wittenlover

Bring it!!!!!!!

Before & after. [emoji39]

Always up for new recipes that I can enjoy without having to "cheat" too much, especially around the holidays. Will share any I find and gladly try one or two from here too. Honestly, one of my favorite things to make right now, side dish-wise, is brussels sprouts roasted in the oven with high quality bacon. Total time: ~25 mins, including prep. (max. 20 mins cook time) Ingredients: ~ 3/4 - 1 lb of sprouts (enough to fill a large cookie sheet with space between them) 2-3 slices of thick cut bacon, chopped into 1/2"-3/4" pieces (add an extra slice if you're a bacon fiend like I can be sometimes!) ~ 2 tbsp your choice of oil, suitable for a 400* oven temp Salt and pepper to taste Grated parmesan (optional, to taste) Directions: 1) Preheat oven to 400*. 2) Spread the brussels sprouts out on the cookie sheet, cutting larger sprouts in half to help with even cooking (for easier cleanup, I cover my cookie sheet in foil first) 3) Drizzle oil over the sprouts. 4) Dust the sprouts with salt and pepper to taste (I also occasionally add some garlic powder) 5) Scatter the chopped bacon pieces over the entirety of the sheet. 6) Place sheet in preheated oven on middle rack for 10 minutes 7) After 10 minutes, stir sprouts, using wooden spatula (or other oven temp-appropriate utensil). 8) Return sprouts to the oven for an additional 7-10 minutes (depending on your oven and how well done you prefer your sprouts). [i usually check mine after 7 minutes and add more time if needed.] 9) Once sprouts are to your desired done-ness, remove from the oven. 10) If using parmesan, sprinkle on the sprouts when you first remove them from the oven. 11) Stir sprouts and pour into serving dish (for nice presentation) and/or just let the fam dig in with a serving spoon (if just a casual family dinner). Store any leftovers in whatever handy airtight container you have available. I usually reheat mine in a skillet on the stove top to get some crispness in them.

Agreed! This is always such a fun one every year!

No RedCard, actually. So with RedCard, it would've been cheaper still.

I came close with that Target deal on the Sunday before BF last year. Cleared the Sharp 55", taxes and all, for less than $225.

Yay! Can't wait to get mine! Thanks, Brad! Congrats to all the other winners, as well!

Thanks! Hoping we can work around the day job well enough for me to make good use of a part time gig, assuming they decide they like me well enough to give me a shot. (And yes, I made clear on the application that I do have a "day job" that requires my primary attention, so no surprises for them if/when that comes up in discussion.)

Likewise! Need to know if they'll have the best deal on kitty litter again this year or if PetSmart will retake the crown. Also, they usually do a baking supply sale on Saturday of BF weekend that stocks me for Christmas!

I actually *am* working on getting a part time job at Torrid (women's clothing, for those who may not be aware) so I can freshen up my now "much smaller-size required" (went from a 26 down to a 10/12) wardrobe. All my previous fall/winter clothing is too big!!! Employees get 30 or 40% off (can't recall which). Killer. My interview is next Wednesday!

Yes come join us, folks! Good times over on Discord!

No need for DVR. I've never had one before and don't watch enough, really, to make it worth investing in one now. Mostly just want to be able to once again have NASCAR on my big screen TV now that I've cut cable. As far as shows I like to watch, the only one I actually watch with any sort of intention (NASCAR races aside) is Deadliest Catch. I'm otherwise a sucker for marathons (binges?) of things like Law & Order/Criminal Minds/etc. but can truly take or leave them. I have iPhone and iPad already "in residence", so to speak, which is why the Apple TV is on my radar along with the others, in spite of its higher price point.

Welcome to the fun!

Likewise... Luckily not much I'm looking for this year. Had some unexpected bills that have really put a dent in my "fun money", almost to the point of non-existence. Oof.

I'm keenly interested in this discussion, as I am looking to get a streaming device for my TV now that I've cut my cable cord. I'm finding I really am not missing my TV nearly as much as I thought I might (proof of how it WAS just "background noise" for the most part). I'm considering all 3 major players (Roku, Amazon Fire stick, Apple TV), as I have heard good things about each one for various aspects. Good to know about Apple TV remote. I will definitely keep that in mind as I work through the decision making process.

#1 - "I said I wanted a baby SITTER, not a baby SISTER! Ugh. Mom never listens." #2 - Guy in red grabbing box - "Samsung??? This isn't the one I want! Where's my Sony?!?!?!?" #3 - "Hmmm... I don't see jaymacfla... Did he sneak by or is he still out here in the crowd?"

My step dad put my mom's engagement ring in a box in a box in a box (you get the idea - along with bricks inside the largest couple of boxes) when he proposed to her. My brother and I knew. She didn't. Such fun.

I'm in! SS 2019, here I come!

Such fun to be back here for another BF season! Thanks for this annual shot at some really amazing prizes, Brad!

Wish I could've kept myself in the club this year, but so glad folks are having fun with the kits. Hoping Brad will do this again next year and that I can actually stay IN this time... *makes note to put monthly posting reminders in phone*

Happy July everybody! Counting days till I’m next at a race track (31). Missing my track family but enjoying the summer. Considering a trip to Cedar Point this year - now that I’m no longer concerned about fitting in the seats well (this was my reality until I got serious about getting healthy early last year), I figure it’s high time to indulge my love of roller coasters again. After all, it’s only been 20 years since I was last there (yes, really! Where did that time go???). Some updates on my journey: - The scale readings are still trending downward but more slowly these days. No surprise, since I’m down to the last 45-50 lbs that need to leave. - I’ve been doing more working out (both strength and cardio) to build lean muscle. Another reason the scale isn’t dropping faster. Body composition changes over just straight weight loss. - I’ve learned I don’t love running in the heat but I do love the way I feel afterward, especially when I jump into that nice refreshing shower. Body basically is telling me to keep after it. Latest “before and after” side-by-sides (Jan 12 2018 L, July 3 2019 R): Hope all of you are well! [emoji4]

You answered your own question! Fresh picked is so good! It’s hard to stop, even when you know you already have more than enough!!!

Seeing the shirt teaser has me wishing I hadn’t whiffed myself out of the club already this year. Fail. lol That said, had a good time at Michigan Int’l Speedway this weekend in spite of the weather that pushed the race to last night. Here’s a pic of me with three of my favorite people in the world. The one on the right is Brad Keselowski’s rear tire changer, Jake, someone I’ve been blessed to call “brother-from-another-mother” for over 10 years. On the left is Jake’s brother (and dear friend of mine) Jordan, with their dad behind us photobombing. [emoji38] Good times.

Hello & happy June 1st from the IndyCar Detroit GP on beautiful Belle Isle! My buddy Crystal (far right) & I got to say hello to our buddies Jon Bennett (L) and Colin Braun ®, drivers of the #54 CORE Autosport IMSA machine. They qualified 11th but we’re hoping to see them on the podium after the checkered flag falls. [emoji4][emoji106][emoji469]

I don’t think we can be friends anymore...