our site, so we hung out at lake then for a while, then we took a a beach tour with a park ranger to learn about dune plants. Then we went to the maritime museum and learned about the early coast guard.

I never get tired of that lake. We just call it the big lake in these parts. We have discussed living other places throughout the course of our marriage, but I’m not sure if I could ever leave that lake.

After we set up our tent, we decided that the back country food was lame when your car is right there. With rain clouds looming, we headed into town and got pizza.

It started to rain pretty steady, so we decided to take a drive instead of playing cards back at the tent.

Best decision ever. We found a bunch of new advenures and trails. We came across a trail called Pyramid Point. It was quite a hike up, but what a view when we got there!

We stopped in Glen Arbor for ice cream and that is a really neat area too.

Pics coming soon

Even though it was not the trip we had planned, we had a lot of fun, a lot of relaxing,  and new adventures.

I cleaned out some old files last night and came across a bunch of projects that I did in college.

I can’t believe I hung onto it this long, but then I think about how much time and effort went into that stuff.

I really enjoyed my use of double space (maybe even slightly larger) and big font. I was so clever.

For one of my marketing classes we had to do an ad campaign for a steakhouse. This included a story board for a TV commercial. I drew it with colored pencils and it has little stick people in it.

I am not exaggerating when I say it looks like a child drew it. How on earth did I turn that in?

I got a good grade though. Luckily I was graded on my concept not my mad art skillz.

Of course nowadays you can probably do it all on the computer and download some sweet graphics from the internet. Back in my day we still used an overhead projector with plastic slides you could print on (that was fancy, before then you had to hand write it.)

We were introduced to powerpoint my senior year. It was like the most amazing thing ever, what with all the graphics and fancy slide transitions. Don’t you just love it when people use all kinds of crazy slides and graphics in powerpoint?

Boy we sure did.

I also had a bunch of employee evaluations from some of my old employers. I was an outstanding employee, by the way. Probably better hang on to those in case I ever need to prove it.

No, really I was a good worker once-see?!

I did, however, get marked down a point for tardiness. Glad to see I learned from that…

There was an amazing amount of magazine clippings. Everything from weight loss (been working on that since year 2000 apparently. Note to self, tips from magazines don’t work) to random craft projects I apparently thought I might do.

I actually had a couple in there that I remember doing. I also had a couple in there I remember buying supplies for, but not actually doing.

It was a nice trip down memory lane, but begs the question, How many times did I move this junk?

Summer has arrived with a vengance. It is supposed to be 90 tomorrow. We do not have air conditioning.

The hardest part about that is cooking.  I don’t want to create more heat by using the stove or oven.

I know I can use the grill, but it’s even hotter out there. I’m not even sure I want something cooked to eat. I’m thinking salad, sandwiches, bread and water, all sound good.

It gives me a hankering for gazpacho but the tomatoes aren’t ready yet. I might just have to go canned.

Which is fine, because then I don’t have to use the stove to peel the fresh ones.

There are a ton of different recipes for gazpacho, which is a cold tomato based soup. I always thought cold soup sounded wierd until I tried it. It is so good. I don’t love salad all the time, and this is a great way to get a bunch of veggies in.

I’ll post my full recipe when I make it-which will be soon!

Meanwhile, I am going to have some ice cubes and pretend it’s food.

It’s like Christmas in June or something.

The old Elph wasn’t really working like it should anymore (read as: takes three pictures and the battery dies. New batteries. That we just bought.), so Hubs informed me that he got me a new camera so I could take pictures on our camping trip.

You mean more than three? That’s crazy talk.

I thought the old Elph was so small when we first got it (now the only thing small about it is the screen) but this new one is soooo much lighter. When you carry your camera around in your purse, this is a definite advantage. And yet the screen is so big! How do they do it?

But wait There’s More!

He then got the hook up on somebody’s (you know who you are) old IPOD Touch! He recently got a free one and I was GREEN with envy. I can’t even tell you.

What can I say, I like gadgets. Especially small ones. Like my tiny laptop.

But I was talking about my newfangled IPOD thingy that I have no idea how to use but I love it!

I feel so hip and cool now that I can put Justin Timberlake music on my IPOD touch!

Er…wait…that didn’t come out quite right…

Friday night we got a call from Hub’s cousins and they were all together doing goofy boy stuff. So we decided to postpone our camping (probably for the best the weather was a little wierd) for next week. That way he could participate in all the goofiness.

I didn’t mind too much though, ’cause I got to pinch lots of babies.

As always, I am exhausted when we get back. Staying up too late and running around too much.

Hopefully the weather will cooperate for next weekend!

I saw this plant stand a while ago and thought it was really cute (and a good price) but didn’t want to spend the money that day.

Fast forward a couple of weeks and I sold a chair out of our basement at work and made some cash money. I knew what I was getting! Hubs and I discussed needing something to get the pots off the deck, so it was perfect.

I did not think it would still be there since it was so neat and such a good deal. And that happens to me a lot.

But it was still there!

I decided the tomato plant was too heavy, so I will have to find something else to sit that on. The pots on top are attempting to grow peppers, but I think the marigolds are doing better.

Next year I could even use it as like a bar for snacks and drinks or what have you. They had another one in the store…hmmm…maybe if I sell another chair…

While I was at the antique store (one of my faves, they have good prices) I also found this little gem for $12.

I have been looking for something like this. Everything I saw was cheap (well, not cheap, expensive actually, but cheaply made) or ugly or cost too much or all of the above. This little angel is made out of cast iron, so she is very heavy and sturdy. I love how she is peaking out from the ground. She made me go over budget a little, but I think it was worth it!

The Lemon Cookies were a hit. Unfortunately we were a little dessert heavy this Wienie Wednesday, so I had some leftovers.

Luckily, my painting group likes snacks, so they were a hit there too.

The final word though, comes from Hubs, he is not a fan.

From Betty Crocker comes this recipe for Lemon Cookies. I am making it for Wienie Wednesday at work tomorrow.

When I was a kid Lemon Cake with Lemon Frosting was my absolute favorite. I have not had that in forever, so when I read this recipe, I just had to try it.

1 Box Lemon Cake Mix

1/3 cup butter (softened)

1/3 cup shortening

1 egg

1 container lemon frosting (my store was out, so I am using cream cheese frosting. And you, in no way, need the whole container for this. Hopefully it will still be ok)

Mix butter, shortening, cake mix, and egg on medium about 2 minutes.

Spoon onto a cookie sheet (they spread quite a bit and I made mine way to big, so keep that in mind)

Bake at 375 for 9-12 minutes.

Cool and Frost.

Since I did not use good portion control when spooning them out I did not get quite the yield I was hoping for (especially as a dish to pass). As a result, I won’t be taste testing until tomorrow. I let you know the reaction from the group.

It couldn’t be easier, that’s for sure. Hardly any measuring or dirty dishes. I just can’t figure out why I keep feeling the need to turn on the oven since it got to be 80 degrees here (finally). Last night I made chicken enchilladas and heated up the whole place.

Crazy Becky.