Easter Basket Shopping

Hey everyone!
I hope your week is going well. I've been having a fantastic week so far. Today I had to work until 2:30, picked the girls up from school and now I'm on my way to get some Easter supplies! Joe and I didn't get to do our "date" night yet, so tonight is our date night! We're going shopping in boardman and I'm sure he'll pick a nice place for us to eat. hmmmmm where will it be?? Maybe Panera bread..we've got lots of talking to do! We made a HUGE purchase this week for our restaurant, so we've got to talk about that! (I'll let you know later what it is...) hehehe, do you like surprises??
My girls still like getting Easter Baskets, so I've got to go find things to fill them with. See ya later! Be kind to each other : ) Susan

Working from Steamers Coffee House Today!

Working on my business blog..and meeting Brenda @ noon.

Monday's Recipe! IRISH COLCANNON

A St. Patrick's day recipe for you to try!
found on my favorite recipe site www.allrecipes.com
While Colcannon seems to be associated with St. Patrick's Day, I love the combination of potatoes, cabbage, onion and bacon all through the cooler months of Fall and Winter! I attend an annual St. Patty's Day party and this is the dish I'm always asked to bring... and I'm happy to say that the bowl comes home empty every time!"

PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 20 Min
READY IN 40 Min
SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: 8 servings

IRISH COLCANNON
INGREDIENTS
2 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 slices bacon
1/2 small head cabbage, chopped
1 large onion, chopped
1/2 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup butter, melted

DIRECTIONS
Place potatoes in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.
Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, reserving drippings, crumble and set aside. In the reserved drippings, saute the cabbage and onion until soft and translucent. Putting a lid on the pan helps the vegetables cook faster.
Drain the cooked potatoes, mash with milk and season with salt and pepper. Fold in the bacon, cabbage, and onions, then transfer the mixture to a large serving bowl. Make a well in the center, and pour in the melted butter. Serve immediately.

In honor of the Day of the Green!

If you celebrate this Day..make it a great one! Enjoy yourself! Love each other!

Make Today Great!

Smile
Sit up straight. Lift your head up. Lift your eyes. Take a long, deep breath, and smile. Though things may be far from perfect for you, act like it's a great day to be alive.
Because it is.
Keep a smile on your face and in your voice. Put a spring in your step. Act like you would act if you were the most confident, successful, joyful person in your town. Speak to others in kind and positive terms. Think and speak to yourself the same way.
Embrace the challenges and see their positive possibilities.
There is no need to delay, even for another moment, the fulfillment that life can bring. See the world around you for what it is, and know that it cannot bring you down. Live
today as if it is the best day you could possibly imagine. And in doing that you make it so.
Ralph Marston

On Finding Opportunities...

Opportunity of a lifetime
So, there's plenty of bad economic news floating around. From the price of oil to Wall Street to bailouts to the death of traditional advertising.

Which is great news for anyone hoping to grow or to make an impact.

Change (and the fortunes that go with it) is almost always made during the down part of the cycle. It might not be fun, but it's exciting. (Where do you think Google came from?) The opportunity is to find substantial opportunities (in any field) that deliver real value and have a future. Those jobs/investments/companies/ideas are undervalued right now, but not for long.

This was on seth godin's blog today. I have a few ideas for internet business's that I'm pretty sure could become very successful. I've got to step beyond the idea stage. I've been trying...

Eating Pistachio Nuts

YUM!

Florida outlaws droopy pants!

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - The Florida Senate wants public school students to pull up their pants. Lawmakers passed a bill Thursday that could mean suspensions for students with droopy britches.
It won't become law unless the House of Representatives passes a companion measure.
Florida could join several southern U.S. towns and cities that have passed "saggy pants" laws aimed at outlawing what some teenagers consider a fashion statement -- wearing pants half way down their buttocks, exposing flesh or underwear.
Supporters say schools sometimes don't properly police dress codes and parents are often "under aware" of what their kids are wearing to school.

Critics say the measure is unnecessary, arguing that appearance and dress codes should be the responsibility of school districts and parents.

Despite being the butt of jokes, the bill's sponsor, Orlando Sen. Gary Siplin, a Democrat, has said the fashion statement has a back-story -- it was made popular by rap artists after first appearing among prison inmates as a signal they were looking for sex.

"All we're trying to do now is trying to inform folks that we have a fad now that does not have a very good origination," Siplin said. "We're trying to make an example in school," he added, saying it would help students get jobs and a degree.

The Florida city of Riviera Beach passed its own saggy pants law Tuesday, with a maximum penalty of 60 days in jail for repeat offenders.

Trial by Jury..

The business expo was wonderful! Joe and I met many new friends and I saw many old friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. I just love talking to people. New Wilmington in my hometown and it was great to be "home". : )
We sold almost all the food we brought along to sell. I think we will get quite a few new customers.
I will tell you the highlight of my day though...
A few months ago, I had the priviledge of sitting on a jury in a malpractice case. It was a trial in which a mother was suing her son's orthopedic surgeon, saying that he was negligent in treating her son's Mersa infection. The trial lasted six days. It was very interesting. I felt very strongly, after hearing all the evidence, that the doctor was not negligent, so whenever it came time for us to vote guilty or not guilty, I voted not-guilty. BUT... 10 out of the twelve of us jurors thought the doctor was negligent. It made my heart break! I was so passionately certain that he did nothing wrong. I tried to argue for what I believed in, but I couldn't get anyone to change their mind. So, they voted him guilty and awarded the mother and her son 250,000 dollars.
Today, one of our customers at the expo, was the judge who sat over the case. I told him that I was one of the jurors, and reminded him of the case. He told me this. "In all of the cases I've sat over, there have only been a handful that I disagreed with the jury. I was shocked that the verdict in this case was guilty. Between you and me, I thought the doctor was an excellent doctor, and was not guilty of negligence. I disagreed with this verdict. Also..the jury gave them a lot of money." *wimper* I wish I could have been more persuasive in my arguments to the jurors, but I am not eloquent or articulate or a good persuasionist!
I respect the justice system but I wish the trial would have turned out differently. Peace out, Susan

Day by Day..what you do is who you become..

The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts. Think only on those things that are in line with your principles and can bear the light of day. The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you do is who you become. Your integrity is your destiny — it is the light that guides your way.
-Heraclitus

New Wilmington Business Expo! March 15th, 2008

New Wilmington Business Expo!

Joe and I are setting up a booth at the New Wilmington Business Expo tommorow. This will be our first time participating, We are VERY excited!! I can't wait to see people that I haven't seen in a while and also to promote our business. The girls are helping us to serve BBQ Pork sandwiches,
chips, drinks, and blackberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream! We also have flyers and business cards to pass out. We are giving away four 10 dollar gift certificates, so come on down and sign up to win one of them!!!

New Wilmington Business Expo!

Senator Bob Robbins

Senator Bob Robbins ate lunch @ my restaurant today. Darn, I wish I would have had my camera. I need to remember to take it with me at all times. When you blog..you want to capture every interesting moment that happens in your day!! : )
So, he had lunch with the mayor of Volant, Laura Smith and her husband. They are a very sweet couple. Her husband Adam, creates stained glass designs. He showed us a book that included some of his incredible designs. He's designed stained glass windows for some of the most beautiful churches in the world. What an amazing artist and a interesting job!!
So anyway...Emily served Senator Robbins and the Smiths. I sat a booth nearby reading a book while I ate my lunch. As he got up to leave, he approached my table and asked me what I was reading. This CRACKED ME UP..because the name of the book I"m reading is called Pagan Christianity. I had to tell him a little bit about what it was, so he didn't think I was some kind of weird Pagan. hehe... He listened : )
He's a very nice man..very friendly.

We love the Bunny!

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny! @ Neshannock Creek Inn Restaurant!

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny! @ Neshannock Creek Inn Restaurant!

It's all black and white to me...

<

My rant..

I was going to complain about my day..but you know what? I actually ended up having a GREAT day today! Today was my sister's birthday. This picture of Paris and Nikki Hilton look a lot like us..so although I don't have a real picture of us together on my computer..just imagine this is me and my sister Amy. I'm Paris and She is Nikki by the way...
Anyways...I surprised her with a birthday package and she called this morning to tell me that she received it and liked it.
I found the most perfect card for her. It had a picture of a lady from the 60's in one of those "Mod" dresses. It said, "you know how a good bottle of wine can sometimes make you think you are a really good dancer?" "I hope you have that kind of birthday!" THen I sent her a bottle of wine,
and a girl's night out cd
and also a cute little bracelet.
We talked for awhile..and..it made me realize how much I miss her and how badly I wish that we had a good relationship. I love you sister. More than any of these words can express. I hope that you know, I am always here for you, if you need me and that I think about you EVERY single day. I am so proud of the woman that you are. You are an AWESOME mom!!!!!!!! You deserve to be loved an honored today and all the rest of your days. Happy Birthday!! I love you!!
Then I had a crappy day at work, but let's move on...
I am reading a most incredible book (I finished my cha ching book last night), but I'm not going to tell you about it until I'm finished! Then I talked to Brenda on the phone...I love her...did I tell you that already? I think I did...We so ride the same wavelength.. we are very different personalities..but we just click..
Then Joe and I had a very wonderful conversation. Joe is brilliant. Really, I'm not just saying that...I complain a lot about Joe...and he knows I do..but he has a lot more intelligence then I do.. I admire and respect him immensely (this week!) *wink* Those who get that..know me TOO WELL!!!!! : )
Then tonight I talked to my oldest Sister Dianna. I love her too : ) She makes me laugh a lot and I feel very close to her. She is my oldest sister. She's my protector. My sweeeet, sweeet sister who loves me unconditionally! I feel that from her. Please pray for her son Brandon, when you pray. He joined the army and is currently in Oklahoma at boot camp. She worries daily for him. Your prayers will be greatly appreciated.
Well, I feel like there is a ton more to talk about, but it's 1:30 AM... 1:30 AM?????????? What am I doing up still? Good-night, or good morning if you are still here reading this... Love one another. : ) Susan L.

Making Chili for dinner...

afterwards stay tuned for a long rant.

Working @ the restaurant today..

*stretch* *yawn* I've had a couple of wonderful days off!! Time to go to work now. I hope you have a wonderful day today! YOU make it wonderful! Have a happy attitude and sunny disposition and you will be surprised at how catchy it is : )

Meet Nicky

Our new chihuahua puppy : )

Currently reading...

Little Platinum Book of Cha-Ching: 32.5 Strategies to Ring Your Own (Cash) Register in Business and Personal Success


It's a very easy read! To sum it Patterson's Principles are worth keeping on your desk. Here's a list of the 32.5 principles covered in the book:

1. Think!
2. Self-belief
3. Positive mental attitude is determined by you. Not others.
4. Boot camp separates the winner from the wanna-be winner.
5. Survival and success are a combination of knowing and doing.
6. Studying. The first discipline of knowledge.
7. Your library is the artisan well of knowledge.
8. Planning prevents wandering and provides direction.
9. Use "today time management."
10. Prospect for probably purchasers to build your business organically.
11. Increase business connections to increase sales.
12. Creating the demand converts selling to buying.
13. A prepared demonstration means personalized.
14. Gain interest with information about the customer.
15. Questions lead to answers. Answers lead to harmony. Answers lead to productivity. Answers lead to customers.
16. Listening leads to understanding
17. Less sell-talk-time lead to more-buy-time.
18. Your message must be as compelling as your product to engage anyone - especially your customer.
19. An objection is the gateway to a sale.
20. Selling is not manipulating; selling is harmonizing.
21. Complete the sale with an agreement to buy and be certain to give them a receipt
22. Service is the reputation for the next sale. And the basis for a loyal customer.
23. Extra service leads to the "testimonial word."
24. Referrals are better earned than asked for.
25. Advertising brings awareness. Testimonial advertising brings customers.
26. Success in business is not just about people, it's about GREAT people.
27. Competition means prepare to be your best.
28. Recognize and thank those who have helped you succeed.
29. To get loyalty, you must GIVE loyalty.
30. Decide. It doesn't matter if it's right or wrong. Decide!
31. You become known by the actions you take. Take ethical actions.
32. If you have done your homework and prepared well, it will be evident in your success report card.
32.5 If it has been working for 100 years or more, don't even think about up here are his 32.5 strategies.

Meeting with Brenda @ Steamers

Steamers is our local coffee house. Brenda and I meet there often (lately it's been weekly) to chat. Our chats are much more than chats. We motivate and inspire each other. She has brought that much needed spark back into my life. Today we motivated and inspired each other for 4 hours!! My head is spinning but it's a wonderful dizzy feeling. I love life...again : ) I'm ready to go...again : )
Thanks Brenda for a wonderful day!

I caught my husband watching a peep show!

He's so nasty!

Bomb Threat

Please pray for my children and everyone at NCHS. There have been many bomb threats throughout the year. The latest one, was a threat for the rest of the school year. "Something soon is going to happen to NCHS" It is a horrible feeling to drop your kids off at school, knowing of that threat. Lauren said she was scared to go to school today. When she got out of the car, she said, "In case I don't see you ever again, tell Dad I love him." There were police cars all over the place, and they were standing at the doors, checking all the kids' bags and wanding them.
I wanted to keep them home with me..I wanted to protect and shelter them and keep them safe. It's so hard to let them go. This is where my Faith and Trust in God, must stay strong. I surrender to you Lord. You know what is to become of them. They are in your hands. Please Lord, keep them safe. I love you and trust you!
Please pray too. Thanks, Susan

Monday's Recipe

Cinnamon Buns...




Salivating? mmmmmmmm

Here's the recipe!
PREP TIME 20 Min
COOK TIME 15 Min
READY IN 3 Hrs
SERVINGS & SCALING
Original recipe yield: 12 rolls

INGREDIENTS
1 cup warm milk (110 degrees F/45 degrees C)
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine, melted
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened

1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt



DIRECTIONS With or without a bread machine!
With:
Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle; press Start.
After the dough has doubled in size turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, cover and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread dough with 1/3 cup butter and sprinkle evenly with sugar/cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, about 15 minutes. While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners' sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls before serving.
Without:
These are fantastic! It's a fairly quick and easy recipe as far as cinnamon buns go, and you definitely DON'T NEED A BREAD MACHINE to make them. Just use an 8 gram pack of dry active yeast instead of the bread machine yeast and knead the dough with your hands and a rolling pin. Then heat the oven to 200 degrees and then TURN IT OFF. COVER the dough with a moist paper towel over the bowl, and put in the oven for around 1 hour (the dough will almost double in size) then roll out and fill. Use dental floss to cut buns into 12 pieces (1 and 3/4 inch thick). Also, some reviews mentioned that there was too much brown sugar and cinnamon, but i would recommend sticking with what the recipe calls for...double the amount of icing though!! Also, you can use butter or margarine in the recipe, both are equally as good (i use both when i make them). When you bake them, line your pan with wax paper that has been greased with butter or margarine, and remove them immediately after baking, or they will stick. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes and they will turn out perfect. This recipe rocks : )

Enjoy!!

Lenny on Letterman

I want a love revolution too!

Emergency numbers

When ever worry, doubt or fear attack you, try these
Emergency Numbers:

When in sorrow.............................call JOHN 14
When men fail you........................call PSALM 27
When you have sinned..................call PSALM 51
When you worry............................call MATTHEW 6:19-43
When you are in danger.................call PSALM 91
When God seems far away............call PSALM 91
When your faith needs help............call HEBREWS 11
When you are lonely and fearful......call PSALM 23
When you are bitter.......................call 1 COR 13
For Paul's secret to happiness....... call COL 3:12-17
When you feel down & out............. call ROMANS 8:31
When you want peace & rest......... call MATT 11:25-30
When you travel.............................call PSALM 121
When you want courage.................call JOSHUA 1
To get along with others..................call ROMANS 12
If you are depressed.......................call PSALM 27
If you pocketbook is empty.............call PSALM 37
If you lose confidence in people.......call 1 COR 13
If people seem unkind.....................call JOHN 15
Discouraged about work..................call PSALM 126
-----.Alternate Numbers:
For dealing with fear........................call PSALM 34:7
For security....................................call PSALM 121:3
For assurance.................................call MARK 8:35
For reassurance..............................call PSALM 145:18
These Emergency Numbers may be dialed direct, no
operator assistance is ever needed, neither is a phone!
All lines to Heaven are open 24 hours a day, seven days a
week! Remember if you feed your faith, all worry, doubt
and fear will starve to death!

Winter in Volant

So beautiful. If you're interested in visiting Volant, check out their website www.volantshops.com and make sure you stop in for lunch at The Neshannock Creek Inn Restaurant !

A voters Guide

I found this on www.jesusmanifesto.com
I love radical Christianity!

We have a new NESHANNOCK CREEK INN website!

Check it out! www.giantcod.net
Joe and I have are blessed to be able to own our own restaurant. I want to make that declaration to God right now. "I am sorry Lord, for my complaints. My inablity to REALLY see how blessed I am. I'm sorry for my ungratefulness"
You see, I often complain about having to work as a waitress.My friends have often heard me say, "I'm more than a waitress!! I want to do something great with my life!! I'm not meant to be here forever!" But this morning I am thinking about how blessed I truly am.
When I was a very new baby Christian, I was 24 years old. Joe and I were living in Pittsburgh, and I became pregnant with our first Child, Alexandra. I hated living in the city. I wanted to come home and be near my parents and my family. I prayed for God to find us a way to come back to New Wilmington.
During the time of my prayers. Joe lost his job. Now this was in the midst of my praying and building a relationship with God. I could have thought, "God what the heck are you doing?" But to be honest..I wasn't secure enough in my faith to think that God had anything to do with that..BUT now I know He was answering my prayers!
Since Joe had no job, and we were living in a strange city, my dad called us up and told us that he found a little restaurant in a little town right next to New Wilmington that was for sale. He thought it would be a good business for us.
Ha Ha! Isn't God AMAZING????? We had no money to buy a business. We had never owned our own business. Joe had worked at a Perkins restaurant while he was at Penn State, but that surely wasn't enough experience to be able to own your own restaurant!
BUT.. We prayed and trusted God and felt like it was what He wanted for our lives. So we moved back home. We moved in with my brother. (once again, if I would have only saw the small picture and not the big picture, I would have been complaining about having to live with my brother.) Joe formed a partnership with my oldest brother Mike, and together they opened the NESHANNOCK CREEK INN RESTAURANT. That was 17 years ago. Joe eventually bought Mike's share, and now we are the sole proprietors.
God's answer to my prayers. I got to stay at home and raise my girls. Joe and I made a comittment to close at 5:00 pm (every day but Friday), so that we could have family time.
Now that they are old enough they help out at the restaurant, so we make it a family time at work too! We are an extremely close knit family which is what I always dreamed and prayed about. We LOVE being together. My girls are 16 and 14 and they are both homebodies. Last night my 16 year old snuggled up in bed with Joe and I, and fell asleep with us. I am SO blessed.
So, this post is one where I am expressing my gratitude. It didn't start off that way. I just wanted to write about our new website. But God showed me a few things. I need to stop complaining and be more grateful. Also, when you ask God for something, He might not answer it in the way you are expecting. Joe lost his job. We had to move in with my brother. But years later, I can look at all that has happened and see that God was right there with me. It's all good : )
God Rocks! Have faith my friends. Keep your eyes on the prize!
With God's amazing and neverending love, Susan

Join the blog party!

What do you stand for?

There has been so much talk about this upcoming election and it's effects of the future of our country, I thought I'd do a little research to help you decide who to vote for in this next presidential race. Here is a great link, with video's about the three main presidential candidates. Please pass this link on!

what do Clinton, Obama, and McCain think about abortion, gay marriage, family values and other hot topics?

The Scriptures tell us that God sets up the king, and he takes down the king. And he turns the king’s heart like a watercourse, however he wishes. It’s very important we seek God’s guidance on the leadership of this nation.

This year’s (NDP) theme is Prayer: America’s Strength and Shield. We took it from the supporting Scripture out of Psalm 28:7, which says, “The Lord is my strength and shield. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.”
Also: REMEMBER THIS VERY IMPORTANT BIBLE VERSE:“If My people who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, I will forgive their sins, and I will heal their land.”2 Chronicles 7:14

We found a new church to try out!

It looks like it might be a COMTEMPORARY church..and it's only about thirty miles from home!! It's located in Sharon, Pa, but it looks like they are building a new building (Which means they must be growing!!!!!) in Hermitage (Which means it would be even closer to New Castle!!!) Please pray for us. We need a church home. We need a church family! I feel like such an orphan floating in this big ocean of a world, all alone. Here's the link if you want to check it out!

http://www.grace-chapel.net/

Come join me on twitter!

Twitter is a free social networking and micro-blogging service that allows users to send "updates" (or "tweets"; text-based posts, up to 140 characters long) to the Twitter website, via short message service, instant messaging, or a third-party application such as Twitterrific.
Updates are displayed on the user's profile page and instantly delivered to other users who have signed up to receive them. The sender can restrict delivery to those in his or her circle of friends

Notre Dame University

Chicago

More pictures!

Chicago

Some pics from our trip to CHicago!