Lights, Camera, Action

Andy and I are staying at hotelVetro for the weekend...and next weekend and the next. It's kind of a long story, but a production company is using our house as a set for an upcoming movie. We don't know too much about the movie except that it is a thriller and is titled "The Offering". I asked if there would be any blood splattered on our walls and they said nothing like that would take place in the house. With that, I think we are safe. We got kicked out yesterday morning and popped in before going to dinner last night and it was really strange to see other people in picture frames, different bedding on the beds, etc. Yesterday was their main staging day with the filming starting today. It has been kind of fun to see some of things that need to take place before filming can even begin. For now, it is quite fun 'living' downtown Iowa City at the hotel. More details to come...

-24 degrees

I don't think writing about how it is SO darn cold here is going to get me any sympathy as all of our friends and family reading this also live in the blustery midwest. Instead, here are a few pics from our Cozumel trip last February. Sitting here with the heated blanket on, it almost takes me back. I loved that trip!

Playing photographer

Last weekend I took a few shots of Desiree's pregnant belly.

I can't wait until little boy Chiappetta is here! I know Desiree has a lot on her to-do list as she prepares for their baby boy. Being an aunt takes some preparation, too! I have some more sewing to do, books to read, and some meals to make and freeze for them. I know it will be a busy time for them and I want to be able to help out as much as possible (or as much as they will let me!).

Christmas in pictures

So this one is blury, but if you squint slightly, you can get an idea of what the three Scheppmann kids and their significant others look like. And yes, Desiree and Lou will soon be welcoming Baby Boy Chiappetta. I am a very excited aunt! You can view their blog here.

A picture of Andy and I on Christmas Eve at my parent house.

It is a Christmas Eve tradition in our house to make a bunch of appetizers earlier in the day, go to church, and then come home, eat, and sit and open our gifts to one another. There is nothing better than keeping holiday traditions with your family! One tradition that Andy and I started last year was to put our holiday card picture in an ornament. We sure think it will be fun to decorate our tree in 10 years and look at each years pictures. And plus Hobby Lobby has so many cute picture frame ornaments!

Christmas morning we headed back to Iowa City to spend the day with Andy's family. We had a fabulous dinner and Andy and Brian were surprised with matching snowblowers! Iowa winters have proven to be a bit harsh, so it is a gift we will certainly appreciate.

Menu Monday

Southwest Tatertot Casserole

(So my picture isn't too appetizing, but you can tell by how much the two of us ate that it was really good!)

1 lb ground beef
1 onion chopped
1 green pepper chopped
1 can diced chilies
1 pkg taco seasoning
1 pkg frozen tatertots
1.5 cups frozen corn, thawed
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk

Brown beef, add onion and peppers until cooked. Add taco seasoning , green chilies, and thawed corn to meat mixture. Combine milk and cream of mushroom soup in a seperate bowl.
Meanwhile, bake tatertots at 400 degrees for 26 minutes.
In a casserole dish, layer cooked tatertots, meat mixtures, and pour soup mixture on top. Fold together gently. Top with 3/4 c. shedded cheddar cheese. Cover. Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Serve with a bit of sour cream and hot sauce if you desire. So good!

Let It Snow

We will certainly have a white Christmas around here! We are getting lots of practice shoveling...that is what we get for living on a corner. Although a hassle, it really is very pretty. Because we are in full holiday mode around here, a few pictures of our decor...

And a picture of Andy and his buck that he got last weekend on his "man's trip". Thankfully the deer was donated to a meat pantry. Having a big buck head above our couch is not my idea of classy decor! Sorry, Andy.

Thanks to everyone for the fun Christmas cards. I love coming home and opening them up each day. Enjoy the next few days of Christmas preparation!

Tasting Party

Tonight Andy and I went to a Tasting Party. It was downtown IC in a two story loft style apartment. We walked in and there were little dishes of food everywhere. The idea is that you eat one of these Magical Fruit berries and then sample the food to see how the berry changes the flavor. Lemons and limes tasted the same, but were not at all sour. We decided that it isn't the wierd berry that would later make us feel a bit sick, but the fact that everyone was eating sour cream (tasted like frosting), vinegar, straight lemon juice, and just about any other condiment. The strangest thing I tried was lemon sorbet mized with Quiness beer. It tasted similar to a coffee ice cream shake. Very strange, but fun! Here are a few pictures...



Here are the berries. The party host had them flown in from NYC, but apparently they are grown in Florida.

Andy, who usually doesn't like sour things (of fruit for that matter) enjoying a lime slice.
Here are Meghann and Alaina with some of the mood lighting behind them.

Still intrigued? Try googling magical fruit to learn more.