Wednesday, January 28, 2009

What we did today ... snow day

played with neighbors, built snow forts, sledding ~
Bear and neighbor Izzie playing a little football ... tackle in the snow because that doesn't hurt:

took a break for grilled cheese and chicken noodle soup ~ yummy
lovin' my new blue cups - the kids love having a little handle to hold

BB getting some "ice" for his fort

My sweet girl in fuschia playing with her friend in purple.

fingers crossed there is school tomorrow, but as of yet, our cul de sac hasn't been plowed. typically they like to do that in the wee hours of the morning so the entire street can enjoy it all at once.



Anyone need to buy a digital camera?

I have this really great little Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P10, 5.0 mega pixels digital camera. Does anyone want to buy it? It includes everything you need to take photos and download to your computer. Rechargeable batteries with recharging cord, 128 mg memory stick. It's a nice size for your pocket or purse. I have a bigger camera now and although I love the photos, I cannot stick it easily into my pocket, and it takes up a lot of room in my purse.
If you're interested, make me a deal.


Saturday, January 24, 2009

My thrifty finds .... MelMac Cups & Glass Milk Bottles

Went to two of my favorite thrift stores this past week just to kill a little time. Imagine my excitment when I found 6 robin's egg blue translucent MelMac or Melamine cups in great condition. And they were merely $.49 each. When I went to the register, the lady said to me, wow you got a deal, if I would have seen these come, I would have priced them a bit higher. That's when you get your confirmation that yes, indeed, I got a great deal. These were popular in the 50's. I also scored on two glass bottles/vases. I think the smaller one is for orange juice and probably came with a set of matching juice glasses, but I picture a small bouquet of fresh flowers in there, and the second one is a cream or milk container. Not sure what I'm doing with that one yet, but I have acquired a bit of fondness for glass milk containers.

Slow Cooker Pot Pie

I love allrecipes.com. I love the fact you can find a recipe for anything and then see the comments by reviewers of the recipe and their little switch ups they incorporated into the recipe. Typically I don't make the recipe exactly per se, I usually end up tweaking it a bit for the liking of our family. Here is one that I used, as a good base recipe. Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings. I'll show below how I tweaked it up a bit because my husband is a huge pot pie fan [and I am not because of the calories].
INGREDIENTS
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons butter
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 onion, finely diced
2 (10 ounce) packages refrigerated biscuit dough, torn into pieces

DIRECTIONS
Place the chicken, butter, soup, and onion in a slow cooker, and fill with enough water to cover.
Cover, and cook for 5 to 6 hours on High. About 30 minutes before serving, place the torn biscuit dough in the slow cooker. Cook until the dough is no longer raw in the center.
Now this is really cool, did you know you can put refrigerated biscuit dough in the crockpot? Well, I didn't and I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.
So to make it more like a pot pie, I added carrots and celery. Next time I'll add peas too, but I forgot at the time. After the chicken has cooked, shred it with two forks in the slow cooker. Then take 1 tube of biscuits and smoosh them down a bit. Completely cover the entire top of the chicken mixture and allow too cook about 45 min to 1 hour. You'll only need 1 tube of biscuits [i used pillsbury grand biscuits] and I even had one left over. About 1/2 hour into cooking, I put melted butter on the top of the biscuits with a brush, because you know I just had to add those calories for the fun of it. It was very good.

Friday, January 23, 2009

The Obamas First Inaugural Dance To Beyonce (VIDEO)

The Obamas First Inaugural Dance To Beyonce (VIDEO)

I'm a Republican. Always have been, probably always will. I didn't vote for Obama. But, there is something quite special about his relationship with his wife. It's refreshing. I've seen them together in interviews and they seem like any couple next door. They tease each other, they laugh and they play. I feel I can relate maybe because the First Lady is only 1 year older than me. I feel like they could be our friends. And I really like to listen to Obama speak. He is passionate, articulate and powerful. I may not always agree with what he is saying, but he is something to listen to. Click on the link above to see this video of their first dance. It is beautiful.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

What happens when Mom has walking pneumonia ...

and the kids have a four day weekend from school .... lots and lots of little projects, all around the house. glue & glitter in the studio ...

a future racing car in the kitchen
legos and littlest petshop and dollhouse, oh my ... all over the coffee table [oh, are those my "good" scissors I see on the table?]

polly pockets and craftiness in little girl's space
Oh well, the house was a mess, but they had fun. I'm feeling better and starting to clean.

Friday, January 16, 2009

A Birthday Celebration with Etsy

My mother's birthday is at the end of January. Like many of you, it's hard figuring out the perfect gifts for your parents. And what seems right after Christmas, I always struggle. Well, this year I turned to Etsy. I decided to find everything for her on Etsy and help support some handmade shops. Here's what I purchased for her this year.

Darling pin cushion and quilted fabric coasters done in Amy Butler fabric from buddydesigns. So nicely made. I LOVE these fabric coasters, I will be back to buy myself some.



This gorgeous Japanese inspired watercolor pillow by norajane.


My mom's been having some serious shoulder problems and I thought some heat relief would be the answer, so I purchase a shoulder wrap, eye pillow and back wrap from this gal comfycreations. Kathleen made a special order for us because neither of us can tolerate the smell of lavender [instant migraine]. So these are unscented. Just plop in the microwave and instant heat relief. And more beautiful Amy Butler fabrics await in her shop.


I am very excited to give these gifts to my mom this year. I know she'll love every single one of them. I'm thrilled I also bought all handmade, instead of massed produced items from stores. By the way, my Mom doesn't have a computer so she doesn't read my blog unless she's here at my house, but her sisters do, so Barb and Bev, no spilling the beans. Happy Etsy Birthday, Mom.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

I Love January

I don't know why I love January. I guess I look at it as a place of new beginnings. New Year, new calendar, clean house [holiday all put away], the time to start making lists of projects I want to get finished during the winter before the spring thaw. I just really love January. I have read so many blogs and people seem a bit depressed with this month. A let down from the holidays, maybe. The winter blahs with gray skies and slushy roads, possibly. I love it though. I love the snow I just shoveled off our driveway. I love the kids outside playing only to come in wet and cold and red faced with a desire for hot cocoa. I love having to turn on the fireplace and eating a cozy dinner with my family. I'm very happy right now.

Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser Review


I love to try new things, as long as I feel the price tag is appropriate. I had seen this item advertised and thought I might like to try it. So once I saw it was on a small sale at our market, I picked on up. This is the Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser and this is what the company says about it:

Now a breakthrough new power cleanser by Neutrogena® that will transform your cleansing routine. Experience an extreme deep clean for a refreshed feel and remarkably softer skin.
Better than the leading cleanser
Removes more dirt, oil, and makeup
Softer skin after 1 use
Gentle for daily use
Clinically proven superior to manual cleansing in 3 ways:
Tingly, cool foam penetrates deeper ~ 100% of women showed significantly deeper pore cleansing.
Gentle vibrating motion stimulates skin's surface ~ feel the massaging action open pores to remove more dirt, oil and make-up.
Softly textured pads sweep away layers of dead skin cells ~ see immediately softer, smoother skin after just 1 use.

REVIEW:
I didn't like it. I felt it did nothing new or exciting to my skin. This comes with small round pads that you stick onto the wave. You're supposed to get the pad wet to activate the cleansing suds. Big disappointment. If you want lather, you're not going to get it. I used it on my face and honestly didn't feel like I did anything. I wanted to wash my face again with my tried and true cleanser. I felt this was a waste of money. There is hardly any vibrating motion. I would have been better spending a bit more money for a nice electric exfoliator.

Monday, January 12, 2009

DIY Tutuorial on "CHEAP" Wall Art

Want a neat wall art project that doesn't cost a lot of money? How about do it yourself canvas squares. It's very easy. I've had these papers [12x12 size] for about a year now knowing that I wanted to paint my studio this green color once it was finished. This is also cardstock which I would recommend using instead of regular scrapbook paper.


So you buy these 12x12 canvas squares at JoAnn's whenever they go on sale. They come two in a packet.

Paint the sides and a bit up onto the top of the canvas with a matcing acrylic color and let dry.



glue on your cardstock using any adhesive [I used a tape for scrapbooking anything double sided will work - I would not use a wet substance though like glue]. Layout your arrangement on the floor before you stick it on the wall to see what works best and then hang on the wall. These are very lightweight so you don't need a big nail, just a bit of patience trying to line them up.



Friday, January 9, 2009

Sarah's Key

Title: Sarah's Key
Author: Tatiana De Rosnay


I finished the 4th book of the Twilight series 2 nights' ago [completely wonderful by the way], so time to start another book. I picked up this book about 10:00 pm last night and didn't put it down until 4:30 AM -- YES AM. I got 2 hours of sleep. I finished the book last night, that's how good it is [not that it's an incredibly long read, but it's a good sized book]. Guess what? I'm going to bed when the kids go to bed tonight because we have a 9:00 AM basketball game.

What EXACTLY does this mean?

My husband coaches my son's basketball team. In the mail today, we received the team/individual pictures of the team. I pulled out my son's photographs and left them on the kitchen table. Here's how the conversation goes:

Me: "Did you see your basketball pictures?"
Bear: "Yes."
Me: "Did you like them?"
Bear: "Did you like them?" [yes, he is answering a question with a question]
Me: "Well, of course I do."
Bear: "Well if you like them then I like them."

At first was oh, isn't that sweet. But then, wait a minute. Is he telling me, in his little subtle 9 year old boy way that as long as I'm happy he is happy? How could that be? What have I done to this child. Have I exclaimed "if mama ain't happy, nobody is happy" around the house one too many times? Am I over-reacting? Or does this first born happy go lucky child of mine just like to please his mommy?

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Mamma Mia



okay, okay, I'm behind the game a bit. I never saw this on broadway. I never saw this in the movie theater. I wanted to, I really really did, but I just didn't for some reason. My friend [thanks Debbie] received this movie for Christmas, she let me borrow it. My almost 6 year old and I watched it one night, together in bed, and yes, we both LOVED it. She wants my ABBA CD on all the time in the car now. She's singing Mamma Mia and Dancing Queen. That truly warms my heart.


oh, by the way, this DVD broke all kinds of records for most sales on the 1st day of release, so that should tell you something. Go, go now and buy it. You will love, your husband probably won't but you will. And I didn't cry.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

simplify

That's my New Year's Resolution. One word, that's it. Sounds easy, right? But I don't think it will be.
We had a party last night, and I asked all the adults to write their New Year's Resolution. Many comments were what was to be expected, eat better, exercise more, learn more patience. I thought all night about what I would expect in the year 2009. Yes, of course, exercise, eat better, patience with my children, family game nights were all wonderful ideas and which I will try to incorporate into my new year also, but it wasn't quite what I was feeling. I wanted just one word, one strong word that I could hang onto in my head and easily remind myself of on a daily basis [especially when shopping].
simplify