a wee bit book {ish} ...

monday. santa.

2011-12-19T14:26:00.000-08:00

this popped up on our computer screen this morning when taylor was getting ready to log into starfall.com ...

watch here.

apparently, the elves have been studying up on their iMovie skills.

tuesday. tummy tub update.

2011-12-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

cutest baby boy in his favorite tub. he's fallen asleep several times in it.

for those that were curious ... i won't ever buy anyone another baby tub again. worth every penny.

monday. tree hunting.

2011-12-12T20:59:00.000-08:00

sometimes, life gets in the way of being online ... which, by the way, i am totally ok with. love it, in fact. but every once in awhile, i look at my poor little blog and think about how i really should keep up a bit more than i do.

that being said, several things have happened, most importantly, on 10.10.11 we welcomed another baby boy into our family, barrett. he's wonderful, mellow, happy, and sleeps like a dream. he's smiling, almost giggling, and his brother and sister think he's the coolest. even just two months in, we forget what it was like without him.

last weekend we went christmas tree hunting in northern idaho with the family—always a blast.

... always an event trying to get everyone to look at the camera. no luck yet!

... can't go christmas tree hunting without hot chocolate (and irish cream with coffee for the adults, of course)!

... barrett's first christmas tree hunt, and apparently, he's not impressed.

... grandma gayl and the littlest munchkin

... the whole lot of us!

... miss taylor dragging her find back to the truck.
... daddy and barrett.

... even trying to get TWO kids to look at the camera is just about impossible.
... grandma, kim, and taylor!

watch out for the blog blast that's heading this direction in the next couple days ...

saturday. little women, part deux.

2011-12-10T21:41:00.000-08:00

taylor and i had the opportunity to watch little women, put on by the local children's theater tonight with a good friend and her oldest daughter—many thanks to another great friend who's always supporting the local arts. it was the perfect gift and it couldn't have come at a more perfect time!

not only was it a great play, it was so nice to get out of the house with friends and my oldest daughter for the night. it seems more and more i'm realizing that she's growing up ... even when I tell her not to. she cried at the saddest part of the play, which made me cry because i realized she's old enough to truly understand the depth of the story.

*sigh. why can't they stay little forever?

friday. ketch-up.

2011-12-09T22:01:00.000-08:00

so many things to say, so little time to write:

august ... 7 1/2 months pregnant, nursery-finishing, outdoor fun, kidney infection (not part of the fun), 2 kidney stones, surgery, week-long stay at the ever-so-hospitable hospital. don't remember half of it. all i know is my husband is the best.

september ... 8 1/2 months pregnant, indian summer, first day of 2nd grade, cranky, tired, attempting to recover from previous excursion, getting no sleep and feeling awful as a mother and wife to the kiddos and husband. would indeed like to forget september ever happened.

october ... walking, stairs, jogging, corn-maze-ing, yoga-ing, labor-balling, baby-time! baby's first halloween, brennan's first spiderman costume, grandma makes taylor's lalaloopsy costume, finally time to start recovering.

november ... baby's first smile, thanksgiving with family—complete with wild turkey, 4x5 whitetail, and the end of hunting season!

december ... finally have a wonderful (happy!) husband home after hunting season, first trip to seattle as a family of five, tree hunting, baby sleeping six hour stints, and the promise of a sense of normalcy in the near future!

more to come ...

thursday. books.

2011-12-08T09:03:00.000-08:00

thank goodness for my elementary school librarian auntie. i ran into quite a predicament in the last month or so. taylor, being the little reader she is, is excelling in the reading and comprehension department ... good thing, right?

kinda-sorta. while she may be ready for more challenging reading material, the content of these more challenging materials are most definitely not appropriate for a 7-year old. at least not mine!

'ahem ... dork diaries, anyone?'

so, for those of you with a need for more challenging reading, minus the middle school drama, here are a few pretty good places to start. just click each title to view the book and author information on amazon:

ruby lu, brave and true

misty of chincoteague

harriet the spy

mrs. piggle-wiggle

pippi longstocking

there are so many great books out there for every age, and it's unfortunate that so many schools aren't paying attention to WHAT the kids are reading, and simply looking at their reading level. that being said, there are hundreds of amazing books at every level—we just have to help our kids find them!

saturday. honesty.

2011-09-24T11:27:00.000-07:00

here's what happened today. honest and observant 7-year old, taylor came into the bathroom and commented, "gosh, mommy, i hope all your stretch marks go away after the baby gets here."

a few things happened at this moment.

i almost cried.
on the outside, i said, "yeah, me too. but you know, no one's perfect, and if they don't go away, it's just how it is. plus, we get your baby brother out of the deal.
on the inside, i thought ... along with several other things, "wow, really? can i just crawl in a hole now? as if i wasn't already self-conscious enough at this point."

and then, taylor did something that made my day. she responded to "no one's perfect" with, "but, you're perfect for me!"

proving once again that the only person that cares about my physical faults is my own worst enemy, me.

i have the best kid ever. end of story.

friday. little women.

2011-09-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

i was given this book when i was 9 by my aunt for christmas. every time i open it from the shelf, there's a scribbled 'merry christmas! 1992' scrawled on the inside cover. and to this day, it's still one of my favorites. the binding's worn out, the pages torn, and i know the story from front to back (and maybe even back to front). but, i still love it.

i have a nightly routine when i can't sleep. i stand in front of my bookshelf for ten minutes or so, looking for something to 'pop' out at me and scream, 'pick me!' rarely is there something new, or something i haven't read ten times, so this can frequently become a tedious routine ... ending with several partially started books on my side of the bed.

maybe it was the cooler weather and the cold air creeping in the bedroom window, or the earl grey steeping in my apple cider. maybe it was the sporadic contractions telling me there are big changes coming our way, but last night, little women screamed 'pick me!' and i'm so glad it did.

little women is full of nostalgia. it may not have put me to sleep any faster, but when i did finally put it down, i felt a whole lot better than when i first picked it up. i can't wait to start reading it with taylor. it's definitely time for a whole new generation to know the story. hard to believe i was almost her age when i first read it. it amazes me how something i read so long ago can have the exact same impact, if not stronger, 19 years later.

monday. tummy tub. * Update

2011-08-22T05:45:00.000-07:00

i have the best co-workers ever ... i totally just got surprised with one of these—like, minutes after writing this post! i'll be sure to write my own review once we get to use it!

it looks like a bucket i'd use to wash my car. but the reviews on this thing are ca-RAZY! ... and explain all the reasons the tummy tub is NOT the same as the orange homer bucket in your garage—and why you should NOT bathe your baby in a bucket.

if nothing else, the pictures that would come along with bathing baby in the tummy tub are enough to make me want one!

reasons to try the tummy tub:

• natural bathing of babies in the familiar fetal position from.
• relaxing for baby and mama. especially recommended for premature babies.
• helps babies settle and sleep—even the ones that HATE baths.
• bath time enjoyment from birth. again ... even the ones that despise water from day one.
• baby feels warm, safe, and relaxed within soft boundaries.
• eases indigestion, gas, and, colic while calming baby.
• stimulates cognitive and physical development
• ultra lightweight, easy on your back.
• meets the most stringent safety regulations worldwide.
• phthalate, BPA, lead free.
• uses less water, energy, and space than traditional baby tubs.
• optional stand raises baby to a comfortable sitting position and doubles as a stool, with a nifty design for storage.
• fully recyclable.

wednesday. bruschetta.

2011-08-17T05:25:00.000-07:00

it seems that summer arrived late this year. right around august 12th or so. the garden is growing, but much of it seems behind and the cool evenings aren't making much of a promise for an indian summer. here's to hoping.

one awesome thing about summer finally showing up is our tomatoes finally decided to turn red. they've been green for weeks. WEEKS, i tell you!

which brings me to my favorite summer food: bruschetta! (this is from last night—trust me, it's worth all the chopping.)

light, easy, and full of summer veggies and herbs from the garden ... or the farmer's market if you don't have a garden! we've eaten it twice in the last week, and i already want it again.

ingredients.
5 roma (plum) tomatoes, diced (remove the seeds if you can. the tomatoes will last longer this way.)
1/2 C. chopped fresh basil
1/2 C. diced onion
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
1-2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar reduction
1/4 C. olive oil
kosher salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 baguette, toasted and sliced (with olive oil and garlic on both sides is best!)

how to.
in a bowl, toss together the tomatoes, basil, onion, and garlic. mix in the balsamic reduction, olive oil, kosher salt, and pepper. now, put it in the fridge for 1-2 hours. the melding of flavors will make it taste like heaven.

serve on toasted bread slices.

monday. monster nursery.

2011-08-15T05:30:00.000-07:00

we're about 90% done with the new baby's room, and now i just need things like diapers, wipes, binkies, and newborn clothes ... oh, and a name. you know, things he actually may need. his name will be painted above the crib in a super nifty monster font. that is, if he ever gets a name. who knows, i may just paint 'boy.' above the crib and be done with it.

three rows of front-facing bookshelves will be added as well, at toddler height sometime soon.

lightswitch monster (these cute little guys are stuck all over the room in various colors, personalities, and sizes) ...

crib, boppy, and monster mobile, complete with my makeshift crib skirt made with leftover curtain fabric ...

for the mobile, i took my old target version, ripped apart the cover to make my pattern and made my own—complete with monsters and a "rrrrar!" sticker on the music box ...

big sister and brother painted monsters on canvas for their new baby brother—they might be my favorite part of the whole room (can you guess which one big brother painted?) ...

burp rags! finally, i got to make some for me! i love making them for all my family and friends and their babies, but i have to say, it was super fun to finally get to keep some of them!

ikea mirror, monster decals, and moose ...

monster growth chart decal (and soon-to-be big brother)—maybe the cutest thing ever ...

full view of one side (the bookledges will go next to the growth chart, and the top one will be about that height...

the other side—ignore the lighting, please ...

so much fun to put together a bright, fun room! but, i can't wait for the final touch—the baby!

wednesday.

2011-08-03T05:14:00.000-07:00

you know it's going to be at least an OK day when you're not so swollen that your wedding ring actually fits for the first time in a month—sweetness!

8 weeks and counting ...

wednesday. addicting.

2011-07-06T05:45:00.000-07:00

because i really needed another time-waster ... not. this one is way too fun. it's like searching through never-ending magazines about whatever you want—only in pictures, and you get to instantly add them to your page with all your faves and see how they all look together.

leave a comment if you want an invite to join!

caution: it's addictive.

thursday. how to have a good day.

2011-06-30T05:45:00.000-07:00

what makes the perfect day for a pregnant lady? one or more of the following items ... bonus points if you get more than one, and a freaking GREAT day if you get all of them on the same day. please realize, i love being pregnant. i love that this baby is growing by the second. and most of all, i love that he'll be here in three months. the following are simply things that have the potential to make those "blah" days, better.

• no one tells you your boobs look bigger than your baby bump (see image above).

• no victoria's secret catalogs in the mail. and if one happens to make it, your husband rips it in half and throws it away before you even see it.

• when getting ready for work, the first items out of the closet fit AND look good ... no digging in the dirty clothes to find the ONE pair of pants that are comfortable and work-suitable required.

• no one tells you how huge you've become in a matter of weeks. why do people think this makes anyone feel good—growing baby or not.

• zero water retention for a whole day.

• hair and makeup cooperate and foundation does not end up on the belly of the shirt that actually fits you and looks cute.

• the sun comes out for a whole day and you don't have to work. or, you wake up and decide that work isn't going to happen.

• the brewing baby shares a few big flips and sticks his toes out the side of your belly.

• no tying shoes, painting your own toenails, or lying on your belly to get someone's favorite toy from under the refrigerator is required.

thursday. surf's up.

2011-06-29T06:45:00.000-07:00

i've been contemplating maternity photos this time around. it's our last baby, and the last time i'll be sporting the belly bump. but, after searching and searching for maternity shoot inspiration, i came up empty and a bit disheartened. if i do a shoot, i don't want it to be the same as everyone else's.

i want something that says exactly how i feel at this point in time. it's summer. i'm pregnant. and there's so much to be happy about. and then i ran across these photos. this is exactly the inspiration i needed.

now, i realize i don't live in a place with water this blue, or sand this white. *tear. but, we live at the beach during the summer. literally, live in the lake. and these pictures are what i've been searching for. colors, textures, and style. the black-and-white shot above is possibly the coolest maternity photo i've ever seen.

i'm thinking, beach day at the lake with the kiddos, sunshine, beach hair, sunscreened-up kids, SUP board, kayak maybe?, belly out-and-about in full force, and my favorite photographer if she'll put up with me for yet another shoot.

these pictures make me sad that i sit at a computer all day for work ...

wednesday. ben's.

2011-06-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

my sister, the good auntie that she is, took taylor to get frozen yogurt the other day. and when i heard about it, i got jealous. so, yesterday, the husband and i took the kiddos up to ben's yogurt & deli to see what it was all about.

who knew we had such a gem just a few blocks away? the topping bar is totally awesome. and the flavors change every week—i had blueberry. um, yum. i refrained from putting sour patch kids on top though and went with fresh blueberries and kiwi from the fruit section of the topping bar (don't worry, they have a good old fashioned candy and cookies section, too.

other flavors this week include:
ALPINE VANILLA
CABLE CAR CHOCOLATE
APPLE PIE
VERRY BERRY SORBET
BLUEBERRY (No sugar added!)

once you pay for your yogurt though, i noticed a sign that said, 'outdoor seating.' and upon further inspection, i realized that they have the cutest patio area i may have ever seen. and they're open until 9 p.m., so you can sit out there in the evening ... soaking up all the cuteness. evening tea with the girls may have to switch to yogurt—they're open later than our local starbucks! i'm waiting for the day they start having live bands in the evening—it's the perfect setting and they'd be crazy not to.

tuesday. teak-y teak-y.

2011-06-28T06:59:00.000-07:00

i saw this really nifty idea in a magazine the other day. a lady bought a really nice teak door mat ... of course, she had a vintage super-cute watering can, and her back deck was all clean and nice and pretty.

in my attempt to copy, i had some cedar deck tiles from IKEA that i bought about six years ago (they got a nice hose-down after sitting in the garage for five years or so), a target plastic watering can that does nothing for the eyes, and a messy back porch, but the idea's the same.

when you come inside from the garden or out in the yard, your feet (and flip-flops) are dirty. the slatted door mat is perfect for water and dirt to fall through, and the watering can provides the perfect shower for your feet and flops. plus, the back porch gets a nice shower every time someone comes in. easy-peasy, keeps my floors clean inside, and free!

tuesday. giant onions.

2011-06-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

holy moly, these things got huge (the picture doesn't do them justice ... they are literally, almost four feet tall)! i wish i had a 'before' picture to show you of just how decimate they were, just even a month ago. in a last ditch effort to save them, the husband threw them in one of our raised vegetable beds—apparently, potato onions LOVE compost. as you can see, we are no longer hurting for growth on these babies. we even went back to the lady that sold them to us last year at the farmer's market to find out how to maintain and/or use something like this! if you don't know anything about potato onions, here's some info. they're an interesting breed for sure, and i'm so lucky we were able to find starts now that we know what the heck to do with them! she said we'll probably have 8-10 onions at the root of each one by fall!

in other gardening news ...

carrots have been thinned (both the cute, round market variety and regular).

holy potatoes! (they're at the front of the bed.)

we have teeny tiny cucumbers and the zucchini has blossoms!

apples are little babies, but no wormies this year!

cherries will be gone to the birds, but hopefully i'll get at least a few before they do.

red and white normal size onions are not 5 feet tall, but still doing lovely.

others i don't have pictures of at the moment ...

green beans are going crazy. blueberries are ripening. raspberries are taking forever, but green as ever. blackberries are getting big but still no flowers yet. and strawberries are sooooooooo close!

monday. garden-time.

2011-06-27T10:41:00.000-07:00

i weeded this weekend. a lot. mostly, it was just re-weeding the areas i already did earlier this year (garden, flower beds, etc). but, there's one area that i pruned and groomed, pondered and inspired-upon. out in front of our deck in the backyard, just waiting for something spectacular. something we can all enjoy when we're sitting out on the back deck, drinking tea in the morning, eating dinner in the evening, playing with the kids, or just taking a minute out of the day to breathe.

in my plotting and planning, i dragged out my old issues of martha magazine, clippings, and inspirational ripped out pages i've conglomerated over the years. it's so fun to look back at some of the things that i used to think were sooooo cool. that really. are. not. and maybe never were.

one thing i did find, however, was this:

an all-white blooming garden. obviously, it's a bit larger area than what i have to work with ... with a budget much bigger than mine. but, with the space i'm working in, it's mostly shade, and gets a little dark, especially toward the end of the day.

the all-white blooms, mixed with the different shades of greens just popped out at me. i'm envisioning early mornings and early evenings when the sun's not quite full and the whites and greens can brighten up this dark little area. so, i've spent the last two days researching local plants, nursery-hopping, and making my list of what i'm hoping to find.

lilac. the white kind. for the full sun space in the bed, and to take up a large amount of room with something lovely and pretty and good-smelly. plus, we live in the lilac city ... i think it's about time we had one.

hosta. not only is it already in my yard just waiting to be transplanted, and therefore, freeeee—it looks so pretty in the shade, and will carry those white, silver, and green tones and make an excellent filler.

sweet autumn clematis. this is one of my favorites to grow. it vines, and will work perfectly to climb the deck posts up to our awning. this white variety blooms late in August-September, so it will be pretty and green all summer, and burst with these white flowers when everything else is settling down for fall!

annabelle hydrangea. a shade-lover and has beautiful white-turn-almost-green flowers. and perfect for a larger foundation plant.

lily of the valley. i'm picturing this shade-lover right in the front of the garden, almost cascading down the rock wall.

allium. these easy-to-grow bulbs are purple in my front yard, and they might be my favorite late spring bloomer. they look like giant puff balls—and even better, you can plant them in white!

helleborus. this beauty is another shade-lover, and though i don't know much about it yet, i think it's just lovely!

so, now who wants to finance this little garden of mine? loan payments would come in the form of home-cooked meals, baked goods, tea on the back porch, and being surrounded by the scent of lilac and hydrangea all summer long.

wednesday. discovery playground.

2011-06-01T04:09:00.000-07:00

i know everyone and their brother knows about discovery playground in the spokane valley, but just in case you don't, or are planning to hit up spokane with your kiddos this summer—this place is awesome.

how cool is discovery playground? so cool. why? there's all kinds of ...

trampoline-jumping ...

tunnel-running ...

rock-climbing ...

telephone-talking ...

drum-playing ...

chair-spinning ...

animal playing ...

big chair-sitting ...

music-playing ...

swing-swinging ...

rock-sliding fun!

and when all is said and done, you're only a five-minute walk from mirabeau park, where there's ...

hill-hiking ...

turtle-bathing ...

wear-the-kids-out, running around!

want a list of everything the kids can do at discovery playground? click here. talk about fun and a great way to spend the day! there's even a splash park and wading pool that open when (if?) the weather gets nicer someday.

monday. backyard camp-out.

2011-05-31T06:06:00.000-07:00

usually, memorial day weekend, our family can be found camping far from home. this year, the husband and i were really hoping to not pay for crazy-priced gas, wade through the traffic to get out of town, or take cover waiting for the intermittent rain to stop.

this year, we decided the backyard was the way to go. no packing, soft grass, and all the comforts of a campout—fire, s'mores, hotdogs, tent, (even some sunshine!) all 100 feet from home. it was awesome, the kids had a blast, and we were even able to get some yard-work in.

we were a bit early for the great american backyard campout, but the idea's the same.

no pouting allowed (showing us what NOT to do) ...

run around barefoot ...

get a little crazy ...

eat a hotdog ... or 3 ...

play in the tent ... a lot ...

figure out this whole marshmallow in the fire thing ...

sacrifice at LEAST five marshmallows to the fire in the process ...

rub the belly a little just to make sure he's still there ... yep, not just a food baby anymore ...

most of all, have tons of fun—get outside, goof around, mix it up, and you don't even have to go anywhere! i highly recommend it.

sunday. the red tent.

2011-05-29T20:21:00.001-07:00

i'd been searching for something great to read that didn't involve fancy nancy, the rainbow fairies, the big red barn, or goodnight moon. the red tent was exactly what i needed. and then some. i'd seen it at the bookstore, and at the library, but honestly, had never even read the back cover. it was recommended by a few people when i reached out for a list from friends and checked it out at the library a few days ago.

i finished it last night at 2 a.m., and even then, was sad it was over.

let me start by saying that i wasn't sure about this book before i started it. i'm generally not drawn to religious or even loosely religious based fiction. and the back of the book introduces it's main character, dinah, as jacob's only daughter from the book of genesis. it wasn't drawing my attention like i'd hoped. but, as i read, i realized this book is about so much more, and really only uses the character as a way to share intimate and insightful moments throughout women's history. note to self: don't judge a book by it's book jacket.

dinah, the narrator, opens by introducing herself and explaining that she is reciting the memories of her life and her mothers’ lives—because without a daughter to tell the story, a woman’s history does not live on. dinah focuses initially on the stories of her mothers, the four wives of jacob—and how they come to be married to the same man (p.s. i didn't think i could get past the multiple wives part, but it really was easy when you realized that it's not the focus of the book).

what reached me the most throughout this story though, is the journey of several of these women onto the path of midwifery–extremely successful ones at that. it was awe inspiring reading about these women and their relationships. they brought life into the world, helped helpless mothers survive, and created inseparable, yet complicated bonds amongst each other. a lot of the story is unfathomable to today's world—but so much of what was said, still hits home—big-time.

friday. half-way!

2011-05-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

20 weeks and so very ready for some sunshine to head our way!

friday. dairy farm trip.

2011-05-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

taylor's girl scout troop took a trip to spokane's family farm ... we took the whole family and it was a blast! i've posted about them before, several times, including: last year's trip, making yogurt, and why we drink they're amazing milk.

all the girls in the same place ... and almost everyone looking at the camera, amazing!

cutest little farmhouse ever...

complete with redneck cabin ...

cows!

baby calf—just a couple days old!

brennan was definitely a fan ...

and they were as much a fan of him as he was of them ...

shortcut to the barn ...

chickens!

four week old bunnies were about the cutest thing ever. and definitely a hit ...

feeding the donkeys ...

homemade ice cream at the end of the tour!

thank you spokane family farm!

tuesday. monsters.

2011-05-24T13:02:00.000-07:00

adding another boy to the family threw my nursery theme ideas for a loop this time around. luckily, some time, thought, and the internet helped. here's my inspiration so far. i need more ideas and comments, please!

colors: bright orange, lime green, teal.

how cute is this wall decal growth chart! i get to pick the color even—bright orange! i just don't think i can get over how cute it is. really.

same designer, more customizable wall decals! orange, teal, and lime green! they're big, too!

this by-the-yard fabric from fabric.com is PERFECT for the crib sheet i'm going to make (i'll do a tutorial when i get to that point. you won't believe how easy it is, promise).

with this perfect crib bumper to set off the colors!

and baby's name (whatever THAT ends up being!) in this font above the crib on the wall (again, i'll tutorial this also if we ever pick a name).
i'm thinking several little guys like this around the room in the accenting colors—good thing they're super easy to make! i may have to have a monster-making party at my house this summer ...

and a monster mobile with the same (smaller) plush monsters, similar to this one, minus the birdies ...

and we already have this tickle monster kit, but i think it will go quite nicely, with the rest of it. if i can peel it away from my 2-year old.
so, this is where i'm at. i need fabric ideas, curtains, and i'm thinking a big bright orange shag area rug or something fun!

tuesday. pie.

2011-05-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

my sister has a ton of rhubarb, and her and her significant other both dislike it very much. so, i borrowed some (and will hopefully continue to do so all summer). i made pie. huckleberry-rhubarb to be exact. and my rhubarb-hating husband happened to LOVE it. i'll be lucky if there's any left when i get home.

here's the how to:
• 4 C chopped rhubarb
• 1-2 C huckleberries (fresh or frozen)
• 1 1/3 C sugar
• 6 tablespoons flour
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 double crust pie recipe

preheat oven to 450.
combine sugar and flour. sprinkle 1/4 of it over pastry in pie plate. Heap rhubarb and huckleberries (mixed) over this mixture. sprinkle with remaining sugar and flour.
dot with small pieces of butter. cover with top crust (i used a lattice crust).

place pie on lowest rack in oven (important so it doesn't burn!). bake for 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees, and continue baking for 40 to 45 minutes.

i don't normally have hearts on my pies, but taylor insisted we make it pretty. it was either hearts or pumpkins. hearts made more sense to her since, "mom, it's not a pumpkin pie."

if you can help it, let it cool in the fridge or on the counter before you try it. it will thicken up and hold together so much better. it's super-yummy warm, too, if you just can't wait!

monday. allrecipes.

2011-05-23T00:26:00.000-07:00

i love baking. but even more than baking, i love baking with good odds that it'll come out in my favor. and so far, the best thing i've found to up my odds is: allrecipes.com. i'm sure lots of you have heard of it, or used it, but for those that haven't, you're missing out!

perks:
• it's free.
• search by ingredient, recipe title, or keyword.
• all recipes are rated by all reviewers with stars (1 to 5).
• search by rating.
• reviewers add their comments and suggestions for you to read before you attempt it yourself.

i've used this website for soooooooo many recipes i can't even count. and always read reviews and suggestions. you seriously can't go wrong!

monday. time.

2011-05-10T14:38:00.001-07:00

it has truly never been so hard to work a full 8 hour day as today. for weeks we've had nothing but rain, hail, snow, and frosty mornings. but today ... oh, today ... it's sunny, not a cloud in the sky, 68 degrees, and time has officially stopped.

i hope everyone else's day is flying by and you're enjoying the sunshine!

thursday. yogurt-making.

2011-05-05T08:36:00.001-07:00

making yogurt is so flipping easy! not only that, but it's so flipping good for you. how easy is it you ask? well, if you ask me, anything that only requires one ingredient is pretty darn easy.

milk. real milk. most importantly, non-homogenized. well, and a cup or two of your last batch of yogurt to mix in to get the cultures going. that's it!

bring one gallon of milk to 160-180 degrees in a big pot on the stove. this will make a LOT of yogurt. don't let it boil! you'll have to start over. take it off the heat as soon as you get to the right temp (160 is perfect).
let the milk cool to between 110-120 degrees (shoot for somewhere in the middle).
take out 2 cups of milk and add to a medium-sized bowl, and mix in your 1-2 cups of yogurt starter—or dannon plain yogurt if you don't have a start already! mix. feel free to add probiotics from your health food store or super supplements type place.
add the mixture back into your warm milk pot, and mix well.
pour the contents into the inner bowl of your crock pot, put the lid on, wrap it in a couple towels and set it in your oven—no heat on! just turn on the light in your oven.
let it sit for 8-12 hours depending on how tart and thick you like it.
if you want to make greek-style yogurt, take your final product and strain through cheesecloth or a t-shirt to your desired consistency—I usually strain mine for about 3 hours, making it a sour cream-like texture. see my post on greek yogurt for more info!
flavor however you like and store in mason jars or tupperware in the fridge for 2+ weeks! try fruit, honey, maple syrup, or a spoonful of homemade blackberry jam does the trick for me!

p.s. if you save the whey (the watery stuff that strains out through the cloth, you can use it for lots of things! i.e. add to your vegetable stock, pour over your dog's dinner for extra nutrients, feed it to your flower bulbs, use in place of water when baking ... don't throw it out!

thursday. milk.

2011-05-05T07:47:00.001-07:00

mother's day came early for me this year!

i had the lovely experience of taking a class on saturday with one of the owners of spokane family farm (local dairy farm)! topic of the class? how to make greek yogurt and fresh mozzarella! see my next post for more information about THAT part of it! i've known about the local dairy farm for about a year now, it's a great place to take the kids—baby calves, fresh ice cream, milk and cookies, chickens, donkeys, goats, the works! an awesome place to visit on a weekend.

but, aside from being a super-fun place to visit, it's the only place to get 'real' good-for-you milk in spokane. literally. i won't go TOO much into the science behind it (there's a lot). but, i will say, with access to this farm, my family will not be drinking store-bought milk. and for any of you that live in the spokane area—look into it.

as i mentioned, i won't detail you to death. but, here's a bulleted list of reasons i will no longer buy store-bought—bullets don't really count as reading, you can just skim, ha ha—lame pun, totally intended:

it tastes amazing. and i control the fat content by how much or how little cream i leave on top and shake back in.

spokane's family farm milk goes from happy cows to your cup in less than 72 hours. this is total time from cow to you buying it in the store. i buy mine from the farm (it's cheaper!), and cuts that time by a LOT.

my kids love it, and it still comes in a regular milk jug just like all milk does, so my kids don't question it with 'how come it looks funny?'

regular commercial pasteurization includes heating milk past the boiling point, we're talking like in the 245 degree range ... this kills ALL bacteria to extend shelf life, and removing any bacteria, vitamins, or minerals that were good for you.

because the 'good stuff' was ruined during the process, they add fortified vitamins and other nutrients back in with not-natural ingredients.

spokane's family farm pasteurizes to make your milk safe, but does so at the lowest FDA temperature, 145 degrees—because their milk doesn't need a several-month shelf-life. this lower temperature keeps all the good stuff intact. safe and healthy ... works for me!

i can skim the cream off the top and make things like butter.

homogenization forces the milk through a series of screens at high pressure to keep the cream from separating and coming to the top. when you drink the processed homogenized milk, your body cannot digest the cream in this unnatural state and the fat in the cream gets absorbed by your stomach lining and passes straight into your blood stream which deposits itself in your arteries.

the homogenization process physically changes the fat molecules from round to long and sharp. extremely not cool when 'long and sharp' means the fat is more likely to enter your bloodstream and adhere to your arteries causing all kinds of issues.

when you drink non-homogenized milk, ( when the cream is left in its natural state) your body can digest the cream and use the fat that is in the cream for energy and nutrients that your body needs.

i can make yogurt, cream cheese, mozzarella, and so many other things that you CANNOT make with store-bought milk.

and the number one reason i will buy milk from the farm? hearing from an extremely reliable source that the local dairy farmers of a VERY well-known dairy company won't allow their own families to drink the milk that comes out of their cows.

that's a good enough reason for me. it's no wonder people have dairy issues these days.

let me end this post with a disclaimer. i am in no way a scientist. i do not know all. my information comes from research, first-hand sources, experience, and more research. i am not legally stating any of this. it is all my own opinion, and you have every right to yours.

tuesday. ivy & bean.

2011-04-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

annie Barrows, author of the ivy & bean series also collaborated with her aunt, the late Mary Ann Shaffer, on the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society. read my review of this from last year, here!

what's better than an author that writes (or co-writes) an awesome book that leaves you wanting to read ten more just like it? a radical kids book series for your daughter with nine books in the series and counting!

now, to get to the point. what makes a best friend? sometimes opposites can become the best of friends because they’re opposites. for ivy and bean, their differences mean that they have more fun together than they could ever have separately.

the humor, illustrations, and writing of this series very much remind me of charlie & lola—and who doesn't love charlie & lola? this duo is made up of curiosity, humor, tons of first and second-grader ideas, and good ideas that tend to end in a sticky "situation."

there's nothing like hearing your 6 or 7-year old laughing from the other room while she reads to herself—these books ensure lots of this.

p.s. the reading level on these is perfect for first and second graders! and if you want to read aloud, kindergartners love it, too!

tuesday. no way!

2011-04-26T08:45:00.000-07:00

can you guess the answer to the big question? girl or boy?

good thing i already know the answer and you don't have to wait to find out!

woo-hoo!

friday. greek yogurt.

2011-04-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

my doctor mentioned at my last appointment, that i need to be making sure i'm getting enough protein. i like meat and all, but unless it's fish, i generally have 4-5 bites every other day or so and i'm good. just enough to taste. which is not, apparently, enough for a daily diet. so, he mentioned greek yogurt is really high in protein and has a lot of other benefits, too. but, i'm not one to eat something that doesn't taste good.

who likes pudding?!

now, how about yogurt that seriously tastes and has the texture of pudding, but also has all these other awesome things, too?!

• thicker and creamier texture (like, by A LOT).

• lower in carbohydrates.

• higher in protein (often by DOUBLE what normal yogurt has per cup ... to put into perspective, some can have up to 20 grams in a cup!).

• lower in sodium (up to 50% less depending on the brand).

... i finally tried it this morning with breakfast.

... and will never eat regular yogurt again. ever.

friday. rhubarb.

2011-04-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

it's now the middle of april, and what do i have to show for it? rhubarb. that's about it right now, but the raspberries, strawberries, and blackberries are slowly coming back to life as we speak. and the garden will be planted ... soon? we'll see how the next few weeks go. the weather's not cooperating, but i'm getting ancy.

my rhubarb, however, is loving life, the sandy soil, and the endless rain we've been having! while everything else is still trying to hibernate and reluctantly ward off spring, my rhubarb is charging ahead, and by next weekend I should have enough for mini-pies! (mini-pies are way cuter than normal-size pies, and they make me feel better about eating a whole one.)

p.s. these pictures are not mine ... i wish they were, but sadly, they are not. maybe after this week, i'll have my own! click to see where they came from.

and, just this morning a new rhubarb recipe magically landed in my email (thank you, karlene!):

rhubarb custard pie.

ingredients.

use deep pie plate - 9" pie

3 eggs

3 tbsp. milk

2 C sugar

1/4 C flour

3/4 tsp. nutmeg

4 C cut up pink rhubarb

1 tbsp. butter

how to.

pre-heat oven to 400.
beat eggs slightly; add milk.
mix sugar, flour, and nutmeg; stir into mixture.
mix in rhubarb.
pour in pastry-lined pie pan. Dot with butter.
cover with lattice top and bake at 400 for 50-60 minutes, until nicely browned.

tuesday. seven.

2011-04-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

every year it gets harder to realize you're growing up right in front of me. i'm so proud of who you are, and i love that i get to be here to watch you grow into the person you want to become.

seven years ago today ...

• i stared at the ultrasound screen at the hospital and realized i was terrified i'd never get to meet you.

• i prayed for the first time—to whomever might be listening—just to make you ok.

• i had never been so scared in my life.

• i met the tiniest baby i'd ever seen—and you were perfect.

• when the doctors let me see you, you pursed your tiny little lips and gave your mommy her first baby kiss.

• i cried. a lot. about everything new thing you did. and seven years later, it hasn't stopped.

• you turned your dad into a big baby.

• my lack of motivation disappeared, and all of the sudden i wanted to do everything, just to show you that you could, too.

things i've learned since then ...

• the day you were born is still the most terrified i've ever been.

• my favorite job in the world is getting to watch you learn and grow, and find things out for yourself.

• i apparently, am never going to stop crying over every little thing you do. get used to it.

• you are the best big sister a kid could ever have.

• you are sensitive, and caring, and always think the best of people.

• you clean better than i do.

• at 7, you have better fashion sense than your entire family put together.

• you are a perfect piece to our family puzzle, and we'd all be lost without you.

monday. adorable-ness overload.

2011-04-11T14:09:00.001-07:00

after rearranging basically our entire house this weekend to accommodate this new baby on the way, i realized something quite peculiar. something i've never faced before ... and i'm not quite sure how to handle it.

we have a nursery. ready-to-go. as in ... room finished, furniture in the room and already put together, just waiting for the 'boy' or 'girl' announcement to get a crib bedding set. with taylor, her room wasn't even anywhere near being done until she was about 3 months old. brennan's was ready somewhere between 2-3 weeks before he was born. we generally don't have the time or the money to do anything in advance—and it truly makes me crazy.

and today, i found myself sitting in front of my computer with the wonderful epiphany ... i'm almost 14 weeks along, we find out baby's gender on the 25th (if baby truly loves me and lets us find out by showing off his/her parts), taylor is in her brand new room, brennan is moved up to the big-kid bed and in his new room, and i have a fully functional, ready-for-decor nursery. i could cry just thinking about it!

instead, i found some of the cutest crib bedding i've ever seen. my sewing machine will be working diligently VERY soon.

friday. listen to the wind.

2011-04-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

recently, greg mortenson visited gonzaga university here in town to talk about his travels, writings, and life's work. i wasn't able to attend (as it was sold out almost immediately), but it made me think about his books again!

about a year ago, i read three cups of tea, by greg mortenson. this book deserves a post all to its own. needless to say, it made me question how i live my life, the perspective i have on the world, and whether i benefit society in a way that actually means anything. profound? absolutely. but so relevant to a situation we hear about daily on the news and go about our daily lives. if you haven't read it, go buy it. even if you aren't interested, you will be by the second chapter.

but, i digress. shortly after reading three cups of tea, i spent weeks looking for something similar (check out his second book, stones into schools) and ran across a kid's variation of the story. i went and checked it out at the library to read to my 6-year old. the story is wonderfully re-told in a way to help kids understand so much more about the world outside their own—while relating to a subject so incredibly relevant to our children today. it's a beautiful mosaic-collage picture book, with references and information in the back with pictures of the schools mortenson has built, and the trials he's gone through to get there.

just a quick summary for those that haven't heard anything about it:

greg mortenson stumbled, lost and delirious, into a remote himalayan village, korphe, after a failed climb up K2. the villagers saved his life, and he vowed to return and build them a school. the remarkable story of his promise kept is told in the voice of korphe's children. this story illuminates the humanity and culture of a relevant and distant part of the world in gorgeous collage, while sharing a riveting example of how one person can change thousands of lives.

an example, here is a list of schools mortenson and his foundation have built. truly amazing.

thursday. grapefruit.

2011-04-07T05:15:00.000-07:00

pregnant or not, grapefruit happens to be one of my absolute favorite fruits in the whole wide world. and i truly think it could be one of your favorites, too—if you knew how to eat one!

i spent years saying, 'no way' to the mistakenly named 'bitter' fruit. the truth is, the fruit itself is anything but. it's sweet, tart, juicy, and wonderful. it's the rind and the 'membranes' separating each segment that give it that icky flavor. so here's the solution ... don't eat that part!

yes, i do, in fact realize i'm dedicating an entire post to how to eat a grapefruit. it's ok, you'll thank me when you try it.
watch the video ... it will weird you out, make you think the guy's a total creeper, make you laugh (if you're anything like me), and teach you how to properly eat a grapefruit—for reals.
you will probably have the urge to go buy one immediately and try it out. i'm grabbing my keys as i type.
if you think this entire post is ridiculous, it's ok. you can still go watch the video and have grapefruit slicing knowledge under your belt for the next time someone asks.
enjoy .. and humor me. Click here!

wednesday. crazy.

2011-04-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

for those who don't yet know ... early october 2011 we'll add another crazy kiddo to our family, making the third and final installment of our family. we are beyond excited and can't wait! we've been waiting a long time for this little bug to come along!

p.s bear with me as i create a new layout for the blog ... it's not cooperating as it should.

tuesday. crema di arancello.

2011-04-05T06:46:00.000-07:00

what happens when you're pregnant and one teeny little drink of something alcohol-related sounds just lovely? if you're me, you spend sunday afternoon mixing up a batch of this yummy drink, crema di arancello. basically, it's an orange creamsicle flavored alcohol that you keep in the freezer. the best part? it sits for several months to give it even more fruity flavor. which means, no one gets to drink it until i do!

ingredients.

10 blood oranges

2 vanilla beans

3 bottles (750 ml) 100-proof vodka or everclear (i had 105 proof everclear my boss made, hence the recycled whiskey bottle)

4 cups sugar

5 cups water

step one.
wash the oranges with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any icky stuff; pat the lemons dry. in a large glass jar (1-gallon jar), add your alcohol. scrape two vanilla beans into the alcohol. it looks like dirt. it's not. it smells way better than dirt.

step two.

carefully zest the oranges with a zester or vegetable peeler so there's none of the white stuff on the peel. add the orange zest to the vodka as it is zested. make sure to use only the outer part of the rind. the pith, the white part underneath the rind, is too bitter and will make your cello not nearly as sweet, and really bitter.

step three.

cover the jar and let sit at room temperature for at least 10 days and up to 40 days in a cool dark place (the cupboard works great!). the longer it rests, the better the taste will be. shake or stir a little every few days if you like. as the arancello sits, the alcohol will slowly take on the flavor and rich orange color of the orange zest. when the color is no longer deepening and the rinds look whitish, it is definitely done.

step four (i haven't reached this part yet ... that's why the pictures stop here).

in a large saucepan, combine the sugar and water; cook until dissolved, or until thickened if you want a thicker, sweeter drink, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Let the syrup cool, then add it to the arancello mixture from above. add an additional bottle of alcohol. allow to rest for another 10 to 40 days.

step five.

after the rest period, strain the liquid through a cheese cloth or coffee filter and bottle: discard the orange zest. keep in the freezer until ready to serve.

the best part of having 10 zested blood oranges? fresh-squeezed OJ!

tuesday. funny.

2011-04-01T05:30:00.000-07:00

whoever wrote this could become my friend very quickly ... not all pc, but funny and true nonetheless.

1. nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

2. map quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

3. obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

4. bad decisions make good stories.

5. "do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this—ever.

6. i hate when i just miss a call by the last ring (hello? hello? damn it!), but when i immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. what did you do after i didn't answer? drop the phone and run away?

7. i hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. what a waste.

8. i keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

9. i think the freezer deserves a light as well.

10. i disagree with kay jewelers. i would bet on any given friday or saturday night, more kisses begin with miller lite than kay.

11. sometimes, i'll watch a movie that i watched when i was younger and suddenly realize i had no idea what the heck was going on when i first saw it.

12. i would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

13. i have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

happy friday!

thursday. spring fever.

2011-02-03T08:58:00.000-08:00

gosh, on the bright side, me not writing a single post since november means that it's now february ... and spring is just around the corner. forgive me.

with the end of winter, comes garden-planning, 7-year old girly birthday parties, and the hope that my yard won't look the way it currently does for very much longer ... however, it needs to snow at LEAST one more time so i can get my winter family pictures taken ... and then it can be summer.

that being said, several spring ideas are on the horizon. with a charged camera battery, and a list of things to do, there will be more posts than recently. heck, there already are with a total of just one!

these will be included in my first project for this weekend ... arancello.

monday. baby shower preview.

2010-11-15T05:54:00.000-08:00

well, the breakfast at tiffany's themed shower for my little sister, steph, was a blast! everyone showed up in their little black dresses, complete with pearls and costume jewelry! awesome food, thanks to one of her girls, jolene; and mimosa's courtesy of amy! i have about 500 photos to sort through, but until then, these will have to tide you over ...
mama-to-be in all her glory ... steph and her 'girls' ... 'special' sisters ... lucky duck first-time grandma ...
veteran grandma jilly bean ...

my baby girl ... looking like she's 20 ...

monday. hot butter rum.

2010-11-08T09:00:00.001-08:00

it's that time of year. cold, windy, the promise of that swirly, whirly white fluffy stuff. what better way to get warm than rum? i mean, really? is there any better drink this time of year than hot butter rum? nope. at least not for me!

p.s. this picture isn't what it actually looks like, but apple cider butter rum looked dang good, too! i was lazy and didn't take pictures this weekend. might have to post this recipe later this week!

the husband left on another hunting excursion friday, and i thought i'd make a batch to have ready for his homecoming! have the fire blazing in the living room, steaming hot butter rum, lights turned down ... and the two crazies building a fort right in the middle of it, squealing and running around like little loons. Who wouldn't want to come home to that?!

anyway, hot butter rum batter is way easy to make, and so good. buy extra rum ... this batch makes enough for 100 servings, but stores in the freezer quite nicely for up to six months (recipe from allrecipes.com)!

ingredients.

1 lb. butter
1 lb. brown sugar
1 lb. confectioners' sugar
1 qt. vanilla ice cream, softened
1 TBS ground cinnamon
1 tsp. ground nutmeg

how-to.

melt butter in a large pot over medium heat.
blend in brown sugar and confectioners' sugar. remove from heat, and whisk in the ice cream, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
pour mixture into a plastic container, seal, and freeze.

later in the day ...

measure 1 TBS Hot Buttered Rum Batter and 1 oz. of rum (or more depending on the day you've had) into your favorite mug.
fill your cup with boiling water, stir, and sprinkle top of drink with nutmeg and/or cinnamon.

friday. the long winter.

2010-11-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

winter's on it's way. i even heard the 's' word on the weather this morning.

but, apparently, snow's been on my brain for a week now. i started reading, 'the long winter' ... yes, the little house on the prairie book. and i had forgotten how truly great it is. and no, i can't even blame me reading it on my daughter. i stayed up reading in bed last night until midnight ... all by my lonesome.

such a classic. no matter how many times i read those books, which, mind you has been several (thousand), it makes me realize i was born in the wrong era. granted, i don't think pioneer life was really for me, but definitely a time when things were so much less complicated in a different way than they are now.

bundling in for the winter and making do with what you had, spending the days with family, baking EVERYTHING from scratch, working hard for what you have, but also enjoying it just as much because of it. maybe i'm idealizing some of it. and yes, there are beauties to modern life, things i often feel i couldn't live without. and less of a lot of the hardships, but, so much of the things we have today seem to be just because "we can."

so, when i feel like things are just a little too complicated, i turn on my electric fireplace and cozy up after the kids go to bed, and read about laura ingalls wilder. somehow, it makes me feel a little bit better.

wednesday. knitting nell.

2010-11-03T20:07:00.000-07:00

nell knits, like, a lot. you name it, she knits it. blankets for new babies, socks and hats and mittens for the children’s home, and scarves for everyone in her family.

i love this book and the fact that it introduces the idea of servicing others. it oozes generosity, and putting others before yourself. nell is super quiet which is a nice change from a lot of characters out there today ... especially when you have a little girl like i do that has a hard time branching out and meeting new friends sometimes.

super lovely illustrations and a super lovely story. only issue? taylor wants me to teach her to knit ... if only i knew more than one stitch!

tuesday. one-freaking-hundred.

2010-10-05T06:42:00.000-07:00

holy wow. i looked at my post count this morning and realized that this is my 100th post. who'd have thought i'd have that much to say?

to celebrate, here are 100 answers to 100 random questions.

Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. then he became curious about a small aldabra tortoise in the enclosure, toto.
Stretch your left arm out as far as you can, What can you touch? an advil bottle.
Before you started this survey, what were you doing? running on the treadmill.
What is the last thing you watched on TV? veronica mars!
Without looking, guess what time it is. 6:15 a.m.
Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 6:22 a.m.
With the exception of the computer, what can you hear? the air conditioner in my department.
When did you last step outside? What were you doing? to get in my car and leave for work.
Did you dream last night? nope.
Do you remember your dreams? most of the time.
When did you last laugh? about 15 minutes ago.
Do you remember why / at what? myself. i wore two entirely different running shoes this morning.
What is on the walls of the room you are in? pictures of my family.
Seen anything weird lately? several things.
What do you think of this quiz? so far i'm still doing it, so i guess it's more exciting than what i should be doing.
What is the last film you saw? iron man 2.
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live? on a beach by the ocean, in a big farmhouse, with a loft.
If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy? my house. and then i'd remodel it exactly how i want. maybe move it to the beach.
Tell me something about you that most people don't know. i drink at least four cups of tea a day.
If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do? take away over-processed foods, fire everyone on the fda and start from scratch. victory gardens would make a crazy comeback.
Do you like to dance? only with my kids.
Would you ever consider living abroad? yes. although, the only way i could talk the husband into it would be to bribe him with someplace that offers better hunting than idaho.
Does your name make any interesting anagrams? nope.
Who made the last incoming call on your phone? mom.
What is the last thing you downloaded onto your computer? a pdf for work.
Last time you swam in a pool? july-ish.
Type of music you like most? country, reggae, rap ... there are no limits.
Type of music you dislike most? polka?
Are you listening to music right now? nope.
What color is your bedroom carpet? beige-ish.
If you could change something about your home, without worry about expense or mess, what would you do? add another bathroom, remodel the one we have, and add a dining room off the kitchen.
What was the last thing you bought? a hot water bottle.
Have you ever ridden on a motorbike? yes.
Would you go bungee jumping or sky diving? most likely.
Do you have a garden? yes.
Do you really know all the words to your national anthem? uh, isn't that a requirement for being over the age of 6?
What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? crap, it's cold!
If you could eat lunch with one famous person, who would it be? betty white.
Who sent the last text message you received? dad.
Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? anthropologie.
What time is bed time? 10:30 p.m.-ish.
Have you ever been in a beauty pageant? nope.
How many tattoos do you have? none, yet.
If you don't have any, have you ever thought of getting one? yes, will do so soon.
What did you do for your last birthday? went to chelan with the husband and went to all the wineries.
Do you carry a donor card? yes.
Who was the last person you ate dinner with? the husband and kiddos.
Is the glass half empty or half full? half-full today.
What's the farthest-away place you've been? mexico.
When's the last time you ate a homegrown tomato? considering i have hundreds of them in my garden ... pretty darn recently.
Have you ever won a trophy? in pee-wee soccer, and jr. high track, and high school band. i just got cooler and cooler as the years went on.
Are you a good cook? i like to think my family doesn't hate it when i cook for them.
Do you know how to pump your own gas? uh, there are people that don't?!
If you could meet any one person (from history or currently alive), who would it be? fred flinstone?
Have you ever had to wear a uniform to school? not unless you count my marching band uniform.
Do you touch-type? yes.
What's under your bed? books.
Do you believe in love at first sight? no. real love's way better than that.
Think fast, what do you like right now? the iced blueberry green tea i'm drinking.
Where were you on Valentine's day? probably home.
What time do you get up? 6:30 a.m.-ish.
What was the name of your first pet? kiki. she was a black kitten. and didn't last long.
Who is the second to last person to call you? steph.
Is there anything going on this weekend? yes! dad, karlene, and marissa are heading over.
How are you feeling right now? ready to go home and bake something.
What do you think about the most? being home.
What time do you get up in the morning? i believe we've already had that question.
If you had A Big Win in the Lottery, how long would you wait to tell people? i don't know that i would tell anyone other than immediate family.
Who would you tell first? my boss. i'd be peacin' out.
What is the last movie that you saw at the cinema? eat, pray, love.
Do you sing in the shower? something like that, yes.
Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? again, already had that question.
What do you do most when you are bored? read, bake, sew, garden.
What do you do for a living? i'm a technical writer.
Do you love your job? i love the security of my job.
What did you want to be when you grew up? music educator.
If you could have any job, what would you want to do/be? children's book author.
Which came first the chicken or the egg? egg.
How many keys on your key ring? too many, my husband says.
Where would you retire to? the ocean ... maybe tahiti, or hawaii.
What kind of car do you drive? toyota yaris.
What are your best physical features? strong fingernails?
What are your best characteristics? patience ... holla to my children for that one.
If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation where would you go? tahiti.
What kind of books do you like to read? all of them. quite literally.
Where would you want to retire to? what's with the repeat questions?
What is your favorite time of the day? early morning, on days i don't have to work.
Where did you grow up? puyallup, wa ... closely followed by spokane, wa.
How far away from your birthplace do you live now? 400 miles.
What are you reading now? re-reading harry potter ... 5 more to go before the movie comes out in november!
Are you a morning person or a night owl? morning.
Can you touch your nose with your tongue? pretty close, but not quite.
Can you close your eyes and raise your eyebrows? yes, but i'm pretty sure i look like someone scared me in my sleep when i do.
Do you have pets? 2 dogs, 2 kids.
How many rings before you answer the phone? as few as possible.
What is your best childhood memory? eating grandma's breakfast early in the a.m.—best oatmeal ever.
What are some of the different jobs that you have had in your life? barista, bookseller, coffee shop manager.
Any new and exciting things that you would like to share? i'm almost done with these questions!
What is most important in life? my husband and children.
What Inspires You? see above answer.

100 posts, and hopefully 100 more!

monday. couch to 5K.

2010-10-04T06:39:00.000-07:00

i love to run. i know that for lots of people, that means i'm crazy. but hey, crazy's ok by me! one of the downfalls to running, however, at least if you're me ... i have crap-tastic knees. yes, crap-tastic is one of the nicer things i can say about them.

i was a lazy bum for a year (at least in the running department) after my last pregnancy and fell off the wagon for a bit. but, i don't entirely regret it, as i now have a very close and solid relationship with my yoga mat, and a sick love for P90X. unfortunately, i've started from scratch with the running bit, and it was a bit daunting to tie on the shoes and get moving ... until i found couch to 5K.

step-by-step instructions. structure. do-able for ANYONE ... even miss crap-tastic knees over here! it's fail-safe and let me tell you ... i have missed running so entirely i can't even believe that i ever stopped. you don't just get off the couch and run for miles. this program is perfect for everyone scared to just. go. run. check it out, and start today!

join the crazy-train, people—it's way more fun!

friday. stockings.

2010-10-01T11:18:00.000-07:00

after a nasty bout with strep throat this week, and upon being plagued with boredom by yesterday afternoon, i rearranged the much-needed living room! complete with carting the lovely electric fireplace up from our room to position as a main centerpiece in the room (thank you mom and shay!). LOVE it! even the husband noticed and agreed that it looks SO much better.

something about the fireplace tells me it's ok for fall to arrive. and with that, i'm starting my christmas projects early this year. yes, i said the dirty word. i'm not going crazy, i just want new stockings for all of us this year!

so, everyone keep an eye out in the thrift stores for me, i need fabric! i'll be doing a tutorial once i get things going a bit. but, until then, here are my inspirational photos.

men's old suits, tweed, wool...

wool sweaters, scarves, shawls ...

yay for fall ... er, christmas preparation?!

wednesday. baked acorn squash.

2010-09-29T06:00:00.000-07:00

somewhere around 30 acorn squash currently reside on my garden floor. at least half of them, ready to be picked. who knew six little tiny plants would turn into such craziness ...

with that, i present, the greatest recipe for squash ... EVER. Also, the easiest! (thank you ree drummond, aka the pioneer woman)!
ingredients.

2 whole acorn squash
kosher salt
1-2 T butter
2-3 T brown sugar
pure maple syrup

how to.

preheat oven to 400.
halve each squash, then scrape out the seeds and stringy icky stuff. place the halves, flesh side up, on a baking sheet and sprinkle each half with salt.
add a generous tablespoon of butter to the center of each squash followed by 2 to 3 heaping tablespoons of brown sugar. drizzle squash with maple syrup. um, i've started drooling by this point.
pour 2 cups water in the bottom of the baking pan.
cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. remove foil and bake an additional 30-45 minutes, or until squash is golden brown.
in the last 5 minutes of baking, turn on the broiler and allow tops to get a little more brown and the butter/sugar mixture to bubble.

my kids detest squash ... and they each ate half when i made this. although, i can't quite bring myself to qualify this as 'vegetable,' it makes an awesome dessert!

friday. blah.

2010-09-24T08:47:00.000-07:00

I don't understand the taboo subject of ... miscarriage. it's like on the lion king when the hyenas hear the word 'mufasa' and start shaking in their furry boots. it's like people see it as being awkward for them ... and therefore, make the person actually dealing with the pain, suffer even more by making them feel isolated and alone.

i'm lucky enough to have a few people in my life who, awkward topic or not, are extremely supportive. but, the overall consensus is that it's just not something we're supposed to talk about. and i'm not good with that. it gives me knots in my stomach, and makes me want to yell in the faces of those people that just because you don't know what to say, doesn't mean you don't say anything! just a, 'hey, i heard about what happened. i'm really sorry, how are you?' does wonders! or even a, 'if you need to talk, let me know.' odds are, the conversation will take itself from there. at least then the person feels like you're there for them.

this is still all very new to me. almost a month now. and most of the time, i'm really ok. i have two beautiful children i adore, and a husband that's the most supportive person i've ever met. and i've not given up on a third baby by any means. i'm working on moving on. and, as i said, most days are just fine.

BUT, i'm allowed to have my days. days where i feel robbed. robbed of a life that was supposed to be part of my family. a life to give my babies a little brother or sister. and there's nothing fair about it. right now, i'm supposed to be enjoying pregnancy, worrying about getting the b-monster potty trained before the upcoming due date, and arguing with my husband about baby names. and instead, i have gut wrenching heartache and sadness for the loss of that life ... no matter how small that life might have been.

i don't care who you are. whether your pregancy is planned, unplanned, wanted, unwanted ... it doesn't matter. the minute that test is positive, a bond has started between you and that life. and to go from planning your life around that to having it just ... gone. it's awful, and so very sad.

on another note, just because i miscarried, doesn't mean i'm not happy for pregnant friends and family. i don't sit around with voodoo dolls wishing bad things. and yet, it's another topic that gets avoided, causing even further isolation from EVERYONE. it doesn't help. for example ... just because your grandma died, doesn't mean you don't ever want to talk about grandmas again ... it will make you think of her, yes. but isn't that part of the grieving process? 'hush-hushing' when the person walks in the room because you're talking about babies = BAD idea. not to mention, it's just tacky. if the person isn't comfortable, they will:

a) say something.
b) leave.

ugh. obviously not the best day in the world. at least i can go have a drink after work, right?

thursday. the cove.

2010-09-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

the husband and i watch a ton of documentaries. i guess that's what happens when you only get channel 2 on tv and the instant queue on netflix runs amuck.

most of what we watch is decent ... we try to keep our viewings to things rated at LEAST three stars ... we do have standards, you know!

the cove, however, yup ... FIVE stars! and totally worth watching. and not just because it's about dolphins ... which it is. but, really, it's about so much more than that. i wouldn't even begin to call myself an environmentalist, but that doesn't mean i don't care about the environment and what goes on within it. and there are some things that are just. plain. wrong.

here's the synopsis:

'academy award winner for best documentary of 2009, THE COVE follows an elite team of activists, filmmakers and freedivers as they embark on a covert mission to penetrate a remote and hidden cove in Taiji, Japan, shining a light on a dark and deadly secret. utilizing state-of-the-art techniques, including hidden microphones and cameras in fake rocks, the team uncovers how this small seaside village serves as a horrifying microcosm of massive ecological crimes happening worldwide. the result is a provocative mix of investigative journalism, eco-adventure and arresting imagery, adding up to an unforgettable story that has inspired audiences worldwide to action.'

i'm guessing most people, like myself, had no idea that this kind of thing existed. you won't regret watching it. if you don't believe me, just watch the promo video on the website.

wednesday. someday.

2010-09-22T06:10:00.000-07:00

upon my little girl having a raging fever the last two days, i got to spend some quality time just her and i ... without the monster. she started feeling a smidge better yesterday afternoon, so we took a quick trip to the library down the street.

so, i made a quick trip to the knitting section and grabbed a bunch of 'how-to' books ... i'm determined to make a go of it! and we wandered to the kid's section, taylor grabbed a stack, we checked out and read on the couch for a few hours. h-e-a-v-e-n!

by far, my favorite book from t's loot was someday, by eileen spinelli ...

i ask taylor (6 yrs.) what she wants to be when she grows up, and inevitably, every time, her answer is, 'a writer.'

why, i ask? 'you get to tell stories.' sometimes it's hard for kids to think past tomorrow, or the next five minutes! and this book is brilliant in promoting the imagination and doing just that.

someday opens up a whole new world when it comes to thinking about the future. she turns mundane everyday stuff into whimsical, elaborate, lovely ideas about what she wants to be when she grows up.

plus, the illustrations are inspiring me to buy some new fabric!

p.s. it makes me want to start over and pick a new career for myself! ... maybe an astronaut? although, i think i'd settle for full-time apron-seamstress/business owner.

tuesday. the guernsey literary and potato peel pie society.

2010-09-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

i don't know how i haven't managed to post about this book yet. i think i'm going loopy. i spent the last two months thinking that you all had been enlightened and had this book shared with you. a thousand apologies. but, so you know, i blame, ummm ... hmmmm ...

soooo, anyway ... a co-worker handed me this book and told me i'd love it. she's usually right, and this time was no exception. as a side note, apparently it's a well-known fact that i gravitate towards the following things:

• food.
• books.
• books about books.
• small towns by the sea.
• stories about incessantly independent, yet lovable women who meet collectively to discuss things they love.
• stories about lovely women that seem to effortlessly weave old school tradition into their modern lives.

inherently, the guernsey literary and potato peel society includes all of the above. naturally, i didn't want it to end. (see previous post for the next closest thing i could find that was similar.)
but, i digress ... it's funny, interesting, warm and fuzzy, wrapped up all fresh and new. i read it months ago, and i'm still sad it's over.

loves it!

monday. the beach street knitting society and yarn club.

2010-09-20T09:55:00.001-07:00

dear blog,

i miss your face.

i know, i know. it's been forever. but, now that i'm caught up on the harvesting, canning, and storing of the massive garden this year, i have a little more time for you. i promise. it was a stressful, complicated month, and now it's over ... or ten days from being over, which is over enough in my little head!

i found a new-ish book. and so far, it's lovely. i've been missing summer already, and extremely hesitant to get into the fall swing of things. don't get me wrong, fall in spokane is just about as perfect as it gets. it's my favorite season ... even if it only usually lasts two weeks-ish. BUT, this year ... ohhhh, this year ... summer was elusive and ninja-like, what with her not starting until the middle of JULY. and i'm not ready to let her go yet!

the beach street knitting society and yarn club is quick and cozy, and it'll make you wish it was raining and your house was clean so you could sit in front of your fireplace (or if you're like me, you'll sit and hope to get through a page before one of the kids decides that you are not allowed to sit for five minutes quietly ... all while imagining you had a fireplace) and read it from beginning to end in one sitting. it will also make you want to drink tea, open a wool shop, and start using 'bugger' as your new favorite swear word. it sounds a lot nicer than some of the ones that usually come out, does it not?

best part? there's a second book! needles and pearls. totally indulgent fiction. it's not for everyone, all the time. but it certainly is for me, some of the time!

totally makes me want to learn how to knit something other than an endlessly long scarf. like amazingly adorable and totally functional arm-warmers! i feel a project coming on ... i guess i better get on that whole "learning to knit something other than a scarf" thing.

thursday. mellow monkey & 5K.

2010-08-12T08:30:00.001-07:00

It's gearing up to the end of summer ... *tear. But, with the end of summer comes some fun things going on in our neck of the woods!

Millwood's 2nd Annual 5K Run is August 21st. And what's even cooler? For all entrants, Mellow Monkey Yoga (if you haven't been to a class with them, GO!) will be offering free yoga for runners after the race to stretch out those muscles at their studio (the race is only a block away from the studio). There will be drawings with prizes, including a GRAND PRIZE drawing of a 1-year membership at BOTH The Mellow Monkey Yoga Studio AND Anytime Fitness!

Count me in! And you should go, too!

tuesday. sunshine & summertime.

2010-08-09T05:38:00.000-07:00

aside from living in the garden and the kitchen, here's what we've been up to ... with more camping and fun-times ahead!

boating ... lounging ... oooh-ing & awe-ing ... snorkeling ... ninja-ing ... wandering ... hiking ... watching ... smiling ... huckleberry picking ... swimming ... pondering ... pointing ... sharing ... cuddling ...

monday. garden markers.

2010-08-09T05:13:00.000-07:00

other than fall, late summer is my most favoritest time of year. the garden's ready for harvest, pumpkins are getting big and fat and ready for the taking, the husband and i spend evenings canning, freezing, and bathing kiddos after spending the day playing in the dirt.

aside from what looks to be a short growing season, the garden this year is exceeding my expectations—if anyone needs zucchini, CALL. and last time we were over in seattle visiting the fam, my wonderful step-mom had a great project for the kids—garden markers! nothing like fun stuff to beautify the garden even more!

karlene bought a bunch of butter knives (spoons would work, too!) from goodwill, stickers, sharpies, ribbon, etc. and let them go crazy—just spray with polyurethane spray after the creating is done and plug em' into the dirt! Super cute!

my favorite ... and most useful ...

tuesday. the kitchen engine.

2010-07-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

awww ... date night!
having never taken a cooking class, last night's Gnocchi from Scratch class at, The Kitchen Engine, was a whole new experience ... and SO. MUCH. FUN! (it's at the flour mill downtown!)

not only do you get to learn a ton of new tips and tricks to make life easier in the kitchen ... it's like watching the food network for an hour and a half, and then getting to eat the food! they have a pretty sweet set-up where they walk you through making everything (the lady wasn't standing there the whole time ... just every time i tried to take a picture! then again, when you're the manager, you can do whatever you want!):

and on the other side of the store is an actual kitchen appliance store with all kinds of fun stuff to look through—complete with 20-ish different kinds of salt you can purchase ... who knew there were that many kinds to begin with?!

the husband and i learned how to make a bunch of new stuff ... AND got to hang out together! what could be better?!

here's what we made:
• bruschetta
• gnocchi ... bathed in butter and garlic
• pesto alfredo sauce (from scratch!) of which we topped the gnocchi with, then added tomatoes, basalmic reduction, and pancetta!

and the visual ...
something new and fun to try ... and they have TONS of class options every week. i will most definitely be returning!

monday. summer has arrived.

2010-07-12T08:25:00.000-07:00

some of my favorites from the beginnings of summer.

... summer mornings before we head outside.

... my budding little hoopstar.
... crazy dancer.
... daddy and the kiddos.

... apple-mania!

... pumpkins!

... more zucchini than i'll even know what to do with. really, it's like land of the giants out there!
... back porch dinners.

... cold (but fun!) 4th of july.

... not too sure about that whole "fireworks" thing.

... not too sure about that whole "face" thing.

... little better.

... awww, marissa. you should know better than to hide from my camera by now.

... whoa, fireworks!

monday. balance.

2010-07-05T10:48:00.000-07:00

stress, emotional roller coasters, on top of the every day, doesn't make for a balanced jen. and an unbalanced jen isn't good for anyone ... might make for a clean house, but that's about it.

body and brain sometimes get a little off-track. but i think the two have finally met somewhere in the middle. here's to day one of getting it back together.

monday. honeysuckle syrup.

2010-06-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

i know it's not thursday, so it's not food-day, but i had so much fun making this yesterday that i can't help but share! my grandma used to have two honeysuckle bushes in her backyard, and as kids we used to pull out the stems on the blossoms to get the tiniest drop of nectar—so worth it! i can't even begin to explain the amazing smell and taste of these little guys!

well, just another reason to love my yard—i have thousands of honeysuckle blossoms vining their way up the side of my house this time of year. so taylor and i decided to do something productive with them.

i showed her the ways of 'stem-pulling' ...

... and then we gathered enough to make honeysuckle syrup (they hold the most nectar at night and early in the morning!)
ingredients.
4 C. loosely-packed honeysuckle blossoms (no stems or leaves!)
4 C. granulated sugar
juice from one lemon
water

how to.

cover the blossoms in a bowl with cool water and let stand at room temp overnight.
strain blossom-water into a saucepan and add sugar and lemon juice.
boil for 1-2 minutes, lower to a simmer for 15-20 minutes—or until syrupy.
let cool for 10-15 minutes and pour into glass jars. keeps in the fridge forever!

how to use syrup.

mix 1-1/4 C. of honeysuckle syrup with 12 lemons and 3 quarts of water. mix well and add sugar as needed.
mint leaves would be great with this, too!

friday. kiddos.

2010-06-24T20:22:00.000-07:00

kenny, paula, and graham came over last night. food + sun + happy kids = happy parents.

so cute ...

miss taylor ...

the boys, checkin' out the car tires ...
workin' on the bear crawl ...

thursday. donut gallery.

2010-06-24T06:52:00.000-07:00

more biscuit donuts ... mmmmm ... see previous post for recipe(s).

brennan enjoying cinnamon-y and sugar-y donut holes ...

someone took away the donut holes ...

up close and personal ...

sunday. father's day.

2010-06-20T22:41:00.000-07:00

happy father's day to the best dad's around. who knew one family could be lucky enough to have so many?!

... and what's father's day without cake?

thursday. jam & mashed tater pancakes.

2010-06-17T18:26:00.000-07:00

so this last weekend proved to be quite productive, both inside and out. and by productive, i mean, we played outside in the yard and garden all weekend and ate good food. that's my kind of weekend.

mmmmmm ... strawberry huckleberry jam ...

i'd been receiving complaints the last couple weeks from the peanut gallery that there wasn't any strawberry freezer jam left and that the store stuff doesn't taste as good. so, i mustered up the strength this weekend to make a batch. if you've never made freezer jam, it's about the easiest thing to make ... other than the pb & j sandwich you put it on (or in my case, the spoon i shovel it onto).

i like to put it in glass jelly jars because they're cute and fun to give away, but plastic ones work, too. all in all, it takes about an hour to make enough jam to last your family the whole year. sure-jell pectin recipe is the best—the one right off the box. i added huckleberries to this years' and then couldn't find my food processor blade (i put it somewhere i WOULDN'T lose it) to puree them in, so it's chunkier than normal, but still good! i highly recommend it (they have no sugar added recipes too)!

the highlight of my weekend, however, was my mashed potato pancakes. they sure don't look like much, but there's not much that tops em'. my dad makes em' best, but i did my best to compete! remember when i said they don't look like much? they really don't. it's hard to take a decent picture of a flat pancake ... i did my darndest and it just didn't quite work. but still, you get the idea.

homemade mashed tater pancakes.

ingredients.
10-12 yukon gold potatoes
1/2 C sour cream with ranch dressing packet mixed in
butter—as much or as little as you'd like
salt & pepper to taste
1 egg
2-3 tbs flour

how-to for mashed tater pancakes ...

Boil a big ol' pot of water with some salt thrown in (you can add garlic cloves to the water, too, if you like). Toss the potatoes in the boiling water and let them boil until tender enough to mash—check with a fork after 10-15 minutes.
Drain water, leaving just the taters, and mash. Add sour cream, butter, salt & pepper, and mix with electric mixer.
taste. adjust flavors as needed, and then refrigerate overnight (or make a double batch, eat some for dinner and save the rest for the next day for pancakes!)
add egg and flour and mix well.
xcoop small pancake-size dollops onto a hot oiled griddle or skillet. let cook for 1-2 minutes (until brown) and flip to the other side.
once flipped, add a slice of cheese to melt.
if you're not hungry yet, you shouldn't be reading this blog. this is the epitome of comfort food!

mashed potatoes take on a whole new meaning ...

wednesday. the kite runner.

2010-06-16T20:36:00.000-07:00

i've spent the last two days thinking about this book, and i finished the last page almost a week ago. i, like much of the population, hear and read about the middle east on almost a daily basis—and have, for much of my life. but this book, although fiction, turned on a switch that didn't exist for me before. the switch that truly opened my eyes to listening and paying attention.

it's so easy for us to sit here in our comfy lives, watching war after war unfold on the television screen; skimming the headlines day after day; another bombing, another city taken, shooting, killing ... the list goes on. i think desensitization is an understatement. the problem i found with my own opinion and my own outlook on what's happened and is happening is not recognizing that each time one of these atrocities occurs, someone loses a family member. all too often i don't think, what if it were my family? what if something like this happened to me?

the civilians in many of these cities and countries are just as afraid of what's going on as we are, and it's so easy to group them together. but they're the ones living it EVERY single day. they're the ones waking up to the noise. we wake up to headlines. war is such an ugly thing—but some of these people have been rooted in war for hundreds of years. i can't even imagine. i'm no expert, and don't know nearly enough to even feel like i'm able to give an educated opinion ... but i think that's part of the problem—most of us are that way, and many of us still form the opinion—without the knowledge behind it.

the kite runner isn't about war. well, it is, but it's not a history lesson. it's a story ... and SUCH a well-told story. one that i know i won't ever forget, and wouldn't want to. a story of two boys, a specifically horrible incident, and how it shaped them into who they are, haunted them, and eventually, a quarter of a century later, lands right in the face of one of them.

this book is a bestseller for a reason. read it. you won't regret it, or forget it.

sunday. project DONE.

2010-06-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

what started as a three-day project, quickly spiraled into being put on hold for our vacation, avoided, not in the budget, and so on. but, after several loooong weeks of waiting, taylor's room is finally 90% done. here's a sneak peek.

... and i don't know what it is about taking pictures of a room, but it never quite seems to do it justice. the walls and lighting look yellow—they're white.

drumroll ... the B-E-A-utiful newly refinished hardwood floor and lovely molding.

paper lanterns from pier 1 (thank you, auntie stephie)—i just took a bunch of the fake gerber daisies from pier 1, cut off the stems, and hot glued them to the paper lanterns in contrasting colors. easy!

bedding she already had ... i think we need to add another bright blanket and a few more pillows to offset the white, but no rush.

canvas paintings i found at burlington coat factory of all places ... for $5.99 a piece, i should have bought ten of them!

lucky for us, taylor's giant bunkbed works well in pieces—desk, dresser, bookshelf, and bed—without having to be hooked together.
what's a room without a bug?

taylor loves it ... as does her baby brother.

thursday. bavarian cream donuts.

2010-06-03T09:58:00.000-07:00

this might be the easiest 'fancy' recipe you'll ever meet. prepare yourself. 30 minutes and you, too, can have warm, soft, squishy, gooey, chocolate-y, rich bavarian cream-filled donuts. one of my favorite girlfriends mentioned that she makes donuts from canned biscuits (yeah, like, the $0.38 for 8 ones!) and uses cinnamon, sugar, frosting, and/or sprinkles on top for her three girls. BRILLIANT!

with that idea in mind, i went on the hunt for a custard filled, chocolate-topped recipe. i took the one i found, and took out all the non-fat, fat-free ingredients that were holding it back from being perfectly delectable—this is what came of it! try it out, they're yummy!

Easiest Donuts EVER.

ingredients.

2 cans jumbo buttermilk biscuits (no flaky biscuits or you'll just end up with oil-soaked garbage can liners!)
canola oil (enough to fill your skillet with about 1/2" worth)
1 small box instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 C milk
8 oz. cool whip
1 can milk chocolate frosting (unless you're feeling fancy. then you can make your own frosting.)

make the filling.

mix pudding mix and milk together in a large bowl, whisk. add cool whip and mix until combined.
keep filling in the fridge until you're ready to use it.

get those donuts going.

pour oil into your skillet, to about half an inch. turn the heat on medium, and let heat for about five minutes.
put your super-fancy pants, $0.38 jumbo buttermilk biscuits into the oil and let them brown on one side (about a minute). flip the babies over, and let the other side fry to golden perfection. if the oil doesn't bubble around the biscuits when they're plunged into the hot oil ... it's not hot enough. turn up the heat!
once they look all lovely and done, take them out (don't burn yourself!) and put them on a plate lined with paper towels ... you know, to make them healthy(er?).

fill em' up.

two ways to do this part: use a cake decorating bag with a wide-tip on it. or, if you're like me, and don't have those nifty tools, cut the corner off of a zip-loc™ bag and fill er' up!
poke holes in the side of each donut. for this, i have a handy-dandy tool that works perfectly ... it's called a finger (just make sure hands are clean)! If that's not sanitary enough for you, a vegetable skewer works rather well.
put the pudding-filling tool into the donut and squeeze until each donut puffs up and you know it's cram-packed and will make a mess when you eat it.

final touch.

a donut isn't a donut without some kind of frosting. scoop the can of frosting into a bowl and heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds.
swirl the tops of each donut with the frosting.

now, whenever you have breakfast guests, you can show off and make fresh, warm donuts ... just don't tell em' your secret!

P.S. there are about a million ways to make biscuit donuts. make holes in them and coat them with cinnamon and sugar, frosting, powdered sugar, jelly-filled ... the possibilities are endless!

monday. garden galore.

2010-06-01T08:15:00.000-07:00

it rained all weekend. ALL. WEEKEND. but, between showers, there were bits of sun—and bits of gardening. it's officially taking off. i still have a few (closer to several) other things to plant, but i feel like it was quite productive nonetheless. and the lovely thing about rain (aside from not having to water) is the luscious green i miss so much.

the future chicken coop. a fresh coat of paint and a fence and she'll be good to go.

she might take over our entire house. not even two months ago she was not even out of the ground yet. it's ... aliiiiiiive.

grow, baby grow! this little blueberry bush was just a stick a few weeks ago, literally. now, the little guy has leaves!
and this little blackberry stick ... er, i mean, start—after weeks of no signs of life ... there's GREEN! that's a leaf bud, not a bug!

partner in crime #1 (jessi) ... don't let her sad eyes fool you. the rain is her favorite thing ever. and she spent an hour jumping into our dwarf cherry tree eating the teeny cherries. she was in heaven.

partner in crime #2 (kuma) ... he's every bit the punk he looks here.
soon, those little flowers will be yummy tomatoes! four different varieties: christmas grape, early girl, and i can't remember the other two. and no, those are not bugs on the stems, it's dirt ... i checked.

the apples are on! and i continue to do everything possible to be bug/worm free this year! i will win the battle.

one of our two winter apple trees. don't mind the nine foot grass jungle around it.
six zucchini, three pumpkin, and six acorn squash ... movin' right along!

if i ever complain about my yard ... it's a lie. i adore it. it might be full of weeds, impossible to keep up on, and ridiculously out of control ... but it's still lovely as ever. especially after all that rain!

thursday. monkey bread.

2010-05-27T00:35:00.000-07:00

many of us have little monkeys running around. and more often than not, those monkeys are hungry ... and whining about being hungry ... and wanting to help make something to make them not hungry.

monkey bread is the solution. and unless you're like me, who honest-to-goodness thought the easiest way to make it was to actually make the dough from scratch—yes, I'm brilliant, I know. NOT. it's REALLY easy to make. and the monkeys can help out without driving you batty!

monkey bread.

ingredients.

3 (12 oz) tubes refrigerated buttermilk biscuits (ummm, yeah, instead of making dough from SCRATCH!)
1 C sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 C butter
1 C packed brown sugar
1/2 C huckleberries (or any other yummy berry you think you'd like to try—huckleberries rock, though.)

how to.

preheat oven to 350 and grease one 9 inch tube pan.
mix sugar and cinnamon in a large ziploc bag. kiddos love doing this part. just make sure the bag is zipped, or you'll be cleaning sugary cinnamon from every surface from here to timbuktu.
cut biscuits into quarters. shake 6 to 8 biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. again, this is a perfect job for the starved, whiney kiddos.
arrange pieces in the bottom of the prepared pan and alternate sprinkling huckleberries between layers. but, try to keep the berries towards the middle and away from actually touching the pan, they'll taste better that way. continue until all biscuits are sugar-fied (is that even a word?) and placed in the pan.
in a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat until it turns into caramelly goodness. boil for one minute. pour over the biscuits.
bake at 350 for 35 minutes—now is a great time to send monkeys outside to make mudpies, play tag, or whatever else those little whipper-snappers might have in mind. p.s. warn them that if they whine before the bread is ready, they don't get any. it makes for a quiet house. promise.
let the yummy goodness cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate—if you don't grease the pan well enough ... this part will not end well. lucky for you, your monkeys are probably so hungry by now that they don't care if it's not a perfect tube shape.
let the monkeys have at it.

here's a closer-up shot ... mmmmmmm.

wednesday. the pioneer woman.

2010-05-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

i've had a bit of a farm theme going this week, i blame mother nature. the whirlwind of weather we've had the last couple weeks gave us some lovely weather, causing me to go into garden/cooking/cleaning/wanting to live on a farm overdrive ... and then she took it away. at the moment, i see raindrops and grey skies. yuck. mother nature needs a timeout.

but, i digress (fancy word, huh? you can thank fancy nancy), here's something to turn that frown upside-down! ree drummond. a.k.a. the pioneer woman. a.a.k.a. kitchen genius. a.a.a.k.a. my hero.

i suspect that hours of well-paid work-time are spent drooling over her website (don't ask me how i know this). cooking, home & garden, photography, homeschooling—i'm telling you, the woman does it all. here, spend some time getting to know her. she's hilarious.

her recipes are to die for. her cookbook is unbelievable. she's funny. she lives on a ranch. she has four kiddos. four! she refers to her husband as marlboro man. she says things like this when talking about butter: This butter was a little soft because I’d left a sack of groceries in my car for two hours because I have a rebellious streak and like to leave one or two sacks of groceries in the car when I get home. Issues.

check out her cookbook. people like her deserve to have us spend $15.00 on a cookbook she's put her life into. and yes, i'm rambling on and on like a love letter about this lady i don't even know (p.s. my mom got to meet her. jealous isn't a strong enough word.), but that's because she's awesome. and pretty much, i want to be her.

seriously. you will go to her website and look at the amazing recipes and her witty, goofy humor ... and you will want to be her, too. promise.

tuesday. freckleface strawberry.

2010-05-25T20:10:00.000-07:00

there's a girl i know. she's a funny, silly, goofy, sweet, and lovely girl. you don't know her. but i do. and i know how great she is. this little lovely found out recently she's gonna be a mama! i can't even begin to explain how amazing she'll be to her little bundle of joy. after a phone conversation with said, mama-to-be, she, in a rage of hormones and terror, exclaimed, "what if my baby has red hair and freckles!?" this one's for you mamasita.

If you have freckles, you can try these things:

1) Make them go away. Unless scrubbing doesn’t work.

2) Cover them up. Unless your mom yells at you for using a marker.

3) Disappear.

Um, where’d you go?

Oh, there you are.

There’s one other thing you can do:

4) LIVE WITH THEM!

Because after all, the things that make you different also make you YOU.

your baby will be perfect, just like you. i miss you, missy!

monday. farm chicks.

2010-05-24T11:50:00.000-07:00

this is year two for me, attending the farm chicks antique show that is, right here in spokane! year two of spending the day wandering the county fairgrounds cram-packed with some of the most fun, inspirational, motivational, and darn-right cute business vendors from all over!

june 5-6th at the spokane county fairgrounds, $7 for a day, or $10 for the weekend (splurge on the weekend tickets, you'll end up coming back). handmade goods, antique and vintage items—not much tops 150 vendors with this kind of stuff—at least not in my book!

if you haven't seen or heard of the farm chicks ... go here.

here's the map for this year's event ... seriously, way fun.

p.s. this is the farm chicks cookbook. i use it at least three times a week ... and not just as a paperweight. every recipe in this book is worth making. and they're from spokane, so instead of buying local, you're cooking local ... which is even better.

sunday. farm.

2010-05-23T00:31:00.000-07:00

a new favorite book ... for this week.

elisha cooper—society of illustrators gold medal recipient, author of lots of other wonderful books: beach, ice cream, bear dreams, and tons of others. this is one of the first books about a farm, for me, that captures the smell, taste, and feel of the changing seasons in such a lovely way.

farms are about the coolest place there is—animals, tractors, crops, barns—what more could a kid (or myself) ask for?! i know i'd be happier if i got to feed animals for morning chores and work on a farm all day! lovely and lyrically written, and ms. cooper's illustrations are to die for!

warning. after reading, you may experience sudden urges involving a desire to house chickens, plant a garden, or sell your belongings to live on a farm.