Red Roof Inn - Columbus West Broad

Sorry for the short break, mom and I were on a little trip! Where you may ask? The Arnold Sports Festival! For all of you who don't know what the Arnold is, keep reading...

First, let me say the list of sports competing at the expo covered the whole wall...the entire wall! It's ridiculous!

So there's all these people staying in the city to compete throughout the weekend. Booking a hotel was a nightmare. Every room within a 10 mile radius was booked!  Mom and I ended up staying at a Red Roof Inn about 15 minutes from the convention center. And for such a busy weekend, the price wasn't too bad.

Pulling in the parking lot, I was a little nervous. It didn't look like the newest hotel... (we came in late at night so this picture is from their website)

You know how they say "don't judge a book by its cover," the same thing is true for hotels! Wow! I was presently surprised! Hardwood floors, plenty of outlets, a nice bathroom...

I mean look at this!!

There was only one issue...breakfast. Not the greatest selection. Hard boiled eggs, bagels/toast/muffins, cereal/oatmeal, and fruit. I guess I'm just picky when it comes to breakfast.  Usually I'll have scrambled eggs or pancakes or yogurt. 

No big deal, McDonalds was right across the street. If you know how to order, the fast food chain actually has some pretty healthy selections! Egg White McMuffin...my favorite!!!

As for other resturants, there was a pretty good selection about five minutes up the road. We ate at Applebee's...and on the way home I just happened to spot a Handel's! I got an eye for them! Can spot one miles away! ...of course we stopped. 

I'd probably rate this hotel a 4 out of 5. The room was spectacular! No complaints! Clean, spacious, efficient, quiet. Just the breakfast. If you're not a picky eater, this may be your five star hotel...

Neiman Marcus Cookies

Whether it's true or not, there's a funny story behind these cookies. Well, funny for me, not the woman it happened to...  You can find it all over the internet, but to save a little time I just copied and pasted from Snopes.com. 

My daughter & I had just finished a salad at Neiman-Marcus Cafe in Dallas & decided to have a small dessert. Because our family are such cookie lovers, we decided to try the "Neiman-Marcus Cookie". It was so excellent that I asked if they would give me the recipe and they said with a small frown, "I'm afraid not." Well, I said, would you let me buy the recipe? With a cute smile, she said, "Yes." I asked how much, and she responded, "Two fifty." I said with approval, just add it to my tab. 

Thirty days later, I received my VISA statement from Neiman-Marcus and it was $285.00. I looked again and I remembered I had only spent $9.95 for two salads and about $20.00 for a scarf. As I glanced at the bottom of the statement, it said, "Cookie Recipe - $250.00." Boy, was I upset!! I called Neiman's Accounting Dept. and told them the waitress said it was "two fifty," and I did not realize she meant $250.00 for a cookie recipe. I asked them to take back the recipe and reduce my bill and they said they were sorry, but because all the recipes were this expensive so not just everyone could duplicate any of our bakery recipes....the bill would stand. I waited, thinking of how I could get even or even try and get any of my money back. 

I just said, "Okay, you folks got my $250.00 and now I'm going to have $250.00 worth of fun." I told her that I was going to see to it that every cookie lover will have a $250.00 cookie recipe from Neiman-Marcus for nothing. She replied, "I wish you wouldn't do this." I said, "I'm sorry but this is the only way I feel I could get even," and I will. So, here it is, and please pass it to someone else or run a few copies.... I paid for it; now you can have it for free.  

When mom and I make it we like to leave out the walnuts.  We aren't big nut fans.  This time, we even tried dipping them in chocolate.  My dad loved it!  

Neiman-Marcus Cookies

by Simple and Sweet Creations

6071083

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter
• 12 ounces chocolate chips
• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 ounces Hershey bar, grated
• 2 1/2 cups oatmeal, blended
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups walnuts, chopped

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375° F.

In a mixing bowl cream butter, brown sugar and white sugar. Add eggs and vanilla.

Mix in flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

Stir in chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts.

Roll into balls and bake 10 minutes.

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Get Well (Surgery) Candy Card

It's official...I have way too much time on my hands. A candy card for a teacher having hip surgery? Really, Grace? Yes, that's what I did during one of the last bigillion study halls this week. 

Actually, I'm pretty proud of it. May be the best one yet! Mmmmm... I take that back. The Secret Santa one was pretty good. This one takes a close second place. 

And driving around getting all those candy bars look at what happened!  I hit 77,777 miles!  Yay!  I'm finally driving when I hit a mile marker :)  Don't worry, I'm stopped!  (See... 0 mph)  Someone else always has my car when things like that happen...

Back on topic, I went a little overboard this time. Sixteen candy bars is a bit much, don't you think? Whoops! What can I say? I was on a roll! Let's just hope she doesn't eat them all at once!  So to make your own "Get Well" Candy Card...

...you'll need the following:

Now & Later

Whatchamacallit 

Reese's Pieces

Take 5

Good & Plenty

100 Grand 

Reese's Fast Break

Skor

Zero

Mounds 

Lifesaver 

KIND Bar

Snickers 

Twix

Reese's Nutrageous 

Peeps

Tri-fold Board (or other large poster)

Pencil

Eraser 

Sharpie