wittenlover

I’m coming to your house! [emoji39][emoji39][emoji39]

Reminder in my phone renewed for another year! As it gets darker earlier, that flashlight will really start coming in handy! Bring on BF and Secret Santa shopping (always so much fun). [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16]

Down payment for a house.

I’m a peppermint/Christmas tree scent girl myself. That said.. Those pine cones they sell about kill me - way too overpowering for me (literally have to hold my breath or my body revolts, sadly) but clearly lots of folks love them, so to you I say... PLEASE BUY THEM ALL QUICKLY!!! [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Day job’s been busy! Thanks for the email to remind me the deadline is fast approaching, BoPeep! It’s on my list to get my info back to you hopefully today. [emoji16][emoji106] Edited to add: Info sent!!! [emoji4]

Got mine the other day. Took me a minute to figure it out as well. Fun thing! Will come in handy. Thanks, Brad!

I don’t have a 40% but I do have a 25% I’d gladly share if you want it. [emoji4]

Hello October... Fresh orchard apples for the win. Need more donuts though. Will pick some up tomorrow. [emoji39][emoji39][emoji39]

In case anyone still needs them:

There is now... You started it!

I have a 30% off code good through tomorrow (9/26) if anyone needs one. PM me if you’d like it. Edited to add: I now have two (2) codes available! If I have no PMs by noon (ET) tomorrow, I’ll post the code in here, as I will be busy the rest of the day and want to at least give someone a shot to use it.

Got that nip in the air last couple of days. Hope you’ve made it to the cider mill! Meanwhile, enjoying an apple from orchard as we speak. My orchard officially transitioned to full organic as of last year, so yummy eats for sure. [emoji106][emoji39][emoji519]

I have many recipes but a few are favorites to those that receive them, so they’re made every year: My three layer easy fudge recipe that I’ve kept bookmarked: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/91736/layered-mint-chocolate-fudge/ (I make this using peppermint oil vs mint extract b/c we all prefer that flavor. I also make a second batch with a fruit-flavor middle layer instead. I’ve done strawberry, cherry, raspberry variations.) The chocolate chip cookie recipe I keep going back to: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/10813/best-chocolate-chip-cookies/ Here’s a recipe I found on Betty Crocker website that I sub Candy Cane kisses in place of the Hugs to make them more holiday-ish: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/fiesta-fudge-cookies/6889925a-e218-445e-b73b-b597f38802a7 Classic snickerdoodles: https://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/christmas-snickerdoodles-cookie-exchange-quantity/7dadf770-cd0f-4e07-b57d-98da04463514 That’s a start, at least... [emoji38] Happy baking, friends!

Yay! Need to get my info sent in. One of my favorite things to be a part of every year. [emoji16][emoji106]

Yay! Orchard season!!! [emoji39][emoji39][emoji39]

Little brother from another mother got married yesterday! I’ve known him since he was 7 years old (he’s 28) and I was blessed to make the “short list” of those invited to attend in person. Beautiful day, beautiful ceremony, super proud “big sis”. [emoji170][emoji170][emoji170]

This! [emoji115]

Great prize for whoever wins! [emoji4]

Happy September, y’all! First: Welcome back, budgetsRsexy - sorry you’ve had such a stressful time of thing but glad you’ve found your way back here. Always good to see a familiar “face” return after a long absence. Hope to see you back around here more often now that you’re slowly getting re-situated. [emoji4] My favorite orchard will be open to the public again this season after last year’s absence and opening day is Saturday. Can’t WAIT for those yummy warm fresh orchard donuts! [emoji39][emoji39][emoji39] Over the last few weeks, I’ve been out to Michigan Int’l Speedway for the NASCAR weekend, down to Cedar Point for two straight days of coaster riding, and out to Comerica Park for a Tigers game with one of my best friends who’s just recently moved from FL to IN, putting her close enough to road trip to me for our NASCAR & amusement park fun. She’ll be headed back home Tuesday so we get one more weekend of fun. She’s finally getting to go to the orchard with me Saturday (she’s never visited at the “right” time before) and we’re making a day trip up to Frankenmuth on Sunday. It’s been so great having her here visiting with me. [emoji170] Hope all of my GD fam is well and staying safe and healthy as school starts up again and BF draws nearer. [emoji16][emoji106] Happy September, y’all! First: Welcome back, budgetsRsexy - sorry you’ve had such a stressful time of thing but glad you’ve found your way back here. Always good to see a familiar “face” return after a long absence. Hope to see you back around here more often now that you’re slowly getting re-situated. [emoji4] My favorite orchard will be open to the public again this season after last year’s absence and opening day is Saturday. Can’t WAIT for those yummy warm fresh orchard donuts! [emoji39][emoji39][emoji39] Over the last few weeks, I’ve been out to Michigan Int’l Speedway for the NASCAR weekend, down to Cedar Point for two straight days of coaster riding, and out to Comerica Park for a Tigers game with one of my best friends who’s just recently moved from FL to IN, putting her close enough to road trip to me for our NASCAR & amusement park fun. She’ll be headed back home Tuesday so we get one more weekend of fun. She’s finally getting to go to the orchard with me Saturday (she’s never visited at the “right” time before) and we’re making a day trip up to Frankenmuth on Sunday. It’s been so great having her here visiting with me. [emoji170] Hope all of my GD fam is well and staying safe and healthy as school starts up again and BF draws nearer. [emoji16][emoji106]

Why I put it in quotes. Duh. [emoji23] It was, however, 15 years ago, so it’s been a bit. [emoji6]

It dawns on me a lot of folks won’t have any idea who the driver is in that picture I posted. For those not familiar with NASCAR drivers, the driver in the picture is Alex Bowman, current driver of the #48 NASCAR Cup Series car. As I mentioned, I’ve known him since he was a teen, just starting out in the ARCA series. First met him at a Toyota drivers appearance “way back in the day”, am fortunate to have become his cheesecake & cookie dealer (lol) because he was rooming and working with another good friend (and cookie monster) of mine in Charlotte. Like many who make it to the top levels of any racing series, Alex has fought long and hard to pursue his racing dreams. The support from Dale Jr that he got when Dale needed someone to step in and drive the 88 as he recovered from a concussion meant (and still means) the world to Alex. It gave him the opportunity to show what he could do in good equipment and he did not take that opportunity for granted. That chance turned into an offer to drive the 88 full time when Dale Jr hung up his helmet, then the incredible opportunity to move over into the famed 48 car when Jimmie Johnson (7x Series Champion) hung up his helmet on his long and storied Cup Series career. Those of us who’ve known Alex since “way back when” have been right there cheering him on every step of the way and are thrilled to see him getting the chance to truly shine these days (even if it means we don’t always hear from him as often). He’s a great “kid” (he’s 28 or 29 now) who has remained humble and hungry throughout his journey, no matter what life has thrown his way, good or bad. And now, having said all that, I am grateful and consider it a blessing that he counts me as a buddy and is still genuinely thrilled when he sees me (and my fellow cookie girls) show up either trackside or at his race shop holding a bag of homemade cookies that he knows are all his. It’s the little things in life that are the big things. Truly. [emoji170]

Happy August, GDer fam! Spent this past weekend in Fremont, OH with a buddy of mine watching our buddy sling his 410 dirt sprint car around a couple of local dirt tracks. Friday was Attica Raceway Park, Saturday was a trip to Cedar Point and then back to Fremont Speedway for more racing. Yesterday, we were back at Cedar Point for the day. Good times. Us with our racer buddy Friday night... Some might recognize him... lol (I’ve known this guy since he was 16. Cool to be able to be even a small part of his story. [emoji4])

Not if you don’t drink alcohol in the first place... [emoji12] I definitely over-caffeinate while I’m out there, though. Sleep is entirely overrated. [emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

I go to Vegas every spring, this year being the only exception, for the NASCAR race. That said, here’s what I’ve got for ya as a Vegas veteran... 1.) MONORAIL!!! It runs up and down the Strip and is once again running, last I knew. You can get multi-day unlimited use passes for it. Will save you lots of walking and allow you to see far more of the Strip than you might otherwise be able to. There is also a free tram that runs from Excalibur to Mandalay Bay one way and returns from Mandalay to Excalibur via a quick stop at Luxor (not sure if that’s currently running - you’ll need to check). There is an indoor walkway between Mandalay & Luxor, too. 2.) I second those that have mentioned the myVEGAS games on Facebook. The rewards are mostly MGM property based but you can stack points relatively quickly and maybe save yourself a little money, at least. (You can likely even stash enough points away for a free Monorail pass!) Example of Monorail reward prices: 3.) SouthPoint is technically not considered part of the “Strip proper”, being located about 5 miles south of Mandalay, but my bestie and I find the atmosphere there to be very laid back and welcoming, especially on the rare occasions we choose to play the tables. We’re relative rookies on that front and the dealers/hosts/whatever you call them have always been happy to help us without making us feel like dummies for asking. Brendan Gaughan’s (recently retired NASCAR driver) family (dad, specifically) runs the joint and they do it well, IMHO. Brendan has his own moonshine label these days, City Lights Shine, that I hear is quite good from those who like that sort of thing. (Side note if you’ve rented a car for the trip: SP is always free parking in all their lots.) 4.) Fully expect to not be able to do/see everything you want to in one trip. I’ve been going since ‘06 and I *still* haven’t hit all the places I want to get to. Make a list “for next time”. [emoji4] 5.) Second all those saying “HYDRATE”. As a Michigander who’s been to Vegas in 117* heat, the dry heat is VERY deceptive. Keep water with you at all times. Drink more than you think you need to. Limit caffeine/alcohol intake. 6.) HAVE FUN!!! [emoji16][emoji16][emoji16] Will look forward to hearing about your trip when you get back! [emoji106]

I have a 30% mystery code for today only this time around. First to PM gets it, will update once claimed. [emoji4][emoji106]