Roasted Cabbage

My mom presented a new item at Sunday Family Dinner a few weekends ago:

Roasted cabbage.
It was amazing! And she swears it was as simple as: slice cabbage, drizzle with infused olive oil (your savory flavor of choice), sprinkle with salt and papper, and roast in the over until light caramelization.
Little Sister and I were head over heels for it. That simple side will become a staple in the Jeffries household.
Enjoy!
(Image via http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/roasted-cabbage-wedges/ on Pinterest.)

Just Sayin'...

Miss ya cuz...






Stumbled upon this great memorial written to Henry online:

"I had the honor of going to high school and graduating Garner Senior High with Henry. I joined the Marine Corps a few months ahead and remember the day I hear of his passing. I was so proud when I stumbled upon an article about his Bronze Star. He was an amazing person and truly held up the highest honor and tradition of the Marine Corps. I wear a memorial bracelet in his memory everyday and I am honored to share his story of courage and sacrifice for our nation. Semper Fi Sanchez, always missed but never forgotten." --
Ryan Glenn of Kansas City, MO

And in case anyone needs a reminder of why we have this extended weekend to enjoy:



Just sayin'...

Welcome to Alum Status, Sis!

I swear NCSU made the grad attire red just so she couldn't reuse mine (which was black).

And while she may be an undergrad alum, she's heading back to NCSU in the fall for four more years. At the end of those four years and a board certification or two, you may call her Dr. Mandy and you will take your puppies and kitties to her for all their TLC and veterinary needs... when she's not taking care of the Army's animals!



If you didn't know, I'm her official part-time paparazzi. You can peruse 153 photos here :-)

PS - I realize I'm a weekend and some change late on this post, but the day after graduation she and her pals hopped on a cruise from Florida to Mexico, then she came home and hopped in a car bound for Atlantic City, and then flies back tomorrow and then goes to D.C. for the weekend... so she won't see this until next week (or today on facebook) anyways. Who knew she'd graduate and become a lady of leisure?

How to...

Got this email today from E. Riley... SO appropriate!

HOW TO STOP PEOPLE FROM BUGGING YOU ABOUT GETTING MARRIED

Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, 'You're next.' They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals.
Of course, I would never say that. But still... so appropriate ;-) I know Adrianne, Lisa S., and Blackeyed Susan share my sentiments and probably got a great laugh from this, too.

Special Events at the Downtown Raleigh Outdoor Ice Rink

How much fun does Date Night sound?!

Tuesday, December 22: Family Night - Skate with Santa from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm.

Sunday, January 3: Sledding Ramps - Snow My Yard will create a winter wonderland with sledding ramps open from 12 noon-5 pm. This activity is FREE for anyone wearing their ice rink admission wristband. For pictures, visit www.snowmyyard.com.

Thursday, January 7: Date and Skate Night - Make memories in downtown Raleigh. Couples can enjoy "Date Night Specials" at participating downtown restaurants and then simply show their receipt to receive a $4 discount for admission for two to the ice rink. That's only $8 for admission (includes skates) per couple! Free carriage rides will also be available from 6 pm-9 pm for anyone wearing their ice rink admission wristband. Create a special night for that special someone.Visit RaleighWinterfest.com for any other details you might need!

Calling All Mommies, Awesome Aunts, and Grand Parents...

As I was thinking about buying gifts for tomorrow’s Jingle Ball (www.jingleball.org), I realized that I obviously don’t do all that much toy buying!

I am wondering if any of you awesome readers have any tips on how to maximize $25.00 in the world of toys?

Since this is such a great cause, I want to try and contribute as much as I can with a $25.00 value of gifts donated, but I don’t want to buy things that will go unused. I know this is probably not the best time of year to try and work some magic for toys, but didn’t know if there were any good options outside of a traditional toy store that I should be looking at.

Or, if there are any toy retailers, who always have a coupon available like Bed, Bath, and Beyond does for household items ;-)

Thank you - in advance - for any tips!

I also emailed this to Sue Stock to see if she has any tips. If she does, I'll be sure to post them here in the comments.

PS - Daddy input welcome, too. Sorry I forgot about that major group!

Toys for Tots and the Wolfpack!

Toys for Tots is a campaign that my family and I have participated in through various groups over the years (for example: the Ray Price Harley-Davidson Toys for Tots Toy Run).

Here's another great opportunity to do a little good while having a lot of fun!

via GoPack.com

NC State head football coach Tom O’Brien expects his players to be champions in the classroom, in the community and on the football field. As part of that effort, the NC State football program announced today that it will be partnering with Coca-Cola and Harris Teeter to collect new toys and donations throughout the 2009 football season to benefit the U.S. Marine Corp’s Toys for Tots campaign.

During each game this season, Coca-Cola will donate $500 to the NC State/Toys for Tots Fund for every touchdown the Wolfpack scores. At the conclusion of the season, representatives from the Wolfpack football program will use the funds to purchase toys that will be donated to Toys for Tots and distributed to needy children. During the 2008 season, Coca-Cola contributed $17,000 for the 34 Wolfpack touchdowns scored.

Coca Cola will also join with Harris Teeter throughout the Triangle to set up drop-off locations for fans to donate toys. From November 5 - December 10, Toys for Tots/Coca-Cola displays with toy-donation bins will be located in Raleigh-area Harris Teeter locations. Fans can drop off new toys to any of the participating Harris Teeter locations (see below for list of locations.)

Football fans in the Triangle will have an additional opportunity to donate to the cause when NC State hosts Clemson at Carter-Finley Stadium on Saturday, November 14. A toy drive will take place in the Wolfpack Fan Zone, located in front of the RBC Center. Coca-Cola and Toys for Tots representatives will be on hand to collect toys in the Wolfpack Fan Zone up until kick-off. Although all toy donations are appreciated, new toys for toddlers ages 2-4 and pre-teens ages 10-12 are needed most. Cash donations will also be accepted at the stadium gates until kick-off, and at the toy donation area in Fan Zone. Fans donating a new toy or a cash gift at the Fan Zone on game day will also receive a free 2 Liter from Coca-Cola and Harris Teeter.Visit GoPack.com/ToysForTots over the season for updates or ToysforTots.org for information at events in your area and how to get involved!

PS - Kudos to game-day beverage Coca-Cola for it's season-long commitment to this program!

I Hate the Cold

Never fails, when the fair makes it to town... it'll get cold! (Usually, it's warm in the the day and cold at night - meaning you have to drag a coat around all day to avoid evening freezing, but it's downright cold in the day already. BOO!)

Just FYI, I heart the NC State Fair. Nick and I will be going at least twice. NEB, Grubey, Mom, Mandy, and I started off the 2009 State Fair last Thursday with Jason Michael Carroll. He had a great opening act - Patrick Davis (@pdmusic).


Friday NEB, Adrianne, and Adrianne's YM (reference: Yankee Manfriend), and I left for Charlotte. We stayed with Bri and Drew (can't wait for them to move to Raleigh!) and Cole and Lindsey met us on Saturday afternoon.






The race would've been great, if I wasn't FUH-REEEEZING. Seriously, I had LOTS o' layers on and was too cold to drink more than 1 Beergarita. Lame.

Here's hoping for warmer weather for Eric Church's show!

A Brittany's Battle Update

I have quite often posted about Brittany's Battle here, so I thought it'd be a great time for an update (via the BBI email newsletter) to let you know about all of the great things that the Coppedge family, their friends, and family are doing in memory of Brittany.


Second Annual Angel Gala
Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 22, 2009, and join us for our 2nd Annual Angel Gala. This year's event will be bigger and better than ever! We will have a light buffet dinner, dancing, silent and on-line auctions and much more.


2009 Free to Breathe
The 2009 annual Free To Breathe event wil be held in Raleigh on Saturday, November 7, 2009, on NCSU's Centennial Campus. We would love to have you come out and support the event. Better yet, lace up those sneakers and join Brittany's Battle! Whether you run the 5K or walk the 1K, come out and celebrate the survivors and honor those who've battled and lost.

Feel free to donate or join the Brittany's Battle team here - thank you for your support in advance!


And probably the most important part of all:

We had the opportunity last month to attend the ribbon cutting for the new NC Cancer Hospital on the campus of UNC in Chapel Hill. The hospital is magnificent!! We toured several areas - including the children's ward and the Resource Center. We are blessed to have such a wonderful facility in our state.

We were very pleased to be able to present the Patient and Family Resource Center with another donation from Brittany's Battle - thanks to all of you! We were very moved when we were told that our last donation is being used to have wigs made for teenage cancer patients. As you can imagine, their choice for wigs is often limited.
Amazing! It is so moving to read about the great things the hospital is being able to do as a result of the contributions that BBI has been able to make... thanks to the support of so many great people.


{Pic: My sister - Mandy, Brittany, and Amber enjoying Sweet Summertime... I think they had just graduated from high school. To put it in perspective, my "little" sister graduates from college this spring!}

Happy 2009!

In case you weren't on my email list (click to see the whole card):



Hope 2009 is a great year for everyone!

Photography by Allison Davis: www.SandfootPhotography.com
Card template *freebie* by Lucky Designs: www.eluckydesigns.blogspot.com

And since we still do the "girls" and the pups for everyone on Mom and Dad's list (again, click if you can't see the whole thing... you're looking for 2 girls and 6 dogs):



I wish we had thought to video that photo shoot. We could have won $10,000 on America's Funniest Home Videos for sure.

A Holiday Favorite

Elf Yourself is one of my favorite holiday promotions. They really kicked it up a notch this year with the addition of download for $4.99 and merchandise!

Didn't know Delta could do cartwheels, huh? Ever think you'd see Tank two-step (or - ahem - four-step)?

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Enjoy and go Elf Yourself, too!

PS - Click through if it doesn't automatically show up in Google Reader... some videos and flash animations don't!

Keep Your Eyes Open!

I know there are a lot of moms (and dads!) who read this blog (including my own - Hi Mom! Hi Dad!), so I was really excited to see that our friends in law enforcement have harnessed the power of technology when it comes to Amber Alerts.

Many thanks to Lisa S. for sharing!

Amber Alert Text Site

"Statistics show that the first 3 hours after an abduction are the most critical in recovery efforts. By signing up for free wireless Amber Alerts you could play an integral role in the recovery of an abducted child." -From WebsiteBe sure to read her post as she gives you a good run-down of the features of the program!

Overheard in Blogland

"There are many days I question what God was thinking when he matched us up but I go with it." - The House of Fowler

Amen, sister!

And NMB highlights "Southern Signs":

OKRA (Dec 22 - Jan 20)
Are tough on the outside but tender on the inside. Okras have tremendous influence. An older Okra can look back over his life and see the seeds of his influence everywhere. You can do something good each day if you try.I do love fried okra... and I can be one tough cookie vegetable?

Recognize that Little Curly-Haired Girl?

Readers of the NC State Fair's blog may have recognized a familiar face yesterday!

http://2008ncstatefair.blogspot.com/2008/09/fair-fan-lisa-jeffries.html

(Note: Fall 1987 was just before the first appearance of my younger sister, Mandy.)Check out some of our family's fair pictures from the 22+ years we've been going together (18 since my sister was born) in the following slideshow.

View Album

Get your own

The NC State Fair - definitely one of my favorite family pastimes!

Everyone Has a Cause

If I had a television network, I would dedicate an entire evening (as often as possible), with as many big names and performers that I could gather up, to support this father's cause.

Read his story - Father spreads message about cancer - and please sign his petition here.In addition to signing his well-deserved petition, I also found out a little more about The Petition Site... which I thought would be a great thing in itself to share with those of you who may find it useful in your civic-, faith-, or philanthropic-based pursuits in the future. It's an easy way to spread your message and gain support for your cause by educating others and gaining their support online - regardless of geographic limits.

I Wish They Could ALL Come Home Like This...

This is super heart-warming... and the neighbor whose sentiments were something of "it's the least we can do for all he's done"... SPOT ON. We need more neighbors like her in this world.

Hundreds Welcome Home Raleigh SoldierMiss you more and more every day, Henry!

I Have Been Waiting All Weekend...

...to post this!

From Friday's Real Simple Daily Thought (currently trying to migrate from daily email to RSS feed, but I believe their feed might be on hiatus):

"Any man can be a father. It takes someone special to be a dad." — AnonymousHappy Father's Day to daddies and grandaddies everywhere, including:

my daddy

...and my Grandpa Bruce!

These pictures are SO my family.

Dad can rarely be caught in a picture unless it's candid (he's pictured two above at Biketoberfest in Myrtle Beach with the BF this past fall) and the entire Jeffries' side of the family is a hoot... directly above is Grandpa Bruce and my Uncle Dan at my folks' house a few holidays past.

Unfortunately, I don't have any digital pics on my computer of my mom's dad (Grandpa "Sleepy") who passed away when I was younger... but that definitely inspires me to get some of our old pictures turned into digital pictures!