Non-Adventure #33 I Heart Edward Cullen! Eclipse Fun!

At the End of June a movie long anticipated finally arrived in theaters. I was invited to a party and helped throw another party for Eclipse. So here are the pics from those two awesomely fun events!

The first party was thrown by my friends Amy and Leah they were the throwers of the previous party for New Moon. So on the 30th (the day the movie opened) we all headed over to Amy's house for talking, trivia, and yummy treats.

The table all decked out with the goodies. There were twizzlers, red velvet cupcakes, puppy chow, hot pizza dip, and vegetables, etc.
they put drinks in the kitchen like these sodas
as well as the Vampire Kiss Mojitos

Everyone sat around talking, eating, and being entertained by Reese and Riley



Amy, Leah, and their precious mom Nancy!

Leah, Amy, and I

Chrissie came along too!
You can't tell but the plate has Edwards face on it and Jennifer is wearing a replica of the engagement ring he gave to Bella in the movie!
Me posing with Edward with the ring, you see I won the trivia quiz and my prize... the ring!
Everyone wanted to pose with Edward
After the party we all headed over to the Studio Movie Grill to wait and see the movie. Here we all are waiting in line for the movie to start.
I also helped Chrissie throw a party at her house in Euless. Here is our table of goodies to take into the movie later. We made little bags of puppy chow and cups. We put twizzler sticks and ring pops in them.

The table of food. We had some dips, cupcakes, vegetables and cherry purses.
For drinks we made our own virgin Vampires Kiss (we had quite a bunch of preggers girls at ours)
Jennifer and Stacie
Me and Jenn
Stace and I
Me a Chrissie posing with our table
I thought it would be fun since Bella, Edward, Alice, and Jasper all graduate in the movie to have fake Forks diplomas and a cap and gown for grad pictures, although I didn't have time to make a cap, I did manage to fake the diplomas and gown.
Here we all are with our "diplomas and gowns"




After stuffing ourselves we headed out to the movies to watch Eclipse (and yes for those paying attention that means I watched it twice). I had a great time at both parties and I did love the movie. I still think that both the book and movie for New Moon were my favorite, I guess we will have to see how that plays out after watching both movies for Breaking Dawn!

Rambling #22 California Slush!

Years ago when I lived in South Jersey (or for some of you South NEW Jersey), I became very good friends with a couple named Mark and Jane. They had three children who were all just a little older than me, but from the first time I met them I always felt at home when with them or at their house. They took me in and treated me like I was one of their own. I think I can count on one hand the Sundays I didn't spend with them or at their home. Jane is a Kansas farm girl who is an incredible cook and baker (she can bake a loaf of bread from scratch because that is how they do it on the farm). One of my favorite memories is being her "gofer". When cooking she never kicked me out of the kitchen, she just pulled me in and had me stir, mix, unwrap, and fetch. We cooked for all kinds of events from sunday potlucks and church dinners to thanksgiving meals (I spent both Jersey Thanksgivings at their house). I loved cooking with Jane! Here I am with Mark and Jane in their kitchen.
In the summers she would make a delicious fruity treat called California Slush. From the first spoonful I was hooked. Since it has been sooooo hot here in Texas lately I thought it was the perfect time to make some and remember Jane. So here it is and I highly encourage you to try this for yourself!

California SlushThe ingredients: water, sugar, bananas, maraschino cherries, crushed pineapple, orange juice, (pretend you see this) lemon juice, and a couple of gallon ziploc bags.
In a pretty large bowl pour in the orange juice (I let mine thaw in the fridge, it doesn't have to be thawed.
Next add a can of crushed pineapple with the juice
This step you might want to do ahead of time, drain the cherries and cut them in half, and then half the halves, or quarter them. I like to do a jar and a half to two jars of cherries but it is up to you I like a lot of cherries.
Be aware this will stain your fingertips.
Then add the quartered cherries to the orange juice and pineapple
In a sauce pan measure two cups water
and two cups sugar and bring to a boil on the stove
While you are waiting for it to boil, slice and quarter 3-4 bananas. I think I did four and a half because the bananas I got that day were a little small.
Be sure to check your water. See its not boiling yet but it has turned clear again.
Now its boiling!
Add the boiling sugar water to the orange juice, pineapple, cherry mixture.
Add 1/4 cup lemon juice concentrate to the bowl.
Give it a good stir
Add the bananas
and then add 4 cups of water and stir well. If you left your orange juice frozen make sure it has completely dissolved and there are no frozen chunks.
Now ladle equally into two gallon ziploc bags. Be sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to pick cherries as well as the bananas.
If you need some help you can get a tall container like this one to hold the bag while you ladle
Yummm!!!! I cannot wait till I can dig in! Squeeze out leftover air and seal.
Lay both bags flat in the freezer you can tilt the end up a little to try and evenly distribute the cherries (they tend to sink to the bottom of things). It will take 5 or more hours to freeze. If you are impatient like me you will be waiting and watching the freezer, so when it reaches a slightly slushy stage you will pull it out and dish some out. If you let it freeze completely, set it out about an hour before you want to serve. If it gets too liquidy just put it back in the freezer for a bit.
Doesn't it just look delicious! I love this slush. It is an easy treat to make with and serve to kids!
You can click the picture above to make bigger or here is the recipe below.

California Slush

2 cups water
2 cups sugar
1 12 oz can frozen OJ concentrate
1 Lg. can crushed pineapple (not drained)
3-4 ripe bananas, sliced and the quartered
1/4 cup lemon juice concentrate
1 cup (I like 1 1/2-2 jars) of marachino cherries, quartered
4 cups water
2 ziploc bags

1. Quarter the cherries.
2. In a large bowl combine the OJ, pineapple, cherries, and lemon juice.
3. Boil 2 cups water and 2 cups sugar.
4. Slice and quarter the bananas.
5. Add boiling sugar water to OJ mix.
6. Add 4 cups water and stir to mix well.
7. Ladle evenly into ziploc bags, be sure to scrape the bottom to get cherries too.
8. Lay flat in the freezer.
9. If frozen solid, remove about an hour before serving. Refreeze if it becomes to liquidy.
10. Enjoy!