Living with Whimsy

Christmas Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:51:00 +0000

We had a fun, messy time making and decorating sugar cookies before Christmas. The kids helped me make and cut out the cookies, and were more patient than I thought they'd be during the multiple chilling stages. It was fun to make it a day-long process (mixing, chilling, rolling, chilling, cutting, chilling, baking, cooling...), because the kids got more and more excited as the day went on. They also really enjoyed being part of every step. The excitement really built when Jamie and I sat down at the table with them and showed them how the white icing magically changed color when we added a few drops of food coloring. And the decorating, oh the decorating! Gisèle was pretty precise with her cookies, and knew exactly what she wanted to do ("I'm doing a pink stocking with purple icing and red and blue sprinkles!"), but Miles was just a sprinkle monster. He would grab a handful and, without looking, toss it in the direction of his plate. Rarely, if ever, did any sprinkles land on a cookie.

All in all, I would say these cookies are a true masterpiece!

Starting to decorate - icing and sprinkles galore

Admiring her handiwork

Starting out well, trying to sprinkle

Some of the gorgeous finished products

Black Bean Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:53:00 +0000

This is an oldie, but a goodie around our house. It makes for a quick weeknight meal, and can easily be doubled or tripled to feed a crowd.

Black Bean Soup

1 cup fresh salsa (I usually use Newman's Own, medium)
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cups (1 can) low-sodium chicken broth

toppings:
limes
sour cream
shredded cheese
diced red onion
diced avocado
sliced black olives

-Simmer the salsa in a medium saucepan for 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
-Add the beans and broth, and bring to a boil. Turn heat to low, cover, and simmer 15 minutes.
-Ladle half the soup into a blender and puree, then add back to the saucepan to heat through.
-Serve with the toppings of your choice.

Enjoy!

Favorites From Christmastime

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Gisèle's Big Haircut

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:04:00 +0000

Gisèle got her first haircut months and months ago, but it was still long afterward - down to the middle of her back. Just before New Year's, though, she went to a local salon called Sweet and Sassy for a major haircut. Her hair was down to her waist, and took forever to comb out when it was wet. We also had to be sure to clip it back before meals so she didn't get it in her food, and we encouraged her every single day to wear a ponytail (or 2) to keep it out of her face. It was time. Luckily, she agreed with us, and had been telling us that she wanted it cut to her shoulders.

She had a great time at the salon! The haircut started with an 8-inch ponytail being cut off to donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths, which she was really excited about. We had been talking for a long time about how there are kids that get sick and have to go to the hospital and lose their hair, and she was really proud that her hair could be used to make a wig for someone. ("Like my Ariel wig at Halloween!") After the ponytail was cut, she got her hair shampooed, and then it was trimmed up another few inches into a slightly layered shoulder-length cut. After that, it was dried and sprayed with glitter (of course), and then she got 2 glitter stars (pink and purple, her choices) on her cheek. We also let her pick out a new headband to celebrate her big haircut.

I was a bit sad to see her gorgeous long hair go; it really was princessy. But her new cut is so stinkin' cute, suits her personality, and is MUCH easier to take care of!

The obligatory "before" shot

Starting to cut off the 8-inch ponytail

Finishing the ponytail cut, to donate her hair

Shampoo time

Getting another 3 inches or so off

Cut is finished, time to dry

Hair has been glittered, and star colors (pink and purple) are picked out - time to paint her cheek

The finished product

My beautiful silly girl, releasing her pent-up energy

After picking out her new headband

Life

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:32:00 +0000

Life - crazy, busy, normal life - has gotten in the way of blogging lately. I'll get back in the habit soon, but for now, patience please!

Dewberry 2011 (pt 3)

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:07:00 +0000

rolling down the hill

peeking in at the new chicks

another turn on the kadilla hoppers

another ride on the cow train - and mama went this time!

daddy and Miles riding behind us

Dewberry 2011 (pt 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:51:00 +0000

scarfing down some lunch

a map of Dewberry - click to see a larger version

enjoying some fudge after lunch

playing in the corn bin

making corn angels

Dewberry 2011 (pt 1)

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 04:04:00 +0000

The long-awaited Dewberry Farm pictures are here! There are quite a few, so I'll break them up into 3 posts. Enjoy!

on the cow train

kadilla hoppers - a favorite activity

Bouncy Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0000

(from the pumpkin patch, back in October)

Gisèle, age 4

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:35:00 +0000

1. What is your favorite color? "Um, my favorite color is all the colors."

2. What is your favorite toy? "My favorite toy is the Jesus set-up." {nativity scene}

3. What is your favorite fruit? "My favorite fruit is orange."

4. What is your favorite tv show? "Princesses!" {? Maybe she means Princess movies like Cinderella.}

5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? "I like to have chips with sour cream, and I like to have fruit, and crackers with cheese, and milk. And ice cream!"

6. What is your favorite outfit? "My favorite outfit is to wear a flower dress with pink leggings and with a pink shirt and with tights and with I have dance shoes on and with a headband and with a flower in my hair."

7. What is your favorite game? "My favorite game is Santa Claus games. Is that a funny game?"

8. What is your favorite snack? "I like... my favorite snack is banana bread."

9. What is your favorite animal? "A turkey. I mean, a rooster says bawk-bawk! That's what I like, 'cause it's silly. Isn't it, Mom?"

10. What is your favorite song? "Princess songs."

11. What is your favorite book? "Hmmm... Christmas books."

12. Who is your best friend? "Everyone!"

13. What is your favorite breakfast? "Favorite breakfast is pancakes with syrup and butter and milk. Is that yummy, Dad?"

14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? "Kick a basketball. Yeah - kick one."

15. What is your favorite drink? "Milk."

16. What is your favorite holiday? "Christmas!"

17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? "I like to... take teddy bears."

18. What is your favorite thing to eat for dessert? "Candy canes!" {She said that as she tried her first one.}

19. What is your favorite dinner? "Pasta."

20. What do you want to be when you grow up? "A princess!"

Picking Out Our Pumpkins

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:05:00 +0000

Back in October, just before Halloween, we went to a local pumpkin patch so that we could each pick out a pumpkin to decorate. Jamie ended up with a big, traditional orange one; I picked a beautiful grey, fairy tale-shaped one; Gisèle picked a smaller orange one with a long stem (that she wanted us to cut off when we got home); and Miles picked a tiny little orange one.

"Miles, look at that one!"

On a mission

Checking out a grey one

Exploring with Daddy

Miles found his!

"Cheese!"

Gisèle making silly faces

"Over der, Mama... what dat?"

Gisèle found hers - she liked the stem

Zacchaeus

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 02:14:00 +0000

Gisèle and I read about Zacchaeus in her Bible.

Me: "So Zaachaeus wanted to do good things, so he told Jesus that he would give half of his money to the poor."

Gisèle: "What is the poor?"

Me: "Poor people are people that don't have very much money, or don't have any money at all."

Gisèle: "So Zacchaeus wanted to give some of his money to them? That's nice. And sometimes robbers come and take money. And then, maybe the robbers will run away and a dinosaur will chase them, and then they'll drop the money 'cause they're scared of the dinosaur, and then Zacchaeus will come and get the money, and then he can take it to the poor people. That would be nice, too."

Silly Face Competition

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 14:20:00 +0000

Spiky Hair

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 02:00:00 +0000

Gisèle's prayer tonight, while playing with the front of Jamie's hair: "Dear God, Thank you for spiky hair. That doesn't have any hair around it. {cue Jamie's uncontrollable fit of giggles. Then Gisèle starts giggling.} In Jesus' hair I pray, a-hair."

Better - The Best, Even - Pumpkin Pancakes

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 02:12:00 +0000

I've made pumpkin pancakes before (here), but these are even better. These pumpkin pancakes taste like the best pumpkin bread ever in pancake form. I recommend making at least a double batch and freezing the leftovers in 2-pancake packages. (Ziplock baggies work well.) Seriously - Make these. Today.

Pumpkin Pancakes
(adapted from allrecipes.com)

1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
3 Tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/2 tsp salt

-Preheat an electric griddle to 350. (If it's nonstick, as most electric griddles are, you won't need to use butter or cooking spray on it.)
-In a large bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, oil, vinegar, and vanilla.
-In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, ginger, and salt.
-Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture - mix just enough to combine.
-Scoop onto the griddle using a 1/4 cup measure. The batter will be thick, so you may need to use the back of the measuring cup to spread it a bit on the griddle.
-Flip each pancake when the edges are dry and the bottom is a beautiful golden brown. (The second side will need less time to cook than the first side.)
-These are great just with butter, or with butter and maple syrup. We may also try them soon with apple butter, or with some sort of fruit compote on top.

Miles at the Pumpkin Patch

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 22:00:00 +0000

2010 (just turned 1)

2011 (just turned 2)

Just a Quick Update

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 02:52:00 +0000

Life has been busy lately, but I'll get back to regular posting soon. In the meantime, follow me on Twitter (@trishwhimsy), or keep an eye on the Twitter feed on the right side of the page. Even when I don't have time to do a full post, I try to take quick snapshots of the kids on my phone to post there - just click the links that start with "twitgoo."

When I get a chance, I'll update with pictures of our recent Dewberry Farm visit!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 16:43:00 +0000

I was in a cookie-making mood the other day (baking is therapeutic for me), and wanted to do something other than the usual chocolate chip. I looked in the cupboard and realized I had bag of Reese's peanut butter chips that were going to expire soon, and chocolate and peanut butter together sounded perfect. I took this recipe straight from Baking Bites, and they were fantastic!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies (from Baking Bites)

(makes about 4 dozen)

2 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups combo of chocolate chips and peanut butter chips

-Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

-In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt.

-In a large mixing bowl, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. With the mixer on low, beat in the flour mixture, scraping the sides of the bowl, and continue to beat until all of the dry mix has been incorporated. Stir in the chips by hand.

-Drop dough by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet. Leave about 2 to 3-inches between cookies to allow for spread.

-Bake for 9-11 minutes, until cookies are set at the edges and tops are slightly cracked looking.

-Cool on baking sheet for 5-10 minutes, until firm enough to transfer to a cooling rack.

Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

A Love of Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:14:00 +0000

Gisèle was enjoying some time alone in the kitchen, reading quietly while comfortably ensconced on a cushion on the floor, when...

... along came Miles, curious to see what his big sister was up to. He brought along his own cushion, of course. If you're going to crash a private reading party, it's only polite to bring your own cushion. It took him a little bit of effort to get his cushion placed just right, but...

... he eventually got it situated just so, and he settled in right next to his favorite person in the whole world. The first thing out of his mouth, naturally, was, "What dat, Gel?" She told him the name of the book, and then went a step further...

... and decided to "read" it to him. She knew that was one of the things he loved best - being read to - and since she's such a good big sister, she gave up her quiet time to spend it with him. So, that's how the picture of Gisèle reading in the kitchen turned into...

... Gisèle reading to Miles in the kitchen.

Attention, One and All!

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:05:00 +0000

Step right up, ladies and gentleman of all ages! I give to you the amazing Mr. Miles, who, at only 2 years 1 month, went poo-poo in the potty his first time doing anything at all in the potty! What a Marvel! What a Stupendous Feat! What a Magnificent Achievement!

Of course, as soon as he stood up, he worriedly gripped my arm, pointed at the potty, and asked, "What DAT?!"

Happy, Happy, Happy!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 21:04:00 +0000

(New, obviously!)

Giants

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:53:00 +0000

Me: "So when you become a grown-up, you stop getting taller."
Gisele: "Why? Because God doesn't want you to break the ceiling? And mamas can't be giants. At least not in Texas, where we live."

"Setting"

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:10:00 +0000

(A long time ago, I came upon oneword.com - a great resource for anyone with writer's block. One Word inspired today's post.)

Setting? The first thing I think about is place settings. I don't know why that comes to mind, really, because we don't even have a proper dining room table. We have a breakfast nook table that is just the right size for the four of us, but if we have anyone else over, we have to use our card table and folding chairs and set them up in the dining room. (That also means moving our breakfast nook table to the dining room, which is a bit of a pain.) Now that I think about place settings, though, it makes me think about all of the beautiful dishes there are out there... Here are a few that make me smile:

from Anthropologie

from Hideminy

from Anthropologie

Halloween 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:31:00 +0000

Trick-or-treating was a lot of fun this year! Miles actually knew what it all meant, and was able to participate on his own, though he is in a whispering phase and his "trick or treat" and "tay-too" ("thank you") could rarely be heard. Gisèle, of course, marched right up to each door, announced, "We're here!" and said "Happy Halloween!" along with her traditional "trick or treat!" greetings. I think her favorite part, though, might have been handing out candy back at our own house when we got back after our hour of walking. She was so proud to put candy in other kids' buckets!

Halloween Surprise

noreply@blogger.com (Trish) — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 03:54:00 +0000

When we got home from the pumpkin patch this weekend, we had a fantastic surprise waiting on our doorstep - a beautiful Halloween basket (& box!) filled with all kinds of gourmet goodies! And there was no note - no indication at all who it was from. So far we've had the macaroons (YUM!), some of the caramel-pecan popcorn (perfect!), and one of the turtles (so smooth!) I can't wait to try the rest of the goodies, though the kids seem to be most excited about the mini m&ms. :) Whoever blessed us with this perfect little basket - you made our weekend, and are continuing to make us smile each day. Thank you for the care you took in putting it together, and thank you for thinking of us!!