That entire experience is a big reason why I truly believe it has nothing to do with inclusiveness and everything to do with rubbing out any kind of religion, period. Many of us suggested adding symbols of other faiths to the chapel (it's big, so you could have each on display in a separate area). Nope, wanted no part of that. Just the fact that it was a chapel, that it's called a chapel, is what got me more about it all. This was not a classroom, an office, a common area. It. Was. A. Chapel. Some of the justifications for it were lies as well (such as pledging to the Honor Code happened there and thus people were "forced" to be in the presence of a cross; wrong, that ceremony occurs in another room of the main building that the chapel is part of). He said one potential student literally ran out of the chapel while touring the school because he was offended by the cross, and he vowed to not attend the school. If you ask me, someone that intolerant of a religious symbol of any faith had no business being admitted in the first place. That is of course assuming the story was even true.
I'm very Type A when it came to school. Always have been. Parents only told me to do my best, never put undue pressure on me. But I've still always been the type that had to be perfect. I just about had a coronary the two times I got a B in high school, and they didn't even count towards my GPA (it was a mid-semester grade; only our semester grades counted). 
I couldn't pull off straight As every semester in undergrad, but I still graduated magna cum laude.
Thanks for the vote of confidence!It is frosted and I'm walking away from it for the evening. DH came in when I was getting stressed and helped-what a great guy!
It will need a bit of touch up tomorrow, but it's done! Kids are in bed, and I can enjoy my adult beverage!
Ok, chicken salad recipe coming up....but I have to warn you that you may not be able to eat any other chicken salad after this one
Forgive me for not just cutting and pasting, I've tweaked this recipe for awhile so I don't know how to write it in recipe form.
BTW, I usually double or triple the recipe so you can do so and it will still come out good.
-3 or 4 cups of chicken breast (I cook my own every time covered in chicken broth til tender and juicy - don't under and don't over cook! I take it out of the cooking broth and cut it then in cubes - but I shred half of it so there's texture and the mayo holds better. I think this is what they mean when they say "the love" in a recipe, or it's my OCD....I'll pick "the love"
-2 T diced green pepper (teeny tiny pieces)
-2 T diced celery (teeny tiny pieces)
-2 T sweet onion (teeny tiny pieces)
-juice of 1 lemon (fresh only)
-salt and pepper to taste
-mayo (real Helmans. and I usually have a "feel" for how much is enough, but I'd guess about 2/3 cupish - enough to make it come together, but not enough to overpower the flavors)
-1/2 to 1 c. red grapes halved (I only use grapes, but you could use mandarine oranges, walnuts, or any combination of the three)
Ok.....
so, cook the chicken and while it's cooking dice all the veggies. This part's important - dice chicken warm and mix with veggies, salt and pepper and lemon juice (the warm chicken helps bring out the flavors of the veggies IMO). Let cool in fridge for a couple hours then add mayo and grapes. Mix well.
I serve mine in lettuce wraps, mini-croissants, or just dish it out.(ok, I'll confess - I've been known to put it on a dish and scoop bites of it with potato chips, delicious but sinful!)
That entire experience is a big reason why I truly believe it has nothing to do with inclusiveness and everything to do with rubbing out any kind of religion, period. Many of us suggested adding symbols of other faiths to the chapel (it's big, so you could have each on display in a separate area). Nope, wanted no part of that. Just the fact that it was a chapel, that it's called a chapel, is what got me more about it all. This was not a classroom, an office, a common area. It. Was. A. Chapel. Some of the justifications for it were lies as well (such as pledging to the Honor Code happened there and thus people were "forced" to be in the presence of a cross; wrong, that ceremony occurs in another room of the main building that the chapel is part of). He said one potential student literally ran out of the chapel while touring the school because he was offended by the cross, and he vowed to not attend the school. If you ask me, someone that intolerant of a religious symbol of any faith had no business being admitted in the first place. That is of course assuming the story was even true.
I'm just glad that man is once again UNC's problem and not ours.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Sarah "makin' her way in the world without using family connections" Palin
Oh, yum. I'm going to make this next week. Sounds delish. Thanks so much Breezy.Ok, chicken salad recipe coming up....but I have to warn you that you may not be able to eat any other chicken salad after this one
Forgive me for not just cutting and pasting, I've tweaked this recipe for awhile so I don't know how to write it in recipe form.
BTW, I usually double or triple the recipe so you can do so and it will still come out good.
-3 or 4 cups of chicken breast (I cook my own every time covered in chicken broth til tender and juicy - don't under and don't over cook! I take it out of the cooking broth and cut it then in cubes - but I shred half of it so there's texture and the mayo holds better. I think this is what they mean when they say "the love" in a recipe, or it's my OCD....I'll pick "the love"
-2 T diced green pepper (teeny tiny pieces)
-2 T diced celery (teeny tiny pieces)
-2 T sweet onion (teeny tiny pieces)
-juice of 1 lemon (fresh only)
-salt and pepper to taste
-mayo (real Helmans. and I usually have a "feel" for how much is enough, but I'd guess about 2/3 cupish - enough to make it come together, but not enough to overpower the flavors)
-1/2 to 1 c. red grapes halved (I only use grapes, but you could use mandarine oranges, walnuts, or any combination of the three)
Ok.....
so, cook the chicken and while it's cooking dice all the veggies. This part's important - dice chicken warm and mix with veggies, salt and pepper and lemon juice (the warm chicken helps bring out the flavors of the veggies IMO). Let cool in fridge for a couple hours then add mayo and grapes. Mix well.
I serve mine in lettuce wraps, mini-croissants, or just dish it out.
I can't wait to see your cake! I have a four year old too - though he'll be five in February. It's such a fun age! Have fun at both of your parties.Happy Friday!
I've been frantically getting ready to have family over tomorrow to celebrate DD's 5th birthday. My baby will be 5! It's a happy/sad feeling. I tried to talk her into staying 4, but she didn't buy it!Ok, is anyone else insane like me-we're having family over tomorrow and some of her friends over on Wed. (her actual birthday). 2 birthday parties-I need to be committed!
I need lots of happy thoughts...I'm going to attempt to decorate a cake to look like Rocket from Little Einsteins. My cake decorating skills are mediocre at best, but I found a guide online that tells me how to do it. If it all flops, I did see ready made cakes at Super Wal-Mart today that I can scoop up!
All Conservatives are welcome here!
Okay.
Exactly.
They offer altering classes at many craft stores. If they want to alter something, they can alter a lunchbox or a mailbox. It would be productive and cute.
Okay, I like this better.
Gorgeous! Are they yummy too? Was it hard to make?To those of you who asked about my chocolate mint dessert - I made it for a party tonight and they turned out beautifully - a true hit!
And I took pictures, of the dessert that is --
I'm trying my hand at the whole food-styling, picture-cropping thing....and realize that it isn't time to quit my day job yet....
To those of you who asked about my chocolate mint dessert - I made it for a party tonight and they turned out beautifully - a true hit!
And I took pictures, of the dessert that is --
I'm trying my hand at the whole food-styling, picture-cropping thing....and realize that it isn't time to quit my day job yet....
Good point.You can't really compare a story of mine to the Pledge, but in my sorority we had a cheer that included what I thought was profanity in it. Rather than demanding it be changed, I just didn't yell during that part of the cheer. Everyone who wasn't bothered by it went about their business and had fun with the cheer, and I didn't feel like I was saying something I found offensive. Problem solved.
Great idea!
I mean, I know a few Christians who refuse to put up a tree because they don't see it as being something legitimate to display during this time of year. They love nativities, but won't display a tree. They don't, however, run around demanding all trees be taken down, not even the huge ones in local public parks, centers, etc.Stats was the downfall of many people in my graduate program. By the time I got my Master's, I had taken 5 different Stats-related classes though, so it wasn't a problem for me. I was very lucky in that I had a background in it.
To those of you who asked about my chocolate mint dessert - I made it for a party tonight and they turned out beautifully - a true hit!
And I took pictures, of the dessert that is --
I'm trying my hand at the whole food-styling, picture-cropping thing....and realize that it isn't time to quit my day job yet....
Well...he was right wasn't he? It could be the only toy this child will get this year, we better do it right. 
Before heading to bed, I just wanted to brag on my kids a little.
As we came out of swimming lessons at the Y last night, they noticed the Giving Tree set up in the lobby. They love Christmas trees so we stopped to admire it, and as they looked at the paper ornaments (with the childrens' particulars on them) they asked if they could help some kids. They searched the tree until they each found a child the same age and sex as themselves, and then we headed straight over to Target to shop. The ornament listed each child's special toy wish and clothing size, and asked for one toy and one clothing item. The kids were excited about finding exactly the toy their child wanted, and picking an outfit for them. We also raided the dollar section for a stocking hat and matching gloves for each. For $2 how can you go wrong? I figure they may not need them, but I'd rather know a child had too many gloves and hats than not enough right? Besides, if they are anything like my kids they will come home with only one glove at least once this winter.
Anyhow, I was just proud of my kids that they wanted to help, and it was a really warm fuzzy feeling watching them choose things they really liked themselves, for someone else. My son's "buddy" wanted legos, and my son insisted that we get the extra large super mega tub of them just like he has. I was kinda tending toward the smaller tub myself but he wasn't having any of that.
Tomorrow is swimming again, and we will deliver our gifts back to the Y.
Ok, chicken salad recipe coming up....but I have to warn you that you may not be able to eat any other chicken salad after this one
Forgive me for not just cutting and pasting, I've tweaked this recipe for awhile so I don't know how to write it in recipe form.
BTW, I usually double or triple the recipe so you can do so and it will still come out good.
-3 or 4 cups of chicken breast (I cook my own every time covered in chicken broth til tender and juicy - don't under and don't over cook! I take it out of the cooking broth and cut it then in cubes - but I shred half of it so there's texture and the mayo holds better. I think this is what they mean when they say "the love" in a recipe, or it's my OCD....I'll pick "the love"
-2 T diced green pepper (teeny tiny pieces)
-2 T diced celery (teeny tiny pieces)
-2 T sweet onion (teeny tiny pieces)
-juice of 1 lemon (fresh only)
-salt and pepper to taste
-mayo (real Helmans. and I usually have a "feel" for how much is enough, but I'd guess about 2/3 cupish - enough to make it come together, but not enough to overpower the flavors)
-1/2 to 1 c. red grapes halved (I only use grapes, but you could use mandarine oranges, walnuts, or any combination of the three)
Ok.....
so, cook the chicken and while it's cooking dice all the veggies. This part's important - dice chicken warm and mix with veggies, salt and pepper and lemon juice (the warm chicken helps bring out the flavors of the veggies IMO). Let cool in fridge for a couple hours then add mayo and grapes. Mix well.
I serve mine in lettuce wraps, mini-croissants, or just dish it out.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Sarah "makin' her way in the world without using family connections" Palin
I love to see how others decorate theirs....and you have so many you could do a different theme for each room....though what theme you might use for a tree in the bathroom I have no idea
