Bisquick Mix ~ Made at Home and Our Journey Toward Health

"Bisquick" Mix

Rachel's Way!

6 cups of flour

3 T. Baking Powder

1 1/2 t. Salt

1 stick Butter

Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until the dry ingredients resemble corn meal.  

 This can also be done in a food processor if you have one.  I'm a pioneer woman (remember?) and I don't have a food processor.

This is so super "easy peasy" to do.  The mix will keep indefinitely in the refrigerator.  However, I don't know exactly what indefinitely might mean because our mix never lasts that long.  This is an amazing base for biscuits and pancakes or waffles.  I will say, if you are a Bisquick user, then this is it!

In 1999 after some health issues that couldn't seem to be resolved, I started researching things I could do to put our family, not just myself,  on a journey toward life long health.

That journey continues.

Interestingly enough, people out of the blue have started asking me what we are doing and it always catches me off guard.  

Our journey toward health has been quiet with a lot of highs and lows.

Currently I am researching six specific issues that I don't want our family to be plagued with.  I'm not to the bottom of yet, but I am on my way!

We have been on this path for what to me seems like a long time, and it always catches me off guard when people say what have y'all ( well here in Indiana they would say you guys, but anyway) done differently.

And I kinda get this bewildered look on my face ( I think) or in my brain at least, and try not to say, "Duh?  I don't know.  Differently, hum?  Since like several years ago you mean?"

We still eat the occasional potato chip and drink an occasional glass of sweet tea sweetened with white sugar.  Gasp!  I know, terrible huh?

We haven't been radical in our real food journey.

We are always working toward it with a balance that fits our family lifestyle and budget.

Otherwise, I might have given up.

I am always striving to learn.

We have been blessed because of the changes we have made.

My immediate family has embraced it, and when I introduce a change, if I sense resistance, I back off, until everyone is on board.  In this way,  I have seen our young adult sons embrace health, and our daughter knows nothing different than to question whether something is the best healthy option available to her.

If you have read books on achieving or maintaining health through real foods, or seen documentaries on "edible food like products", it is easy to be overwhelmed with all the stuff that we are consuming.

I mean like I could totally freak out y'all. I mean you guys.

However, I have tried my best to make balanced and wise choices that we could maintain long term.

I know many people have switched to coconut flour and rice flour and other flour replacement products. I know that a lot of people grind their own flour.

Our family hasn't made that change. 

I don't have a flour grinder.

The flour shown in the two photos above is my favorite.

  It is white whole wheat flour. 

 But it isn't white, because it is whole wheat, but it is the texture of white but the color of whole wheat.

Now what?

Huh?

I know.  Confusing!

Oh, my it is delectable and soft and smooth and silky and fluffy and it simply feels alive when you work with it.

Have I told you it is my favorite? 

I can buy it at Walmart and it is about $3.84 for 5lbs where I shop.

I love it!

It is my favorite! ;)

If I told you that I have never bought a bag of white flour since 1999, it would be ABSOLUTELY untruthful.  But I will say, this is the flour I buy the most.  There have been times our grocery budget didn't allow for this much expense on just flour and I bought white flour for $1.88 and we were OK, but as soon as I could, I came back to this.

My goal:

Healthy choices as often as possible.

Long term maintenance.

When life knocks you off track, take a deep breath and claw your way back to the track.

Whatever that means.

Balance.

Happy baking to your health.

Rachel

P.S. This bag of yummy healthy flour is less expensive than a big box of Bisquick.  If your budget is tight consider your balanced and healthy options and maybe making your own Bisquick would be a great choice.  You'll still have flour left over to use for your latest paper mache project or for um, oh yeah, cinnamon rolls.  Yes, cinnamon rolls! 

I would love to know, what is one thing you have changed in your journey toward health?

 

Red Lobster Biscuits

Around here we call them cheddar bay biscuits. I have no idea why.  I think one of our sons started calling them that years ago.  They taste hauntingly like Red Lobster Biscuits.  This is how I make mine.  You won't be able to stop with just one.  I promise!  Maybe you should double the recipe like I do.

;)

 

So let's bake some up. 

 

Cheddar Bay Biscuits

 

2 cups Bisquick

2/3 cup milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

1/2 tsp. parsley

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Mix Bisquick, milk and shredded cheese together in a bowl until well combined. Drop by spoonfuls on  a greased cookie sheet. I use melted butter to "grease" the sheet.   Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown.

Mix melted butter and garlic salt and parsley in a separate bowl. Brush over warm biscuits before removing from cookie sheet.

Makes about a dozen.

Eat one all by yourself standing by the oven, while the biscuit is still piping hot because when the boys come through there won't be any extras.   Just wanted you to know that!  It's important that you know.  I warned you!

 

We had these yummy biscuits last night with our lasagna and fresh pepper strips.  We love these little peppers and usually eat them whole, but last night I cut them in strips while the biscuits baked. The pretty little orange and yellow and red strips of fresh and yummy pepper cuteness just made my heart soar. 

 

Well almost!

 

Rachel

 

P.S. If you make these with Bisquick brand mix, they will be lighter in color than the one on the plate in the photo above.  I make my own Bisquick mix and I use 'white whole wheat flour', so mine are a little darker than if I used the Bisquik brand purchased from the store. 

I like to know what "chemicals" I am eating.  That's why!

And they are still just as yummy. 

These opinions are strictly my own.  No one forced me to say they were yummy. 

They just really are.

Well, see for yourself.

Have you ever made "Red Lobster Biscuits"?

Longing

Spring!

Oh Spring?

Wherefore art thou, oh Spring?

No?

Not yet?

~Sigh~

 

Rachel

Be A Light

Light your world.

Be a light .

Bring light to your dark corner.

Burn brightly.

Shine in the darkness.

 

Shed the light of hope on someone's darkness

 

I want to be a light.

Don't you?

 

Rachel

Was It A Time Warp?

Leaving early, we drove through cold and barren farm land to a small town nearby.  Our destination was the county courthouse (built in 1896) to research some property deeds for a land surveying client.  The architecture was fantastic.  I tried to stay focused on the task at hand while nonchalantly snapping a few photos.

Wouldn't this be a grand place for a wedding?

 I don't mean the "I do" sort of wedding in front of a judge. 

 There is absolutely nothing wrong with those weddings.  In fact I think they are just fine and much better than no wedding at all. 

 But  I mean, if you wanted a large public event, wouldn't this be a fabulous place?  Can't you hear sounds of love and laughter bouncing off the ornate columns and floating through the expanse of the three story building.

Tables filled with flowers and candles and food could be breathtakingly arranged on these intricate mosaic marble floors.  I wonder if they'd rent this out for an event?

Hhmm I wonder?

 I was distracted by my active imagination.

  This enormous and heavy book resting on shelves made of tiny brass rollers had the oldest date that I could find.

 I felt such a weird sensation of walking back in time, as I circled around the old oak research counters, yet being thrust to the present, as our fingers tapped the computer keyboard. 

 It was a total time warp. 

 Or maybe it is my mind that is warped!

Please don't agree!

  There were many places to go and things to do all day long and I kept myself amused amidst the busyness.

  However, this photo captures my most astonishing encounter of the day, hands down!

Laying right there on the table was a cell phone, a purse, and another purse in the seat of the black chair and of course the coat draped on the back of the chair.

Yep, right there in plain sight on the long table in a public research place, was personal stuff, simply unattended.  The purse you see was gaping open and I suppose I could have taken a photo of what was in it, but I thought that would have been a bit tacky. 

 Yeah, just a little tacky. 

 Obviously the employees who sat the stuff down weren't worried about it one teeny tiny bit.

 

I'm curious.  Do you feel comfortable leaving your stuff out like that in a public space?

 

Rachel

This Is Getting Creepy

It was a cold and dismal weekend night.

We happened upon another bat mobile sighting.  This time it was up close and personal.

After a few clicks with the guns and revs of the engine, he sped off into the night.

  It's just a little creepy.

 

Right now we are working on a land survey that involves a protected bat habitat.  The survey must be completed before the bats get back to town.  Once bat migratory season begins, the area can't be disturbed until next winter when they leave again.  Of course we want the survey done before then, and we don't plan to "be in dodge" when the bats begin to arrive.

 

I wonder if we should hang one of these photos of the bat mobile out in one of the trees?

Hhhmm, just a thought.

Nah, I'm thinkin' the bats could care less about photos of some silly mobile.

 

Rachel

Not Sure What To Think

"Mom I think you'd make a really great pioneer woman because you could definitely keep up the pace."

She seriously said that!
I chuckled to myself.
Not sure how much she knows about pioneer women?

Was that a compliment, or not?

 

Rachel

So Was It A "Wonky" Day or Not?

Yesterday, after the early morning school drop off, we drove about 45 minutes to the big city to get more measurements on a survey job we've been working on.

We worked in a big woods in the middle of the big city.  It was fun.  Well sorta.  I had fun being with him, 'cuz I pretended it was a date and stood there and reminisced about all the dates we'd had while surveying.  But we're interesting like that, I mean boring really,  'cuz we always work.  My job was VERY  easy.  All I had to do was stand where he showed me and keep the tip of my toe on the end of the yellow tape and hold it down real tightly, so he could get an accurate measurement when he pulled on the line.  I just pretended that I was squishing a bug, and shivered 'cuz it was cold.

Our daughter brought home a paper she'd made in computer class and she told me she wanted it on the table with decorations around it.  She was disappointed that she wasn't allowed to print it in color, 'cuz they are only allowed to print in black and white.  I didn't tell her there was a typo in the spelling 'cuz I didn't want her disappointed about that too.  It was fun to decorate around something she made.

We decorated the table real fast. 

The tablecloth wasn't ironed.

And I'm ok with that.

We used paper napkins.

'Cuz the cloth ones smelled like the candles they were laying beside in the drawer.

And I'm ok with that too,

not the smell,

but using paper napkins.

We used whatever we could find to make the table look Valentiney and festive, then stood back and admired the way the sun was shining in on the decorations and we loved the sunshine, 'cuz it was cold.

Once the table was ready we rushed to the kitchen to make our not so very gourmet supper. 

And I was fine with the fact that it wasn't gourmet, 'cuz it was yummy. 

 So that was good.

I just threw all these ingredients into the skillet. 

I made sure I was a good distance across the kitchen when I threw them and they landed in the pan perfectly fine, just like this. 

Amazing!

 (Not really.)

When the meal was ready we ate.

Well yes, of course we ate.

As you can see our meal consisted of lettuce wedges with dressing, sauteed shrimp and heart shaped sandwiches, 'cuz apparently Valentine's Day would be all wonky if we didn't eat heart shaped something.  Our college son even texted home in the morning that he "could really go for some heart shaped pancakes right about now", 'cuz I think he was homesick.  (NOT REALLY!)

Oh yeah, and we drank "Big Red" cream soda, not necessarily 'cuz we thought it tasted all that good, just 'cuz I thought it looked real pretty in the glasses.

And after supper they played Uno, and laughed and hollered and laughed some more, 'cuz I think that meant they were having fun.

And when the day was done she hugged me and thanked me "for the really great and fun day", 'cuz I think she liked our wonky Valentine's Day!

 

And life is good, 'cuz I am extremely and abundantly blessed.

 

What about you?  Did you have a wonky Valentine's Day?

 (Wonky:  I think I might have made that word up too..I probably should check it out and maybe apply for a job at Webster's, don'tcha think.)

Oops, no I checked.  Wonky is already a word. 

 It is British slang for stupid, boring and unattractive.

  I just thought you should know that. 

You're welcome!

;)

Hhmmm, that totally blows this entire blog post right out of the water. 

 Whatever THAT means. 

 Oh well.

ttyl

 

Rachel

 

 

Embracing LOVE

And I wonder,

do my words and expressions, my tone, do they say LOVE?

I shudder.

Do I show love, true LOVE?

And I ask myself, do I even love?

Really, do I truly LOVE?

Is LOVE the force behind my actions?

So I press in and fall on LOVE. 

Always seeking more of LOVE.

Does it drive me?

Does LOVE consume me?

Is it behind every breath and sigh?

I cringe and struggle.

I'm a mess.

I can't keep on.

Things go wrong.

Plans change.

Dreams dim.

I'm confused.

Frustrated.

Tired and fearful.

I don't know what to say.

I don't know what to do.

Yet does LOVE speak through me?

When I fail and falter, can LOVE be seen in me?

Love hurts and splits open and spills

and in the spilling and hurting, LOVE multiplies and grows.

In the spilling, how does it grow?

I want to know.

So in the growing I press in and fall on LOVE.

  I know the Author of LOVE the Giver of LOVE.

It's a gift.

It's free.

I seek to know the Author, the Giver more!

In the spilling and hurting the growing and multiplying,

I seek and accept.

It's free.

Love frees me to be who I was meant to be.

So I press in and fall on LOVE.  Always seeking more of LOVE.

Not striving but falling.

Embracing LOVE.

~ rachel going ~

 

P.S.  These aren't mere words.  From the time I was a small child I have thought these things and pondered this question.

Happy Happy Valentine's Day my sweet peeps!  I hope you find joy and happiness all around today, but most of all...inside!

A LOVEly Walk

 

Yesterday before dawn the birds were chirping and tweeting (with their iPHONES of course) and it sounded like Spring outside.  The day was beautiful and sunshiny but cold.   At one point I looked out to see a flock of birds on the feeder and I hollered into the office to my husband, "Hey Babe, did you fill the bird feeder?"  "Nope." he said.  "Now why would I think he'd filled the bird feeder?" I thought to myself. 

 I do that a lot.  I think things to myself and then wonder why I am thinking them.

  Please tell me you do too. 

 Oh, you do! It's ok.  Admit it.

Anyway...

 Hanging my head in shame, buying bird seed is not on the list of top priorities this winter and I suppose the poor little feathered creatures were sticking their legs through the openings and trying to scratch seeds from the bottom with their three pronged (or is it four pronged? well whatever) toes. They musta been huuuuungry! 

Look how empty that feeder is. 

 Shameful. 

 (Note to self: 

Buy bird seed.  Feed hungry birds. Buy groceries.  Feed hungry family)

And so as we plowed through our day I thought of you and smiled to myself as I thought about how much you were surely missing me and my LOVE ramblings. 

And of course I'm saying all this in total jest. 

Lest you think I'm all out of things to say about LOVE...nope not a chance!  This mind of mine is whirring. I can't let you off the hook that easy.
 

On our walk to the Post Office yesterday my daughter and I found two things.  This heart shaped "crack" in the pavement of the street.  It has even blessed us with a little "cupids arrow" piercing through.

This locket was laying right there on the ground, just a stone's throw from the "heart" in the pavement.  It was surrounded by cigarette butts, but I flicked those away with the tip of my shoe because, well because, I don't show "butts" on this blog. (Cigarette butts that is, well, any butts for that matter. But I don't say that four letter word b.u.t.t. [Mother said it isn't classy and I certainly want to be classy] and I can't figure out how to get it out of this post. Oh my, I have digressed so.)

 And the photo is prettier without them (the b.u.t.t."s") too, don'tcha think?

  Our daughter was so excited.

  She said, "Oh, Mom, we just find LOVE everywhere!"  "Yes, we do sweetie.  We sure do!"

In February 2011, I blogged about another heart shaped stain on the pavement.  And if I was "technosavvy" I would link over to it.  But since I'm not "technosavvy" (I made that word up.  I'm so proud. It will be in the dictionary soon, I'm sure!) you will just have to take my savvy word for it that there really is another photo of a heart shaped stain on the pavement, buried in this blog somewhere.  You're impressed.  I see it on your face.

So, even though yesterday was coo coo, we still found LOVE.

I couldn't let you down, now could I?

 

update: Thank you Katherine, from Yellow Rose Arbor, for taking time to find the photo mentioned above and emailing me the link.  That is so very sweet of you.  I feel like I found a "heart" in your gesture of kindness. 

 

Rachel

P. S. Thank you from the bottom of my little heart shaped heart to the new ones who have "liked" my Facebook page.  I have tried to thank you personally, but I'm still a little behind on showing my appreciation.  Just know how much I appreciate it and how much I LOVE you for "liking" it. 

 Bless your little heart shaped heart. 

 

Love Is Tough

How many times have you wanted to throw up your hands and crumble like a cookie or walk away from commitments or a relationship or job, a home or illness or the pain of life.

 

I know I certainly have wanted to at times.

 

Sometimes life just comes right along and rips and tears everything away.  Dreams shattered.  Lives forever changed.

Yet, love is tough.

Love perseveres.

Love endures.

Love is long suffering.

Yeah, that suffering in love is hard isn't it?

But love is tough.

 

And I believe there is a time and a place to let go of the past and move on...you know the thing I mentioned on Friday about letting go?  It's all so complex but tied together with this in some way, I believe.  So there is the balance and consideration of letting go and holding on and "loving tough", all at the appropriate time.
 
In the midst of letting go and holding on and loving tough there is still LOVE.  Love can't be torn away, thrown into the unknown.
  It may ebb and flow yet remain.
Because when love is there it is just there,
though hurting
or exhilarated
laughing
or
crying.
Love is tough.

 

When you love deeply you grit your teeth to weather the storms, I suppose.  Because love is tough it doesn't want to give up.

 

In conversations with our sons lately I realize they know this.  As I have watched them hold steady in the hard times of their life, I am thankful that they have learned that love is tough. 

 

Love doesn't want to give up.

Love holds steady until it can gain a new perspective.

 

Do you think love is tough?

 

Rachel

 

 

Love Chooses Best

It's kinda the thing now to have a "word".  Just one word that sums up where you are, where you are going, forging a path to follow for a season.

Recently a few people told me their "word" for the new year.

Several years ago, my "word" was SIMPLIFY.  It was just one of those misty phrases that kept coming back and renewing itself in the busy places of my life and recycling through my emotions until I got it.

Then there were several seasons that my "word" was NEW.  Put the past behind and look for the new things.  Ah, yes, NEW.

So sometime last year my "word" kept coming around and around and around.  Well you know how you just keep sorta bumpin' into a thought here and there.  
Sometimes loud, sometimes soft until you realize you are supposed to listen to that.
My "word" was
"LETTING GO OF GOOD FOR WHAT IS BEST". 
 Well yeah,  that was my "word". 
 Pretend I didn't just say an entire 28 letter phrase right there.
~Pleeeeazze~

  But anyway,  that is still my "word" right now. 
 It's interesting when you begin to put life through that filter how your perspective changes. 
 As a family we have let go of so much good in our life, simply out of necessity, not because we desire it to be. 
 The places we go, people we see, things we participate in...just simply let the good go...well because it was absolutely necessary.  It's been that way for a while.

But this is different for me. 
 As I sincerely consider each good thing as honestly good,  will I reap "better" if I let go?

 

I was telling my husband these thoughts one day and I heard his quiet, "Hhhmm."  He remained silent but his expression told me he was thinking about what I had said. It was ok that we didn't discuss it further.  It was just an easy conversation of pitchin' around ideas.  Not really resolving anything we were just thinking out loud to each other.

 

The minutes sped past, the day grew long and old,
yes I said old, 
but the work was still piled high. 
 Nighttime was falling. 
 He came to me and said, "Now, this evening how can I let go of good for best?  What can I turn loose?  Let go?"

 

"For me, it's not an immediate letting go.  It's a process.  A change in thought and actions, that hopefully over time comes full circle for better.  In my opinion it's a lifestyle."  I said, "Not an immediate fix."

 

So night wore on and I heard his voice take a call in the office.  "Do you want me to come?" I heard him say.  He was needed.  Desperately needed.  Quickly he left to intervene.

 

Much time passed and he called to say he was on his way home.   I said,  "You just chose best.  Yes, you chose best.  Come home and get some sleep.  Tomorrow will take care of itself."

 

And you know tomorrow really did take care of itself.  It's amazing how that happens.  All  because he let go of good for best.

 

Love chooses best.

Do you have a "word"?

 

Rachel

P.S. And just in case it sounds like I was bossing him around all day...well I wasn't! :)
Uh, well on second thougth maybe I should ask him if he thought I was bossy.
Hhmm, no, yeah, no, I will just leave that one alone.
Love chooses best, right? Yeah, right.

Amazing Love

Love transcends time and space.

There is no distance in love.

It's often untouchable, beyond grasping.

Yet close, ever embracing.

It looks back on treasures brimming with memories,

and forward with hope and expectation for the future.

Love.

Discerning.

Defining.

Trusting.

An invisible phenomenon

expanding and turning to span generations.

Generations with no boundaries of whom it reaches,

no borders to whom it touches.

Love.

Unexplainable.

Indescribable.

Amazing.

Love.

                                                                                                  ~ rachel going

P.S.  A comment ask if my "poems about love" could be copied for her grandson and his fiancee'.  It is my pleasure.  Thank you for requesting permission.   If  the "poems" are copied to a blog or the web or written form in some other way, I kindly ask for a reference link back to the original post.

As always, may those who read these words be inspired to live a fulfilling life, soaring above binding hinderances.  May you find inspiration to think deeply, love deeply and live freely.

LOVE Is...

LOVE is...

...a choice,

a choice to be,

a choice to do,

no matter the outcome.

No matter whether it is accepted or rejected.

LOVE matters.

 

                                                                ~ rachel going

 

P.S. I "love" this green heart vase. I think it might be old.  Have you ever seen one like it?

Because Love Matters

It's not just the love between spouses or a significant other,

but it is LOVE that matters.

It's LOVE that compels us to say. "I'm sorry"!

...compels us to slow down and show patience

...show kindness and be nice,

to go the extra mile tho stumbling and broken.

It's LOVE that leaves the unnecessary unspoken.

It's LOVE that leaves selfish desires behind to seek a brighter future;

dream new dreams,

 and

to smile when your heart is breaking.
LOVE listens...
listens with eyes...
with countenance...
with tone and heart.

LOVE forges friendships.

It binds relationships.

Love can be given yet refused.

It's LOVE that matters,

not my opinion,

nor my perspective.

LOVE strives to let go of the hindrances of good to seek best.
Because LOVE matters.

                                                            ~ rachel going

 

So I ask myself?  How am I doing in regard to LOVE?

Yes, LOVE  really matters.

                       

Looking For Inspiration

I've been looking through past Valentine's Day photos because several days ago I was asked what meal I was planning to fix for Valentine's Day!

They are looking forward to it.  The pressure is on!

Seriously!  Am I supposed to know already?

After all! I have 10 WHOLE days still!

Ah, the joys of planning.

~ or not~

Rachel

Yummy Creamy Potato Soup

I'm basking.  Basking?  Yes of course, basking in the glow, of a compliment.

She told me my potato soup was THE BEST she'd ever eaten. And her "not so into potatoes family member" loved it too!

Now she may have only eaten potato soup once before or NEVER!  But I'm just going to pretend like I didn't think of that!

She wanted the recipe.

I'm warning you. This is so easy. You may not be able to stand it.  Here it is my dear.

Oh, and just so you know, the photo above is of Cream of Broccoli soup.  I didn't take a picture of the potato soup.  So anyway, here ya go!

.

Yummy Creamy Potato Soup

Dice one onion and saute it in oil  in a large stock pan until the onions are soft.
Peel several large potatoes and dice them.  I peeled 10 large potatoes for a large pot of soup.
Place the diced potatoes on top of the sauted onions.
Fill the stock pan with water until the onions and potatoes are just covered with water.
Let the water come to a rolling boil.  The potatoes will probably need to boil about 15 minutes.
Stir often so the potatoes don't stick.
As the potatoes begin to soften, mash a few of them with your spoon against the side of the pan.
Once the potatoes are soft amd most of them are mashed and creamy add one can of evaporated milk.
If you dont have evaporated milk you can use half and half or whipping cream or regular milk.
But the night that the soup got rave reviews I had used evaporated milk.
Salt to your taste.
I had used a tablespoon of salt for this large amount of potatoes.
If it's not salty enough it may taste bland.  Yeah, duh!  Why did I need to tell you that?
Remove from heat and serve.

This is delicious loaded with cheese or sour cream or anything else you desire. 

We love it with crackers.

That's all there is to it!

One sauted onion

Plenty of potatoes for the crew you are feeding

Water to top of onion potato heap

Salt to taste

One and 1/2 cups milk of your choice.

When my family asks, "What's for supper?" And I say, "Potato soup."  They always say, "Yum!"

 

Do you like potato soup with crackers or bread?

 

Rachel

When Rachel Met Beckie

 

In 2008 I started reading Infarrantly Creative, a blog written by Beckie.  She lives in a near by town and is one of the most creative people you will ever meet.  I was enchanted by her crafty DIY style and "can do attitude".

She has done all kinds of amazing things through her blog.  Please drop over there and meet her. 

 She is amazing. 

A few days ago, she posted on her blog the times she would be speaking at the Indianapolis Home Show. 

I have looked for opportunities in the past to meet her, so I thought maybe this was my chance.. 

After she spoke I nervously took a big gulp and introduced myself.

She said, "Of course, I know exactly who you are!"

Uh! Really? She KNEW me? 

 Total awesomeness!!!!

She is super friendly, down to earth and if I might say so, she's a gorgeous red head.

She just doesn't realize that we are kindred spirits.

She turns trash to treasures...too.

My husband chuckled and whispered in my ear, "You're about to meet your competition!"

 (Ah, he's so kind.  But that's just his way, such a good man...to compare me to a pro like Beckie.

 He knows my heart. 

 But I digress.)

So as I was sayin' go check her out.

You will love what you read.

I'm not kiddin'. 

She is amazing.  She is amazing. 

AND

I may have just set the record for using the word amazing as much as possible in a single blog post, but that's OK,

 because

she IS amazing.

She has such creative talent.

Did any of you see her at the Home Show too?

 

Rachel