Haphazard Homemaking

Ocean Shores Sandcastle Competition 2011

2011-06-27T22:13:00.000-07:00

For years I wondered how "those" amazing sandcastles were created. How did they get them so tall? How did they carve them so intricately? My sandcastle making experience was limited to the simple child's method of filling a bucket with wet sand, dumping it out, and then seeing what resulted before the tide came in and washed it all away.

My whole perception of sandcastle building changed a year ago. A friend of ours invited us to participate in the Ocean Shores Sand and Sawdust Festival sandcastle competition. Although we knew nothing about building sandcastles, we decided last minute to join the team competing in the intermediate category and see what we could do to help. We had such an amazing time that we enthusiastically agreed to do it again this year.

Do you want to know what it takes to make a real sandcastle? Let me share the wet and grimy details with you.

First, you need a team of people who are all willing to work together. And when I say work, I mean seriously participate in manual labor together. You also need a good leader. Our good friend, Amos, was our great leader and a group of friends from church provided the willing team.

Here are a couple of the rules:

Only 8 team members are allowed in the plot at a time. (We had 10, so we had to make sure that 2 were out of the plot at all times.)
All of the sand used to build the sandcastle must come from within the 30x30 plot.
You cannot start (enter the plot) until 9:00 a.m. and must finish by 3:00 p.m. (It kind of makes you feel like you are on some sort of reality TV show.)

The day of the sandcastle competition we started out ~~slathering ourselves with sunscreen~~ setting up our forms. These were very nontraditional, experimental forms. (Forms are generally box like shapes or cylindrical shapes.) We the guys started out bracing the forms and screwing the bracing into place.

As you can see from the picture, you also need many, many buckets full of water. And, yes, this is just plain old water directly from the ocean. As tempting as it may seem, no adhesives are added.

Next the guys added another part of the forms on the front.

Once the forms were finished and ready to go, the real work began. Time to ~~bring in the backhoe~~ add sand, shovel full by shovel full. And let me tell you, we all took our turns shoveling sand.

Once there was about 4 or so inches of sand, we began pouring buckets of water over it and "tamping" it down. Well, we used "tampers" but it was definitely more along the lines of pounding the sand.

By the way, building a sandcastle like this means you will get dirty. You will be covered in sand and salt water. Guaranteed.

At one point a man walked up who was apparently a radio program host. He interviewed Amos live and apparently really liked our team t-shirts. He also was very impressed by our teamwork and said that we were one of the most "team like" teams participating in the competition.

After what felt like hours of grueling manual labor (did I mention that those 5 gallon buckets had to be refilled over and over again?), we finally packed the sand up to our goal height. Time for the moment of truth. The guys whipped out the drills and began to remove the bracing for our forms. They removed the form from the right side.

Success! Our experimental (risky) form worked! With a boost of confidence, they removed the form from the left side.

Semi-success! So it was a little disappointing that the whole thing didn't hold, but the majority of it was solid and the area that fell was definitely scavengeable (I don't think that is a real word, but I like it anyway.). Now, the real fun began. Creative juices began to flow and the artistic sides emerged.

Look at the amazing transformation. This is the corner that appeared ruined when we removed the forms, Now, it is an amazing wave encompassing a swordfish!

Our goal was a forced perspective and in the back (supposed to appear far away) is our hill with pyramids.

Even our little Ayla participated by letting us borrow her feet to make small footprints.

Here is our finished product:

Exodus 14:21-22 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

In the end, we won first place in the intermediate category! This last picture is of our team after we found out that we won!

Holy Lamb Organics - Winner

2011-06-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

To determine the winner of this giveaway, I entered everyone's name into the list randomizer at random.org.

Here are the results:

And the winner is:

Kristyn!

Kristyn, I will contact you through email so you can claim your prize. I hope you enjoy new wool pillow!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

If you are still interested in a pillow, don't forget about the coupon code! You can receive 15% off all pillows through the month of July by entering the Coupon Code 15EF.

Remember that the discount will come in the form of a rebate if you order directly from the website. Or you can call in your order or visit the store to receive the discount directly.

Here is all of their contact information:

HOLY LAMB ORGANICS

PO Box 309

104 West Pine St

Oakville, WA 98568

(360) 273-9400

sales@holylamborganics.com

www.holylamborganics.com

Thankful for Abundant Strawberries

2011-06-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

What started as a single strawberry plant purchased at a Master Gardener's plant sale about 6 years ago has turned into two full-to-the-brim beds of incredibly healthy strawberry plants. Even more, these strawberries have spread so far and wide that I have been able to share starts with many friends, helping them start their own strawberry beds.

I have been asked several times what the key to my amazingly healthy strawberry plants is, and my primary response: neglect. Now, don't get me wrong. I do take care of them about once a year. In the spring, I sprinkle Black Lake Organic's strawberry fertilizer over the entire beds and then attempt to brush most of it off of the plants. Then I give them a thorough dusting of mulch, again attempting to shake the majority of the mulch off of the leaves and down to the soil. That is about it. Many people space their strawberry plants perfectly and meticulously remove runners. I don't. I generally figure, the more plants the merrier! So far my lovingly neglectful treatment of my plants has worked out very well.

Last year, though, the deer discovered my strawberry beds. Many mornings I walked out to my garden and ended up nearly (or completely) in tears as I saw the devastation caused by the deer. My view regarding the peaceful deer has changed. I no longer see that as peaceful, lovely animals. I now see them as pests, monstrous rodents. As a result of the deer's new found infatuation with my garden, we only ended up getting a handful of strawberries.

For some reason, the deer must have found better gardens to visit this year. My garden has been blessedly deer free so far this year. After last year's pitiful harvest, I have a new level of gratitude for the sweet berries we are picking.

Today, as I really picked our berries for the first time, I found myself truly thankful for our strawberries. Yes, Ayla was a little over-zealous in her picking. In her excitement, she decided that it was better to fill her bowl than to make sure the berries were completely ripe. Even so, I am thankful for our early, abundant harvest of strawberries.

Don't forget to go enter the giveaway for the travel/children's pillow!

What are you thankful for today?

Come join me (and my friends at Adventures Of Raising A Baby In The City )! ~~Ever~~y almost every Thursday, I will post something for which I am thankful, and I would love it if you participate as well. It is medicine for the soul to give thanks and, when practiced regularly, results in contentment. It can be anything: silly, personal, or blog related. Just take a moment to give thanks!

Holy Lamb Organics - Giveaway!

2011-06-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

Around a year ago my husband did some work for the owner of Holy Lamb Organics (who also happens to now be my sister-in law!!!) and she traded him an orthopedic neck pillow in exchange for his work. I have to admit that I was a little jealousy that he received this pillow. I wanted an amazing handmade wool pillow too! But, who was I to complain? He did the work, and, also, he had some issues with waking up with his ear hurting. (Apparently his mom and brother experience the same issue.)

Orthopedic Neck Pillow

Then last winter the girls and I experienced sickness like we had never experienced it before. I began to research all the different kinds of allergies that could potentially cause our constant coughing and congestion. In my research, I learned that dust and dust mites can be a serious contributor, as can down (the pillows we were all using) and synthetic materials (our mattresses and mattress covers). I discovered that wool ranks far above all other products (including cotton and down bedding) in its ability to resist dust mites and in its ability to provide a natural sleeping surface..

Woolley Down Pillow

I was sold. (And did I mention that I have some sweet connections?) We went ahead and purchased Woolly Down Pillows and Deep Sleep Mattress Toppers for the girls and I. As much as I wish I could say that this solved all of our cough and congestion problems, it didn't. (I will have to save that discussion for another post.) But we would never go back and are so glad we invested in this quality bedding. Before the purchase, it took quite a bit to convince my husband that this was worth the cost, but now he will tell anyone who asks about how wonderful the mattress topper is. It is so amazingly soft and comfortable!

Here are some quick facts about the benefits of wool:

Wool resists bacteria.
Wool is fire resistant.
Wool is cool in the summer yet warm in the winter.
Unlike bedding that uses plucked down feathers, a sheep grows a coat of wool annually and is not harmed during shearing.
Wool surpasses synthetic fill in terms of quality and durability.
Unlike down bedding which shifts over time (ie. bare spots in a comforter), wool stays in place.
Wool is a sustainable product helping small farmers make a living.
With proper care, woolen bedding can last for decades.

So, are you curious now? Would you like to just try it out? Here is your chance!

The giveaway:

The lucky winner of this giveaway will receive a Travel Pillow! This pillow would be perfect for the upcoming travel and camping season for you or your children.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Follow/subscribe to this blog. (Why follow? Here is a great article about why.)

AND

2. Leave a comment below sharing your favorite natural product or a comment about Holy Lamb Organics.

One extra entry in the giveaway for each of the following:

1. Share about this giveaway on your Facebook. (Um, if we aren't friends on Facebook, you will probably need to leave me a comment letting me know that you did this.)

2. Share about this giveaway on your blog. (Again, letting me know certainly would not hurt.)

Coupon Code:

Holy Lamb Organics has also provided a coupon code to the readers of this blog! You can receive 15% off all pillows through the month of July by entering the Coupon Code 15EF.

Please note that the discount will come in the form of a rebate if you order directly from the website. Or you can call in your order or visit the store to receive the discount directly.

Here is all of their contact information:

HOLY LAMB ORGANICS

PO Box 309

104 West Pine St

Oakville, WA 98568

(360) 273-9400

sales@holylamborganics.com

www.holylamborganics.com

Enter this giveaway until Friday, June 24, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. PST. The winner will be randomly selected and then announced on Monday, June 27, 2011!

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables with Brown Rice

2011-06-14T23:01:00.000-07:00

For most people, the term "grill master" conjures up images of a 40 year old man standing over a flaming grill, whipping out perfectly grilled steaks. This is the image you see on TV and in movies, and I suppose this is probably fairly accurate for most households.

But not at our house.

In our home, grilling falls under the broad category of "cooking" and almost all things cooking fall under the category of "Tanya's responsibilities". Not that I mind. I enjoy grilling and like playing with fire as much as your average man.

More practically, though, I view the barbeque as a secondary cooking appliance, the equivalent of my kitchen stove and oven for the summer months. It is sweet relief on a sweltering day (you know, we do have 5 or 6 of those every year) to have a reliable means of cooking that doesn't heat up the house and results in food that tastes as good, and frequently even better, than your standard kitchen fare.

For the last 8 years I barbequed on an old gas barbeque we found at an estate sale. It worked. Kind of. I mean, it did alright as long as you like most everything well charred. We ate a lot of unintentional "Cajun style" meals. This spring as I manually lit the barbeque, struggled to correctly place the always-slipping-and-falling grill grate, attempted to rescue flaming chicken and then ate the resulting charred-but-not-done-in-the-middle chicken, I informed my husband that I was finished. As much as I loved to barbeque, I couldn't handle it anymore. No meal is worth the frustratingly near tears experience this barbeque evoked in me.

Then he reminded me of my upcoming birthday. He asked if I would like a gas barbeque for my birthday. Would I ever!

The search for the right gas barbeque began. Daniel and I are the type to thoroughly research what we buy. We are very frugal and like to get a good deal, but we also understand that it is sometimes worth making an investment for a higher quality product. We looked at gas barbeques in the stores, talked to salesmen, and then went home and read reviews online. We repeated that process again. In the end, we decided on a Weber. It seems like you just can't go wrong with a Weber gas barbeque. I mean, how many items have a full 5 stars on Amazon.com?

On Sunday, we bought one, brought it home and put it together. Last night I made hamburgers and grilled corn on the cob. I told Daniel that I still needed to figure out how this grill works. His response? "So, what are you grilling tomorrow night?"

I hadn't thought about it. I figured it might finally be time to get creative grilling.

Here is what I came up with:

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken and Vegetables with Brown Rice

I collected my ingredients: red onion, bell peppers, pineapple, and chicken marinating in Teriyaki sauce.

I preheated my nice new, fancy schmancy grill.

Like how I improvised by using my vegetable steamer with the red onions?

Inside, I mixed some Teriyaki sauce (this is currently my favorite brand), some chicken broth and a little cornstarch together.

While the chicken and veggies cooked, I thickened this sauce to add to the deliciously finished meal.

Here are the results still on the grill:

Here are the results chopped up and mixed together in a bowl:

And best of all, here is the finished product on my plate ready to be devoured:

And yes, it was delicious. Absolutely delicious.

Explaining About Our New Children

2011-06-13T11:57:00.000-07:00

We pulled into the driveway as a family and began to carry our loads into the house. Our girls had spent the night at the beach with my parents and we were returning home with our kids. The girls carried in their backpacks and we worked together to bring coats and additional beach treasures into the house.

In the midst of the chaos, the girls noticed the pictures sitting on our kitchen table. "What is this, mama? Who are these girls?"

We told them that after they put away their clothes, we would watch a little video and talk about who those little girls are.

When they had finished, we explained that these girls live in an area that is very poor. They don't have a nice house to live in like we do. They don't have clean water to drink. Many days they go hungry or eat garbage.

Then we watched this video together.

Kylie watched and listened, but Ayla was in and out of the room. As I read the words to the video out loud to our girls, I struggled. This video is emotional and the reality of it brings me close to tears every time I see it. My voice wavered, but we made it through.

After the video we talked about the life these kids live. What would it be like to be hungry all the time? Would it be fun to play at a dump, with garbage? What if you had a sad life like this and didn't know that God loves you and cares for you.

Then we talked about "our girls". We now have two little girls we will support. These girls will learn to read and write, even though their parents are probably illiterate. They will have a school uniform, the nicest and maybe only clothes they own. Our girls will received medical care as needed and eat a healthy, balanced meal every day. And most importantly, they will learn the message of Jesus' love.

One of our girls, Akhila, enjoys drawing, just like Kylie. Our other little girl, Dharamjeet, loves to dance, just like our Ayla. Kylie had a book in school about pen pals and we explained that these girls will be like pen pals with our family. We will be able to write to them and send them pictures from Kylie and Ayla.

During this time, Ayla seemed distracted and was constantly moving, like always. Daniel and I were a little frustrated that the video and our conversation seemed to go right over her head.

Then as Ayla was lying in bed, she asked "Why do those kids play with garbage?" We explained that they don't have nice toys like she does. "Why don't they have a house?" We explained that they are poor and don't have the money to buy a home and nice things like we do.

I guess she really was listening all along.

If you would like to sponsor a child through Gospel For Asia, go here . 100% of the sponsorship money is given to the kids. Nothing is taken out for administrative expenses.

A Sentimental Tablecloth Meets My Grandma's Sewing Machine

2011-06-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

As I was preparing to decorate a table for the women's brunch, I looked at the items I had set out. My centerpiece was prepared and I had borrowed a friend's dishes. The silverware was ready. All I needed was some cloth napkins. I tried out my brown cloth napkins, but they just didn't look right. I glanced down and saw an old tablecloth I had pulled out. The colors in the tablecloth matched, but it was too stained to use as a tablecloth at an event like this.

Why had I kept this stained, used tablecloth? My husband and I used it consistently the first year and half we were married. We lived in a very small rental. The kitchen was tiny and the house "came with" a kitchen table because it was the only table that would fit in the little eating area. (The table was even smaller than a card table.) The table was not attractive, but the size was right. To compensate for the ugly table, we had two tablecloths we used on the table. This one was my favorite of those tablecloths.

As I looked fondly at this tablecloth, I realized that it wasn't doing much good being stored away due to sentimental value. I would never use it because of the stains, but I couldn't bring myself to throw it away due to all the fond memories I associated with it.

And then it hit me.

This tablecloth was the key to the cloth napkins I need for the brunch. I wouldn't use a stained tablecloth, but I would use slightly stained cloth napkins over and over again. I laid out the tablecloth, measured it, and began to cut it into 9 squares.

Then I pulled out my grandma's sewing machine and I was flooded with a new set of memories.

In my grandma's retirement days, she kept herself busy. One of her retirement hobbies was sewing and quilting. As she progressed in her quilting, she decided to buy herself a newer sewing machine. It wasn't anything fancy, but it would get the job done. I remember seeing quilts laid out in her living room and watching her work on them.

She hasn't been able to sew or quilt for many years now. First her arthritis made quilting nearly impossible. Today, her dementia has progressed to the point where I don't think she even remembers the sewing machine or her years spent quilting.

But I remember.

As I sat at the sewing machine, I smelled my grandma's perfume still lingering on the machine. I wished I could express to her how grateful I am to be able to use her sewing machine. While sewing, I fondly reminisced over our first couple of years of marriage. I am glad to have these new/old cloth napkins as mementos to keep and to use.

While setting the table for the women's brunch, I knew that the women wouldn't know that I made the cloth napkins the night before. They wouldn't know that the napkins were made out of a sentimental old tablecloth. They wouldn't know that I sewed them on my grandma's sewing machine.

But I knew.

I'm back! (And I have a new table!)

2011-06-06T21:09:00.000-07:00

I find it hard to believe that it has been nearly a month since I have written a post. Yikes! It is amazing how fast time can go by.

Where have I been this last month? Well, mostly at home. You see, we had these super cute kittens and I just assumed that momma cat would do all of the work taking care of our precious kittens. Instead, she ended up getting very sick. She had a horrible abscess and was extremely dehydrated.

As a result, we spent a lot of time force-feeding Rosie (momma cat) and bottle feeding her kittens. They were very little and needed to be fed about every 3 hours. It felt like we had an infant again and we couldn't go anywhere!

In addition to that, I prepared for and taught the last teaching in our Bible study at church. (Curious? If you are really curious, you are welcome to listen to it here.)

Since then I have been preparing for the upcoming Women's Brunch at our church. I am new on this women's ministry team and am still figuring out all that goes into planning these events. Now I am also speaking at that event too. I am looking forward to that!

Other than these things, I have been very busy gardening when the weather has participated. I have moved plants, divided perennials, planted new flowers and planted many veggies, both seeds and starts.

This last weekend we bought a used outdoor dining set. I am so excited to have this now! We can actually all fit around the table with room for our plates and the dishes of food. Tonight we used it for the first time.

Look at that great table with some amazing food. Yum! The best part, though, is the loved ones sitting around the table. You can see Kylie and Ayla on opposite ends of the table and Daniel's hand working on some food. Also pictured are Daniel's mom, Alice, and her amazing fiance, Bill. I am looking forward to many more barbeques and outdoor eating experiences this summer!

Stay tuned! I am returning to this wonderful blogging world and even have another amazing giveaway lined up.

Birthday Fun at Painted Plate

2011-05-11T11:58:00.000-07:00

For Kylie's 7th birthday, we held her birthday party at Painted Plate. It was so much fun seeing the little kids paint and create their own little masterpieces. As much as I enjoyed watching them, though, I must admit that I was a little jealous. Okay, maybe more than a little jealous. I really wanted it to be my turn to paint! Sadly, in the midst of the chaos of a kids birthday party (my own kid's birthday party), it was not possible.

So what did I do? I gave an extremely selfish birthday gift. A little over a month later I told my friend, Leila, that for her birthday I wanted to take her to Painted Plate and we could each paint something sans children. Thankfully, in my selfish gift giving, I knew it was something she also would enjoy.

We arrived at 4:00 and (courtesy of Leila) started our projects along with some amazing Olympia Coffee Roasting coffee. Could their possibly be a better way to get the creative juices flowing than coffee?

We assumed a couple of hours would be sufficient time for each of us to ~~thoroughly enjoy our time without kids~~ creatively paint our mugs and be ready to leave. The problem is that we are both very detail oriented and perfectionists.

One of the keys to good coverage is painting 3 layers of every color. Let me just tell you now that it is not a quick thing to paint the whole piece with three layers!

In the midst of our chatting, laughter and painting, we watched groups come and go... and still we painted.

At one point we realized how long we were taking and worried that we might need to return another day to finish. Relieved, we found out that Painted Plate was open until 10:00.

5 hours later (about 9:00), we were finished.

At that point, all we could do was wait the 5 days until our mugs were fired. I was a little tempted to ask if we could possibly put a rush on ours since I was so excited to see how it turned out!

In the end, the mugs were worth the wait. Here is Leila's very fun finished product:

I was very happy with how mine turned out as well. Here is my finished product:

After this experience, I think we might have a new birthday tradition on our hands. Yes, we definitely need to do this again.

Thankful for the Birth of Kittens

2011-05-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

"When will Rosie have the kittens?

For months now our family has been anticipating the birth of kittens. I know, a cat isn't even pregnant for months, but it is still true. Our girls knew from the day we brought Rosie home as a kitten that we were planning to let her have a litter of kittens.

I am just as excited as my girls are. (This is a first for me too.) Last week I told my girls, "I am so excited that I have butterflies in my tummy!"

To explain how her tummy felt, Ayla responded, "I have butterflies and flowers and hearts..."

It was still another week before they arrived.

"Mom, Rosie is having kittens! Right now!" This is how Kylie woke me up yesterday morning. She was the first to discover the event.

I plopped in my contacts, put on my robe, and came to witness the birthing of kittens. When we arrived at the birthing box, Rosie had just birthed her second kitten. As we watched, Rosie silently labored, birthing a total of 5 kittens.

The following video is not very good picture quality, but it sure is cute hearing Kylie call Nana and tell her about the kittens.

Rosie has been such a good momma cat. She took care of each one of her kittens as they were born. I love to listen to her; as her kittens nurse, she purrs and purrs.

In the end, Rosie had 2 black kittens (one with a white tummy), two tabby kittens (one with white paws and a white tummy) and one kitten that is an almost black tabby. We are in love.

We are so thankful for each one of these kittens and that we had the privilege of witnessing their birth.

What are you thankful for today?

Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens

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

Ever wanted to take a step back in time? Immerse yourself in someone else's life? Last Friday, I enjoyed a glimpse into the life of Hulda Klager. This glimpse is only a short drive south to Woodland, Washington at the Hulda Klager Lilac Gardens. The appeal of the trip is the incredible lilac gardens, but there is so much more than just gardens.

Hulda Klager's Home

First we strolled up the walkway towards the beautiful historic house. This home is filled with the history of Hulda Klager, including many pictures of her family and stories depicting "normal" life at the time. Here is a framed story I enjoyed:

Hulda's bedroom with original dresser, bed and quilt.

Hulda's "mail order" stove.

"Hulda tells the story of her mother, Mrs. Thiel, when she lived in Germany. One fall day in the mid 1850's, Mrs. Thiel went out to her farmyard to feed her pet geese. To her dismay, they were lying on the ground apparently dead. Shedding a few tears but still the practical farmer's wife, she carried the geese into her big warm kitchen and proceeded to pluck off their feathers. While plucking the last one, to her astonishment the geese started to get up and stagger around the kitchen. Eventually all the geese were running around in the house sans featheres and quite a spectacle. Mrs. Thiel was so happy to see her pets alive again that she couldn't chop off their heads. 'What to do with naked geese?' she thought. Winter was close at hand and they would surely freeze. The family trait of originality popped up and she made red flannel underwear for the whole flock, thereby solving the problem until nature had replenished the plucked feathers with a new set of natural clothes for the pets. Mrs. Thiel later discovered that her geese had eaten some cider mash which had fermented. They had become thoroughly intoxicated and were in a 'drunken stupor' when she picked them up for dead."

After visiting Hulda's home, we went outside to enjoy her beautiful gardens. Hulda Klager's passion was hybridizing plants, but especially lilacs. It seems like we were a week or two early since many varieties were not yet blooming. Even so, there were many varieties in bloom. Here are a few of my favorites.

From a distance, this one looked like a pink cloud:

"California Rose"

"Anabel"

"Royal Purple"

"Nadezhda"

"Mrs. Bereasha"

"My Favorite"

I loved how these pink buds opened to a lavender flower:

Pres. Grevy

Mm. Lemoine

With a name like "Hallelujah", how could I resist taking a picture of this one?

"Hallelujah"

Pink is such an unusual color for lilacs and I especially enjoyed this dark pink bud and pretty pink bloom:

"Esther Staley"

This is one of the select varieties labeled as "extremely fragrant".

"Katherine Havemeyer"

And would you believe it? Three of us unintentionally color coordinated for the visit:

If you enjoy lilacs, I suggest you take time to go down and visit these lilac gardens. They are open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The farm house will close on May 8th, but the gift shop and gardens remain open until May 14th.

Olympia Local Foods - Winner!

2011-05-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

To determine the winner of this giveaway, I entered everyone's name into the list randomizer at random.org.

Here are the results:

And the winner is:

Krystal Austin!

Krystal, I will contact you through email so you can claim your prize. I hope you enjoy your free local groceries!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

If you have never tried Olympia Local Foods, I would encourage you to check out their site and order. Hope to see you at Olympia Local Foods picking up groceries on Thursday!

Natural Dandelion Control

2011-04-26T21:14:00.000-07:00

In our yard, we have a raging infestation of dandelions. Everyone in our area deals with their own share of dandelions, but I happen to think our yard gets hit by weeds worse than some. It really doesn't help that there is a currently unoccupied rental next door where the yard isn't even mowed.

So, how do we control weeds? Well, last week I enlisted (bribed) the help of my 7 year old and 5 year old. The incentive? 1 penny per dandelion head, 5 cents for a root.

Kylie went for the roots. She took the challenge to heart.

Ayla didn't bother going for the root, but she sure was proud of those dandelions she picked!

And they enjoyed hamming it up for the photo shoot that followed.

In the end, my yard had fewer dandelions going to seed, my kids were occupied for a good part of an evening and I invested a total of $3.37 towards dandelion weed control.

Don't forget to sign up for the Olympia Local Foods - $25 Giveaway!

Olympia Local Foods - $25 Giveaway!

2011-04-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have to share this little gem with you. What is that gem, you ask? It is Olympia Local Foods! I absolutely love doing as much of my grocery shopping through them as possible.

What is Olympia Local Foods? Here is how they describe themselves: "Olympia Local Foods is like a grocery store, but more local -- like a CSA, but more flexible -- like a farmer's market, but more convenient."

I have been using Olympia Local Foods for about 9 months now and I love the ability to select my groceries online. As a mom of little ones, I love the convenience of shopping whenever the time is right for me. I can browse and add items to my cart at my own convenience (at least until Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m.). Then I pick them up on Thursday (between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m.). So easy!

Another thing I love is that Olympia Local Foods has taken the time to find local farms, dairies, bakeries and other yummy food businesses. I know many of the grocery stores in town carry local products, but I frequently am not sure which items are local and which ones are not. Everything Olympia Local Foods carries is local! All of the businesses offer quality (organic/natural) products that taste amazing.

Do you already shop at Olympia Local Foods? Here is a chance for a huge discount off of your next purchase! Have you thought about it but not tried it out yet? What a great opportunity to try it out!

The giveaway:

The lucky winner of this giveaway will receive a $25 credit to Olympia Local Foods!.

To enter the giveaway:

1. Follow/subscribe to this blog. (Why follow? Here is a great article about why.)

AND

2. Leave a comment below sharing your favorite local business or a comment about Olympia Local Foods.

One extra entry in the giveaway for each of the following:

1. Share about this giveaway on your facebook. (Um, if we aren't friends on facebook, you will probably need to leave me a comment letting me know that you did this.)

2. Share about this giveaway on your blog. (Again, letting me know certainly would not hurt.)

Enter this giveaway until Friday, April 29, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. The winner will be randomly selected and then announced on Monday, May 2, 2011!

Resurrection Day - Cookies!

2011-04-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

At a Good Friday service 2 years ago, the children's ministry pastor passed out a recipe for cookies that included the story of the crucifixion and resurrection. We tried them that first year and all really enjoyed the process, accompanying Scripture and the resulting delicious cookies.

These cookies have made the level of "tradition" in our house. This was our third year now making the cookies. Here is the instructions and some pictures of our family making them this year.

Resurrection Cookies

Ingredients and items needed:
1 cup whole pecans
1 teaspoon vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
Ziploc sandwich bag
Wooden Spoon
Electric mixer
Wax paper
Cookie Sheets
Tape
Bible

Preheat oven to 300° Farenheit.

Place the pecans into the Ziploc bag. Let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into smaller pieces. Explain how Jesus was beaten by the Roman soldiers after he was arrested.

John 19:1-3 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put the vinegar into the mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, Jesus was given vinegar to drink.

John 19:28-30 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Add the egg whites to the bowl, explaining that eggs represent life and how Jesus gave His life for us.

John 10:10-11 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Add a pinch of salt to the bowl to represent the tears shed by Jesus' disciples and followers after His death. Have each child taste the salt to remind them of the bitterness of sin.

Luke 23:27 A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.

Add the sugar while telling the children how the sweetest part of Jesus' story is that He died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Psalm 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Beat the mixture with the mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks are formed. Explain that the color white represents the purity of those whose sins have been cleased by Jesus.

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool."

Next, fold in the broken pecans and drop by teaspoons onto cookie sheets covered with wax paper. Each cookie represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid to rest.

Matthew 27:57-60 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.

Put the cookies in the oven and close the oven door. Turn the oven off and seal it with tape to represent the way that Jesus' tomb was sealed off.

Matthew 27:65-66 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

It is sad to leave the cookies there and have to wait until morning. Jesus' disciples and followers were saddened by the sealing of His tomb.

John 16:20,22 Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

In the morning, open the oven and distribute the cookies which are (hopefully) hollow on the inside. On the first Easter, Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.

Matthew 28:1-9 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Yum!

Thankful for Goodwill Dishes

2011-04-22T14:11:00.000-07:00

We have been so blessed in the dishes department. When we were first married, my aunt gave us some dishes she found at a garage sale. The set wasn't complete or perfect, but it served us well for several years. Then a couple of years ago my aunt's friend passed away and we inherited her very nice set of dishes. Dishes are fairly expensive and I am very grateful that we have not needed to purchase them.

Recently, though, a few of our small "Bread and Butter" sized dishes have cracked. Some of the "fault lines" have been visible for a few years, but just recently have they completely lost their structural integrity and bitten the dust.

I thought this provided the perfect opportunity to add more dishes to our nice, relatively new set. (That set only came with 2 dessert sized plates.) The way I figured, I would just round out the set by ordering 6 more Bread and Butter sized plates. As I searched the internet, the cheapest plates I could find were $7 each before shipping. Yikes! That adds up fast! I was looking at at least $42 plus shipping!

At that point I decided that the plates didn't need to match perfectly. I would be very content with whatever I could find at Goodwill.

I couldn't find a set of 6 matching small plates, but I brought home 3 sets of 2 plates. And they only cost $ .59 each!

So today, I am very thankful for my Goodwill finds. I am thankful for small, inexpensive plates.

What are you thankful for today?

Homemade Pizza

2011-04-19T14:29:00.000-07:00

I love pizza. But then again, who doesn't love pizza? I know there will be some deranged person out there who probably doesn't love pizza. If you don't love pizza, you must have some serious taste bud issues. Maybe hypogeusia or dysgeusia? I say, see a doctor.

As far back as I can remember, pizza has always been a treat. As a kid my favorite was kind was Canadian Bacon and Pineapple. There is just something delicious about the combination of sweet, salty, spicy and cheesy. It blends the best of all worlds into one tasty pizza!

When my husband and I were first married, we regularly had pizza delivered. It was quick, easy and, well, delicious. In a pinch, a frozen pizza curbed the craving. As we plunged into the uncharted waters of "single income family with kids", we cut back on our expenses. Sadly, eating out (which included delivery in) was almost completely eliminated.

Why not just stick with frozen pizzas at this point, you say? At first glance, that seems like a simple solution. The problem is that in my first pregnancy I had some cravings (Mexican food with all the fixings) and only a few aversions. The primary culprit: frozen pizza. There was just something about the smell of frozen pizza cooking that completely turned my stomach. I don't know what "they" put in frozen pizza, but I still have some residual aversion to this day. (I hear you, maybe I am the one who should be seeing a doctor.)

Around this time I also began to explore the possibility of making pizza at home. I started out using Trader Joe's Pizza Dough. I stored it in my freezer and defrosted it when the pizza urge hit. Next I found pizza dough at the San Francisco Street Bakery. Sometimes, though, their dough was sold mostly frozen and took too long to defrost for dinner. Soon I realized that it probably wouldn't take much longer than the defrost time to actually make the dough myself.

After trying out several pizza dough recipes, I finally settled on the one in my Betty Crocker's Cookbook. One thing I really like about this recipe is that the dough only needs to rest/rise for 30 minutes! It is still kind of time consuming, but totally worth the effort.

Homemade Pizza

Mix 1 cup of flour (I used fresh ground hard white wheat), 1 tablespoon sugar, 1 teaspoon sea salt and 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast (or 1 package) in a large bowl. I prefer that my large bowl be connected to my Kitchenaid mixer. Add 3 tablespoons oil and 1 cup very warm water. Beat on medium speed for 3 minutes. Or do like I do and beat it on medium speed for what seems like a reasonable amount of time. This method has worked for me so far.

Stir in enough remaining flour until the dough is soft and leaves the sides of the bowl. I never really measure, but the recipe call for 1 1/2 to 2 cups more.

This looked like the dough was sufficiently leaving the sides of the bowl, so this is where I stopped.

Place dough on a lightly floured surface. Knead 5 to 8 minutes or until dough is smooth and springy.

I like to use my kitchen table to knead. The height just works better for me. (I know, I am just asking for short jokes right about now.) Seriously, it is much easier and a lot less work to knead on the lower surface.

Cover the beautiful dough ball loosely with plastic wrap. I like to put my dough in a bowl greased with olive oil.

I may have gotten a little carried away with the olive oil this time. It looked like my dough was practically floating in the olive oil. I just figure, olive oil is good for you, right? It adds great flavor, right? And you know what else? My dough didn't stick to my bowl.

Set your timer for 30 minutes. While the dough is resting and rising, start the pizza sauce. Chop up some onion. I think I used a whole medium sized onion. In my opinion, it is hard to use too much onion. (Want to chop without crying? Check out this post.) Start that sauteing in some olive oil. Add in a generous amount of fresh garlic. I just had to show you this single huge clove from my garden. Amazing, isn't it?

After the onion and garlic is sauteed to soft perfection, add in a can of tomato sauce. For those of you who want specifics, this can was 15 oz. Stir in the tomato sauce.

Dump in your spices. I say dump because that is what I really do. I never measure spices. Never.

In the bottom right of the picture is my dumping of basil. The other large pile is a dumping of oregano. Bottom left is a small pile of crushed red chili peppers, which add a slight spiciness and make it truly taste like pizza sauce. Near the top is some fresh ground black pepper. I know it would have been twice as delicious if I would have used fresh spices, but I don't always have them on hand.

Stir the sauce. Let this concoction of yumminess simmer. The longer it simmers the more delicious it will be.

When the timer (which you set for 30 minutes) beeps, preheat the oven to 425°.
Grab your bowl o' dough and smile, enjoying how much the dough has risen in just 30 minutes.

Dump the dough onto your 15" pizza stone. I use my rolling pin and roll my pizza out the size of the pizza stone. Honestly, I am too scared of dropping the pizza dough to attempt throwing it. This makes a semi-thick crust pizza. (The recipe actually says to use it for 2 - 12" pizzas.)

Pop the pizza dough into the preheated oven. Partially bake for 7-8 minutes or until crust just begins to brown.

While the crust is baking, assemble your toppings. We enjoy many different toppings, but this time I went super simple. I just used pepperoni.

Applegate Farms makes my current favorite pepperoni. I love that it doesn't have any bad stuff (nitrates, nitrites, hormones, MSG, etc.) And it tastes delicious!!!

These pepperonis are very large, so I cut them into quarters.

Grate a nice big pile of cheese. Or ask your husband to grate it for you, like I did. Didn't he do a great job?

My favorite combination of cheeses is Mozzarella, Cheddar and Parmesan. There is just something about adding the Parmesan that makes the pizza so yummy.

Grab your partially cooked pizza crust from the oven. I like to set mine on a silicone trivet. It protects the counter and keeps the pizza stone from sliding.

Pull your pot of finished pizza sauce from the stove. (If you want pre-made pizza sauce, Trader Joe's makes some great sauce.)

Slather your crust with this sauce. This is either enough sauce for a very generous saucing on this pizza or enough to use half now and freeze the other half for when the next homemade pizza craving hits.

Add a sprinkling of cheese, a thick layer of pepperoni (or your toppings of choice) and a final nice thick layer of cheese.

Bake your pizza for another 10 or so minutes, or until the cheese is melted and sufficiently bubbly.

Now for the best part: eat. I enjoy watching my kids devour their dinner, making plenty of satisfied gulping and lip smacking noises. Yes, that is the real reason why I love making homemade pizza.

Love Notes

2011-04-15T11:45:00.000-07:00

About a year and a half ago, my dad was planning to attend a mid-week weed conference in Eastern Washington. (Yes, my dad is very interested in weeds. Not the illegal variety, but the dandelion variety.) To the degree that my dad is interested in weeds and learning new methods of weed control, my mom is not interested in learning about weeds. He invited her to attend with him, but she declined the "tempting" invitation.

As he prepared to leave in the morning, he did something totally unexpected. You see, my dad is a fairly regular guy. He isn't always thoughtful, doesn't always remember conversations and probably would not be considered a romantic. (Lets just say that no romance novels will be written in honor of him.) But he is faithful. He is loyal. He loves his family. And he is still in love with his wife (my mom).

That morning he decided to leave notes for my mom to find while he was gone. These weren't sappy love notes. As far as I know, none of them were x-rated. He simply wrote "I love you" on sticky notes and left them all over the house where my mom would find them. She saw the first note on the door from the garage into the laundry room. Then a note on the door from the laundry room into the house. As she went about her evening and morning, she saw "love notes" all over the place.

About few months ago, he felt the urge again, and left a few more "love notes" scattered about the house. This time, among other places, my mom found a note as she opened the fridge.

Do you know what I really love about this? Several of these notes are still there. In fact, I took these pictures just today. My mom tends to be very neat and tidy. She doesn't seem to struggle with the same difficulty to control clutter as I do. She regularly cleans her house. (Is it sad that this fact sets us apart from each other?)

But these notes are an exception.

My brother's girlfriend asked my mom why she leaves up the notes. My mom responded, "Because I smile every time I see them."

My brother's girlfriend said, "So do I."

I love that my parents have always lived their love in front of us. It isn't just the notes. I know that my parents love each other. I know that they enjoy spending time together, that they are best friends. I know that they still snuggle and kiss. I have seen it.

Not that they haven't had their fair share of struggles. In fact, I know their marriage has weathered some difficult storms in life. Some of these storms I witnessed. Some of these storms I have only heard about from my parents. But through it all, I have always seen how much my dad loves my mom.

How can he love her with such a strong, enduring love?

Is it because of the amazing example he witnessed from his own father? No. His own father taught him how to use a woman. His father worked and then spent his time at home watching football and expected to not be disturbed. His father would not even consider helping with cooking, household chores, or the kids. His father taught him to treat a wife nearly as a slave.

He learned to love my mom by reading Love Notes from another Father. Love Notes, such as this one:

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

Jeremiah 31:3

He learned to love my mom by learning from the ultimate example.

But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,

slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

Psalm 86:15

I have heard it said that a girl will grow up and marry a man just like her father. When I was first married, I saw so many differences between my husband and my father. The longer I am married, the more similar I realize they are. I realize now that it is true. I married a man just like my father.

And I am so glad that I did.

Remembering Chickhood

2011-04-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a friend of ours purchased 3 hot chicks. Yes, the fuzzy kind, not the human kind. As we oohed and aahed over the cute babies today, I became nostalgic remembering our own little chicks. Was it really almost a year ago that I brought home our own little babies?

I remember the day...

Chickenpox was working its way through many kids in our circle of friends. ~~Sadly~~ luckily Kylie contracted the chickenpox and we began the period of chickenpox induced isolation. I anticipated a time of fever and intense itchiness, but Kylie seemed to barely feel the effects. In other words, we were quarantined with a contagious child who felt well. This was a sure recipe for stir crazy mother and kids.

We had been discussing building a chicken tractor and getting chicks. What better time to get chicks than when we were already stuck at home? Perfect entertainment opportunity! I called my husband to make sure it was okay to jump in with both feet and go pick up the chicks. I must have stated my case as to why we needed the chicks now very well because he said yes. My mother-in-law came over and watched our girls while I went to the store.

With butterflies in my tummy and a quick prayer that chicks cannot contract chickenpox, I picked out 6 chicks (2 Rhode Island Reds and 4 Ameraucanas). I purchase the chicks, some starter feed and came home.

We spent hours watching the little chicks interact, sleep, eat and play. Kylie, especially, spent most of her day sitting there watching and holding them.

Ah, my heart still melts.

Thankful for Spring Flowers

2011-04-07T15:31:00.000-07:00

I admit it. I love flowers. I love growing flowers in my garden. I love looking at flowers at a farmers market or nursery. I love displaying cut flowers on my kitchen table. I love smelling the strong perfume of flowers.

It is currently spring, but the weather does not seem to be aware of that fact quite yet. Just yesterday we experienced sun, rain, hail and snow. Yes, you read that correctly, snow. In the midst of season confusion, I am thankful to see the bright, spring flowers in my beds. They add bright spots of color and their fragrance welcomes guests to my home.

I am thankful for this frilly daffodil. It is the only daffodil in my yard that has decided to bloom. (For some reason daffodils and I don't get along very well.)

I am thankful for these fritillaria. Their dainty blooms and checkered petals make me smile.

I am thankful for hyacinth. It wouldn't feel like spring without their bright spots of color and amazing fragrance.

I am thankful for spring flowers.

What are you thankful for today?

I Ran Like a Fool!

2011-04-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

In January, one of the goals I set out to accomplish was running. At first I wasn't sure how I would accomplish that goal, but then I signed up for the Run Like a Fool 5k and made a running plan. I used the basic format a little, but I also deviated quite a bit. You see, I am fairly competitive. If I am going to sign up for a 5k, then I am going to make sure that I can run that 5k (or 3 miles) before the day of the run. So, I skipped a bit ahead in the running plan and ran my first full 3 miles about 2 weeks ago.

This morning, I woke up to a beautiful day. The forecast said showers, but I felt completely blessed to see sunshine and a mostly blue sky. I dressed, ate, and headed down to Heritage Park on my own. As I picked up my number and bag o' goodies, I realized that it was very windy and cold. Yikes! At least it was still sunny and not raining.

I started the race near the end/middle of the pack. I knew that I would not be one of those runners pushing to the front and passing everyone along the way. Even so, I did pass a few runners.

I have been wearing this great bright pink hat while running, but I had no idea how windy it would be today. The wind kept catching my hat and nearly causing me to sprint after it. (No, I have not been training for a sprint.)

The wind almost won the battle for my hat.

As I ran past the bridge on my first lap, I was surprised to see my own personal cheering squad. My parents were there as was my husband. But my most enthusiastic cheerleaders were my two little girls. They jumped, cheered and brought a smile to my face. They even ran this short little stretch with me.

I ran my second lap and as I came around toward the finish, I barely managed to grab my hat before the wind whisked it away. At this point, I just gave up on my hat and carried it to the end. With my hair blowing wildly about, I finished the race.

Again, my little girls were right there ready to hug me. They didn't "officially" record times, but I am pretty sure my time was around 33 minutes.

I did it! I ran a 5k!

Now, I am hesitantly considering the Capital City Marathon 5 miler...

Thankful for My Laundry Sorter

2011-03-31T10:11:00.000-07:00

When we first moved into our house 8 years ago, we had one laundry basket and I sorted our laundry into piles in our master bedroom. And since I am the disciplined, on top of it person that I am, there were times when those piles would take up precious space in our room for *ahem* days at a time. Add a baby to the mix and I had a real laundry mess on my hands!

While shopping at Fred Meyer one day, I bought this little laundry sorter in desperation. It didn't look like much. In fact, I have to admit that it looked a little cheesy to me. All it consisted of was white PVC pipe and 3 white mesh laundry bags.

I had no idea that this laundry sorter would save my life. (Well, that might be a slight exaggeration. At least it saved the laundry aspect of my life.)

Now, as we throw laundry in the dirty clothes, we sort it. One quick glance at the laundry sorter shows me if I have a full load of laundry or not. (And in my home with 2 little kids, I almost always have at least one full load of laundry.) No more throwing dirty laundry all over my bedroom floor to get a handle on the laundry situation. At least twice a week I grab the laundry basket from my girls' room and sort it directly into our sorter and I am ready to go.

I am thankful that the laundry is organized. I am thankful that it is easy to see if I have a full load of laundry. I am so thankful for this cheap little laundry sorter!

What are you thankful for today?

Crispy Crashed Potatoes

2011-03-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

One of the perks of attending Mom's Group at church is that sometimes you really feel like you hit the jackpot. A few weeks ago, that is exactly how I felt. A local chef came and did a cooking presentation. I felt like I had a front seat, exclusive session with one of those fabulous television cooking personalities. Deborah White (who taught cooking classes down at the Bayview School of Cooking) came and shared 4 amazing recipes with our group.

Although all 4 were fabulous, this recipe was certainly the easiest and my first one to try. I would say that it is definitely a keeper! My whole family loved Crispy Crashed Potatoes. They were absolutely delicious! The only thing I think I might do differently next time is to add some fresh chopped rosemary. I think rosemary and potatoes were just made to go together.

Ingredients:

16 to 20 small red or Yukon gold potatoes (1 1/2 to 2 inch diameter) or about 12 medium sized potatoes, washed. (I only had gargantuan potatoes on hand, so I used about 5 potatoes.)
Kosher salt
Fresh ground pepper
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1. Place potatoes in large pot. Cover with at least 1 inch of water. Add 2 Tbsp. of salt. (Or do like I do and just dump salt until it feels like the water is thoroughly salted.)

2. Bring the water to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer and cook the potatoes until they are completely tender. Make sure they are cooked through, but don't overcook. The total cooking time is around 30-35 minutes.

3. While potatoes are cooking, set up a dish towel folded in half and laying flat on the counter. When the potatoes are done, remove with a slotted spoon and lay on the dish towel to dry.

4. Meanwhile, cover a large rimmed sheet pan (I used my jelly roll pan) with foil. Drizzle the foil with 1/4 cup or so of extra virgin olive oil.

5. Place a potato on the oiled pan.

6. Fold another dish towel into quarters. Using the dish towel to cover your hand, gently press down on the potatoes with the palm of your hand to flatten it to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. (At this point you can let the potatoes come to room temperature, cover and refrigerate for up to 8 hours.)

7. When ready to cook, preheat oven to 450°.

8. Drizzle smashed/crashed potatoes with olive oil, a generous amount of kosher salt and fresh ground pepper.

9. Place in preheated oven and cook approximately 30-40 minutes or until they are crispy and deep brown in color. Serve immediately.

10. Smile as your children happily eat.

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My Favorite Strawberry Necklace - Winner!

2011-03-28T08:17:00.000-07:00

To determine the winner of this giveaway, I entered everyone's name into the list randomizer at random.org.

Here are the results:

And the winner is:

Christina!

Christina, I will contact you through email so you can claim your prize. I hope you enjoy your new necklace!

Thank you to everyone who entered!

If you had your heart set on this beautiful strawberry necklace, you can buy one at Leila's etsy store for $25.

Thankful Thursdays - My Bumper Sticker

2011-03-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

Almost 6 years ago we began our search for the perfect family car. The transmission in our current car was going out (it had a manual transmission and first gear was gone). We also found out that I was pregnant with our second baby. Those two factors required that we get on the ball and search for a safe, reliable car. My husband asked his mechanic friend which cars he recommended. Of course Toyota and Honda topped the list, but they are extremely expensive. Following those, he suggested Subaru. After researching and looking for cars, we found a 1997 green Subaru Outback. It seemed just perfect for our little family.

The one thing that always seems to happen when you buy a car is that you suddenly notice that everyone else seems to have done the same thing. Copies of your new car begin to appear all over the place. (Well, it might just be that all of a sudden your powers of observation for your particular type of car have dramatically improved.) The difference this time, though, was that our friends and family noticed the same thing. We seem to have bought the most common make, model and color of car in our city. (We are one of at least 4 of the exact same style and color in our neighborhood alone.)

To be able to differentiate our car from all of those similar ones out there, we put a simple bumper sticker on our car. This, of course, only serves to differentiate it from a distance. If you want to walk up and look in the windows, our car is easy to spot. It has two booster seats and a pile of kids clothes, toys and papers on the floor in the back. Apparently those who are responsible for our car are not very good at keeping it picked up and clean. I am thankful for our bumper sticker, that it individualizes our otherwise commonplace car.

Even more than just setting our car apart from the masses, I love what our bumper sticker says. It is simple. It isn't complicated. You don't have to squint and get close to read it. (If you do need to get that close, you really shouldn't be driving and you need some new glasses.) In fact, it is only one word: Grace. It is only one word, but it carries a lot of meaning. A few of the definitions of grace from dictionary.com include:

a pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
favor or good will.
a manifestation of favor, especially by a superior.
mercy; clemency; pardon: an act of grace.
favor shown in granting a delay or temporary immunity.
moral strength: the grace to perform a duty.
Theology.

the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God
the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them.
a virtue or excellence of divine origin: the Christian graces.
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God's favor or one of the elect.

Frequently, while driving, I am thankful for my bumper sticker. This sticker is not on the paint of our car, but on the window. (Yes, so that it will not ruin the paint.) The unintended result is that every time I glance at my rear view mirror, I see my bumper sticker.

I am reminded on the road to extend grace to the other drivers. There are many times on the road when I need to extend my good will, my mercy, my pardon, my temporary immunity. You know those times when someone cuts you off and is completely oblivious that they did it? Yes, that is an ideal time to extend grace. Driving is the perfect opportunity to practice showing grace to others.

And for those times when I am a less than stellar driver, when I am the one accidentally cutting someone off, I am asking for grace. I hope that as I wave my apology through the window, that there is a chance they may see this bumper sticker. We all make mistakes. We all need grace.

I am thankful for the way my bumper sticker identifies my car. I am thankful for the way my bumper sticker has changed the way I view other drivers on the road. I am thankful for the way my bumper sticker asks other drivers to extend grace to me when I make a mistake. I am thankful for my bumper sticker.