Kookie. Kookie. Kookie.

The past couple of weeks, it feels as though our house has been filled with every germ imaginable.  

Fevers, Ear infections, Sinus infections, Laryngitis, Vomiting and Pneumonia.  And of course... Very. Little. Sleep.

I knew the kids were beginning to feel better when they started asking for cookies again... Or should I say, I realized how sick they were when they stopped asking for them in the first place.  

Either way... they were finally on the mend.  And I was overjoyed to fulfill their request for cookies.

I'm going to tell you a secret.

My two little Kidlets LOOOVE Cookies!


I am not sure if I should be proud, or embarrassed to tell you this, but the THIRD word my Son learned to say was Cookie.


Yes.  His third word...  

Our mornings usually commence something like this:

Sam wakes in the morning and runs out to the kitchen with a huge grin on his face.  He bends down in front of the oven, points to it and says Kookie.  Kookie.  Kookie.

One night after he realized I had turned on the oven to bake salmon (and not cookies), he dropped to the floor and cried. 


And I realized I may have a problem on my hands.

My Sister-in-Law {Zarine} said it best: 
"Jen, that boy may look like his Daddy, but the kid is all yours"  

She's right! 

I didn't tell her this, but after I pulled the salmon out of the oven that night, I dropped to the floor and cried too...  I also, really wanted cookies for dinner.

I love having freshly baked cookies in the house, but I can't bake an entire batch without having them disappear into my belly.


So, this is my solution. 


I make a batch cookies.  Portion it onto a cookie sheet.  Freeze for approximately 15 minutes until the cookies are semi-frozen.   Transfer the cookies into a Ziplock bag and return them to the freezer.

Bingo Bango.  


You can now have freshly baked cookies in no time.  They may still end up in  your tummy but just not all at once.


Unexpected guests?  No problem.  pull out half a dozen cookies.  Thaw for 15 minutes and bake. 

So go ahead.  Pour yourself a glass of milk.  Grab a cookie.  Eat.  Laugh.  Love.  And Enjoy!


Happy Tuesday!  :)  

Thanks for stopping by!

Are you sleeping? It's my one year BLOGiversary!

On October 30th, I celebrated my first year BLOGiversary.


Holy Moly.  A WHOLE year.   

When I first started this blog, I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep it up. What on earth was I going to write about?  


Then I realized. 


Writing all my thoughts down here (for you to read), could save my poor Husband from listening to my useless thoughts at  11 p.m. when he is trying to sleep.


Good thought, right?  No. Not really, because truthfully I still pester him when he's trying to sleep at night.  I can't help it.  Night-time is when all my thoughts come to me.  


It usually goes something like this... 

     Me: "Hey Mike, are you sleeping?"

     Mike: "Huh?  Trying to."

     Me: "I just thought of something.. blah, blah, blah"

     Mike: "uh huh"

     Me:"Okay, Goodnight!"  "Oh wait, I just thought of something else. blah, 
           blah, blah"

     Mike: "uh"

     Me:"Okay, Goodnight!"  "Oh, one more thing, I promise.  Blah, blah."

     Mike: No answer.

     Me:"Okay, I swear, this is the last thing.  blah, blah, Wait.  Are you sleeping?
           Mike!  Are you sleeping??"

     Mike: "Why don't you write it down and we'll talk about it in the morning."

     Me: "Uh, cause I'm going to be too tired in the morning, silly!"

That's usually how it goes.
  
So, the other night, I was thinking about my a blogiversary and how I was in need of a giveaway. At midnight (of course) I asked my Husband:


     Me:  "Pssst, you sleeping?  Mike, are you sleeping?  Can I give away 
             a Kitchenaid for my one year blogiversary?"


     Mike: "I guess, If you want to give away your Kitchenaid, you can.  But 
              I can't imagine anyone would want a used one"...
 
     Me: "Umm, Does that mean you aren't going to sponsor my giveaway?"


     Mike: "Good night, Jennifer"


     Me:  "Should I write it down and we'll discuss it in the morning?"


Crumb.  That wasn't the answer I was looking for.  By changing ONE single word... a simple "a" to "your", he managed to completely ruin my giveaway.


So I had two options.
  
1) Give you my used and very much loved KitchenAid (since my Husband wasn't going to sponsor my giveaway with a new one) 


or 


2) Sponsor my own giveaway with something I could afford. 


So I had to turn to option B.  I know.  It stinks.


And, I'm so sorry guys.  I love you, but there is no way I could give away my beloved Kitchenaid... even though she is nearly 10 years old, I simply love her too much!  And truthfully, I know you wouldn't want it.  Alright, if we are being honest, I am afraid you would.

After so much time preparing this dessert table, I didn't even get a decent photo.
(I could have at least removed the saran wrap, right?)

Before I get to the giveaway though, I would like to thank all of you so much for visiting my blog over the past year.  For reading my ramblings, leaving comments,  and inspiring me. I never imagined I would meet so many wonderful people and enjoy blogging as much as I have, so thank you!

Okay, back to the contest.  Since a new appliance was out of the question, I figured I would give back to the those who have helped me make it through my Red Eye flights since returning to work.  

Click on picture to take you to starbucks.ca

Plus, I thought you could use a latte or two for all the late night baking parties you will be having in preparation for Christmas, right.  Think of all the latte's you can have with this 

$50 Starbucks gift card 
Contest now closed.  Thanks to everyone who entered!

Okay, down to the Nitty-Gritty.


To enter this contest:


1) Leave me a comment.  For fun, tell me what you will order at Starbucks if you win this contest.


2) For an extra entry "Like" me on facebook, and come back here to tell me you did.  If you already "like" my facebook page, leave me a comment on this blog post telling me.  


3)  For an extra entry, share this giveaway with your friends on Facebook (with a link back to this post) and come back here to let me know you did.


4)  For an extra entry Tweet about this giveaway including a link back to this page and @bedielsAndCo and leave me a comment here to let me know you did.


Please note, that only comments on this blog post will qualify for the contest.  :)


Contest will close at midnight on Monday November 14th and the winner will be chosen using Random.org. 


That's it.  4 chances to win!  


Please note:  This gift card will be provided by me (or my Husband if I ask him when he's sleepy enough).  Starbucks does not in anyway sponsor this post. 


Contest open to Canadian and US Residents.


Good luck!
:)


Thank you to everyone who entered the Starbucks gift card giveaway.  The winner, chosen by Random.org was #3 (my Mom).  My Mom graciously gave her prize up for another lucky winner. 


The official winner is 
theBrainrunner 

theBrainrunner said...

Venti soy Caramel Machiato extra shot of expresso

November 7, 2011 9:18 PM 

Congratulations, Mike!  Enjoy your Venti soy Caramel Machiato extra shot of espresso (or two)!  :)

Please email me your address so that I can send out your prize.  

Dear November

Let me start off by saying that so far... 

I love you.  

The mild temperatures reminding me of summer.  Reminding me of the many, many hours I spent tending to my gardens.  

Weeding.  

Trimming.  

Watering.  

Talking to my flowers, and just plain loving my beautiful gardens.

Lush green grass, bountiful flowers, and a veggie garden that would make a grown man cry. 

Are you crying yet??

My Friend Andrea, a fellow blogger, wrote about her veggies from her garden and secretly I felt... 

Pity. 

I mean really.  Who wants a beautiful veggie garden that produces TONS and TONS of Beautiful, Fresh, Delicious veggies that you can just go out and pick whenever you want... when you can have this...

I mean, Seriously people.  Wouldn't you rather have my tomato plant?   

Tell me this isn't GORGEOUS!

Okay, Okay... I'll admit, I didn't pity Andrea...  

I pitied my garden.  I wanted to have beautiful veggies like she did.

A few years ago, my Sister-in-Law lived with us and we used to accuse her of killing our plants.  I don't know why, we just did cause it was fun.  

Then she moved out.

And our plants continued to die.  

I am starting to think it may have something to do with me... (even this beautiful orchid has slowly started to die)

In my own defense, I have to say that I have asked for an electric edger and a leaf blower for my Birthday for as long as I can remember.  

I mean, you need tools to have a nice looking garden, right?

My Husband laughs and tells me that an edger and leaf blower are not going to grow better tomatoes. 

Is this true?

Nah.  That's Absurd!   

Right?

Oh... P.S. 

I'm also not good with pet fish.  

Just sayin'...