Five for Friday!

1. I just finished teaching my only class for the day.  Students are being rewarded for earning their AR (Accelerated Reader) points, and so they're on computers, tablets, DS's and other electronics today.

I figured if they can do it, I can do it, too! ;)

2. I am still not ready for Christmas.  I have some gifts, but still have quite a few to get.  I always think I have so much time, and then...BOOM.  12 Days 'til Christmas.  How does that happen?

via

3. I had to cut back on Christmas gifts this year.  People seriously need to stop having babies! ;)  lol  I used to by something for my friends' kids, but it's just not possible any more!  There are so many, and then I feel bad for not buying gifts for Scott's friends' kids or kids of our mutual friends.  It's just not worth the guilt. 

Unfortunately, I just don't get to see many of them anyway.  I doubt they'll even notice that they're missing something from me.

4. I'm planning to make some Christmas cookies this weekend.  Here's what's on my list:

• Chocolate chip (my "specialty")
• Cut out cookies (a family recipe)
• Peanut Butter Blossoms (recipe coming to the blog on Tuesday!)
• No Bakes
• Citrus Sugar Cookies (These are a box mix from Tastefully Simple.)

That should probably be enough! :)

5. I decorated my Christmas tree last night.  I put the lights on on Sunday.  I've come to the conclusion that I need to buy my own ornaments.  I have all of the ornaments I made in school and a random assortment of ones purchased for me growing up.  Some of them I love, but I really hate my tree.  lol

I think I should've left the ornaments off.  I liked it better with out them:

Live & Learn Thursday: Apple Cinnamon Pork Chops

Today I'm linking up with one of my favorite bloggers, Sarah from Life As Always!  She and three other ladies have recently started hosting Live & Learn Thursday.  You can write about anything you have in mind: a new recipe, a life lesson, celebrity gossip...you name it, you can share it! 

Today, I'm sharing a new recipe I tried last week.  I had pinned this to my I Love Food board on Pinterest quite some time ago, and I finally got around to giving it a try.

Here's the original pin:




I'm sharing this today because I learned quite a lot by making this:1. My husband hates these pork chops.  Not this recipe exactly, but he's never liked this particular kind of pork chops we buy.  Thanks for telling me....  He also doesn't like pork loin (which the original recipe calls for).  2. Despite my compensations, these pork chops are just dry.  (Apparently, I don't really like them either).3. This was easy to make, and the flavor was really good which is why I am going to share what I did despite the shortcomings! :) Ingredients:~2.5-3 lbs boneless porkchops~3 Red Delicious Apples, sliced~Honey*~Cinnamon* I did not measure the cinnamon and honey at all... 1. Slice the apples, and put about half of the slices in the bottom of the slow cooker. 
2. Sprinkle with cinnamon. (I also added some water to the slow cooker at this stage.  I had read on the original recipe blog that some people commented that this was dry.  The slow cooker she uses does not allow moisture to escape.  Mine is not that good.  lol  SO I went ahead an compensated for this right away.) 

 

3. Cut a slit in each pork chop, drizzle in a little honey, and insert an apple slice.

 

 

4. Place the pork chops in the slow cooker, and drizzle with honey.  (At this point, I also added a little more flavored liquid.  I poured in the juice from the plate on which I defrosted the pork chops.  You could use wine or something you have on had.  I had a little champagne, so I poured in about 1 T.  Then I put in about 1 tsp. of Red Wine Vinegar). 

 

 

5. Put the rest of the apple slices on top.

 

 

6. Drizzle a little in a little more honey and sprinkle with cinnamon. 

7. Cook on low for 7 hours (or more....I'm gone for way longer than 7 hours when I put this on before work).  (Before I cooked this, I poured some more water over the whole thing.)

 

 

If you have a slow cooker that doesn't allow moisture to escape, you don't even need to add any liquid to this.  When Scott got his out (before I got home), he shredded up the pork chops, to let the pieces sit down in the liquid.  I added some salt, and served it over mashed potatoes.  The smaller pieces weren't as dry and were actually quite flavorful.  This dish has the potential to be really enjoyable!

 

Apparently, just not with those pork chops in my house! ;)

 

Rose VoxBox Part Five {belVita Breakfast Biscuits}

Oh my goodness, I really do love Influenster.  It's been so fun participating in another VoxBox opportunity. 

Today, I'm reviewing the last product that I got to try in my Rose VoxBox....belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits.

Once again, here's what was inside:

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

I took these to work to try.  I eat breakfast between 6:45 and 7:00 AM.  Lunch for my 6th graders (and me!) isn't until 12:38.  Needless to say, I sometimes get a little hungry between breakfast and lunch.  I decided that these could be a perfect mid-morning snack if I was feeling particularly hungry before lunch.

 

Yes, I was correcting math papers while I snacked...

 

As you can see, despite the bubble wrap in the VoxBox, by the time I got these, they had broken a little.  But who cares?  Edible is edible whether or not it's broken! :) 

 

These belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits come in packages of 4.  I received the blueberry flavor, and they were really good.  I was worried that they would be really hard, but even though they were crunchy, they were easy to bite and chew.  I actually only ate two on this day.  I saved the other two for another time.

 

I don't know that I would buy these for a couple of reasons.  One, I'm a PopTart person.  I wish I could eat something else for breakfast sometimes because PopTarts aren't exactly healthy, but I love them, and that's that.  Two, these are a great snack, but when you're trying to watch your calories, that's just one more thing and these aren't exactly low on calories either.

 

Overall, if someone offered these to me as a snack, I certainly wouldn't turn them down!  It's just not a product that I have a real need for in my life. 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or belVita for my thoughts on this product.

 

 

Music Monday: Recent Christmas Songs

If you've been around here for any length of time, you know how much I love Christmas music!  Last week, I shared my readers' favorite Christmas songs. 

This week, I wanted to share some Christmas songs that have been released recently that I just love!  They're not remakes of traditional songs (which I also love, of course), but they are originals that I hope will eventually become holiday staples....they certainly are for me!

Christmas Eve with You ~Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester) & Jayma Mays (Emma Pillsbury): Glee
 

This isn't an actual video as for whatever crazy reason this song was never aired in an episode!  (Insane.  I know.)  It's beautiful.

 

And it's currently the alarm on my phone.

 

On this Winter's Night ~Lady Antebellum

  

 

I love this song.  I love Lady Antebellum.  I love Hillary Scott's voice.  I think what I love most about her is that her range is similar to mine, so I can always sing her songs! :)

Underneath the Tree ~Kelly Clarkson

 

Kelly performed this song live on The Voice this week (not this video), and it caused me to download her new Christmas album.  (It's only $7.99 on iTunes!)  The album is pretty good.  I actually prefer her original songs to the remakes of traditional songs.  Don't get me wrong, her voice is amazing, but I like my traditional Christmas songs without a lot of crazy embellishment.  She does a lot of that with them.  Her rendition of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is in a pretty high key, and it just doesn't sound right to me.  I still prefer Dean Martin & Doris Day's version.

ANYWAY....are there any recent Christmas songs that you really love?  Have you heard Kelly's new album, Wrapped in Red?  Please share! :)

 

New Blog Design!!

It's here!  It's here!  My new blog design is here!!!! 

Can you feel my excitement!??!!

I'm in love with this new design created by Jane from Poppiness Designs! 

She was so amazing to work with!  Everything was started and completed within the same week!  :)  I'm so glad I finally decided to purchase a blog design.  If you're looking for a blog overhaul, stop by her design page.  If you're not in need of a new design right now, go visit her blog.  She's an absolute sweetheart! :)

Century Gothic (this font I'm using) is my absolute favorite.  Great minds think alike!

Thanks, Jane!

Rose VoxBox Part 4 {Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara}

I'm almost done sharing the items I received in my Rose VoxBox from Influenster! 

 

Here's what's inside:

 

Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara

Lindt Lindor Truffle

Kiss Gradation Polishes

Dr. Scholl's for Her Cozy Cushions

belVita Crunchy Breakfast Biscuits

Vitabath Hydrating Lotion

 

I was glad to get a new mascara in this VoxBox....mostly because my current mascara was running out.  :)  

 

The mascara in this VoxBox is Rimmel Retro Mania Glam Mascara.

 

 

 

 

As you can see, this is a hefty size tube of mascara.  Right away, you feel like you're getting more mascara than other companies offer, which would mean more value for the money!

 

This mascara also has a large applicator.

 

 

I liked this because I didn't feel like I had to keep applying mascara over and over to get the coverage I wanted.  I needed to use less to get the effect I was going for.

 

Before

 

At this point in my make up application, I had on eyes shadow and eyeliner, but no mascara.



After

 

I apologize for the pathetic quality of these iPhone photos.  I really need the iPhone 5 something or other.... :-p

 

Anyway, overall, I really liked this mascara.  It was easy to apply, and it made my lashes appear full and long (though it is kind of hard to tell the difference in the before and after photos). 

 

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.
These are my opinions only. I am not compensated by Influenster or Rimmel London for my thoughts on this product.

 

I also have some exciting blog news!  I am getting a blog make-over from Jane at Poppiness Designs.  I really love reading Jane's blog, and I enjoy the work she has done for other bloggers!  Take a few moments to stop by her blog and/or check out her work!  She is currently offering 25% off full blog design orders WITH a free social media package through December 6th!

 

I am also changing my blog name to Rebeckann's Random Thoughts.  I haven't been sharing recipes as often as I would like.  Frankly, I just don't feel like cooking 90% of the time!  SO, I will still share new things I try in my kitchen, but it will be with all of the other random things I share here! 

 

I hope that you will all stay tuned for the changes! :)

 



Music Monday: Readers' Favorite Christmas Songs

I have been looking forward to this post since the idea first crossed my mind!  I asked my readers to share their favorite Christmas songs with me, and I'm going to share them with you now!  Unless they specified the artist of their favorite Christmas song, I'll share my favorite version of the song. 

So let's get started, shall we?

Ashley and Brooke both picked "White Christmas," which happens to be my favorite Christmas song, too!  My most favorite version of this song is by Bing Crosby.

 

The "Christmas Song" by Dave Matthews Band is Casey's choice.  I actually never heard this song until I looked it up to share with all of you.  Strange.  Because I seriously thought I've heard every Christmas song out there! ;)

 Our next song is also one I really enjoy.  Both Chantal and Kristin picked "Carol of the Bells."  There are quite a few versions of this song that I like, but this one is my MOST favorite.  It is the version featured in The Santa Clause.  We sang this version in my high school choir.   

For those of you who would prefer (or will have) a tropical Christmas, Elizabeth's favorite Christmas song is "Christmas Island" by Leon Redbone.  (Another one I hadn't heard before!)

 My cousin, Jaime, picked two for me to share with you!  First is "The Christmas Song" by Nat King Cole.  The second one is "O, Holy Night," which is my other favorite Christmas song!
 I can't get over how much I love Lea Michele (Rachel Berry from Glee) singing this in Season 4.
  Next, we have "The Little Drummer Boy" picked by Jane and Rachel.  I chose this version by Frank Sinatra because who doesn't love Frank??
  Julie's favorite Christmas song is "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."  I love this one by Andy Williams.
  This one was also a popular pick.  "All I want for Christmas is You" by Mariah Carey was picked by both Kelly and Sarah. 
  "Silent Night" is another beautiful Christmas carol.  Kristin said she likes it nice and simple.  I hope this one does the trick for her.  It's one of my favorites by Gene Autry.  (She's been writing her own posts about her favorite versions of Christmas songs.  You should visit to check them out!)

  

 

Susannah likes "The Christmas Waltz."  This version by Karen Carpenter is amazing.  She had such a beautiful voice. 

 

 Last, but certainly not least, we have Tarole's favorite Christmas Song.  This one is also called "All I want for Christmas is You," but it's by Vince Vance and the Valiants.  It's not the same song as the one with the same title by Mariah.
  

Thanks to all you who shared your songs with me!  Any songs that you would add to our list?