Tuesday, January 27, 2009

BLOCKS

This is our upcoming girls night out .... to ENRICH us... project! And, of course I had to make several... can you tell who the zebra and hot pink one is for?
and this one is on my mantle...
guess who gets to cut all the wood and is in charge of the night... you got it... Me!oh... and JAKE is the lucky wood chopper. (so far 50 people have signed up...) I think they will be lots of fun to make. We are supplying the wood, paint, mod podge, and several cricut machines and "the ladies" will bring their own paper. Not bad for a cheap enrichment-filled project huh?

Friday, January 23, 2009

if you know me...

You will know that projects that interest me....drive me CRAZY until I COMPLETE them....

This cupcake craze is



really... who could resist such a fun little project with
it's tempting even for a mom like me! I think Sadie will like this after-school snack!

pattern:
Cake:
With brown worsted weight yarn and an F hook, sc6 in a circle
Sc twice into each st (12 sts)
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (18 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (24 sts)
Sc into back loops of each st
Sc around
Sc11, sc twice into next st* around (26)
Sc6, sc twice into next st, sc12, sc twice into next st, sc6 (28)
Sc13, sc twice into next st* around (30)
Sc around
Break yarn
Frosting:
Sc6 in a circle
Sc twice into each st (12 sts)
Sc1, sc twice into next st* around (18 sts)
Sc2, sc twice into next st* around (24 sts)
Sc around
Sc3, sc twice into next st* around (30 sts)
Sc around for 3 rounds
Skip one st, 5 dc into next st, skip one st, sl st* around
Break yarn, leaving a long tail to sew with

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

so what's up with the cute cupcake pattern above? I want to make those.... only I stink at reading a pattern. honestly, i was sick of seeing my butt posted on this blog (from the previous header picture...) so there you have it, stolen cupcakes. I'm just blogging today about nothing really...this months visiting teaching message had something about doing what is necessary before the unnecessary things in life...so, I will make this short. I am thankful, oh so thankful, for relief society in my life. i am thankful to have connections with other women. i love the relief society for helping me make friends through visiting teaching. i love it for allowing me a place to use my "skills"...i love it for giving me opportunities to go to places like the care center to sing for women much older than myself (who offer me much food for thought), i love it for the way it ties me to my mom and grandma and her mom and her grandma. i love the association it has given me with people as far away as New Jersey to Arizona and some in between. i am happy to be a member of one of the largest women's organizations in the world, especially one that helps me to be a better person. if you want to read more about what RELIEF SOCIETY is all about go to http://www.lds.org

Monday, January 19, 2009

This is one of my favorite Sunday dinners... just thought I would share... I cheat on the pork loin however....I buy the marinated lemon garlic one from walmart $7.84 and shake on a little cumin... but the salad is my favorite! I love sweet potatoes and beans, it's a new combination but so yummy... especially with the citrus dressing..... you should try it! (*that one's for you Lisa!! :)

Ingredients
Serves 4
3 pounds center-cut boneless pork loin
4 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus 1 teaspoon, divided
2 teaspoons ground cumin
Coarse salt and ground pepper
2 medium sweet potatoes (about 1 pound total), peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/4 teaspoon red-pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from 1 lime), plus wedges for serving
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
Directions
Preheat oven to 450, with racks set in upper and lower thirds. Place pork on a rimmed baking sheet. Rub with 1 teaspoon oil; season with cumin, salt, and pepper. Roast on upper rack until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of meat registers 145 degrees, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven, and cover loosely with aluminum foil; let rest about 10 minutes. (Slice off 1/3 of meat and refrigerate.)
About 15 minutes after pork has begun roasting, place sweet potatoes on another rimmed baking sheet; drizzle with 2 tablespoons oil. Season with red-pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper; toss to coat. Roast on lower rack, until tender, tossing once during cooking, 25 to 35 minutes.
In a large bowl, whisk lime juice with remaining 2 tablespoons oil; season with salt and pepper. Add sweet potatoes, beans, onion, and, if using, cilantro; mix gently to combine. Thinly slice pork, and serve with salad and lime wedges.

What should we do today?


After Parent Teacher Conference last week, Sadie's teacher reminded me that my little 2nd grader could use some practice in the skill of counting money... so... on this "the King's Birthday"... as Sadie thought it was (aka Martin Luther King Jr. Day) we decided to pull out the change mug...

so how much do you think we have? and what can we do with such loot? Mason votes bowling... Sadie votes split it up and go on a shopping spree with approximately $4.05 each, Nick wants to do whatever Mason wants to do. So, we'll see....

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

BY GEORGE...HE'S GOT IT!

HE DID IT! HE FINALLY MASTERED THE ART OF SITTING ALL BY HIMSELF.



WHAT A GOOD THING. HOWEVER, EVERY NEW THING THAT MAKES MY LITTLE BABY GROW UP IS SO BITTER SWEET. I WOKE HIM UP FROM A NAP THE OTHER DAY JUST TO HOLD HIM AND SMELL HIM. HE'S SO CUTE AND LITTLE AND I SOOO DON'T WANT HIM TO GROW UP... YA KNOW?
NICK GOT "GROUNDED" FOR THE WHOLE WEEK FOR PUNCHING SADIE AND TO BE DOWN RIGHT HONEST... IT'S BEEN QUITE NICE JUST HAVING HIM HOME AND WITH ME. WE DECIDED TO RENT HORTON HEARS A WHO (great punishment huh?)

Friday, January 9, 2009

a cure for the "winter time blues"




I don't know what's gotten in to me lately...I've got the blues... but don't worry...NICK & I found a cure!!



Cocoa-nut Brownies:

topping:
1 1/2 c. coconut
1 1/2 c. walnuts
1/4 c. melted butter
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. salt

Brownies:
1 c. butter
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. cocoa
melt in medium saucepan... and add:
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1 3/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp salt

spread brownies in 13x15 jelly roll pan that has been lined with foil and sprayed with pam..sprinkle on topping and bake @ 350 for 25-30 min.


I have no reason to feel down, I just get this way every once in a while...(must be the darn diet... he he)

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Andy's got a brand new chair.....

honestly... who cares....I know..... but he's just so dang cute!!!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Thursday, January 1, 2009

WHAT IS GOING ON?

CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY MY BLOG IS DOING THIS? THE STUFF THAT IS SUPPOSE TO BE IN THE RIGHT HAND COLUMN IS CLEAR AT THE BOTTOM. WHEN I GO TO CUSTOMIZE IT.. .IT LOOKS RIGHT BUT IT IS ALL WIERD? NOT SURE....
JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, SAMEE CAME TO PLAY..(OH WHAT FUN IT WAS TO RIDE IN BIG JAKE'S 4 LOW SLEIGH...HEY!!!) JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE BELLS, JINGLE ALL THE WAY...OH WHAT FUN IT IS TO HAVE OUR FAMILY COME TO STAY!!!


OUR ATTEMPT AT SNOW ICE CREAM

8 c. SNOW
1 CAN SWEETENED CONDENSED MILK
I TSP. VANILLA
STIR AND SERVE

Christmas EAT... I mean EVE....

SERIOUSLY....GOOD TIMES... SURROUNDED BY GOOD EATS!

fIRst....

tHE FONDUE pArty... A cHRSITMAS traDITION to fiLL EVery CRACK AND spacE At mOM AND dad'S HOUSE WIth noT oNly gREAsE FILLED air, bUT fAmILY AND frIENDS... AND eating!!!

sECONd....

HOME to OpEn gIFTS AND heAD sTRAIGHT to bED...

tHIRd....

NO mORNiNG WOULD bE cOMPLeTE WITHOUT A LARGE bOWL oF tREATS... gOOD lUCK THERE aNDy!

FOUrth....

SNOWING SNOWING SNOWING FUN... WHAT A CRAZY DAY OF SNOW NON STOP AND THE CUTEST FAMILY SNOWMAN...

wE WORRIED... BUt he suRVIvED THE nIGHt!

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