Happy! Happy! Birthday Boy S!

Today is S's birthday!  I love you, and hope you have a wonderful birthday!

That's right.  That would be my handsome S sporting some serious Christmas beard ornaments.  I did not even know that there was such as thing as beard ornaments, but I do now.  But that bit of learning does not count as one of the 5 things I've learned from S.

So here goes.  Hope these bring a smile to your face and heart, S!

5 - Ask questions.  Ask deep questions.  Ask hard questions.  And respect when your mama can't answer all of them.  And by all means, make sure that you ask those questions while your mama is driving.  Have crazy instinct like that.

4 - Sound tech matters.  And if you make it look easy, it matters even more.  And if you make it look cute, it matters the most!

3 - Go to work even when you don't like testing emissions.  Go anyway.  You're still building a life even if it doesn't seem like it at the time.

2 - Graduate.  You don't have to walk, but graduate.

1 - Choose mentors well.   S has chosen some of the best I've ever seen.  They have molded him into the man he is today.  Oh, and while you're at it, choose also to be a good mentee.

What a handsome bunch of great guys.  And this isn't all of the fine mentors that have invested in my son.  I don't have pictures of all of them.  But trust me.  They are da best.  S has chosen very well plus he can do both sides of the mentor life like a champ.

Happy!  Happy!  Good birthday to you, S!!

And look at me...I actually posted every day this week!  Woo-hoo!!!

Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

That's right.  Bacon.  Maple.  Cinnamon Rolls.  Together.

I don't have pictures of making these, but I'm making them again tonight to take into work tomorrow for Bacon Day!  Since I'm trying to post more regularly again, I thought I'd share these with you.  I made this batch a couple of weeks ago, at which point one of my taste testers nominated January 29 as our First Annual IT Bacon Day!  So let it be written!  So let it be done!

The first step?  Well, maybe not the first step, but at some point while the roll dough is rising, half cook some bacon - your favorite brand, which for me is from Aldi! - and then cut it into pieces.  (I will leave it up to you to know the "right" size for your bacon.)

I used my standard go-to King Arthur Flour Soft White Dinner Roll recipe but you can use whatever roll recipe is your favorite (or even frozen bread dough!).  After at least one rise, I rolled the dough into a rectangle (about 12" x 16", give or take) and then spread this maple cinnamon mixture over the top.

1/4 cup soft butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 T. maple syrup
2 t. cinnamon
Dash of salt
Dash of vanilla
2 drops of maple extract (if desired)

Now take about half of that half-baked bacon and spread it over the dough.  Did I say how much bacon to use?  Why no, I didn't, did I?  Hmmm...I'm fairly certain that if we need to ask how much, then perhaps this isn't the Maple Bacon Cinnamon Roll recipe for you!  Hah!

Then I rolled them up from the long side and sliced into rolls like standard cinnamon rolls. My recipe will yield 16 rolls.  After rising, I then baked at 350 for about 25 minutes.

The final step was to pour on the maple icing glaze and garnish with the rest of the bacon.  I used a very simple maple icing glaze, but you could get fancier, if you wanted.

1 T. soft butter
3 T. maple syrup
2 T. brown sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
Dash of vanilla
Dash of salt
1 - 2 T. milk (or to desired consistency)

I just mixed those all together and spread over the warm rolls.

Yummy Goodness!

Happy! Happy! Late Birthday Girl W!

W for Wednesday, right?

Ok, so this is another late birthday posting, but at least I'm in the right month still!  And I'm pretty sure W will be celebrating her birthday until her new remodeled kitchen is done and ready!  It's going to be so purrrrty!  I can't wait to see it!

Sorry this is so late, W, but here are 5 things I've learned from you that I hope bring you a smile!  So glad you are one of my sisters!

5 things I've learned from the Wonderful W....

5 - Don't ask why that dinner guest is wearing an eye patch.  We know you're tempted to ask, but don't do it.  Just don't.

4 - Boxers are easy to love.  Even when they break your heart by not living forever.

3 - Set a pretty table.  For dinner.  For tea.  For a wedding.  For holidays.  For everyday.  Set a pretty table.

2 - Aspic is funny.  Especially when you hear Deb say it out loud and you have no idea what it means.

1 - Host.  Because you can. Because someday you may not be able to host.

Oh - wait!  There is one more thing I've learned from W - Nam's Beef and Noodles.

Good times.  Good memories.  Good friends.  Happy!  Happy!  Love you W!

Happy! Happy! Way Late Birthday Girl C!

This is well over a month late, but this is intended to still bring a smile and bless this sweet sister, C.

I haven't gotten to spend nearly enough time with C, but she has still taught me some important things.  Here are 5 of those things.

5 - Give.  Period.  Give.  And this girl loves to give.  Everything from lotions and shower gels to low-rise lawn chairs to Eddie Bauer travel bags.  (We have enjoyed all of them!)

4 - Welcome.  Choose to err on the side of welcoming new family members and calling them "sister."  Whether that is at a family funeral or a trip to Kansas City.  She should totally rescind that welcome now that I have been so remiss in posting this for her birthday which was like 15.3752489 weeks ago, but I still appreciate the designation.  Truly, she should totally rescind it.  Totally.  (Did I use enough totally's?)

3 - Share your faith.  Boldly even.  And every chance you get.

2 - Stories of Greg as a child.  Sisters and cousins be good for dat stuff.

1 - KC culture pockets.  Kansas City is not all BBQ sauce and sports.  Who knew?  C.  C knew.

We love you, C!  I have no excuse for not being more prompt with this, but I hope you had a wonderful birthday and still smile as you read this!  Thank you for being my sister!

Happy! Happy! Birthday Girl E!

Ugh...I just realized that it has been over a  month since I last posted.  For shame, Deb!

Ok, I'm going to try and make up for it some this week with multiple birthday postings.  Thank you for your patience with me, and I hope the four postings this week will bring a smile to at least the four people I try to honor.

So we will start the week off with getting one of the four birthday postings on the right date!  Happy!  Happy!  Birthday to E!

We love you, E!  I hope reading these 5 things I've learned from you will bring a smile to your beautiful face and heart!

5 - Love deeply.  Even if it isn't returned or appreciated, love deeply.

4 - Laugh and smile often.  Especially when you are raising boys who stuff clothes down the toilet.

3 - Mother in the way that works best for you.  See # 5 for further details.

2 - Cinnamon rolls for breakfast may or may not mean Grandpa G and Grandma Deb have come to visit.

1 - Create beauty wherever you are and with whatever you have on hand. I remember watching E create this holiday table a couple of Christmases ago, and I was enthralled as I watched her build a centerpiece from thin air.  Well almost, but it was impressive.

Happy!  Happy!  We hope your birthday is full of beauty and love and laughter and tons of smiles!