My Beautiful Month

In case you aren't on Instagram, or don't follow me, here's a peek at my Insta-Life lately.
[*All photos are taken from my Instagram account.]

Too many books and not enough time. True story.

'Tis the season for hot chocolate, and Starbucks puts crack in theirs. (Well, don't quote me on that, but it's sooo good. I'm sooo addicted.)

Magic Tree House madness at work.

Playing this on the radio?!?!?! Yesssssss!

Oh, I bought a new car. Meet Tara. Tara, this is everyone. (Bonus points if you know her namesake.)

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

7. Football

So, back to a few of my favorite things.

Now is the perfect season for me to slide in this huge FAVORITE. I know I have mentioned my love for this game many, many times on here, but it is time to make it official.

For fear of waxing on and on, and making this post longer than it already may be, let me just summarize my feelings with a few significant and favorite football moments.

• How almost every person in my family has their own favorite team. We have the Browns camp, the Bengals, the Cowboys, the Vikings camp, the 49ers, the Packers camp, (and unfortunately, the Steelers <--- married in, so we don't count this. Not sorry.) We're a loud, beautiful, rivalry mess. Sundays are interesting, let me tell you. Christmas can also get people worked up.
• That time (Thanksgiving, I think) Dallas was beating the Steelers and someone got a little miffed and turned the TV off. Let's just say my father was not amused and decided to leave the family gathering. While picking him up on the side of the road, my mother was not amused. However, my brother and I thought it was the best moment ever.

• My senior year of high school, when Daddy took me to my first Cleveland Browns game (even though it was a pre-season game and we got completely lost in Cleveland on the way home)
• When I first met Mr. B and had to tell my father he was a 49ers fan. I quickly told him Mr. B's mother was Steelers fan and we could be equally disappointed together. Forever.
• When Mr. B invited me over to watch football with him and his dad. It's quite the dramatic, emotional, and nerve-wracking experience ever. And I thought my family was intense! I decided to document the various stages of this madness for my college photography course final. I don't think my professor was impressed. Huge fail. (At least my up-until-then A balanced me out, and I ended up with a C.)
• The fact the Browns have WON every single game when I have been in attendance. Get me more tickets, people!
• The weekend we were in Buffalo for the 49ers-Buffalo game. Mr. B proposed. It was quite the memorable event.
• A few weeks ago, for the first time ever (at least for the time my family and I can remember) all FOUR of our teams won. !!!!! Oh my goodness! (...it's a shaky egg. <--- children's librarian humor. If you don't get, just move on.) I think you-know-what just froze over. <insert huge happy dance break and mass celebration> However, my husband's team did not win that week. Who knows if all FIVE of our teams will ever claim victory in the same seven-day period. BUT, the original four celebrated. woot-woot

*Disclaimer: I haven't looked up these stats to know for certain if this was the first time Cleveland, Dallas, Cincinnati, and Minnesota all won. We would need to go back to 1994-1995 season and check. If you have time for that, feel free to let me know if this is correct. Of course, read in a whisper---> we lost a few seasons when my Brownies moved for those few bitter years.

<insert huge emotional meltdown> But then I became a huge COWBOYS fan, just like my daddy. And then the Browns came back and I thought, I must go back to the Dawg Pound! Little did I know we.are.to.suck.forever. Apparently.

But I can't abandon them! Not like they abandon me in my youth! (Sidebar: I'm a closet Dallas fan. I can't abandon them! Mr. B is not happy about this, by the way. It's something we don't discuss, really. We also don't discuss the fact his mother waves a Terrible Towel. It's why we're still married. House divided, anyone?)

Oh, and then of course there's the one team that unites us all:

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY!

I'm sorry, have you seen our trophy?

We are serious about our BUCKEYES. O-H!

And a shout out to my alma mater! Go Flashes!

Actually, my favorite thing about the football season is how it brings my family together every Saturday and Sunday. Traditions are made, fun is had, craziness is a given. I love it. I love it all.


**Annnnddd.... in no particular order, you can find my other favorite things here, and here, and here, and there! Ooops, there's one here, too. And a little half over here.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

Photo an Hour

6 AM

7 AM

8 AM

9 AM

10 AM

11 AM

12PM

1 PM

2 PM

3 PM

4 PM

5 PM

6 PM

7 PM

8 PM

9 PM

It was an early day, watching the coffee pot.
It was barn tearing down day.
It was a breath-taking, blue-sky fall day. 
It was a comfy, cozy, crafty, cider, candy apple, caffeinated day.
It was Oakridge Festival Day!
It was a day trip kind of day.
It was a frustrating day to be a Browns fan.
As always, a day to be thankful.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

My Beautiful Month

In case you aren't on Instagram, or don't follow me, here's a peek at my Insta-Life lately.
[*All photos are taken from my Instagram account.]

 Sunday morning indulging: homemade sausage gravy and biscuits

The weather was bad so church had us all stay home and did a live Wednesday night broadcast.

THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES. THE CHAMPS!

Making our own hand soap with Doterra oils.

We stocked up for the huge snowstorm that was SUPPOSED to hit.

This is as close as they get. The fire brings them together.

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi

{Super} Sunday Sweets

IT'S SUPER BOWL TIME!!!!!

How many of you are gathering with friends and family to watch the game today????

My family always gets together for the big game, and this year is no exception...even though a few tears were shed when Dallas (daddy's team) and Green Bay (my aunt's and grandma's team) were eliminated. We're still all in. It's tradition over here. Big TV. Packed room. And more food than you can imagine. It's fabulous.

It's football.

It's Sunday.

It's sweet.

Except for this....

This beautiful snow globe of white is why Mr. B and I are staying home today. My family is almost two hours away, and I love 'em and I'll miss watching the game with 'em, but I'd prefer to NOT end up in a ditch, ya know?

(However, I did drive a few miles down our street to pick up a family bucket from KFC. Definitely recommend staying off the roads if you're currently getting this crazy blizzard.)

Soooo....the snowstorm hits and plans change. Now, there's a possibility the in-laws may be over to watch the game tonight (they're only five minutes away) and food plans consist of a brownie sundae bar with all the fixin's, including three types of granola, vanilla ice cream, Greek yogurt, and whipped cream. Of course, there are plenty of fruit toppings to choose from, which also doubles as a choose-your-own-fruit-salad bar for those who may not want to indulge in a brownie sundae. I'm not sure who those people are and, truth be told, they probably aren't invited anyway.

I even cut out the brownies in cute football helmet shapes to coordinate with the days' festivities. I made football helmet krispie treats as well. These are the healthier option. Instead of rice krispies and butter, I used 6 cups puffed rice, 4 cups mini marshmallows, and 3 tablespoons coconut oil. DELICIOUS. And Mr. B never even knew the difference.

But, just in case you are in need of throwing together a quick appetizer or are of the I-don't-know-what-to-bring-to-a-Super-Bowl-party lot, here are a few delicious recipes worthy of gracing your game-day table.

Nachos (Two Ways)
Cold Vegetable Pizza (a popular reader item here on Sweet B's)
Ham & Cheese Crescents
Apple Coleslaw
Zesty Broccoli Dip
Potato Skins (definitely a must!)
Multiple Crescent Rolls recipes...quick, simple, and delicious.
Baked Egg Rolls and Snack Plates

Also bar-themes are excellent choices when one must feed a hungry crowd. Some of my favorites are baked potato bar, chili bar, nachos/taco bar, popcorn bar, or something I stumbled across the other day: a mac and cheese bar. What?! And don't forget DESSERT! Krispy treats are always a hit. (Ice cream bars/sundaes are perfection, obviously.)

Who y'all rooting for today?

I'm thinking we're anti-Seattle over here. Go AFC!

With Love and God Bless,
Brindi