Ordinary Miracles of Life

Dilated

2012-01-26T07:02:00.001-06:00

I had an eye exam.

Every time I go, my doctor tells me something new.

More on that another day.

For now, I'm just embracing my dilated pupils and they are loving the fact that it is a cloudy day.....

Valentine Pom Pom Wreath

2012-01-23T20:50:00.000-06:00

With Valentines Day just around the corner, I thought I would repost a craft Sassy and I worked on together a couple years ago. She just requested I get it hung up for this Valentine's day :)

I don't usually decorate for Valentines day. I'm not the type of person who feels the need to decorate for every holiday. However, I've seen so many cute v-day wreaths out in blog land recently and Sassy has been bugging me to let her decorate. So, I regressed back to my days in grade school. Art class to be exact. The assignment was to make a Christmas wreath. My mom helped me come up with the idea to make a pom pom wreath. I made it with green yarn and adorned it with red bows.

Today I bring you our (Sassy and myself) Valentines Day version.

Supplies:

Foam heart shaped wreath

and

Yarn ~ as many or as few colors as you desire

(Sassy chose a deep red, pink and white)

Directions:

1. Start by making your pom poms. To do this we wrapped the yarn around our fingers ~ Sassy used 4 fingers, I used 3. When you wrap the yarn around your fingers, make sure you keep it loose ~ not slip off your hand loose, but make sure you are not going to cut blood supply off to your fingers. We went around our fingers about 85 times.

2. Slip the yarn off of your hand. Cut a piece of yarn long enough (around 6" should do) to tie your wrapped yarn together and to tie the finished pom pom to the wreath. Now center your wrapped yarn over the new piece you cut ~ make sure it is centered on top and bottom, then tie in a double knot.

3. You should now have a bunch of little loops. Cut all of these down the center. Be careful not to cut the piece of yarn you tied with ~ Sassy did this soooo many times ~ easy to fix, just tedious. But it did make us giggle a lot! When you are done, you should have a pom pom in need of a haircut.

4. Trim up your pom pom and go on to the next.

5. Once your pom poms are made, you can tie them onto your heart form. Finally, trim up all the extra string on the back

Voila ~ a fun valentine wreath ~ perfect to hang on Sassy's bedroom door.

Someday Crafts

Today is the day..

2012-01-22T22:52:00.001-06:00

The day my little man turns EIGHT.

Where does the time go?

It goes, and it goes fast!

So I am going to savor each and every joke he tells (good or bad), every smile he gives,

the contagious laughter that spews from this little guy,

the stories and thoughts he comes up with ~ like this one (read conversation #2)

The goofy things he does

the snuggles he gives and his thoughtful ways.

As well as the struggles and trying times,

because this is my son and I adore him!

Happy Happy Birthday!

Wanna Play?

2012-01-19T11:14:00.000-06:00

So I have a secret.

I like to watch American Idol.

And, for the past couple seasons I've been participating in an American Idol Fantasy League with my bloggy friend Jennifer Juniper from Hope Studios.

(Watching AI last season with my girly)

Now that the season has started ~ the auditions started last night ~ we are seeking out all you American Idol fans. So whether you are a proud American Idol Fan, or a secret, hiding fan, we are calling out to you to come and play with us!

Here are the details ~

Jen's husband is not allowed to play, you can read why here.
My husband chooses not to play (because he ummmm "doesn't like" American Idol), but attempts to give as much advice as possible (really, he doesn't like it!)
The actual league website doesn't open until after auditions and Hollywood week. Play doesn't start until they reach 15... or is it 16 contestants.
It's easy to play ~ all you have to do is rate the contestants before they sing each week.
NO MONEY IS INVOLVED ~ it's all about friendly competition and bragging rights around here :)

So have I enticed you to come over to the fantasy side?

Yes, yes I have!

Fabulous!

All you have to do right now, is shoot me your email address to ordinarymol@hotmail.com or leave me a comment here.

When the fantasy website opens up, either Jen or I will send you an email with log in and game information.

It's as easy as that!

And until then, I am embracing the camera, with my friend Jennifer Juniper..... In Idol Creepiness :)

Embrace the Camera

Oh, and watch out, because when this one gets a little bit older, she just might be the next American Idol!

Reminding Myself

2012-01-18T07:49:00.001-06:00

My little girl is miserable.

Runny nose

Coughing ~ you know the cough that is so hard and consistent that you almost puke ~ yep, that one.

Fever ~ at times over 103 degrees.

Last night I put her to bed at 8:15. 15 minutes later she was crying for me, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy........"

She needed me.

The list of things I needed to do, were going to have to wait.

The laundry would have to wait.

The menu would not get written

The grocery list would not be made.

It was a long night.

The recliner
The floor
The recliner
then the floor again.

As tired as I was.

As miserable as my little girl was.

I had to remind myself that this cold, this potential ear infection is really nothing. There are so many children out there who are sick, really sick. Some will take a very long time to get better and some may never. Cancers, diseases, syndromes........

We will go to the doctor once Sassy and Action go to school.
She may or may not be given any medication.

But in the grand scheme of life, this night, this day, maybe this weekend with a terrible, miserable cold are truly nothing. Sure my body is craving sleep, we have company coming tomorrow, a weekend full of activities ~ choir concert, 3 basketball games, choir at church, Actions 8th birthday, softball.... but our life will not be changed by this cold, lack of sleep, or delay of the "things" I need to get done. I can not say everyone is that fortunate. And everything will get done.... eventually.

Really, It's all about perspective.

(Source)

Homework

2012-01-12T06:59:00.000-06:00

There is a second grader who happens to live in our house, who is not fond of homework. If I had to guess, at least once a week there are tears. Sometimes more.

He likes things to be easy.... or for someone to simply give him the answers. Unfortunately, homework isn't always easy for him, and I definitely won't be telling him the answers.

Help him find them though?

Absolutely.

Last night we were working on spelling words. His test is today. He broke out into massive giggles every time I asked him to spell "duties". After all, he does "duties" in the toilet. HAhaaaaaaaaa....... yep, he is definitely a boy!

Anyway, here we are, working on spelling words.

And there aren't any tears :)

(pay no attention to my nasty middle finger. Slammed that baby hard in the door. When did I do that you ask? The week before HALLOWEEN!)

Is it really over?

2012-01-11T07:30:00.001-06:00

2 weeks ago my house was still decked out with greenery, ribbon and wreaths.

Today, my tree and those of my neighbors lay alongside the road.

Waiting to be picked up.

Disposed of or perhaps recycled.

The gifts have been given and received. Put away in new homes. After all, a place for everything...

So,

Christmas is behind us.

Is it?

Should it be?

I hope not. After all, Christmas isn't just about receiving. It's about giving. Giving of our gifts. Not just material things, but the gifts of us: our time, our energy, our patience, our praise, our prayers, our love... for everyone.

You maybe saw our Christmas card this year:

(yep, I got the idea via Pinterest)

But many of you probably haven't seen the inside.

This is the quote I chose to use this year:

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...

~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976

This is how I want to live this year.

But it's easy to get stuck in a rut. Feeling weary, run down, busy and worn thin. I don't want to be that person. The one who finds themselves easily frustrated because the toys on the floor never go away. (Actually I think two more come out for every one I put away.) Or the dinner that gets scowls as I set it on the table. I want to be the person who is able to choose Christmas everyday, not just once a year.

Joy. Generosity. Love. Prayers. Happiness. Anticipation. Excitement.

This is my resolution.

Picture Me {IM}Perfectly

We call 'em sticky buns

2012-01-09T17:32:00.001-06:00

And not only because they'll stick to your buns if you eat too many ~ ha, but because they are little nuggets of pure cinnamony, sticky, carmelly goodness (pay no attention to my made up words ~ spell check DOES NOT like me right now!)
The recipe I have from my Mom, is labeled "Easy Rolls" and they are that too. Anyway, here you go:

Easy Rolls aka "Sticky Buns"

You will need:

Rolls:
2 loaves frozen bread dough
1/3 Cup ~ White sugar
1 tsp. Cinnamon

Topping:
1/2 Cup margarine, melted
1 box (the smaller one) cook and serve butterscotch pudding (Do NOT use instant!!)
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla

First, take your bread out the night before and let it thaw (I spray a baggie with non stick spray, put my frozen bread loaves in it and lay it out on the counter before I go to bed):

In the morning:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a bowl, mix together the 1/3 cup of white sugar and 1 tsp of cinnamon.

3. Cut your bread dough into pieces ~ I'm not real precise when I do this, but they are typically at least inch or so in diameter

4. Roll each piece in the cinnamon/sugar mixture

5. Place each piece into a greased 9x13" pan

Do this for all of your bread dough ~ get them all squished in.

The recipe then calls for you to let them rise for 30 minutes. Honestly, I have NEVER done this! Typically I place my pan of sugary bread dough on top of the stove and hope some of the warmth will help the little nuggets rise a bit while I make the topping. :)

On to the topping:

Melt 1/2 cup of margarine in the microwave in a microwave safe bowl.

Add in the package of butterscotch pudding, 1/2 cup of brown sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp of vanilla.

Mix together

Pour over your sugary dough

Put them in the oven for about 30 minutes

and

wait VERY patiently for the timer to beep.

When they are done, the edges will be golden and a bit crusty. Make sure to check the middle to make sure they aren't still doughy.

When you've determined they are finished cooking, immediately turn them out onto a platter or in this case a cookie sheet. :)

Just look at all that yummy, gooey, goodness!

Then, just pull off what you want.

Mmm Mmmm sticky, yummy, sugary, cinnamony deliciousness!

There are many renditions of this recipe, but these are the ones my mom use to make these when I was a little girl and now I get to make them for my little ones. I dare you to start the tradition in your own home :)

The Theatre

2012-01-05T06:49:00.000-06:00

As a Christmas presents for Sassy and Action, I gave them tickets to go see a children's production at our downtown Children's Theatre. The plays there are always fabulous.

Sassy had been there before, but it was Action's first time. Actually it was the first play he'd ever seen. And, he wasn't so sure it was anything he was interested in.

The three of us went out for dinner, then drove downtown to the Theatre. Sassy loved the way it looked from the outside and snapped a picture.

Then we took a few of us inside.

The kids both had a great time. And Action ended up being pretty happy with his gift!

Windy Wednesday

2012-01-04T15:31:00.000-06:00

Windy

definition: • (informal) using or expressed in many words that sound impressive but mean little

Since I haven't been blogging lately, I have a whole lot to say. Here's where we've been, what we've done and potential random thoughts of my own:

Christmas was nice. Busy but nice. Holidays get a bit crazy for us as our families live out of state and we try to see everyone.

The 22nd ~ Our little Christmas at home. Pizza and gifts from each other.

Passing out gifts and new rollerblades for Action

A Minnie Mouse blanket Sassy made for Smiley

Sassy modeling some new clothes

The 23rd ~ hubby's parents and Christmas Celebrating with his parents and sister's family

Pittsburgh Steeler golf towel and snowball gun

Movie watching with cousins

Someone was wiped out

Hot-tubbing

The 24th ~ Hubby's Grandma's house to celebrate with Grandma, Aunts, Uncle and cousins. Chili, Oyster Stew (I stick to chili), gifts, cards, midnight mass.

The 25th ~ my Parents house. Here we celebrate with any of my siblings who can make it (this year it was only my youngest sister and my little brother), Aunt, Uncle, Cousins and their kiddos. This year was very low key, which was ok.

The 26th ~ Home sweet Home to see if Santa made a stop. AND....... he did.

Relaxing at home

Hubby had the week off of work. We spent some good quality time picking out new bathroom tile and accessories. Then he "relaxed" by ripping out the old and putting in the new ~ floor anyway. I am still working on painting the trim and next up are the walls, now that I've decided on a paint color.

Goodbye old powder room!

At the end of the week, we decided to head up to another state to see my sister and her family. Her and her husband just built a new house and moved it just before Thanksgiving. We had yet to get up there for a visit and decided it would be a good weekend to go. So the kids exchanged Christmas gifts, we went to a college basketball game and rang in the new year together!

Admiring the gift for her cousin

Fondu time

Ringing in the new Year!

Hey Auntie E..... next year, wait LONGER than 7pm to pass out noise makers! :)

Live and learn ~ HA!

Happy New Year everyone!

And don't worry, I have lots more to say :)

On this Christmas Day

2011-12-25T07:12:00.000-06:00

May you remember to not get wrapped up in the little things,

the gifts and the show and truly remember the real reason to celebrate.

(Source)

Luke 2: 11-12

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Merry Christmas to all of you!

From My house to yours

2011-12-24T06:58:00.000-06:00

It's Christmas Eve

~ the lights are hung ~ the presents are wrapped ~ family is in abundance ~ everyone is beaming ~

And I want to wish you a VERY Merry Christmas!

Thank you for coming along with me on my journey of family, friends, fun, food, crafting and random thoughts ~ I appreciate each and everyone of you and have become friends with people who without this little blog, I would have NEVER met. Love and Prayers to all of you!

Date Night

2011-12-22T07:08:00.000-06:00

Hubs and I went out for dinner the other night.

We went to the Capital Grill with another couple.

Dinner was fabulous as was the company!

It was so nice to have a relaxing night out ~ even better was one with a little adult conversation!

PS ~ I must recommend the Cheesecake! The perfect amount of crust (Hubby LOVES crust and was craving more, but I found it to be perfect!), delicious creamy inside topped with a crisp sugar crust and fresh berries! MMmmmmm!

I've been PINNING

2011-12-21T19:59:00.000-06:00

Well, I don't know about you, but I've been pinning lots of goodies lately. Food, crafts, seasonal stuff, home decor and design, photography tips and on and on. I have actually been making a few of the food items I've pinned and here are some of my results:

First up ~ Creamed Eggs over Toast.

(via Pinterest)

(but, I'm going to delete it from my boards, so here is the actual website)

This sounded interesting, so I thought we'd give it a try.

Boiled the eggs

Made the "gravy"

Topped the toast.

Ate, Assessed and Added Pepper.

In the end, we decided this would NOT be a remaker.

Not a lot of flavor ~ but, maybe if you add sausage.......

Next stop ~ Chicken and Black Bean Green Enchilada Rice Bake

(via Pinterest)

(original)

Gathered my ingredients

Mixed it up

And layered it in the pans

(I split it into two 8x8 pans so I could put one in the freezer for another day ~ we had already tried this recipe once and knew we liked it!)

Yep, this one is a keeper.

And Hubby likes to take the leftovers, warm them up and wrap it up in a tortilla. Perfect for a quick lunch!

Last but not Least, something sweet ~ Peppermint Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies

(Via Pinterest)

(Original)

I made these to take to a cookie exchange at the Parent's group I am co-leader of.

They were quite easy to make, which I definitely like.

They have a minty flavor, but not overwhelming. Perfect in my opinion.

Since I was bringing them to a meeting, along with 28 gifts (we sponsored a 2 families for Christmas), wrapping paper and a bunch of other stuff, the last thing I wanted to worry about was the cute little chocolate piped stars falling off or breaking apart. So, although cute, I decided to leave them off ~ this time at least.

I will definitely be making these again!

What, have you been pinning lately?

Have you tried anything?

ONE week!

2011-12-17T15:22:00.002-06:00

ONE week!

Are you ready?

I can't believe one week from today we will be celebrating Christmas!

Here's a little dance party

from our house to yours

to get your week off to a smiley start:

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Cookie Baking Day

2011-12-15T08:12:00.001-06:00

The other day, we pulled out the bowls, mixer, flour, sugar, sprinkles and the rest of the cookie goodness and set off to make some Christmas cookies.

We made chocolate spritz, white spritz and sugar cookies.

We also made a MESS (and funny faces)!

But, the most important thing we made, were memories!

Visiting the Jolly old Man and Santa... if you're reading this:

2011-12-12T15:08:00.000-06:00

Last week, I mentioned we took the kids to see Santa.

It seems 2 of 3 kids have some high expectations this year.

Sassy asked for a nice camera "with lenses that can be changed and zoom in and out. Like my mom's."
FYI, "mom's" camera is a Nikon D90.

(source)

TO SANTA ~ if your not to busy to read this:

Santa, here is my word of advice. Sassy loves to take pictures. She wants to be a photographer when she grows up. However, I think it's a bit risky to give such a nice camera to a 10 year old. Not that she wouldn't take care of it, or doesn't deserve it, because for the most part ☺ she is a really great girl. Respectful, hardworking, honest, helpful. Don't get me wrong, I get the sass now and again ~ that is her nickname ~ and she does bother her brother and sister from time to time. But anyway, I just think that that camera may be a bit fancy to take on school field trips, to the lake, camping and places like that, which I know is where she wants to use it. A camera perhaps, maybe just not that one :)

Action. Action looked at Santa with his baby blues and LONG eye lashes. Flashed his charming, dimpled smile and told Santa he really wants a puppy.

(source)

TO SANTA ~

Santa, you were right to tell him that you would only bring him a puppy if it was ok with Dad and Mom. Because quite honestly, one dog in the house is quite enough. He certainly was bummed that night. But I'm glad you were honest with him. I appreciate that. Especially after the time he asked for a punching bag and you asked him, "isn't that what your sister is for?" I still haven't gotten over that one! Besides a puppy though, I'm not quite sure what he wants for Christmas. I hope you or your elves have been watching. If you come up with any ideas I could use, please let me know.... my email is ordinarymol@hotmail.com. Thanks!

Smiley was excited and nervous to see Santa. She had really been thinking hard about what she was going to ask for when she got on his lap and had her opportunity. Lipstick. Lipstick is all she could come up with when her time came.

(source)

SANTA ~

So little Smiley climbed on your lap with the help of her sister, smiled for a picture and then it was time. Time to tell you all of the things she was hoping for. And what did she tell you? Lipstick. And she does want lipstick, let me tell you. But, if you do decide to go with that, please stick to a flavored kiddy chapstick. I don't need anything drawn on with real lipstick :) But besides that, the rest of the things she had on her mind to tell you, but just couldn't get out were this:

* princess panties (she ~ along with her mom! ~ is very excited about being potty trained and loves checking out all of the fancy panties at Target ~ she is especially fond of the princess ones :)
* beds for her doll house
*shoes
*and dress up clothes.

THANK YOU SANTA!

And because, what's a post without a bunch of pictures? Here are the kids and Santa through the years (and yes, these are pictures of pictures, so they aren't the best quality, but you'll get the idea):

2001

our first experience with visiting Santa with our kids ~ Sassy was 9 months old

2002

My ABSOLUTE favorite Santa picture

Sassy was so excited to see him, but was terrified when it was actually her turn

2003

2004

Actions first experience with Santa

2005

2006

2007

2008

Wow ~ hard to believe Smiley was this little :(

2009

Another one of my favorites ~ love love LOVE Smiley's expression!

2010

Sassy was home sick (super sick) with the flu ~ very bummed she couldn't go

2011

Everyone was all smiles ~ this was before the puppy got denied :(

So, what's on your (or your kid's) Christmas list this year?

Friday Facts

2011-12-09T07:07:00.001-06:00

Ready for my factual friday?

Here are the facts of the week:

Fact: My siblings and I achieved the element of surprise when we threw a 40th anniversary party for my parents.

Fact: We took the kids to see Santa. Only one child was a bit bummed when we left. Santa wasn't so sure about the gift that was requested.

Fact: Santa, choir (Sassy), basketball (Sassy), church, basketball (Action), shopping, football (yes, that was a Steeler victory I'm talking about) and basketball (Action's game). These were the evening events this week (including tonight) at our house this week.

Fact: I have a bad nagging cold with a very annoying cough. It is also making me sort of crabby (sorry honey!)

Fact: Finally all of the Christmas decorations are up.

Fact: I was not very consistent in my working out this week. I blame my cold.

Fact: Smiley had an eye appointment yesterday. Man that girl has come a LONG way since last spring. Remember her eye crossing? How about her 20/40 vision (which was typical for her age) or her broken glasses.... more than once (I think in 4 months I used the warranty 2 times, not to mention the numerous times we went back for minor and major adjustments).
Do you remember her surgery last August. The fear of the unknown for me, wondering if we had made the right choice. Fearing that a mistake could be made.

Well, yesterday she flew through her eye exam, doing things she hadn't done before. You see before she couldn't see in 3D. Yesterday though, no problem. Before her eyes were crossed. Not yesterday, not.at.ALL. And before her vision was 20/40. Yesterday she tested at 20/25. Wow! What a difference a few months make!

Fact: Sassy had an enormous amount of homework last night. The most she has had in awhile. I love that she can sit, focus and get it done. That makes my job as a parent so much easier.

Fact: Action has been outside sledding and snowboarding well past dark (come on people, it gets dark before 5). He is loving the snow and the cold.

Fact: I'm typing this right now, at the kitchen table, in my comfy clothes and slippers, with no noise except for the spinning of the washing machine. But, that is all about to change. The pitter patter of little feet will soon be present. So I am off. Enjoy your Friday! Hoping to get the perfect Christmas card picture tomorrow. Wish me luck :)

The Tree

2011-12-07T22:05:00.001-06:00

The tree has been decorated.

And now we can just sit back and enjoy the warm glow from the lights.

40 Years and sort of a long post :)

2011-12-05T20:55:00.001-06:00

Thanksgiving, shopping, 60th surprise birthday party, basketball practices and games, church, and a surprise 40th anniversary party for my parents = a busy couple of weeks.

Thanksgiving was wonderful.

Shopping was uneventful.

The 6oth surprise birthday party was for my father-in-law and turned into a very late night 3am to be exact.

Action's basketball team won their first skills competition in basketball ~ must have to do with the coaching (yes, hubby is his coach ~ Ha!)

Sassy's basketball team lost their first game, but Sassy played some mighty good defense and ended up with 2 fouls and 1 illegal contact call.

The surprise 40th Anniversary party ~ well, that was for my parents!

40 years.

Remarkable.

Here's how it went down.....

Since myself and my 4 siblings are scattered about, we don't all get together very often at the same time. So we definitely knew if we could all make it that would be a surprise in and of itself.

My sister rented out a room at a great restaurant and started sneaking pictures from my parents house so she could create a slide show of their 40 years together.

I got the evites sent out. All of my Dad's brothers and his sister live quite a distance from my parents. 2 out of 3 said they were coming. Both my mom's brother, who lives out of state and sister (who lives minutes from my parents) as well as her 2 kids and their family/significant replied they would also be in attendance. Every thing was going perfectly.

I decided to make a replica of their wedding cake. Keep in mind their wedding cake was small :) Their actual wedding was small and intimate to begin with and made even smaller due to a December blizzard.

I made this "white wedding" (cupcakes) cake that I pinned on pinterest awhile ago as well as my favorite buttercream frosting ~ both I had also made for Smiley's 3rd birthday. They had a simple cake topper of a cross with intertwined rings which I recreated out of gum paste.

My friend E, who is simply fabulous came over on Friday to help me with the decorating. Ok, fine... she did basically all of the decorating. She's taken classes and is so good. I can honestly say I don't do much, if any piping and would just have made a mess of the cake!

We had one picture to go by. And it was a over flashed picture from the 70's (look for it at the end of this post). A little difficult so we just went with what we saw.

The day of the party arrived. A ice and snow storm had hit the area of my Uncle and one of my brothers and they were not able to make it. Bummer.

My other brother, his wife and sons, my sister, her husband and son, as well as my family met about a block away from my parents house. We gave all of the grandkids balloons, flowers and treats to carry up to the door and they piled into my vehicle. My parents thought my husband and I were coming back to town for my father in laws 60th b-day party (which had actually taken place the weekend before) so they were expecting us to swing by. When we pulled up all of the grandkids ran up to the door and yelled "Happy Anniversary" when my mom opened the door. To say the least my parents were surprised!

We hung out, decorated their house for Christmas and told them we had dinner reservations at 6:30.

Hubby and I left early ~ we had to get the cake there! AND everyone else was showing up at 6 to surprise them.

We got all set up and word came that my parents had arrived. We braced ourselves to surprise them. And that they were! My mom mentioned that there were probably more people there than had made it to their actual wedding due to the blizzard. (I'm not sure I believe her though, but it was probably close).

She thought the cake was beautiful and less crooked than the one they had at their wedding reception and mentioned we got the colors just right! I even made them cut the cake and exchange bites. :)

The slide show my sister had made was fabulous.

And the rest of the weekend was filled with laughter, family, memories and smiles ~ lots of smiles as we finally were able to get family pictures taken (another part of their surprise). We had not had family pictures taken since I was a sophomore in college and they were for the church directory.

Ugly.... very ugly! I can't wait to see the new ones!

Anyway, happy 40th to my parents!

Food, Family and a little puking.......

2011-12-01T06:41:00.000-06:00

Wow! I can't believe I haven't posted since last Monday! Sorry about that friends :)

We had a good but busy Thanksgiving. We traveled to my parents house as well as to my Hubby's parents house.
There was lots of family, food, laughs and shopping ~ and it you want too much info ~ lots of puking. BOO!

Sassy actually ended up getting sick on black friday. The poor girl had a very long afternoon. Luckily it seems the little bug that got her has avoided the rest of us :)

And we actually got a photo snapped of the family

~ it isn't perfect, but it's us non the less :)

New Again

2011-11-21T19:54:00.001-06:00

My Grandpa was an antique collector.

So much so that when he passed away, my family held a auction sale. 5 days one week. 1 more day a little while later.

I was a poor college student at the time, so I didn't have the opportunity to acquire much. I did however, get this chair

(it already had one seat recover ~ the covering it had when I purchased it, left something to be desired).

No, it isn't an expensive piece of furniture, but I love that it is a folding chair and while it probably was never in his house, it reminds me of my Grandpa whenever I walk past it.

Anyway, I was ready to give it another face lift.

I decided to paint it. However I didn't want to paint the metal folding brackets. Not that we fold it often, or ever really, but I didn't want them to chip if they did and I thought they created some interest. So first things first. I took it all apart ~ and said a little prayer that I would remember where all of the screws went so I could put it back together.

I wiped it down.

Sprayed it with a coat of Kiltz primer.

Then with a few coats of satin white spray paint.

Recovered the seat.

And miraculously put it back together!

However, once it was together ~ minus the seat, I felt like it was too bright.... too white.

So, I pulled out my sandpaper.

Roughed it up a bit, to give it some signs of wear and tear.

Then added a bit of stain for a little depth.

Voila ~ My old chair with a bit of a face lift:

I love it!

Smoothie Time

2011-11-16T21:15:00.001-06:00

After a really hard workout (a 797 calorie burn actually) I was needing a protein pick me up.

So, when we got home from the health club ~ it was a fruity smoothie for her

and a protein smoothie for me.

Mmmmm......

Pass or Fail?

2011-11-16T07:18:00.001-06:00

By now I assume all of you know what Pinterest is, so I'm not going to go into all of that.

I pinned this recipe (pinned here and original here) awhile ago, we tried it, and here's what we thought.

Tuscan Pasta with Tomato ~ Basil Cream

Ingredients:

1 20oz package refrigerated four cheese ravioli
1 16oz jar sun dried tomato Alfredo sauce
2 Tbsp white wine
2 med. sized fresh tomatoes, chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/3 c grated Parmesan cheese
Optional ~ garnish with strips of fresh basil

Directions:

1 Prepare pasta according to package directions.

2. Pour Alfredo sauce into a medium saucepan. Pour wine into sauce jar; cover tightly and shake well (gets all the yummy left over Alfredo sauce out of the jar), then pour into the saucepan. Str in tomatoes and basil. Cook over med-low heat until heated through.

3. Toss sauce with pasta and top evenly with grated parmesan cheese.

Sounds easy right?

It is, but how does it taste?

Delicious!

Tons of flavor. I will admit the 2 littlest of the house were not big fans ~ although they did eat it. But Hubby, Sassy and I all enjoyed it and in the end, it really is about me :) Ha!

I will definitely be remaking this one!

In the words of my friend ~ this Pin is a Pass!

Oh, and yes, my family loves it when I whip out the camera as we sit down to eat :)

Buried

2011-11-15T13:59:00.001-06:00

Yep, I'm buried in dirty clothes and responsibilities today.

Hopefully I'll have something insightful tomorrow!