When I had to essentially re make my blog, I was thinking about maybe giving it a name. From 2009-New Years 2012, my blog was You Have How Many Kids??? then for the New Year 2012, I decided to change it to The Allison Show. Then a week ago I saw on FB, a graphic designer posted a project she was working on called Lavender and Lemon {because it was purple and yellow} and I LOVED the phrase. I felt like it was a perfect name for my blog. Then I decide to come up with a tagline that explains the name a little better… Our wishes for life and the sometimes sour reality. I feel that sums up most of my posts. My hopes and dreams for the future and then the reality of those dreams. ♥ enjoy……
Public Service Announcement…
You might wonder why the post previous to this is from July 2012…. That would be because I don’t backup my blog. There I said it. I have heard for 4+ years about the importance of backing up your blog.Blah Blah Blah. And then back in Feb, I had some issues so I called GoDaddy and they said they needed to delete my blog. Ok fine go ahead.. But then after the fact I realized that I had no posts backed up since I had switched to wordpress from blogger in July. Oops. But that’s ok. So BACK UP YOUR BLOG!!! But I imported my blogger posts and I have a redirection set up so on with the show!!
Foodie Friday: Garlic Herb Bread
I love really good, artisian bread {Hello, Carbs!} which is sometimes hard to find in Sticks, TN. So when I really, really need bread here is my go to recipe. I adapted it and made some changes from a family recipe.
All you need to make this recipe is a stand mixer {or a hand mixer and a seriously buff arm} and your oven.
Ingredients:
5 cloves of garlic
2 cups water
1 oz rapid rise yeast
2 tablespoons butter {room temp}
4 teaspoons oregano
4 teaspoons basil
1 1/2 tablespoons salt
1/8 cup of white granulated sugar
1 egg white {room temp}
6 1/2 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon olive oil {to oil the bowl the dough rests in}
Directions:
Saute 5 cloves of garlic in a little olive oil until they are soft and pale tan – not brown. DJ has a hard time with this step as he likes brown garlic. Set aside to cool. In stand mixer, dump 2 cups lukewarm water and 1 oz {4 little packets} of rapid rise instant yeast. Let that sit til the yeast is dissolved and foamy, about 3-4 minutes. Sometimes I need to stir it to mix in some clumps. Then
How easy is that? A little sauteing, some measuring, and dumping everything in a stand mixer.
SUPER important. Only turn the mixer on 1!! Unless you and the kitchen want to wear flour, herbs, and yeasty water.
See you are doing awesome!! Who knew making bread could be so easy!! I didn’t until I tried this recipe. Now I feel trully domesticated. 
Don’t mind my super gross looking towel. I swear it was clean. I would also like to point out I baked this at work which is why all the pictures are in horrible lighting and on metal surfaces. LOL Now you have an hour to do whatever you wish. Might I suggest a bubble bath? Perhaps a good book and a glass of wine or 2?
My fave part!! Beating the dough!! Followed by my least fave part: rolling out the dough. You can do a couple of different things at this point. Split dough into 3 loaves and make small round loves for you and friends. Or roll flat {about 1/2 thick} and cut into rectangles {DJ cna get 12 out of the dough}. Then bake in 2 batches in the over and cut and make sadwiches out of each piece. Thats what we do at the shop to make our paninis. Today I went with a giant round loaf and a mini round loaf. Then the BEST part!! Eat it! If do to some strange miracle you have any left after 3-4 days and it is stale, chop it up and throw it in a pan with some butter to make the best croutons ever!! Here is my baby loaf. After I sliced some off to make sure it was edible.
Simpli Stamped Review/Giveaway
I love getting to work with other Moms and their businesses. I know how hard it is to work with kids so I try to support Mom owned busniesses whenever I can. I also LOVE jewelry so if you are like me then this post is perfect!!
Amber is a 30 something mom of two of the best kids ever and owner of Simpli Stamped! In addition to making jewelry she is an avid photographer and blogger. She loves all things beautiful and strives to find joy wherever she goes.
You can find Amber at:
Simpli Stamped
Facebook
Simpli Stamped Blog
When she gave me the opportunity to review anything in her jewelry shopped I was thrilled!! After looking at all the pieces, I stumbled upon her Custom Work page!! I decided to combine a couple of designs I had seen into the perfect ncklace for me. I asked her to stamp a disk with Choose Joy and include a pearl. Then I had to wait {im}patiently for her to make the necklace and then for USPS to take their sweet time delivering it. But it was so worth the wait!!
I opened the mailing package and this is what I saw!!
First, I love teal and brown!! And second I really love business owners who take time with packaging and presentation. Make such a pretty gift as is!! Then I opened it.
I love it!! I love the pale pink pearl and the way it hangs in the ring. The necklace is the perfect length just about my shirt collar. {apparently I wear low cut shirts LOL}
Do you love it? Or do you have something different in mind? You can buy your fave piece and save 10% off with coupon code: ALLISONSHOW {which is good until July 31, 2012}
Well Amber at Simpli Stamped is also offering one lucky reader the piece of their choice {up to $55}!!! Wanna win?? Go enter!
Happy 4th of July
I happen to love the 4th of July!! As our Nation’s birthday, it makes me hopeful for our future! We decided that we shoudl have some friends over and BBQ!! My friend Katy brought over her 2 kids and we babysat my friend Michelle’s son cause he is afraid of fireworks. Katy had some great party ideas for the 4th!
We made red, white & blue punch. The secret to the punch is to layer the drink with most sugar on bottom, then the one with a little less, and top with the one with the least suagr. So we used cranberry juice, blue raspberry G2, and diet 7 up. Fill your container with ice and then add the drinks one at a time.
For the the jello jars. Make blue raspberry jello according to directions and pour into the canning jars. Let set about 30 min. Then make white chocolate instant pudding according to directions and pour that on top. Let set up about 30 minutes again. Then top with raspberry jello and thats it!! Super easy and super fun!!
For dinner we had BBQ ribs, corn on the cob, macoroni salad, potato salad, and baked beans. YUM!!
Roller Derby…
Well I survived my first 2 roller derby practices. I am crazy sore but that is more from the fact that I don’t and haven’t worked out regularly in like 15 years. Sunday’s practice was fun. We learned to fall on one knee and to glide on 1 knee. We started to lean how to get comfortable on skates. We did a bunch of side steps which is really hard to do in skates. We also did TONS of squats which my thighs hate. I learned it is really hard to stand still on skates. I can skate fine but just standing there my skates want to roll.
At the end of practice we were doing kicks. Stand on 1 leg and kicking our other leg. Since I am so wobbly, I was mostly just trying to stand still. The girl next to me went to kick and her skate she was standing on slid back and she fell to the ground. She ended up breaking her ankle and needing surgery. YIKES!! But that reminded the trainers to tell us to listen to ourselves and our bodies. If we are sore or need a break take one. And if we know that we can’t do something, then it’s probably a good idea to attempt it cautiously or try something a step down form that.
Monday’s pratice was hard for a couple reasons
1.) I was sore from Sunday
2.) We did even more squats and planks!
3.) I have no muscles to speak of.
At least I know as I get in better shape practices will get easier!!
So there!!
Well I just got my email and I made it into the Little City Roller Girls- Fresh Meat Boot Camp!! I’ll have practice Sun from 11-2pm and Monday from 6:30-8:30pm. Plus I am HIGHLY recommended to go to open skate Tues and Thursday nights. But we’ll see. LOL. I think this will be the push I need to get in shape once and for all.!! Bye baby weight.
Oh Sh*t..
So now that try-outs are tonight, I am kinda scared. LOL I practiced on a pair of roller blades that Blake got at Goodwill for $1 a year ago and I can skate fine… BUT can I really do this? I am sooo not in shape.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Editted after try-outs
Well it was pretty good. There was 6-7 girls there trying out. 2 were awesome {probably did derby before}, 1 skated pretty good, me, and the rest couldn’t really skate {ie didn’t know how to glide etc} so I am fairly sure I will make the boot camp. But who knows? LOL
Roller Derby
I saw on Facebook that our local roller derby team is holding tryouts on Monday. They just want to see you skate a few laps and then they teach you a fall. if you “pass” you make it in their Boot Camp program. Then in 3-4 months when you pass Boot Camp, you get on the actual roller derby team!! How fun. Plus it sounds like the perfect way to get in shape and lose baby weight.
Well I told Hubby and my Dad and they both said:
A- You’ll die.
B- You don’t know how to skate
C- You are a wuss
D- You are not in shape. At all
E- You haven’t been on skates in years. Like 12+ years and then it was roller blades.
So while these are mostly true statements, nothing makes me want to do something more than by having people tell me I can’t. So I am going to try out. Thanks for the support Guys!!
Happy Father’s Day from Treat!!
Between now and 11:59pm (Pacific Time) tonight you can get a FREE Father’s Day card from Treat!
Just use the code TREATDAD and enjoy a free, customized, card. This offer applies to all new and returning customers.
Here is how it works:
· You choose your card from their hundreds of Father’s Day designs.
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· Use the code TREATDAD to get this special deal. (Note: This offer is good all customers, whether this is your first time or 100th time using Treat).
Treat will truly brighten your day…and your dad’s! So check them out now and take advantage of this awesome offer!
Note: You can choose the “Send it to me first” shipping option to receive the card free. If you choose “Mail it directly to the recipient,” you will be charged $0.44 for postage. Limit one per household. You will also be asked for their credit card to verify your identity and prohibit fraud, but you will not be charged for a free card if you mail to yourself.
Hi I'm Allison. Thanks for checking out my blog. 
