3 Blondes and the Law

Every Penny Helps

2012-01-29T19:40:00.001-06:00

Every penny helps. We've probably all heard that for years. Well, for good reason. It's true!

This large beer stein sits on Lawman's dresser and catches all of our loose change. We've done this for years. Sometimes we cash it in for a special night out. Sometimes it goes toward a planned purchase. Sometimes it goes into savings. And, sometimes we have cashed it in before it's full. This time it's going into our vacation account as a little extra spending cash for our upcoming March trip. I'm cashing it in tomorrow because it's overflowing.

Any guesses on how much is in there? I'll let you know. **UPDATE** $140.00 in the change jar!

Do you save your change? How do you spend it?

i never thought i'd do this

2012-01-28T08:49:00.000-06:00

full disclosure this morning. that is my night stand. please don't judge.

i am a book girl. i'd say that's obvious considering the photo i just shared. i love books. is it possible to have a book addiction? if so, i probably need to attend book-lovers anonymous...

now here's another full disclosure statement. e-readers. i never thought i would want one. i always felt that there was something about holding a tangible book. turning the pages. the smell of fresh print. but i think i've changed my mind.

i've been researching e-readers for weeks now. i've settled on a kindle. i've been looking at the kindle touch and the kindle fire. i've heard good things about both from friends that have one or the other. the only downside i've heard is that the kindle fire may be more difficult to read on as it does not have a matte screen (so there is a glare depending upon the light).

there are many blog related books available in only an e-format. they'll never go to print. i would like to read them. there are also books for my book club that i think i would purchase in an e-format vs. print. i have purchased many of our book club books for reading and then they've remained in my personal collection yet they're not ones that i care to keep.

given the fact that i've been considering this purchase for 3 weeks now, i think it's safe to take the plunge. surely 21 days is long enough to contemplate, right? do you have a reader? i'd love to hear your feedback.

Mac & Cheese | No Blue Box

2012-01-21T14:57:00.001-06:00

Mac and cheese. It's synonymous with comfort food and kid favorite. In this house, it's also one of my go to meals when I'm pressed for time or realize at a late hour that I didn't plan ahead for dinner.

I grew up on mac and cheese from the blue box. That blue box was also a staple during my college days. As a newlywed, I finally realized what I'd been missing out on all those years!

A co-worker at the time, who happened to be a vegetarian, shared this recipe with me. This is the good stuff. I kid you not.

Munchie Mac & Cheese

4 T butter

1/4 onion, finely chopped

2 T flour

1/4 tsp dry mustard - - oops, I forgot this initially.

Salt, to taste (I use 1/2 tsp)

Pepper, to taste (I use 1/4 tsp)

1 1/2 c. milk

2 c. grated cheddar cheese

1 c. grated swiss cheese

2 c. (dry) macaroni, cooked

2 T bread crumbs*

Melt butter, stir in onions, and add flour. Stir until smooth. Add salt, pepper, and mustard. Slowly, add milk, and cheeses. Stir until thickened and bubbly. Place macaroni in a 13 x 9 glass dish; pour cheese over macaroni. (I typically reserve at least a half cup of the starchy water from the macaroni and add it here as needed until the dish is of the desired creamy consistency we prefer.) Sprinkle bread crumbs and a little extra cheese on top. Bake 15 minutes at 350. Serves 6 to 8.

*Sometimes I forego the bread crumbs and add french-fried onions (the kind that go with the classic green bean casserole). Or, if I want to get really fancy, we add crumbled bacon on top when serving.

Trust me when I say that your family will love you for making this!

not a typical monday

2012-01-16T14:59:00.000-06:00

it's 2:34pm as i sit here. usually i am at work, not home. change of schedule today brought to you by mlk day. first time in my working history that i've had today off. such a pleasure.

it's been a day of mixed blessings. we loaded alison's car this morning and sent her back to campus. we followed her into town (it's only 15 miles) and had lunch with her before she 'officially' left us again. as lawman and i were driving, we had a wonderful discussion about her, about us as parents. we are so very fortunate to have her as our daughter. she's got a good head on her shoulders. she has dreams. she has common sense. she has smarts. she has compassion.

this semester will be a different beginning for her. she's not a 'first time' college student anymore now that she's got a semester under her belt. she knows what is expected of her. what is required to succeed. she has a better understanding of time management skills. of balancing fun with responsibility. yet, it will continue to be a learning experience as she is faced with new challenges. what a wonderful time in her life. i pray that she be like a sponge and just soak it up.

so now it is quiet(er) again on the homefront. alison's bathroom has been cleaned. her sheets have been washed and are back on her bed awaiting her next visit. lawman is preparing to go to work. madison is not home from school yet. i am taking advantage of this time. a cup of hot tea, the computer, a book (which i saw here last week and prompted me to pull my copy out), and me.

i turned to january 16 in my book to read today's writing. i found it to be just what i need during this day of sending one of our own off and the changes we are going through once again.

"...-instinctively i turn to homegrown rituals to restore my equilibrium. there is an immediate emotional and psychological payoff to getting our houses in order. we might not be able to control what's happening externally in our lives but we can learn to look to our own inner resources for a sense of comfort that nurtures and sustains."

rhythm of life

2012-01-15T07:53:00.000-06:00

laundry, laundry and more laundry

it's been just over 4 weeks ago that she came home from college for the christmas break. it was an adjustment for all of us to have her here again, but one we were glad to be making. we had all fallen into new rhythms when we became a family of 3 living under this roof - - the little sister got used to not sharing a bathroom, or make-up, or hair products; i became accustomed to the basement always being picked up, fewer dishes to wash, less laundry to do, one less plate to set at the table for our meals.

within her first week home, we figured out how to operate as a family of four again. we fell into the old rhythms without much effort. now don't think it was completely natural because there were plenty of days where i'd hear little sister hollering at big sister because a certain hair product had disappeared and big sister accused little sister of raiding her closet because a particular shirt couldn't be found. sisterly love at it's finest, i tell ya!

i saw evidence of personal growth in our oldest girl. her world had gotten a little bigger over the last 4 months and her eyes had been opened a little wider. she learned that she's blessed. and that not everyone else is as fortunate as she is. she's met young adults from all walks of life. made lots of new friends. has been faced with making choices on her own which until now had been made by us, the parents. she learned that sometimes you can't always do the 'fun' stuff. sometimes you have to say no and be the girl that chooses to do homework v. a social function. sometimes you have to forego sleep to meet commitments.

i was sure that after a couple of weeks at home she'd be climbing the walls to get out. that she'd say it was 'boring' here at home. that she'd had enough of the family time and couldn't wait to get back to her own schedule which includes more social activities in a week than our calendar does in a month. to my pleasant surprise, that's not exactly what happened. her first 2 weeks at home were just that - - at home. time spent napping, catching up on tv shows, reading something other than text books, enjoying a full-access pass to a stocked fridge and pantry, and home-cooked meals. not once have i heard her say that 'she can't wait to go back.' it's been the opposite. she isn't ready to go back, to give up all the comforts of home again.

today is the last day of her break. tomorrow morning we will load her car and send her on her way back to campus. it will be like a lot of things in life - - the getting there is the hardest part. once she gets there she will be thrilled to be among her friends again, to once again have a whole new semester in front of her, to start with a clean slate, to meet more new people and to do some more growing into her own. and us, the ones left behind? well, we'll find our new rhythms too and we'll be counting the days until march when she'll be with us again for spring break.

beef. it's what's for dinner.

2012-01-10T19:50:00.000-06:00

and maybe breakfast and lunch too before all is said and done. our freezer is well stocked.

lawman picked up our beef today. 1/4th of a cow, grass fed, raised in the flint hills by my brother, the rancher. doesn't get much more local than that.

lawman says we're having steaks on the grill before the week is out.

this, that and other

2012-01-07T20:22:00.000-06:00

i've been absent from these parts for a long time but for good reason. the last 3 weeks have been filled with friends, family and lots of laughter. there's also been late mornings, late nights and lots of football. as of this week, routines are returning to normal, or near so anyway.

see that cup above? santa brought me two of those and i absolutely love them for drinking my tea. thinking i may have to get a couple more because i have a hard time keeping them clean so there is always one at the ready.

and reading? there's been plenty of that too by all of us. i have yet to read the book in the photo but i have read this and am currently reading this.

i spent new year's day giving the kitchen a good once-over. emptied out the pantry completely and threw away the food items that had expired or hadn't been touched in months (yes, it's embarrassing). and last week was a pantry challenge week around here whereby i used what we had. i should do that more often. it can be quite surprising how well you can eat when you force yourself to get creative. and, the family never once suspected. there was also an ulterior motive for cleaning out the freezer. we're getting 1/4 of a cow next week from my brother, the rancher. i can not wait to have beef in the freezer and know exactly where it came from. i grew up on grass-fed beef and believe me, when i was out on my own and had to start buying meat, it nearly killed me. not only was it expensive but i literally could taste a difference. so, the pantry challenge also stretched my grocery budget. i have about $140 more in my budget for the rest of the month.

the new year is always a time of resolutions and setting goals. did you make any? we've made one as a family - - running a 5k in march. there. now that the word is out, i will have to follow-thru because you can hold me accountable. i've been spending time at the gym because of it; 11 days out of the last 15 to be exact. and i ran for 13 consecutive minutes on thursday. my best so far. lawman has always told me running is mental, not physical. i'm beginning to think he might be right. we shall see.

this will be our last week to have alison home. college classes resume mid-january so she'll be returning to campus. i can see so much personal growth in her since august when she left. it truly is amazing!

well, let's call this a wrap and i hope to get here more often now that normal life is resuming.

2011-12-23T08:25:00.000-06:00

The Christmas Star

by Helen Steiner Rice

Give us eyes this Christmas

to see the Christmas star

And give us ears to hear the song of angels from afar,

And with our eyes and ears attuned

for a message from above,

Let Christmas angels speak to us

of hope and faith and love.

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

seasonal staples

2011-12-11T12:39:00.000-06:00

seasonal staples ~ onion, carrot, celery and garlic. as i was chopping and shredding them today for a pot of soup, i thought about how often they are the first things i gather when beginning meal prep, especially in the winter when we eat soup often.

i find something so comforting in a bowl of soup ~ the warmth, the aroma, the texture. the fact that my mother made soup often when i was growing up may have something to do with it as well.

i cherish soup season at our home. you see, i could eat soup every day but my family believes that unless the temp is 45 or below, it is not soup season. given that, i prepare it at least once a week during the winter. not only do they taste great but they go together quickly, you can easily substitute ingredients and they're an excellent dish to make when you need to clean out the fridge. a simple soup can become a great meal when you add a salad and fresh, baked bread.

here are links to some of our favorites:

bean & bacon soup

sausage & red bean stew

lentil soup

black bean soup

lasagna soup

other favorites include the basics like chili, white chili, taco soup, beef stew and chicken noodle. what is your family's favorite? and by all means, share the recipe.

signs of the season

2011-12-04T17:40:00.000-06:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at our home. Tree is up. Presents wrapped. And here are a few other signs of the season in our home. Keeping it simple and frugal.

wreaths to adorn the dining chairs

a hurricane filled with great northern beans and a burgundy candle

a fresh wreath provides the scent of pine

starlight mints fill a vase

Is it beginning to look like Christmas at your home?

In the Kitchen

2011-11-20T16:23:00.000-06:00

It's Thanksgiving week. Taking that into account, I'd say it's highly likely that the majority of folks will be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. I have another reason to be in the kitchen this week. The college girl is home!

Oh, yes she is! It is fall break for her so she gets a full week reprieve from classes. She has looked forward to this week with anticipation of sleep, down time and my food. I'm surprised how quickly one misses the comforts of home.

Now, here is the twist. She's decided to go vegetarian. Oh, yes she has. Not totally but she eats meat maybe 1x a week. The cafeteria where she eats has meatless options for every meal and honestly, I am quite proud of her for how well she has stuck to it. It's not an easy thing to go against the grain when you're young and among your peers. She's also been going to the rec 6x a week for classes.

When Alison decided she was going to do this, she happened to be home for the weekend. She accessed the cafeteria menu on-line and made a spreadsheet for her own weekly meal plan. It's helped her stick to it. Having a plan is always a good thing rather than just winging it.

So, now that she is home, I decided we'd all eat vegetarian this week with the exception of the big annual turkey meal. Easier for me as I have no intention of preparing 2 options for every meal.

Today there has been food prep. Chopping veggies for snacking. Baking Oatmeal Streusel Muffins for the week's breakfast. Baking cookies to fill the cookie jar (because the youngest girl will be home more this week too and this is where she goes first for a snack!). I did this yesterday in hopes of simplifying breakfast for the week. What a great idea! Italian Herb Bread is baking in the oven. And soon I will begin the pot of soup for dinner. And then on Wednesday there will be another onslaught of time in the kitchen with baking of pies and all of the other turkey day fixings.

Without further ado, here is our menu for the week:
Sunday: Minestrone Soup,Italian Herb Bread
Monday: Pasta Primavera
Tuesday: Garden Burgers, Pea Salad, Chips
Wednesday: Rice and Salmon Pilaf (new recipe), Veggies
Thursday: Thanksgiving Meal
Friday: Leftovers / Turkey Nachos
Saturday: Penne & Vodka Sauce (new recipe), Salad

Enjoy your week and count your blessings. HAPPY THANKSGIVING Y'ALL!

new shoes, new shoes

2011-11-13T21:38:00.000-06:00

i celebrated a birthday just over a week ago. no milestone, just another year older. in-laws sent birthday cash. mom-in-law said to buy something with it i normally wouldn't buy for myself. i told her i planned to buy some dressy boots. something i could wear with skirts/dresses for work, church or play. she agreed that sounded like a good idea.

took the girls to the mall with me today to help me shop. found the boots w/out much effort. good sale + coupon = more birthday cash left to spend.

next mission was a pair of brown shoes i could wear to work with my dress slacks. saw the shoe above in brown and had to try it on. no brown in my size so they suggested i try on the black pair and if i liked them they would be able to order them in.

oh.my.word. put my foot in and it was as if i was walking on a pillow. decided i could easily use black rather than brown so i bought them with the idea that if they feel as good after a full day on my feet as they did when i tried them on, i will be back to order them in brown too.

now all the birthday cash is gone but i've got new shoes, new shoes!

since the clock has changed

2011-11-10T20:26:00.000-06:00

since moving our clocks back, my motivation has dwindled. happens every year. if it's dark when i get home from work, i want to put on my lounge pants, whether they be of flannel or yoga variety, and do nothing. there's something about driving home with lights on at 5pm that leaves me with no energy. when it's dark, my body feels as if the day is done.

my evening routine changes with the changing of the clocks. more reading. more hot tea or cocoa. in the last few weeks i have read the hunger games series (loved it!). now i am anxiously awaiting the movie release in the spring. another book i've read is crooked letter, crooked letter (a selection for my book club). a page turner of a mystery. if you've not read them, i recommend you add them to your list. started this book last night; it's gonna suck me in too.

candy man

2011-10-31T20:22:00.000-05:00

a perfect night for ghosts and ghouls.

everyone was out thanks to a temp of 60 early in the evening.

neighborhood was full.

165 pieces of candy and i wondered if we'd have enough.

it was, but barely. a friend brought her extra over to reload our bowl.

lawman had fun. even heard the scarey laugh several times.

Necessity...The Mother of Invention

2011-10-26T18:09:00.000-05:00

Isn't that the way the saying goes? Necessity is the mother of all invention.

Case in point: tonight's dinner.

I thought I had planned...Tonight's menu was a Salmon and Scalloped Potato Bake. I failed to pull the chopped spinach from the freezer this morning. Substitution: fresh spinach, sauteed in a bit of olive oil. I thought I bought a box of Betty Crocker Sour Cream & Chive Potatoes (please, don't judge). Turns out they were mashed. Substitution: shredded potatoes. Since I didn't have the boxed potatoes, I also didn't have the sauce. Substitution: a homemade Bechamel sauce.

What choice does a working mother have besides get creative? Sure I could have ordered take-out but I try hard to avoid that. Don't get me wrong, we do take out, but we try to plan for it.

The end result is in the oven baking right now. I'll let you know the results. My guess is that it will be better than the original recipe.

Have you had a similar situation in your kitchen? Did it force you to get creative? Was the end result better or worse?

my redemption meal

2011-10-10T19:03:00.000-05:00

monday night dinner

I have this fabulous assistant in my kitchen. Her name is Crock Pot. She's amazing! I was glad she cooked for us today ~ roast, potatoes, and carrots. So good and oh my, the house smelled amazing.

I was out of town this weekend at a trade show for work. I failed to plan for weekend meals for the family. They were on their own. I did find remnants of take-out in the trash when I got home. I felt bad for not having home cooked meals available in the fridge/freezer for them but like Lawman says, "we'll survive." And, they did but I felt like I needed to redeem myself. And how do I do that? Well, in my mind the answer is to make an unusually good meal for a Monday night which I did (see photo above). I made dessert too - homemade apple pie with caramel ice cream for topping. I do believe I've made up for my weekend absence.

There's a menu plan of entrees for the week too ~ salmon burgers ~ winter spinach salad* ~ noodles chicken divan ~ mexican chicken skillet* ~ salmon & potato scallop. (* denotes new recipes)

Tomorrow evening, Lawman and I are going to the movies with a church group. The church is taking all of the law enforcement folks to dinner and then to see the movie "Courageous." Anyone seen it? I've heard good things about it.

I've been finding myself reading more lately. That happens when the light fades earlier and the temps cool. I've read 2 fabulous books in the last week. I hope to be back soon to share them with you. Are you reading anything you'd recommend? If so, please share.

If you cook, they will come

2011-09-21T21:00:00.000-05:00

KSU Girls

This was the scene in our kitchen last night. 6 college girls. Alison (at right) brought 5 girls home for dinner.

I can't tell you how much fun I had with them (Lawman enjoyed it too). They were an absolute joy! Sweet, kind, appreciative and fun. I didn't get a word in edgewise but it sure was fun to be the fly on the wall.

As soon as they walked in I heard, "It smells so good." and "I can't wait to have a home cooked meal." Funny...it doesn't take long to appreciate homemade.

It's tradition in our family to pray before a meal. Lawman shared our tradition with them, prayed and 2 of them said they did that in their family too.

Near the end of the meal, Lawman said, "We didn't make dessert." I said I had homemade snickerdoodles in the cookie jar and vanilla ice cream. One of the girls said, "You have a cookie jar?" Lawman got it and placed it on the table. She couldn't believe someone actually had a cookie jar, let alone fill it with homemade treats. The cookie jar is nearly empty. 'Nuf said.

When dinner was done, they asked when they could come back. I assured them that they could come any time they wanted. They suggested it become a monthly tradition. Works for me. (Lawman and I had already had that discussion before they even arrived and we hoped it would work out this way.)

If I cook, they will come. Actually, I'd consider it quite an honor to be their surrogate mama.

(sorry for the poor quality photo. it was last minute with a cell phone.)

all in a weekend

2011-09-18T15:56:00.001-05:00

** fresh baked snickerdoodles to fill the cookie jar **

** family day at ksu - tailgating & football **

** meeting alison's new friends and their families **

** madison's first sleepover at the dorm with her big sis **

** reuniting with a college friend **

** a well-stocked pantry **

** rain **

This & That

2011-09-15T20:14:00.000-05:00

Just a few odds and ends to share with you:

Watched a very interesting show this evening called Supermarkets Inc. Definitely provides some food for thought before that next shopping trip. Also makes me wish I was in a different line of work. I'd love to go to the annual NGA Showcase.

The first pot of soup of the season was simmering on the stove this evening ~ Chicken Barley Chili. Couldn't wait for that first bowl. It was so worth it. No salt in the recipe; only seasoning was salsa, chili powder and cumin. So, so good! Here's the recipe if you're interested; it's on the back of the Quaker Barley box.

AND....it is possible to swallow a quarter. Yes, a QUARTER! Our oldest, swallowed one last night. Her roomie put it in her soda, unbeknownst to her. She guzzled the last bit and got the quarter too. I'm not kidding. I couldn't make this up! This is the kind of stuff that happens when they're little, not at 18. I called the doctor's office. They said that most likely it will pass but if she experiences vomitting, cramping or stops pooping to come in! Stops pooping? No kidding! Even I would know that!

Family Photos in the Park

2011-09-07T19:54:00.000-05:00

I am one of the lucky moms. The girls requested family photos. I've heard many moms say that getting their family to agree to photos is worse than pulling teeth. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that there are only girl children in this house. The girls thought that a family/sister photo shoot was in order before Alison moved to college. I have to admit that it was a very good idea.

Timing wasn't ideal. It was the day after we returned home from vacation. We were tired. I was tired and I look tired in these photos. Why is it that I can look at myself in the mirror every day but not see the lines around the eyes? Oh, my, they are so evident in these images. I'm looking for a good wrinkle cream that comes in a 5 gallon bucket. Any recommendations? But, we crossed it off the list and we ended up with some very good results. I'm pleased. We all are. Here's a glimpse.

2011-08-27T09:19:00.000-05:00

Long Lake, WA

i'm back! i've ignored this little place all month. honestly, it's been kind of nice.

it's been a very busy month for us - - vacation, moving alison to college, back-to-school for madison and 2 weeks of training in virginia for lawman. for me, that has meant lots of organization has been required in order to get everyone where they needed to go, with all that they needed, and in a timely fashion.

shall we get you up to speed? vacation was a week in and near spokane, wa visiting family - - parents & siblings. we loved that we got to spend 4 nights with lawman's sister. she and her family live on long lake. what a beautiful place. lots of good times were had, memories made and plans to get together again.

when we returned home, we had just one week to finish preparing to move alison to college. what a lot of work! a blog friend told me months ago that it would take $500 to get her into her dorm room. she wasn't kidding! thank heavens for coupons for bed bath & beyond. i've become a frequent customer! as a matter of fact, i'll be going there today with alison for what i hope to be one last purchase for dorm decorating items!

alison is happy as a clam with campus life! she went through sorority recruitment and pledged a house. she's got a great roommate and absolutely loves her suitemates; it's as if they've been friends their whole life! and, one of them pledged the same house she did so they will now be sister's forever. the one drawback to college life is that lawman and i have been bleeding money for 2 weeks! someone get a band-aid! for all you moms/dads out there who plan to send kids to college someday, plan early otherwise you will find yourself stressed to the hilt and your student saddled in debt. not good. (that is not the situation we are in; thank heavens!)

madison is back at the high school and so far so good. she's looking forward to football season, which officially begins next friday evening, and performing at half-time with the dance team. they've got some new uniform pieces and hair accessories which are very, very cute! she does miss her sister though. i knew that would be a big adjustment but they've been quite good about keeping in touch via texting! it's great to have such an easy way to keep in touch with the college girl.

lawman is in virginia for 2 weeks for training. what an experience! earthquake early this week and a text from him early this morning said "it's here!," meaning hurriane irene had made her presence. he's currently in lockdown until tomorrow. hope everyone weathers the storm out safely.

as for me, i've been busy just trying to keep all my ducks in a row. i have been sure to allow myself some time in the evening for reading. i so need that.

hope you're all doing well and i'll try to keep this spot a little more current in the coming weeks.

vacation

2011-08-01T07:42:00.000-05:00

vacation: having nothing to do and all day to do it in.

See you all later.

down by the river

2011-07-28T19:37:00.000-05:00

the first annual kawnivore came through our town last friday evening. what is a kawnivore you ask? well, basically it's a 100 mile boat race which begins on the kaw river in manhattan, ks and ends on the kansas river in lawrence, ks. we had never heard of such a thing and decided we'd venture down to the river to check it out. the launch was at 5:30pm and the first boat appeared at our river bridge about 8pm. over 120 boats were registered and it was estimated that it would take 22-28 hours to complete the race. i'd be up for a day trip but no way would i want to spend the night on the river. these people are serious! and crazy!

friday night at the river for the 1st annual kawnivore boat race

lots of onlookers

the clipper, a.k.a. the party barge of the evening. this would be my boat of choice!

and how about a little girl power? i cheered for these ladies as they came through.

these guys were the first ones to make the pit stop...it was obvious that this wasn't their first rodeo. they had a system and they were fast!

fresh

2011-07-17T14:10:00.001-05:00

fresh. that's how we're eating these days because it's just too hot to cook. period. we've had temps over 100 and heat index in the 110's+ for several days it looks like it's not changing anytime soon. lawman worked outside yesterday and his superior required he take breaks every 10 minutes. yes, it's that hot. madison is lifeguarding this summer; she's got zero energy when she gets home after 6 hours of guarding. fortunately they take breaks regularly and she's a water drinker and a sunscreen user.

due to the dog days of summer, i've lost my mojo in the kitchen. it's hard to find inspiration when it's too hot to cook or eat yet the others in the house expect to find something available in the fridge or the pantry. i was diligent yesterday about creating a menu and a shopping list. it's been weeks since i've made a true menu plan and i can honestly say that i'm looking forward to this week because i did one! i'm going to utilize the grill, microwave and stovetop.

here's what's on the plan, and in no particular order:

mac & cheese with ham, sugar snap peas
spicy italians (homemade but made like subway), hot spinach dip with tortilla chips
taco salad
fried rice with egg rolls (ok, i lied - - these are frozen so i'll have to use the oven)
italian beef in tortillas, fruit
pork rice bowls with asparagus
BLT's with avocado, green salad, fruit
grilled chicken with santa fe salad
caesar salad with grilled chicken
homemade pizza (which i think we will try on the grill)
other things i've made/prepped today so they're at the ready ~ homemade limeade, fresh salsa (hence the reason for the photo of the cilantro & lime), no bake cookie bars, sliced strawberries and grapes.

yesterday as i was preparing my grocery list i tallied up my food expenses for may and june. holy cow! anyone else seen a spike in the $ spent on food? granted, we had 2 graduation parties in may that added to the increase plus 2 june birthdays and 2 x we hosted friends. i also realize that having the girls home and not at school adds to the expense however, i will say that both have been diligent about packing a lunch/snack when needed according to their work schedule. both may and june were near the $600 mark and i typically try to maintain a $450 grocery budget. i've seen the new prices on the shelf labels at the grocery store so i know i'm not the only one spending more to feed the family. i'm going to have to be diligent this month to get this back under control. i think i'll go back through and re-visit my monthly food expenditure since the beginning of the year to see if the trend began before summer. are you seeing the same trend in your grocery bill?

beauty in your every day

2011-07-12T19:39:00.000-05:00

Find the beauty in your every day. Do you? It's so easy to put the blinders on and just go, go, go, causing us to miss so much. Today, I paused a moment on the way home. Take a look below.

It's been hot as blue blazes here. Literally. Sunday, just 35 miles east of us the heat index was 120 degrees. Fortunately, here, we were a mere 112. Due to the intense heat, it's not unusual to have a few storms pop-up. That's what happened today. I spotted this on my way home from work. Such a cool sight. Just like a giant mushroom.

Find the beauty in your every day.

small town celebration

2011-07-05T11:54:00.001-05:00

yesterday was a day of celebration. the whole 3 day weekend was actually. i was wishing for another day off today to recover. no such luck.

we live in a small town. population at just over 5,000. on july 4, our population more than doubles due to the very large celebration that our town hosts each year. more than 10,000 come from miles around to watch the fireworks display. it's amazing! our pyro crew rocks!

before the fireworks begin, we also have a parade. everything from military, local government officials, community band, floats, horses and of course, the old cars. lawman and i were in an old car this year. not just any old car, but my dad's 1929 model a roadster. he was a collector, my dad. he had 4 antique vehicles; one for each of us kids. this one is mine.

dad loved parades. he was in his local rodeo parade for years. this car carried the grand marshal and dad was the chauffer. the year that dad was the grand marshal, i got to be the chauffer. since dad isn't with us any longer, lawman and i thought it would be fitting if we drive the car in our local parade as a tribute to dad. lawman has taken quite an affection to this old girl. he and a local have worked on her over the past 2-3 months to make sure she was ready to go this year. fortunately, she was and she ran like a charm.

dad, i saw you smiling down on us yesterday.

2011-06-30T12:37:00.000-05:00

i'm pretty sure i mentioned that lawman and i were taking a little vacation due to the fact that our girls were out of town this week. the above is a picture of how we ended the week. perfect in my opinion.

by the end of our 3rd day we realized that after 20 years of marriage and 18+ years of parenting, we still like each other. you may laugh but i've heard of too many couples that once the kids are out of the house, they have no idea how to interact with each other. lawman and i are gonna do just fine.

i'll share more details later. for now, it's back to the grindstone.

the days of summer

2011-06-23T20:21:00.000-05:00

we've been living the big life. or should i say busy life. big or busy, who cares? it's been good.

it is now official that our oldest is a college student as she and i spent saturday on campus for orientation and enrollment. quite the milestone. for both of us. it was a good day and she would have been happy to stay on campus, i do believe. she's excited to move and i, surprisingly, feel quite good about what lies ahead of us. guess that means that lawman and i are about to reap the rewards for the last 18 years of parenting that girl. she's a smart girl with a good head on her shoulders.

in other news....

the oldest is headed to florida on monday for a national competition she and 2 teammates qualified for through a business class they took;
the youngest is headed to dance camp on monday too;
that would mean that lawman and i will be kid free for the week!
and because of that, we're planning to take a 3-day staycation and do something(s) fun;

so why the taco salad photo? well, i made it this evening. after dinner. thinking ahead so i don't have to cook tomorrow night after work. it's been a long week and i'm ready to kick my feet up. i do find that making dinner (or other dishes) ahead like that keeps me away from the drive-thru. i don't 'dress' the salad so that each person can do their own -- some like ranch, some like salsa & sour cream, some like catalina. i added black beans in order to stretch it so i can get lunch on saturday out of it too. add some crushed tortilla chips to it too for that crunch factor.

hoping this finds you all enjoy the days of summer. they're never 'lazy' around here but it's summer none-the-less and i quite like it!

how did i not notice?

2011-06-14T12:57:00.000-05:00

sunday morning i made muffins. chocolate chip to be exact. a favorite of two girls that live in my home.

how did i not notice? i added each ingredient. i followed directions. i baked. it wasn't until i sat down to eat that i realized there was no sugar in the recipe. none. no brown, no white. no honey. really? only the sweetness of the chocolate chips.

no one else noticed or at least i assume they didn't because they didn't say a word. they just enjoyed them. all gone.

just add water

2011-06-12T20:19:00.000-05:00

2011 is her tenth year on this team, year twelve for our family.

summer would not be complete without it.

it's done more for her than improve her swimming skills.

she's fallen in love with a sport that she can do her entire life. it will keep her fit. healthy.

it has built her confidence. she must rely on herself. it's her time that matters.

yet, she's part of a team. something bigger than herself. others rely on her.

she has built bonds with kids that she might not have otherwise. same for our family.

a birthday treat

2011-06-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

celebrating 15 years

having to work on your birthday (for the first time)

thinking no one will remember

a little planning on my part

ssshh

Surprise!

Lawman and I picked up the birthday girl from work at 9:15 tonight. Little did she know that her 2 BFF's were in the backseat. It was so worth it just to hear her squeal when they yelled 'surprise!' One quick stop to pick up big sis and her friend and we were off for a surprise birthday treat. Orangeleaf frozen yogurt ~ have you tried? (Oh, the brownie batter and chocolate cookies & cream are to die for.) Singing happy birthday to her on the sidewalk. Trying to get a candle to stay lit in the Kansas wind. Seeing her smile. Hearing her laugh. Those were the gifts I received today.

On the way home, it was quiet in the front seat. Lawman asked, "what are you thinking?" I said, "nothing. just listening to the girls in the backseat." He asked, "what do you hear?" My reply...."happy girls."

new kind of crazy

2011-06-05T17:46:00.001-05:00

I T's C R A Z Y H E R E!

summer has arrived. in full force. with it comes a new kind of crazy.

this is the first summer that both girls have jobs. it's a logistical nightmare. for the past 2 summers, the oldest has been the taxi service. that isn't an option this summer. she's got a part-time job on the university campus, a nanny job 2-3 afternoons a week, and still works friday nights and weekends at gymnastics. this week she's got 3 days that are 11 hour days. that's crazy! but she's thrilled with it and anticipating that first 'big' paycheck.

the youngest turns 15 tomorrow. she's got a job as lifeguard at the city pool this year and she will continue to teach gymnastic classes to preschoolers. i never thought i'd say it but it will be a blessing that she'll be able to drive herself to/from work. (it will also add stress as i will worry about her being on the road.) add swim team to her schedule with daily, early morning practice times and meets on wednesdays. and dance team. did i mention that? 2 evening practices per week. see what i mean by crazy?

i will live & die by my calendar this summer. it's the only way that i'll be able to track where everyone is. it's also going to force us to schedule 'family time.' first scheduled family time is thursday night; we'll be going out to celebrate birthdays. lawman gets to add another year this week too.

take a moment

2011-05-30T07:36:00.000-05:00

today, take a moment to remember ~ those that have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, for our freedom ~ their family members that have also sacrificed ~ the family and loved ones that are no longer with us.

Remembering is painful, it's difficult, but it can be inspiring and it can give wisdom.

Paul Greengrass

grad day

2011-05-23T08:09:00.000-05:00

Here she comes...

A proud moment.

Look at that smile!

BFF's as long as we can remember

The end of a big day...

we've still got to eat

2011-05-10T20:33:00.000-05:00

Pork Lettuce Wraps

Hello? Hello? Anyone still here?

It's been weeks since I've been here. Sorry for my long absence. I don't even want to tell you how busy we've been with the first of the graduation parties just days away and we're only 12 days shy of the big event. I can tell you that I've been performing duties of a party planner, scholarship coordinator, personal assistant, graphic designer, decorator, and caterer, not to mention my regular duties as mom.

Given what's on my calendar, I did make sure to menu plan this last weekend prior to my trip to the grocery store this weekend. No matter how full the calendar is, we've still got to eat. I knew that if I didn't plan, I would fail and that would mean carry out, pizza delivery and me being unhappy with myself for allowing it to happen.

I haven't shared a menu plan in ages. Here's what I planned for:
Spicy Italians (our homemade version of the Subway sandwich), Pea Salad, Chips
Baked Tilapia, Spinach & Rice Casserole, Steamed Green Beans
Salmon Burgers, Oven Fries
Ham & Cheese Pie, Steamed Broccoli
Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas, Saffron Rice, Guacamole Salad
Asian Wild Rice Salad
Pork Lettuce Wraps, Couscous, Mandarin Oranges
Breakfast for Dinner - Sausage Brunch Squares, Hashbrowns, Fruit
Pork & Asparagus Rice Bowls

The Pork Lettuce Wraps pictured above are a favorite of mine and Madison. They come together quickly and have a bit of a kick to them. I like to serve them with couscous and either mandarin oranges or pineapple to cool the taste buds. The original recipe appeared in this book but I've modified it, which is the version I will be sharing.

Pork Lettuce Wraps
1lb. ground pork
1 tsp. vegetable oil
2 T rice wine vinegar
2 T teriyaki sauce
2 T soy sauce
2 T honey
1 T Thai chili garlic paste
1 tsp cornstarch
2 c. shredded carrots
1/2 c. chopped onion
1 head butter lettuce, washed and separated

Heat oil in skillet. Brown pork. Drain any fat/juice in the pan.

Whisk together vinegar and next 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Add vinegar mixture, carrots, and onions to pork. Cook 3 minutes or until mixture thickens slightly, stirring often.

Spoon mixture onto lettuce leaves; roll up.

just add a lamp

2011-04-23T19:48:00.000-05:00

Remember when I told you we had a grad party to plan for? Well, that's what we've been doing since then. The once, very lengthy list is now nearly complete. We have accomplished so much since last fall. I can't imagine how overwhelmed I would be at this point had we not started then.

Here's the latest re-do.

Sue moved this desk into the kitchen and suggested that we use it as a buffet area when entertaining. What an easy way to gain counter space. She also suggested we add a lamp to add some interest and soft lighting. I've always wanted a lamp in the kitchen so I was quite pleased when Sue (our neighbor/decorator) suggested I get one. I spent my lunch hours last week on a lamp hunt. I found this one the first day out but wanted to be sure it was the best choice. I purchased it today (and it had been marked down to clearance since I looked at it!). Once home with it, I placed it in the corner and it didn't take long to realize that I liked it. This is our little 'Americana' nook ~ the Declaration of Independence, a 48 star flag, and our rooster with flag wings.

I'm anxious to see it this evening with the blinds drawn and the overhead lights off. I love the soft glow of lamps. I'm surprised what a big difference one small addition to a room can make. I feel like we've got a whole new dining area.

I'll plan to show you the other 'like new' spots in our house. Stay tuned.

prom 2011

2011-04-19T16:27:00.000-05:00

Lawman and his girls

Me and my babies

the blondes and their dates

oh, that was funny

the whole gang

what a day! saturday was prom. the dresses, the shoes, the nails, the hair....holy cow.

the day began cold and dreary but by early afternoon we had sun and beautiful temps. a perfect day to meet in the park for photos.

the colors this year were luscious. i told another mom that the park looked like a dessert table that someone had dumped sprinkles all over. another mom said it was like an easter basket. they were beautiful! all of them.

lawman and i are still recovering. these old bodies can't handle late nights like they used to. after prom, lawman and i provided the 'security' for the after prom party at the school. lots of games, singing, wii dance party, laser tag and inflatables. at 3am the party ended or should i say, moved? yes, moved. to our house. i made breakfast for the prom goers - - waffles, bacon, sausage brunch bites. our goal was to have our heads on our pillows by 5am. we managed to beat our goal by 30 minutes and we slept til morning was almost gone. i still haven't made up my sleep time...zzzzz.

fine...call me a brand snob

2011-04-13T21:21:00.000-05:00

isn't there a saying that says something about doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? well, that would apply to me when it comes to dishwasher detergent. i've tried other brands before and i've been less than satisfied so why, oh why, did i do it again?

our town has hard water. terribly hard water. it will do a number on your dishes as in leaving a film on them. the only thing i have found that combats it is cascade dishwasher detergent. i've used it ever since i came to the realization that no other detergent works nearly as well. like 12 years or more.

so why, in a moment of weakness did i buy a less expensive brand? why? to save a couple of bucks? well, yes. do i regret it? yes. most definitely. i'm nearly to the bottom of the less expensive brand and i can not wait to be done with it. so much so that i have been contemplating throwing it away all week just so i can get my clean and shiny dishes back. what's holding me back? well, the fact that it's like throwing money away. and the fact that no one else in the house has even noticed that the dishes don't look near as good as they used to.

so from now on, i'm going to consider myself a brand snob when it comes to dishwasher detergent. i'm only buying cascade. that's it. no bargain brands for me. i don't care how good the deal is.

i'm also a brand snob when it comes to diet coke. nothing else will do. i'm sure there are other things too but i'm not going to share too much for fear of what you might think of me.

then and now

2011-04-04T11:48:00.000-05:00

then

and now

it happens right in front of our eyes. so how is it that we can be caught off guard by how grown-up they are?

today it becomes official. i now have an adult daughter. she is 18 today. this year has been full of bittersweet moments. lots of firsts. lots of lasts. and lots of good.

god gave us an abundance of blessings on the day she entered our family. for that i am grateful each and every day.

happy birthday, darling daughter! you've been my daily dose of sunshine for 18 years.

good news

2011-04-03T15:28:00.000-05:00

The weekend began on a very good note. Alison's team qualified for Nationals at the State FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) conference on Friday. They took 2nd place in the State in the Business Plan category. Next stop...Orlando for 3 days in July. I'm going to volunteer to go with her!

In other news:

Beautiful weather. Lots of sun and temps in the 80's. All. Weekend. Long. It's been a long-time coming.

Long walks both days with my neighbor gal. 1 hour on Saturday. 2 hours on Sunday which was a little much considering that we didn't take water bottles or put on sunscreen. Oops.

Movie night with girlfriends on Friday. Complete with popcorn and pomtini's.

Birthday cake baked and ready for tomorrow's celebration. Somebody is reaching a milestone. #18.

Graduation invitations are going out in the mail tomorrow.

all fired up

2011-03-23T18:57:00.000-05:00

it has felt like spring this past week. what better reason to fire up the grill? there's something about that first meal of the season prepared on the grill. it tastes sooo good. must be something to do with the absence of that fresh grilled taste during the winter months.

tonight it was chicken fajitas. last week it was bratwurst, steak (a splurge) and chicken. that slotted grill pan my veggies are on? i heart it. one of my favorite pieces of kitchen equipment during the warm weather months.

and speaking of warm weather months...i've already started a mental list of meals for the grill or the microwave. i'm loving the warm days of spring but before long it will be the hot days of summer and i won't want to heat up the house.

got your grill fired up yet? hope you're enjoying the early days of spring wherever you are.

a blank canvas

2011-03-20T19:39:00.000-05:00

a blank canvas

i'm an artist. the kitchen is my studio. food is my media.

it used to be that sunday night meant homemade pizza. every week. not sure where we got out of routine but we found it again tonight.

pizza dough can become anything you want it to be. tonight it became a taco pizza by way of using up leftovers from a nacho bar. i added salsa in lieu of typical pizza sauce, taco meat, sliced black olives, sliced peppers and a blend of cheeses. the second disc became a typical pepperoni pizza. just enough left for one lunch tomorrow. or breakfast.

quality time

2011-03-08T21:52:00.002-06:00

it's about quality, not quantity.

we've all heard that before. seems that has become the story of my life since i have 2 teenage daughters.

as the girls have gotten older, especially since starting high school, it's become increasingly difficult to have "family time." they've got their own schedules with early morning weights class, part-time jobs, baby-sitting and a social agenda that would make your head spin. they're perfectly happy with where they are at. it's me that has had to adjust or as they would tell me, "deal, mom."

i've discovered we can pack a lot into little pockets of time. sunday night while dinner was simmering on the stove, it was a 15 minute game of uno and a movie after dinner. monday, the first time we were all together was at the dinner table. we laughed so hard we nearly choked on our food or spewed it at our neighbor. now, what's not quality about that?!

it's all about what we do when we are together ~ whether it be 30 minutes or 3 hours, if i can get a bit of quality time with my girls each day, it's a success. and, i'm happy.

because they're worth it.

2011-02-25T16:38:00.000-06:00

i hate to say it but i will. we've been busy. just like everyone else. no way around it either. we've been busy with things that i don't feel like i can just say no to. i know a certain someone in my family would say that i'm busy by choice. well that may be but that choice started long ago. with children.

this week we had ballgames on monday and tuesday. i don't have a girl that plays ball but i have a girl that dances at half-time for our entertainment. now you know why i spend hours each week sitting on gymnasium bleachers. might i add that they are highly uncomfortable and my bum hurts because of it.

wednesday was a fun day. our oldest girl accepted a scholarship for college. all day event. well worth it. wouldn't have missed it for the world.

wednesday night - book club with my girl friends. again, totally worth it. sometimes i crave that literary stimulation.

yesterday was a blessing. major snow storm. school released early. ballgame cancelled. an answer to my prayers. i was home last night. first meal i cooked in days and my youngest helped me in the kitchen. best part was that she chose to help, i didn't ask. we made comfort food; biscuits and gravy.

let me just keep it real here and say that because we've been on the go constantly from sun-up to well past sun-down, we've eaten less than quality meals over the course of a week or more. and it shows in the way i'm feeling and in what the scale says. we'll get back on track next week.

tonight is about me. a hair appointment immediately after work. cut & color. because i'm worth it and i need to hide the gray. again, totally worth it. it's been over 18 months since my last color. enough said.

tomorrow is about them. the girls. an entire day blocked out for prom dress shopping with 3 friends and 2 other moms. again, i know it will be totally worth it. a memory maker.

sunday is supposed to be a day of rest. however, given the above, it will be a day of work around our home. groceries. laundry. and the usual cleaning. the house is a wreck. it looks like we've been gone every day and every night. deal with it. i put my blinders on and smile.

the last couple of weeks haven't been ideal but i know it's only a phase. i chose to be a parent and i am choosing to be involved. if my house is messy and we don't eat the best meals for a few days, so be it. that's what happens when 2 working parents decide to be involved. we deal with it. make the most of it and move on. because they're worth it. and they'll be movin' on before we know it.

a shining jewel

2011-02-18T08:42:00.001-06:00

hello all. it's been days since i've been here. guess you could say i've been missing in action. trust me when i tell you my lack of attention to this blog is not because i'm soaking up the sun on a sandy beach nor am i holed up at home eating bon bons. i've been busy with responsibilities -- mothering / wife-ing / working.

last week was homecoming week at the high school. i'm proud to say that our alison was a candidate (she's the 4th girl from the left in the photo above). she had a wonderful week full of extra activities and the best part was that her escort (she's on his back) is also one of her best friends. those two have been tight since the later part of their elementary years. he lives about 2 blocks from us and i remember the days he'd walk her home from school, come inside for a drink and a snack and then they'd go sit on the front porch or deck so they could talk without me or little sister listening. they've maintained that close-knit friendship. his mother and i hope they continue to stay close even after graduation in may.

and speaking of graduation.....oh, people. so much to do and so little time. right now we're in the thick of scholarship applications and financial aid forms. i did our taxes last weekend to facilitate getting the financial aid end of things done. the fafsa is at the top of my to do list for tomorrow. ugh. and scholarship applications? really, someone could make this a business. they could gather all of a students information and then complete the apps and write the essays for them. do you know how many scholarships are available? thousands, i tell ya. i'm hoping we're able to secure several to defer some of the cost of that freshman year on campus. it ain't a cheap ticket.

i could go on and on but in a nutshell this is the latest news from here. and the results of homecoming? her peers didn't give her a crown but she's a shining jewel to us every day! love that girl. don't know how i'm going to adjust when she leaves home in august.

the party's over and i'm left with a food hangover

2011-02-09T18:10:00.001-06:00

It's probably a good thing that a refrigerator can't talk. If mine could, it would be screaming right now about all the leftovers and soda the crazy lady shoved in there.

The problem stems from hosting a Super Bowl party. It was a big deal here this year. We hosted 10 adults and 16 teenagers for the Packers v. Steelers showdown. And, I might add that everyone was cheering for the Packers, especially Jordy Nelson who was sporting jersey #87. He played college ball here at KSU and grew up not very much further north. He's what you could call a local celebrity.

It's pretty obvious that we had plenty of food & drink and that we had lots leftover. The good thing about all those leftovers is that it's been an easy week for me in the kitchen thus far since I've been diligent about using up what we have. So far we've had pizza from Papa Murphy's (and we gave one away), pulled pork on buns, oriental slaw, chips & dip, veggies & dip. Tonight is the most cooking I've done all week -- a box of Zatarain's Jumbalaya and to it I've added the leftover summer sausage, peppers and onions. We'll be eating leftover buns with butter on the side tonight. Tomorrow I may actually have to start from scratch for meal prep.

snow day

2011-02-01T14:30:00.001-06:00

old man winter is visiting this week. feels like the old guy has moved in. no school yet this week. not a full week since the return from christmas break, thanks to old man winter. short day of work yesterday for me, office closed today. blowing snow, frigid temps, white-out conditions. poor lawman is the only one that had to leave home this morning. no day off for the law, that's for sure. and to top it all off, someone rear-ended him at a stop light. wouldn't want to be that guy. um, yeah, he was in the patrol vehicle.

we made the most of our day at home and it's not over yet. a little reading. a little cleaning. a little laundry. a little monopoly (some people love it, some of us loathe it -- guess who). and a little baking. a certain lawman requested cookies. how can i say no on a day like this?

did you get a snow day? what'd you do?

weekend

2011-01-30T17:10:00.000-06:00

I'm ready to sit down and relax. It's been a busy weekend....all of us in different directions.

Girls had a Future Business Leaders of America district competition all day yesterday. I'm glad to report that they both placed and will be moving on to State competition in March. Makes me a proud mama, those girls....Lawman went on a hunting trip. Sounds like there is a bird shortage this year but I'm sure he'll have a surplus of male bonding stories to share!....and I spent yesterday with my mother. She's always glad to see me. I cleaned out and organized her closet for her. She told all the other ladies in the care home too. I thought she might rent me out before the day was over!....as if that wasn't enough in a day, the girls and I did dinner out to celebrate their victories and then on to the grocery store. I don't like unloading/putting away at 8pm. It would have been ok had I stopped with the shopping but no, I began the weekly food prep and didn't finish that until 10pm. Why do I do that? Today I did my weekly baking so there's no reason for me to hear anything about nothing to eat/snack on in the house. I even prepped a veggie tray and there is dip to go with it in the fridge not to mention hummus, crackers and cheese.

Are you ready for another week? Wishing you a good one.

not just another tuesday

2011-01-25T20:31:00.000-06:00

It wasn't just another Tuesday around here.

The day began with the youngest waking up on her own and her first request was "feel my head." She did feel hot but then she had just climbed out of a warm, cozy bed. I said she should lay down on top of the covers for a few minutes and then I'd get the thermometer. Bingo! Fever.

Not good but no other complaints -- no headache, no upset stomach, nothing. I continued to get ready for work. So did Lawman. The girl is 14. If it's just a fever, she's fine on her own at home.

About 15 minutes after I get to work, my cell phone rings. The big sister called to tell me that little sister just got sick. The timing for these things is never good. I said I'd be home as soon as I got the packets put together for the 9am meeting.

I spent my day at home tending to the wee one. She was an easy patient. She spent the day on her bed either watching a movie or sleeping. By 3:00 she managed to get up and shower. Then she moved to the couch. More tv. More sleeping. Finally, I convinced her to eat and drink something -- water, applesauce and crackers. Just what the doctor ordered.

Having to miss a day of school devestated her. Her dance team is performing tonight at half-time of the basketball game. She had to miss. A crushing blow.

Since I was home today, I did what any mother would do. Disinfect. Wash sheets. Wash towels. All you mamas know the drill. You've been there and done that. I did decide that while wee one was snoozing, I should curl up in my comfy chair with a book. That's just what I did. Then I shut my eyes.

winter formal 2010

2011-01-23T19:58:00.000-06:00

The annual high school winter formal was last weekend. It was Alison's last and Madison's first -- a biggie for both of them.

Alison made plans with her peeps for the evening. The only thing on the agenda that would require us (as in Mom & Dad) was pictures. Madison had big plans but they required more of us. She invited 9 of her friends to join her for dinner out. Lawman and I along with another dad provided the transportation. Their photo op was before dinner but since they had time between dinner and the dance they decided to join us at our house again for Alison's group photos.

We have always encouraged our girls to have their friends over. Lawman and I can relax knowing where they are, who they're with and what they're doing.

Never before have we had a turnout quite like this.....

....go ahead...count them. Did you? Twenty high school kids! Beautiful girls. Handsome guys. We had a great time with them, and not only them but their parents! We had a house full. The mothers of the boys immediately put me in charge of directing them. Apparently teenage boys would rather not cooperate for pictures when asked by their mother but when another mom asks, it's no problem. Lots of hustle & bustle and camera flashes. Definitely a night to remember.

we're making progress

2011-01-20T20:45:00.000-06:00

Remember that graduation party I told you we needed to prepare for? Well, we've started and we're making progress.

The photo above is of the basement area that Lawman ripped the carpet out of. He has since put in new wood flooring, we've had cabinets and a counter installed and we've purchased a new bar which serves as the divider between this area and the tv area where there happens to be a new 50" flat screen hanging on the wall (our Christmas present to each other). I did the painting (and my shoulder hasn't been the same since but that's another story). Carpets have been cleaned. Furniture moved. We've had some framing done and the new art is finally hanging on the wall.

We're not done down here though. There's a gap between the tall pantry cabinet and the wall. We're planning to have a custom wine rack built that will also include an area at the bottom for serving trays. We need new blinds on the window. And, you will probably notice there's the head of an animal hanging on the wall. That's a story in and of itself that I have to share with you.

Our friend, who I will refer to as BS (his initials, honestly) happened to mention weeks ago that he had a wild boar's head that would look great on the wall in the bar area. About 3 weeks ago I asked our neighbor gal, who is helping me with decorating because she's got a natural talent for that, to come by and see what we have accomplished. It had easily been 2 mos. since she was here last so alot had changed. It was also the day the bar arrived and BS knew that. As soon as the neighbor gal got here, I immediately took her downstairs to show her our progress. I flipped on the light, noticed that u.g.l.y. animal hanging on my wall, screamed and hollered for Lawman! I immediately called out BS on the extra decorating that had taken place that day. No wonder he kept calling that evening to see when we were going to be breaking the bar in! Needless to say, my decorator and I were in agreement that Mr. Boar did not add anything positive to the atmosphere. Lawman on the other hand thought it gave the bar a more manly feel....whatever!

I tolerated Mr. Boar until last Saturday. We had that little "break in the bar" party and I sent him home with BS as a nice parting gift. I won!

eliminating the guilt

2011-01-14T22:28:00.000-06:00

Unless you're new here, you know that I moved groceries and gas to an all cash budget last year. I'm expanding on that in 2011.

To help me with this, I purchased a couple of items -- zippered pouches (on the right) and folders (on the left). The new pouches have been marked for our new categories -- clothing, gifts, and entertainment. All are necessary expenses (yes, even entertainment as it helps to keep us happy!) yet this way they are already planned for.

I've already discovered the joy of spending without the guilt. My payday was Monday. I went to the bank and got cash to put in my new zippered pouches. Tomorrow is the girls' winter formal. Both needed new, fancy flip flops to wear with their pretty dresses. Kohl's had the perfect flip flops, even in January in Kansas. I purchased a new pair for each of the girls. Guilt free. Yep. The money was already accounted for. Amazing how that works. Have cash. Can spend. No guilt. I-Heart-Cash.

grocery geek

2011-01-09T19:21:00.000-06:00

I've told you before but I'll tell you again....I'm a grocery geek. I have a grocery budget therefore, I like to know if I stay within my limits. Only way to do that is to track my spending.

For years now I have been saving all of my grocery receipts. I have a clear plastic envelope of sorts that hangs on my fridge. After each shopping trip, the receipt ends up there. At the end of the month I staple them together and tally the totals.

Some of you may remember that last year I announced that I was moving to an all cash grocery budget. I am happy to report that I stuck with it. All year. It's habit now and I love it. Well it turns out that we did quite well. Our annual total for groceries and household items was $5,651.98. Over 52 weeks that equates to $109 per week. Our best month was October, coming in at $344.91. Our most expensive month was December nearing the $600 mark. And yes, I did write a check for one of my trips because my grocery envelope was empty. Lots of entertaining, parties, etc. that month.

This month I am trying to clean up the freezer and pantry. FishMama is hosting her Pantry Challenge again this year so that is my motivation for trying to use it all up. Here is another place of interest to grocery geeks; I'm planning to follow this lady during 2011 to see what she does with $100/month.

workday snacks

2011-01-06T21:17:00.000-06:00

Since I said I was going to be mindful for 2011 about a lot of things, including food, I have tried to do just that this week.

I get hungry between meals. Let's face it. I need more than 3 squares a day. My body tells me it needs food - - about 9:45AM and again about 4:00PM. Rather than suffering, I pack snacks to take to the office.. This morning it was veggies and string cheese. I packed blueberries and vanilla yogurt for the afternoon. Unfortunately, I didn't get to eat them because I was too busy with work. However, they will be there tomorrow.

I have a file cabinet drawer that I try to keep stocked with good for me snacks for those days when the mornings are too hectic to pull anything together. Some of my favorites are almonds, granola bars, whole grain crackers, and vanilla wafers for when I need to have a sweet fix.

Snacks keep my blood sugar stable and I don't overdo it at lunch or when I get home because I'm not starving. Not to mention that I just feel better which keeps me happy. Plus it keeps me out of the potato chip bag.

new start

2011-01-02T08:42:00.000-06:00

new start. it's available to us all on many occassions -- a new day, a new month, a new year. somehow the majority focus on a new year. i've been thinking about this new year that is barely a day old. wondering what it will hold for me. for us as a family. ultimately, we are not in control however, we can't just sit idly by and think that what we want will happen. we must do our part. we must participate.

i've picked a word for my new year. mindful. an adjective. meaning bearing in mind; inclined to be aware.

mindful ~ of my time ~ of my thoughts ~ of my actions ~ of others ~ of what i spend ~ of what i purchase ~ of what i eat ~ of my body ~ of what i read ~ of what i watch ~ of what i hear ~ of my priorities ~ of needs ~ of wants ~ of everything & everyone in my life.

Wishing you & yours a joyous and propserous 2011.

make your own | spice mixes (or season's greetings for neighbors and friends)

2010-12-24T09:09:00.000-06:00

Each year we exchange small gifts of food with our neighbors during the holiday season. This year I decided to share some of the homemade spice mixes that we enjoy.

I made double batches of Chili Seasoning, Spaghetti Sauce Mix and Onion Soup Mix. At Hobby Lobby I found mini ziploc bags that are perfect for holding the mix, sticky labels perfect for the name and directions and then I also found mini gift bags which are perfect for gifting. Better yet is that they were all 50% off so it was more than affordable.

Each of these mixes are easy to make and they use spices that are always in my cabinet. What I like most about them is that I know and can pronounce all of the ingredients.

I'll share my recipes with you. If these are mixes that you typically buy in the convenient envelopes at the grocery store, try mixing up a batch and see if you can tell a difference between the homemade and commercial versions. You might be surprised and find that you like the homemade version better!

Onion Soup Mix (I got this recipe from my niece years ago)

3/4 c. dried minced onion

1/3 c. beef boullion granuals

1/4 c. onion powder

1/4 t sugar

1/4 t celery seed

Combine all ingredients in a lidded container. Shake to mix well. 4 T is equivalent to one commercial "envelope." To use: Mix 4T to 16 oz of sour cream for a dip. It's also good with potatoes; wash, dry and quarter some red potatoes, drizzle with oil and sprinkle 4T of the onion soup mix on them. Mix well and bake.

Spaghetti Sauce Mix (from Miserly Meals)

1/4 c. Italian Seasoning

1 T celery salt

1 T garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp pepper

1 T onion powder

1 tsp sugar

Put all ingredients in a blender, cover, and blend 5 seconds or less until powdery (don't overblend). Use the "pulse" feature if your blender has one. Store in an airtight container for up to 6 months. To use: Add 2 T to 28 oz. of tomato sauce, 6 oz. tomato paste, and any meat or vegetables you like in your sauce. Simmer for 10 minutes over medium heat, then serve over pasta.

Chili or Taco Seasoning

3 T chili powder

1 T salt

1 T garlic powder

1 1/2 tsp black pepper

3/4 tsp ground red pepper

Combine all ingredients; store in an airtight container up to 1 month. To use: 2-3 T can be used to season chili or tacos.

They have been delivered and everyone was thrilled with them. Several of the folks that received them knew that I made my own mixes and they were excited to try them. And the goodies they gave us? Oh yum. We've got homemade salsa, homemade Bailey's Irish Creme, a homemade cheese ball, a spiral ham and peanut brittle.

a new do

2010-12-23T21:08:00.000-06:00

One thing about having teenage daughters is that they are more than willing to share their opinion. I knew it needed to be done but they pushed me to do it.

I was in need of a haircut. According to the girls, I needed a style, not just a haircut. I knew it but sometimes taking that big step can be hard. My hair style hasn't changed much over the years. A little shorter. A little longer. A few more layers. That's it. No more. I took the plunge. Here's a little peek for those of you that I know would ask to see it.

I said good-bye to a lot of hair tonight. At least 4 inches; probably more than that in the back since it's stacked. I wasn't nervous though. It's just hair. It will grow back if I decide I don't like it. Give me a couple of days and I'll let you know. The girls gave it the stamp of approval. Well, at least the one that is more opinionated about how I look gave it the ok. Next thing on the list is a color. I'm getting more greys than I care to admit. It's not pretty. I want to be a little lighter, a little brighter.

christmas magic

2010-12-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

When the girls were itty bitty, we started buying a new Christmas story each year to read out loud. We'd dim the lights and sit by the twinkling lights of the Christmas tree and read a story before bedtime. The books were neatly stacked under the tree and we'd read one book each night during the 12 days of Christmas. It's been several years since the last time we did this but today, someone relived those memories.

I walked in the door from work and there was Madison, reading one of the Christmas stories out loud to her dad who was laid out on the floor. Such a sweet moment. It's nice to know that the things we do for years, out of love, and with the hope of establishing a tradition, really do take root. Just a bit of Christmas magic.

brownie fudge crinkles

2010-12-13T06:00:00.001-06:00

Sometimes we try a food at a restaurant that we can't get enough of. Such is the case of the Fudge Crinkle cookies at a local restaurant/bakery here in our town. As much as I like to support our local establishments, I can't always justify the expense of buying these cookies because we go through them so quickly! Finally, I've come across an excellent copy cat recipe that I can make at home (no idea where I got the recipe, otherwise I'd give proper credit). Best part is that the ingredients are always in my pantry.

Brownie Fudge Crinkles

1 box brownie mix (the size that makes a 9x13 pan of brownies)

1 egg

1/4 c. water

1/3 c. powdered sugar

Mix brownie mix, egg and water. (It will seem dry but just keep stirring. Trust me.) Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for 1 hour. I found that the dough is easier to handle when it is stiff.

Use a cookie scoop to make 1" balls, then roll in powdered sugar.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. Allow to cool about 6 minutes before moving them to a cooling rack. Yield: 2 1/2 dz. cookies

Enjoy!

Holiday Tradition | Movies

2010-12-10T16:28:00.000-06:00

photo credit

The weather here this weekend is forecasted to take a turn for the worse. Rain/Snow mix expected tomorrow. Sounds to me like good reason to stay home....and take the opportunity to watch at least one of our annual holiday movies. We have three -- White Christmas, The Holiday and Love Actually. Lawman and I prefer to watch White Christmas on Christmas Eve because that's what we did on our first Christmas Eve together. We've already watched The Holiday so I think I'll try to convince the crew to curl up with me for Love Actually. There's something about those English accents that melts my heart!

Movies have long been a part of our holiday tradition. Our first Christmas Day together as a married couple included a matinee and it's a tradition that has continued through the years. Our girls look forward to it each year and put much thought and discussion into what our selection each year should be. Given that, many of the movies we watch each holiday season are movies that we watched in the theatre on Christmas Day. It's fun to relive those memories with them.

Do you have a holiday movie that you watch each year? How did it become tradition?

the hills of winter

2010-12-05T20:33:00.000-06:00

I took this photo of the Flint Hills on Thanksgiving Day. I've seen this view a thousand times. As I get older, I find more beauty in them. As a child, I had no idea how fortunate I was to grow up in the heart of cattle country. I was surrounded by their beauty every day. It was my normal, which also meant it was easy to take for granted. Not so anymore.

The hills change with the seasons. Now, many wouldn't find the beauty in them. It's something that is much easier for natives to do. As I drive the road to home now, it is easy for me to get choked up; a lump in my throat, a tear in my eye. Probably sounds ridiculous to many. I know I am not alone though. There are others in my family who share the same affection for the hills that I do.

I pulled off the road to take this picture. I got out of the truck. I walked in the tall, dormant grass. I ran my fingers through it. I heard the crunch under foot. Breathed in the clean, fresh air. In the spring I will do it again. And the hills will be alive with new growth, color and calves. That's when I get choked up. The new life -- the tiny black dots on the hills -- tiny black angus calves against the lush green grass. One of my favorite views. Until then, I will enjoy the beauty of this season.

cooking for credit

2010-11-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

I got a break in the kitchen on Sunday evening. Madison is enrolled in a Nutrition & Wellness class and part of the requirement is that she prepare a meal for her family. Guess who got a night off?

She selected the menu -- double layer tacos, chips & salsa and a fruit cup. Kuddos to her for planning. She made sure that all of the ingredients were on my shopping list the week before. Hmmm...maybe she's learned a thing or two about menu planning from her mama.

She did great! I enjoyed having her busy in the kitchen and I observed for the most part. Well, other than helping with the chopping of the apple for the fruit cup. I volunteered to help her with the chopping of the apple for the fruit cup as I was not keen on the idea of a trip to the emergency room before dinner. She openly admitted being a little more than nervous about having to use a knife. Guess what her kitchen chores will consist of from here on out? I think there are a few veggies to be chopped this week as we prep that turkey dinner on Thursday.

Oh, and did you notice anything in that picture? Cell phone? Really? Tacos with a side of texting is what we had for dinner.

harvest blessings snack mix

2010-11-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Each year we share small gifts, usually of the food variety, with our neighbors and friends at Christmas as a gesture to show our appreciation of their friendship or neighborliness. This year, I've decided there's no reason to wait until Christmas. What better time of year than Thanksgiving to say "thank you" to neighbors and friends? This weekend I made a double batch of Harvest Blessings Snack Mix to share with those we are thankful for.

It's easy to make and the ingredients are simple.

HARVEST BLESSINGS
1 c. of Bugles (corn snack)
1 c. of small pretzel twists
1 c. of Goldfish crackers
1 c. of Wheat, Rice or Corn Chex cereal
1 c. of raisins
1 c. of dry roasted corn nuts
1 c. of peanuts or other nuts
1 c. of Hershey's chocolate kisses

Mix all together in a very large bowl. Package in individual baggies for gifts. Include a notecard that explains the symbolism of the snacks:
Bugles - shaped like a cornucopia or Horn of Plenty
Pretzels - arms folded in prayer
Goldfish crackers - fish are a symbol of abundance
Chex Cereal - they look like baskets, which hold the harvest fruits
Corn - food was so scarce the first winter that settlers survived on just a few kernels of corn a day
Nuts - promise of a future harvest
Raisins - harvest gifts from our bountiful land
Hershey Kisses - the love of family and friends that sweetens our lives

(By making a double batch, I ended up with 6 bags, containing 2 cups of snack mix.)

sharing your library

2010-11-19T19:52:00.000-06:00

If she has extra cash, she'll spend it on books. If she has extra time, she'll read. If you need a book, she'll share.

Alison's book collection has turned into a library for several of her friends. On a regular basis for the past month, two of her friends have called to come over and borrow a book, or more likely, books. Good news -- they return them and they also loan theirs to her.

Sounds like a fair trade.

p.s. it's good to be back. thanks for sticking with me. i hope to be able to hang out around here more often again.

2010-10-31T17:37:00.000-05:00

It's been 10 days since I last posted. I feel like I've been neglecting my responsibilities here. Just no other option. Life has been full. Full of good things.

We've got multiple house projects underway. Lawman laid new flooring last week. Now it's time for the plumber, the electrician and me, the painter. Next weekend, the paint brush and I will do a little bonding.

I'm thrilled with the changes that are taking place. We'll definitely reap the rewards of this for years to come. Once it's complete, I'll be sure to share pictures. But, in the mean time, it may be a while before you hear from me again.

It looks like the wrecking crew came through and I can only take it so long. Must get busy and finish.

ending my week on a happy note

2010-10-21T21:25:00.000-05:00

1. no work for me tomorrow;

2. spending tomorrow with my girls, which of course, includes shopping;

3. clean bathroom floors;

4. a glass of wine;

5. quiet time with a cookbook from the library;

6. my checkbook is balanced and all bills paid;

7. homemade mac & cheese for dinner (it was really creamy & delish);

8. cranking the 80's tunes while cleaning;

9. lawman is installing new flooring in the basement tomorrow (while the girls & i shop);

10. college football.

Enjoy the weekend!

senior pride

2010-10-19T17:38:00.000-05:00

The last home football game for our high school team is on Friday evening. It's also Senior Night where senior football players, cheerleaders and dancers will be recognized. In honor of that, the Senior Class got organized and designed a t-shirt especially for all seniors.

First, it's a VIP pass to the front row of the student section. If you're not a Senior, don't think that you're welcome in this sacred row.

On the back, it recognizes all Senior football players. I love that they did this.

Seniors, wear it with pride. You're all better because of each other.

A Taste of Fall | Pumpkin Swirl Bread

2010-10-17T12:51:00.000-05:00

What says fall more than pumpkin? In my opinion, nothing. I mixed up a loaf of Pumpkin Swirl Bread yesterday as part of my weekly baking. It will be eaten at breakfast, a snack, and maybe, even dessert.

See that dreamy, creamy ribbon of cream cheese? It's delightful. The bread is moist and heavy. Just the way I like it. I'm not a coffee drinker, but for those of you who are, I would venture to say that this would be a welcome little treat with a steaming cup of java. Or hot tea. I like it with a glass of milk.

Apple pie is another fall favorite and it was a part of my weekly baking yesterday too. Typically, one thinks of apple pie as dessert but a particular girl in our house chose to have it as breakfast this morning. I guess that's ok. Starbucks and other places make a fortune on selling breakfast pastries so why isn't it ok to do that at home too?

Sunday Afternoon Home Improvement

2010-10-04T17:00:00.001-05:00

Lawman and I took a trip to Home Depot on Sunday afternoon. Apparently it was the day for do-it-yourself home improvement projects as we saw a few others from our town there too.

Rebuilding our front steps has been on Lawman's list for a while but training for that big race took precedence this summer. Race is over now. Steps moved up to the top of the list.

Lawman recruited his buddy, Seth, to come help. Seth used to work on a construction crew so the guy is quite handy with a saw and drill. Two hours and the front steps were good as new. I like how we pay Seth -- send him home with food. He took Cheeseburger Soup and Homemade Beer Bread fresh from the oven. He assured me it wouldn't last long. Single guys love receiving home cooked goodness. I love having new steps.

preparing for a grad party

2010-10-02T08:34:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know. Graduation isn't until May 2011 but trust me, it will take me from now until then to prepare.

I'm on a mission. I mentioned to Lawman in May of this year that in just one short year we, ourselves, would be hosting a graduation party for our dear Alison. He didn't see that statement quite as I did. He saw the fun part of hosting a party, I however, saw how much I would need to accomplish before that happened!

Well, I've embarked on that mission. Earlier this week one of our neighbor gals, Sue, stopped by our house for a walk through. You see, Sue got the decorating gene. I did not. Sue has this incredible knack for putting things together, making a room look amazing. Fortunately, she's agreed to help me. (Trust me when I tell you that making that call/request to her was not easy. I feel like I've really put myself out there. It's not easy opening yourself up for criticism, even if it is of the positive kind.) And, let me just say that already, I am so glad I made that call!

Sue had great ideas. She saw things that never even crossed my mind. Move this here. Switch this. Etc. She was a busy girl and her wheels were spinning. Well, when she left, the first thing I did was make a list - room by room. Then I enlisted the help of Lawman and we got busy moving furniture. Hanging pictures. I could see it written all over Lawman's face that he was not in any way looking forward to what the next several months will hold for him. I asked him, ever so kindly, to please bear with me and I promise that he will have a whole new castle by the time all is said and done.

I also love that Sue didn't come in and tell us that we need to buy anything. She's working with what we have. She did suggest that we get two pieces recovered which is easy enough and I knew they needed done anyway. She's just giving me purpose to actually do it. I have lots of wall art which needed framing. Again, she's giving me purpose to do it. There are a couple of big jobs on the list like stripping wallpaper from the main bathroom and get some new flooring. Again, something I knew needed done but unless you have a deadline, many times there's no urgency to doing it.

I've made a goal to take care of at least 3 things on the list each month. (That doesn't include the wallpaper removal and flooring because I'm going to hire help on those.) On my list this weekend is to spray paint light fixtures (if I can get Lawman to help me because he will need to remove them). (The fact that Lawman has been gone on a work trip since Thursday might make enlisting his help a little harder than usual because I'm sure he's going to want some down time v. work time.)

I had intentions to post before photos with this post so that you could watch the process being made if you were interested however, my memory card for my camera has magically disappeared. So, you may only get after pictures. And, this blog may be picture free for a bit.

70.3

2010-09-26T14:48:00.001-05:00

70.3 miles. 6:12:00

Lawman completed the Redman (Half) Ironman in Oklahoma City yesterday. 70.3 miles by way of swim/bike/run. 6 hours and 12 minutes from beginning to end. One thousand athletes.

This event came to be by way of a challenge. His tri-buddy, Charlie, sent an email. Are you man enough? Anyone that knows Lawman knows that he's not going to let this go. Are you man enough? Are you kidding?

Charlie gave this challenge to Lawman and another tri-buddy, Tracy. Charlie said, "You race and I'll pay your entry fee, hotel and if you want a tattoo after finishing, I'll cover that too."

So the training began. That was in May. The days and weeks since have been filled with swim, bike, run. Add in eat (alot) and sleep and the process begins all over again. 1 mile swims several times a week. Long bikes on Saturday. Long runs on Sunday. One day of rest. During the week it is more of the same but in shorter distances.

Friday, he and Tracy headed south at 8am. At the race site to scout out the course by 1pm. Check in to the hotel. Big meal of carbs at 4pm. Back to the race site to set up the bike in the transition area. At the hotel early for some shut eye.

4:30 a.m. Saturday, I get a text -- "Headed to the race site." You've got to be serious to be up at 4am to eat a race day breakfast.

7:33 a.m. - Lawman's swim heat. Just a few hundred swimmers trying to claim their place in an open water swim. Waters churning. 36 minutes. 1.2 miles.

Followed by 56 miles on the bike. Flat. Fast. 30 mph at times.

13.1 mile run. Lawman says it was the longest and hardest leg of the race. He burned up his legs in the bike. This will happen when you get a fast bike course.

70.3 miles. 6 hours, 12 minutes. Mission accomplished. Yes, he's man enough. Tattoo? No. Not yet. He'd like to have the M-Dot (that's the Ironman symbol if you didn't know).

Another goal? Yep. Do another race with the tri-buddies. Find another course. Finish in less than 6 hours.

Today is a day of recovery. Horizontal. Watching football. Life is good.

an answer that melted my heart

2010-09-24T10:28:00.000-05:00

Just a quick little somehing to share....

Last night as I was preparing dinner, my dear oldest daughter came in to the kitchen to set the table. The meal I was fixing is a favorite of hers -- Spaghetti Carbonara. She said, "What am I going to do next year when you're not there to fix this for me?" I assured her that the campus dining center would be the answer but that she could come home for a meal whenever she wanted.

Then she said, "What I'm really going to miss most next year is my sister. We've been together our whole life. What am I going to do without her?" She was serious. I thought she might cry. I thought I might cry.

That moment was answer to a prayer. I have prayed for years that our girls would be close. Best Friends. Bonded together forever. I wanted them to have something I didn't. God heard me. He answered. God is good. Amen.

it's beginning to look a lot like fall

2010-09-19T20:10:00.000-05:00

I mixed up a taste of fall (and Halloween) this weekend -- a trail mix of sorts -- candy corn, Reese's pieces and peanuts. Kind of makes me want to get into the spirit of the season. Mums. Gourds. Pumpkins. Mr. Skeleton on my door. Halloween costumes. It's all right around the corner. I'm hoping to add mums and pumpkins to my front porch this week. Lawman even suggested a pot of chili should make an appearance on our menu very soon.

2010-09-15T19:26:00.023-05:00

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Colossians 4:6

The Lord is speaking to me. This scripture has come to mind time and time again during the last week. And even though it's come to mind, it's difficult for me to remember to live it until it pops into my brain again. And again.

Maybe I've been cranky. Irritable. Frustrated. In need of some solitude. Whatever it is, I know He's reminding me to be careful in choosing my words. And my thoughts ~ you know, those things you think you'd like to say that aren't necessarily very nice. Think before I speak. (That's hard for me as speaking my thoughts (too soon) is one of my biggest faults.) And when I do speak, use nice words. Ugly words make ugly people.

Lord, please put graceful words on my tongue so that I may show kindness and love to others.

not waffles... but it works

2010-09-09T21:04:00.000-05:00

Several years ago I discovered that the waffle iron can serve a dual purpose. It also works as a quesadilla maker. I know they make kitchen appliances that are specifically for making quesadillas but why spend the cash on one when my waffle iron works just fine?

Here's how I do it.

1) Prep the ingredients. Tonight we opted for veggie & cheese quesadillas. I sauteed green peppers, onions & mushrooms and shredded my cheese.

2) Heat up the waffle iron. You want it nice and hot before you start this.

3) Place a tortilla on the waffle iron. I use the burrito size. If you a round belgian waffle maker, you might want to use a smaller size tortilla.

4) Place your fillings on top of the tortilla and cover it with a second tortilla.

5) Close the lid.

6) Don't go very far because it won't take very long. Remove to a platter to cool and then cut. Repeat until you've made enough quesadillas to serve your family.

7) Serve with your choice of toppings -- salsa, sour cream, guacamole. I also served them with a side of black beans and rice.

Quick, easy and pretty fun for a weeknight meal.

long time coming

2010-09-04T08:44:00.000-05:00

there's been a change in the air this past week and it's been a long time coming.....fall. i've tried terribly hard to not complain about the heat of summer because i know that by the end of the year i'll be wishing for warm days again. instead, i'm enjoying the change of seasons and the blessings that come with it like:

:: oatmeal for breakfast

:: windows open, A/C off

:: sleeping under the comforter

:: using the oven

:: football -- yes, i'm a fan -- high school, college, NFL -- i love them all

:: the chill of the morning air

:: no humidity

:: it's (almost) soup weather

:: hoodies

and since we have near optimal weather conditions, i may not be around much. i can blog away all winter long but for now i'm going to enjoy the opportunity to be outside and enjoy all that it has to offer.

menu plan | use it up

2010-08-25T21:20:00.000-05:00

We're on week 2 of school and the calendar is full. It's been difficult getting everyone home at the same time for dinner so I've been cooking a meal and having it available for everyone to eat when it works in their schedule; not my choice modus operandi. I'm hoping it won't be like this all year long.

Remember when I did that batch cooking? Well, since then I've found a new convenience food...boil-in-a-bag brown rice. Twice now I've forgotten to take it out of the freezer to thaw so I dropped it, bag and all, in a pot of boiling water for about 20 minutes. Worked like a charm. Considering it takes 45 minutes when cooking it from scratch, it was alot quicker. That batch cooking is proving to be a real time saver, not only for rice but for several of the meals I have planned as I'll be using up what's in the freezer.

Here's what's planned through September 3rd:

chicken potato delight, green beans, garlic bread

frittata, fruit, toasted bagels

mexican lasagna, chips & salsa

spaghetti carbonara, salad, garlic bread

bacon chicken crescent ring

bubble pizza, veggie sticks & dip

lettuce wraps, egg rolls, pineapple

chicken diablo, roasted potatoes, steamed broccoli

chicken quesadillas, black beans & rice

pizza (frozen variety)*

*I hate to put this on my menu but it will save my sanity. We'll be attending all home football games this year in order to watch Madison on the Dazzler (dance) team. In order to make it on time and not be relegated to concession stand food for dinners, I've decided it's ok. There are worse things, right? Like the golden arches.

Do you include convenience items on your menu during the school year to keep things simple due to the flood of school activities?

there is no rewind button

2010-08-24T20:53:00.000-05:00

The lazy days of summer are gone. There is no rewind button.

We're into our 2nd week of school and suddenly we've become a slave to the calendar -- back to school nights, parent meetings, dance team practice, club activities, and football games. We are booked. It might sound like I'm complaining but I'm not. It's a big year for both of our girls; senior year and freshman year. I am determined to be plugged in for everything with each of them. I don't dare miss a single thing because there is no rewind button.

We also did a senior portrait session last week. We've only been given a sneek peak but we absolutely love what we've seen so far. Senior year activities are making it very clear that there is no rewind button.

Senior parent meetings this week reinforced the fact that there is no rewind button. High school counselors have informed us of important deadline dates for ACT testing, college admission forms, scholarship applications, etc.

And as big as the year is for her because it's her last year of high school, it is just that big for her sister too as it is her first year of high school. As I said, it's the 2nd week of school and already I have witnessed multiple bittersweet moments where I've caught myself near tears.

Day 1 as they loaded up in the car to leave for school, I suddenly realized that for the first time in 12 years I don't have anyone to take to school. The sound of their laughter and singing together that morning was music to my ears but the fact that I was by myself made it bittersweet. So glad we took advantage of our mornings together all those years because....yes, there is no rewind button.

And seeing my youngest leave the house in her dance team uniform fills me with pride. She loves being on that team and it is evident by her smile. I've watched countless run-throughs at home and each time she's wearing that big smile. First day in high school and she performed at an all school assembly; nothing like starting right out of the gate, huh? Hearing her tell me that she wasn't nervous and she did great brought a smile to my face.

Like I said, I'm going to be plugged in this year for every.single.event because in 4 more years I'll be well aware once again that there is no rewind button.

(another) motherhood milestone:photos

2010-08-18T20:15:00.000-05:00

at least they still humored me after my "moment" and let me take pictures.

(another) motherhood milestone

2010-08-17T20:23:00.000-05:00

Our school year is officially under way. Yesterday was freshman orientation and today was the first day for all high school students.

This morning as we were all preparing to leave the house, I watched my girls and wanted to cry. I was in the garage putting my work bag into the backseat of my car and they were loading up too, in Alison's car. Big sister is going to be Little Sister's taxi this year since they go to the same building. Finally.

They were laughing and singing. I heard the radio volume go up. I could see them dancing in their seats. I could tell they were enjoying each other (which makes me smile!). But what made me sad was I suddenly realized that life as I've known it for years is changing. Today was the first school day in twelve years, say it again - 12 years, that I haven't had a child with me in my car to drop off for school.

It was a bittersweet moment.

menu plan | back to school edition

2010-08-09T15:48:00.000-05:00

I enjoy grocery shopping when my list is complete and my menu plan is in place. That was the case this weekend. With two weeks worth of dinner meals planned and a complete list, I headed to the store. The batch cooking I did yesterday is going to come in handy considering school starts next week which means my calendar is going to fill up quick.

Spaghetti w/meat sauce, green beans, garlic bread

Chicken Caeser Salad, Breadsticks

Tuna Patties, (homemade) Creamed Corn, Smashed Potatoes or Salad

Black Beans & Rice

Slow Cooker Fajitas

Chicken & Broccoli Lo Mein

Pork & Asparagus Rice Bowl

Taco Squares, Corn Salad

Chicken & Bacon Sub Sandwiches, Pea Salad

Fritatta, Sausage, Fruit

Nachos Supreme

The items in blue are items that I prepared to some degree as part of my batch cooking this weekend (see Item 9 here). There are only 3 meals in the next 2 weeks that will require starting from scratch. I'd love it if I could make batch cooking a habit. I've done it before in spurts but no level of consistency.

And yes, I'm aware that there are only 11 meals listed and I said I have 14 days accounted for -- we are having dinner at a friend's home one evening later this week and I know we'll have enough leftovers that we can do 2 smorgasboard nights.

With school right around the corner, how do you plan ahead to save yourself time in the kitchen and guarantee you won't be a regular at the drive thru?

filling my days

2010-08-08T17:19:00.000-05:00

No pics with this post. My camera is in Spokane, WA with Lawman and the girls. They're on a little trip to visit Lawman's family. Yes, that means I am home alone. First time in 17 years that I've been home all by myself. I've been home w/out Lawman or w/out the girls but never w/out any of them. It's a little weird, actually.

I've filled my days. Here's a list:

1. Girls night with 2 of my girlfriends. One brought margaritas, one stopped for Mexican take-out on the way over and I provided the movie (Sex and the City). Perfect way to start the weekend. The movie? My girls asked that I not return it until they watched it. I sent it back the next day. Can you say explicit? Holy cow! No way I'm providing it for my girls to watch.

2. Cleaned out and reorganized our pantry and lazy susan (which I hate by the way). Threw away partial bags of items that had been on the shelves for months, heck, maybe even years. All clean now and ready to be re-stocked.

3. Mowed the lawn. Lawman usually does this. Next time he does it, I'm going to tell him thank you. It was a hot, hot job!

4. Did recycling.

5. Took a nap. Yay!

6. Went to a "couples" wedding shower w/out my other half. A little weird but it was for our neighbor's son so I didn't dare try to skip out.

7. Planned a menu for 2 weeks.

8. Did grocery shopping. I love to go grocery shopping when I have a menu & list fully prepared!

9. Did batch cooking. School starts one week from tomorrow. Two girls in high school and one is on the dance team which means we are committed to attend Tuesday and Friday night sports to see her perform. Thinking about that prompted me to fill my freezer with "convenience items." Includes: 3.5# taco meat, 3.5# ground beef seasoned for Italian dishes, 2.5# cooked chicken - sliced and diced for planned meals, and 10 c. cooked brown rice. I still want to get 2 batches of cookie dough in the freezer but it's not gonna happen today.

10. Now, I'm going to go get a book and sit in my comfy chair for the remainder of the day.

make your own | oreos

2010-08-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

My family loves oreos -- store bought and homemade. Yes, homemade. I can't believe I haven't posted this recipe before. My friend, Jody, gave it to me years ago.

It's very simple and makes a perfect after school snack (yes, it is almost that time again). The recipe says they are best if eaten the next day but my family can't possibly wait 24 hours before they get their first taste.

Homemade Oreo Cookies
1 Devils Food Cake Mix (I use Pillsbury but any brand will work)
1/2 c. canola or vegetable oil
2 eggs

Mix ingredients together until well incorporated. Scoop with a small cookie scoop (I use Pampered Chef's small scoop). Place on cookie sheet and bake 9 minutes at 350. Right out of the oven, drop the pan to flatten. (Yes, literally drop it so they loose their puff.) Cool.

To assemble: use frosting of your choice (we prefer Betty Crocker whipped vanilla but homemade would work fine too). Frost the bottom of one cookie and use another cookie to sandwich it. Store in an airtight container. Best if eaten the next day.

Like I said, I don't know about the "next day" because we can't wait that long.

a taste of home

2010-08-02T18:17:00.000-05:00

When your adult home is thousands of miles away from your childhood home, every little reminder of home is special.

Precisely why I picked up these Rainier Cherries when I saw them at the store last week. No, they're not local. They're home grown. Lawman loved my thoughtfulness.

take it slow

2010-07-28T20:41:00.001-05:00

I took this picture while we were on the lake Saturday night. To me, this image is a reminder to slow down and enjoy the days of summer. The days are speeding by. The warm air, the summer sun, the singing of the locust will be behind us all too soon. My goal for the next several weeks is to find the pleasure in each day. Sit a little longer. Have another glass of limeade. Walk barefoot. Get on the water again. Lounge by the pool. Read another book. Enjoy a glass of wine. Watch the sunset. Sit under the stars.

If I'm not here for a while, it's because I've slowed down. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

a perfect evening

2010-07-26T21:27:00.000-05:00

We have good friends. We have good friends who have a boat. Same good friends invited us for an evening boat ride with two other couples. Potluck dinner included.

It turned out to be a picture perfect evening. Early in the day the forecast was a 50/50 chance of rain. Debate ensued about whether or not to try to get on the water. So glad we did. We found a little cove which provided for privacy while we had our potluck dinner -- pasta with salmon, olive cheese bread, fruit and salami/cheese on a baguette. Not bad for potluck.

After dinner we ventured out on the water again. Found another quiet cove to watch the sun set. Beautiful. I even ventured into the water. It felt refreshing. Once the sun was beyond the horizon, it felt almost cool.

I find something so peaceful about water. The sound of it lapping at the side of the boat. The gentle rocking motion. The combination of the two could lull me to sleep. And speaking of sleep, we saw a houseboat pass by several times. I'd love to sleep on the water. In a boat. We're thinking it would be fun to rent one for the weekend -- 2 families to a boat -- living on the water. I want to try that.

solitude

2010-07-22T21:22:00.000-05:00

a little quiet time tonight

just the cat, me

and the song of the locust

a-dime-a-lime

2010-07-21T20:32:00.000-05:00

The local market had limes for a dime again today. I stopped and bought enough for another batch of homemade limeades. This is habit forming. There's nothing better than cold, fresh squeezed limeade on a hot summer day. (and it's hot here, heat index at 100+ today and tomorrow)

the reason

2010-07-19T20:20:00.000-05:00

SHE is the reason I do what I do. Years ago, the oldest girl was a reason too.

It's been 11 years since we joined the team. The first 2 years I was on the sidelines. And then someone asked if I would help and I said yes. Then a couple of years later the team had a hard season and was lacking leadership. Two moms asked if I'd be willing to step up to the plate and help them rebuild the team. I said yes. Again. But I had a good reason -- two girls that loved the sport. I couldn't imagine the opportunity not being available to them the next season. It took a couple of grueling years but we did it. We went from a team of 23 to a team of 70. Now we average about 60 swimmers each season. That's a lot of reasons.

The oldest girl decided last year that she didn't have time for swim team. There were too many other opportunities for a 16 year old girl that wants to earn money in the summer. She became a cheerleader on the sideline for her sister.

The youngest girl still has a passion for the sport. She's sure that she'll do it again next year. As for me, my role is going to change. With a high schooler on the team, I consider myself to be "on the way out." Next year, I'll still be Clerk of the Course. I'll be a resource but I'm passing the baton. It's time for someone else to learn the ropes and lead the way.

on the go

2010-07-13T21:44:00.000-05:00

We are a family on the go. As in exercising.

Those are my shoes. They have served me well but I think they are on their way out. I'm starting to feel it in my knees. Not every day but some. I've been walking regularly this summer. It's getting harder now because it is hot. Really hot. It is now 9:20pm and as I sit here typing this it is still 91 degrees outside. I left at 8:05 for my walk so I know it was hotter than that. Heat index today was 108 at 6pm. Humidity must be near 83%. That's why it's getting harder to go for my walks. Like Nike says, Just Do It. Tonight I went 4.3 miles and I ran part of it, maybe 3/4 of a mile.

Lawman's been hard at it too. A friend posed a challenge....it went something like this..."Are you man enough?" Let me just say that Lawman is not one to back down from a challenge. The challenge? A half-ironman in Oklahoma in September. He's in. Swim/Bike/Run/Eat/Sleep/Repeat. That's the story and that's what it will be until after race day.

The girls? They're in on this too. Alison's got a couple of workout buddies. Yesterday it was abs/eliptical/walking. Today it was walking/abs. She said last night that she likes it when her muscles hurt from exercising; she knows she's doing something. I can relate. Like John Cougar Mellennkamp said, "It hurts so good."

And Madison? Well, the girl is on swim team so she's in the pool every day. They were swimming a mile a day within the first week of practice. Five hours of swimming plus five hours of dance team practice each week. Don't let it be said that she's a couch potato.

Lawman and I have been watching Jillian this summer. I'm always amazed at the impact she has on families/people and in such a short amount of time. Sometimes the only thing we need is the motivation. My motivation? It's simple. I feel better when I move -- physically, mentally, emotionally. What's your motivation?

quick & easy reading

2010-07-12T21:10:00.000-05:00

I was in need of some quick and easy reading material a few weeks ago. This is what I found at the library.

The top book was one that Jessica mentioned. I'm a sucker for these kind of books. It's chock full of tips/ideas to streamline your time in the kitchen....one motion storage, recipe organization, menu planning, etc.

I saw the third book on this blog months ago. I looked at it in the bookstore first and decided it would be worth the read. I asked our library to get it via inter-library loan (love that service!). Since I checked it out, I've gone through it several times and so has Madison. We've tried about 5 recipes from it in the past 2 weeks. I had to return it today but I'm thinking it may very well be a book that I purchase considering how much we've liked everything we've tried.

I'll be starting one of the Sunset books tonight. Sunset books always remind me of my grandmother. She subscribed to their magazine for years. Seems there was always a copy of it on the living room coffee table. I probably checked them out more for nostalgia than anything else.

When I need some mindless reading material, I always reach for a cookbook. I can read it just like a novel. What's your choice for quick & easy reading?

if you want to eat, somebody's got to cook

2010-07-10T07:38:00.000-05:00

Everyone at my house likes to eat but not everyone wants to cook. I'm the one who is "expected" to prepare the meals and most of the time, I don't mind. However, I have two teenage daughters who will need to know how to feed themselves before long. One of them has only a year left at home.

This summer I suggested that one of their goals be to prepare 2 dinner meals a month for the family. That's one meal a week that I wouldn't have to cook and it'd be good experience for them. They were game.

We got off to a late start because this week is the first week that we managed to make this work. The thing with teenage girls is that they're busy -- social life, part-time jobs, swim team, dance team and babysitting.

Last night, the youngest prepared dinner and tried a new recipe. (Lately she's been seen looking at/reading cookbooks. Big smile from me because I do that regularly too.) I loved her choice -- pasta with a no cook sauce. How perfect is that for summer? And, she didn't follow the recipe exactly because we didn't have all of the exact ingredients on hand. Again, something I'm known to do. It was quite tasty and went together very quickly.

No Bake Cheesy Ziti Toss (original recipe from Southern Living Busy Mom's Weeknight Favorites)

8 oz. whole wheat ziti pasta

1-15 oz can pasta-style tomatoes with basil and garlic

1 1/2 c. of shredded cheese, a blend of mozzarella and cheddar

1/2 c. oil packed dried tomatoes, drained and chopped

1 small can of sliced black olives

1/2 tsp black pepper

Cook ziti according to package directions; drain well.

Meanwhile, stir together tomatoes and remaining ingredients in a large serving bowl. Add hot pasta, and toss gently. Serves 4.

A perfect meal. I even got out of cleanup as Lawman took care of that.

in the pool

2010-07-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

in the pool

life is cool

swimmers rule

quick strawberry jam

2010-07-04T14:32:00.000-05:00

Strawberries have been on sale at our grocery store the last couple of weeks. I've bought a contaner each week; a 4# container. The first week we ate through them without any effort. This last week we didn't quite make it. I noticed yesterday that they were past their prime for eating fresh but they'd be fine turned into jam. I turned to Martha for help. She's never steered me wrong before when it comes to recipes. The June issue of Everyday Food had a recipe for Quick Strawberry Jam.

I'm a novice when it comes to making jams and jellies. This recipe may however change that. Once the ingredients were in the pan, it took all of about 10-12 minutes before I had 2 jars of homemade strawberry jam. Martha suggests using it as a mix-in for yogurt or hot cereal or an ice cream topping. I think I'll make a batch of homemade waffles this week and we'll top it with homemade jam and whip cream. That almost sounds like dessert instead of dinner.

Lawman, Mangos and a Stick Blender

2010-06-29T20:24:00.000-05:00

Remember those lovely limes I got a couple of weekends ago? I also picked up a couple of mangos that day at a great price - 2/$1. Lawman loves mangos. I know there's a classic Seinfeld episode which involves mangos too; another one of Lawman's favorites.

Not only does he love mangos but he loves fruit smoothies in the summer. Just so happens that Lawman had a birthday in early June. And, his lovely wife remembered his love of fruit smoothies and purchased a Cuisinart Stick Blender and a smoothies cookbook as part of his birthday gift. Turns out that Cuisinart has seen lots of action this month. I'm glad Lawman doesn't mind sharing because I've had my share of smoothies for breakfast this month too. We've consumed a lot of fruit -- mangos, watermelon, cantalope, apples, bananas, strawberries, pineapple and blueberries. Cucumbers and spinach have made their way into our morning smoothies too.

It's been quite easy for us to have 2 or 3 servings of fruit before we even make it to work. Not a bad way to start our day.

still learning

2010-06-28T17:17:00.006-05:00

First, let me say that I'm sorry for the lack of photos with this post. I wanted to take pictures but wasn't sure it would be appropriate during a class. Thought it might be too distracting.

The People's Grocery is a food co-op that I've gone to a few times. In the past I've gone there when looking for specialty items. Their store has always been very basic; no bells and whistles like you find at the big supermarkets. And, I'll admit it, I like some bells and whistles so I don't go there often.

Last week I received an email that they were hosting a class on Saturday -- "Healthy Eating on a Budget." I decided I'd suggest to Alison that she and I go together. I figured it would do 2 things -- I'd get a tour of their new store, and she and I would get good quality time together while doing something a bit out of our normal realm.

The class was on Saturday at 11:00 and there were about a dozen attendees. Our instructors were Dolly, the Deli Manager and Jenny, the Produce Manager. They began by sharing basic information about healthy foods that have a low cost per serving, how to create a budget for your food expenses and other suggestions such as cooking quantities large enough to allow for leftovers and menu planning.

Next was the tour. This was what I enjoyed most. They have local producers for fruit, vegetables, bison, cornish hens, pork, eggs, milk. They have a wonderful bulk selection -- oatmeal, popcorn, beans, lots of varieties of grains, yeast, flour, spices and more. They have a "grind your own peanut/almond butter" station; this is what Alison wants to do next time we need peanut butter. They even have shampoo, conditioner and lotions in bulk -- take your own container in and refill it. Who knew? Not me. We did buy sample sizes of the shampoo and conditioner. So far, Alison is the only one that's used it but she likes it. And, their selection of natural remedies is incredible -- we found a couple of things that we think we may go back for.

Following the tour was taste testing. Dolly shared samples of a few dishes that she prepares in the deli -- Sesame Gingered Kale Slaw, a Canellini Bean spread served with black bean chips (mmm, good) and no bake cookies*.

After sampling the foods, we were able to pick up some hand outs and then visit with others in the class or the instructors. I struck up a conversation with the lady next to me -- she and her husband are both overweight and she also has high blood pressure. They've decided to make a change so she was there in hopes of getting recipe ideas. I think she was a bit disappointed but she and I had a great discussion about food and why we eat what/how we do. I could have talked about this all day because I have such an interest in it.

*Alison and I both laughed when Dolly told us she'd be sharing her no bake cookies with us...just that morning at home, we talked about making them that afternoon. We did. And we used Dolly's recipe. So darn good. Best part was that we made bar cookies -- spread all the batter in the pan and freeze for about 30 minutes til they set up. We will definitely be making them again. And, I'll be purchasing some items in bulk at the food co-op. Maybe I'll take pictures too. I really liked Dolly. Jenny was very well educated about produce in season, heirloom varieties and she'll even take special orders. She said she'll be getting blueberries in soon and suggested that blueberry lovers order multiple flats for freezing so you can enjoy them all winter long. I'm hoping they offer other classes. I may be an old dog but I'm willing to learn new tricks.

make your own | croutons

2010-06-23T16:55:00.000-05:00

Do you ever end up with a single hot dog bun, hamburger bun or heel of bread and wonder what to do with it? Here's a simple and tasty solution -- make croutons.

I found 3 hot dog buns, 2 sandwich buns and 2 heels of bread in my bread basket. Not wanting them to go to waste was my incentive for making croutons. I hate throwing food away. You too can avoid food waste.

Here's a simple recipe.

Cube bread/buns. For every 5 slices of bread, you'll need:
2 T butter
2 T olive oil
1 clove minced garlic
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 c. finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Melt butter in skillet with olive oil. When butter is melted, add the garlic and cook on medium heat for about 1 minute. Turn off heat. Add bread cubes and stir thoroughly. At this point you can place the oregano, thyme and cheese in a paper bag or heavy ziploc bag. Add bread and shake. Place on a cookie sheet or pizza pan and bake at 300 for 30 minutes or until nicely toasted. Stir after 15 minutes. Allow to cool and then place in a storage container. I keep mine in the freezer and take out what I need as I need it.

Easy and quite possibly the best croutons you've ever eaten. They give salads a nice crunch and if you need seasoned bread crumbs, it's easy to place them in a ziploc bag and crush them.

2010-06-22T05:35:00.000-05:00

Madison celebrated her 14th birthday with her girlfriends on Friday night. She's always had a large circle of friends which has always made birthday parties challenging for me. A large group can get pricey if you don't watch it. This year we had the birthday girl + 12 others.

She wanted an evening of water fun in our back yard so that's exactly what we did. A slip 'n slide was on the list of activities. The commercial ones that are wide enough for at least 2 people at a time start at $35. I didn't want to buy a water toy that probably wouldn't get a lot of use given the ages of our girls. So, we improvised and made our own.

A $20 tarp and our yard sprinklers worked like a charm. The tarp came with grommets so we used the stakes from our tent to hold it in place. And, the tarp will become part of our camping gear as our old tarp needed replaced. Other activities included water gun fights ($3.00 for 12), water baloon toss and fights ($2.75 for 250 baloons) and flash light tag by the light of the moon. Dinner was a simple meal of hot dogs on the grill, chips and water melon with birthday cake for dessert (of course).

The girls all said the highlight of the evening was flashlight tag. It was so much fun that my girls organized a neighborhood game on Saturday night and plans for a large co-ed game on July 3. I would have never guessed that something so simple (and old fashioned) would have been so popular with the teenagers!

when life gives you limes...

2010-06-21T05:00:00.001-05:00

...make limeade! Our local seasonal market had limes on special this weekend -- 10 for $1. What better time to make limeade? I love limeades and fresh is far and above what you get at Sonic and trust me, I'm a fan of Sonic limeade!

I stopped at the market on my way to the grocery store today. A pint container held 10 limes. Just enough for one batch of my recipe.

As I was making the pizza for our Saturday night dinner, I asked Lawman and Madison to squeeze the limes. By the time I popped the pizza in the oven, they had all the limes squeezed.

Limeades from scratch are super easy and super delicious. To make, place 1 1/2 cups of sugar in a pitcher. Add 1/2 cup of boiling water and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add about 1 1/2 c. of fresh squeezed lime juice (I used 10 small limes) and 5 cups of cold water. Stirl well and serve on ice.

the making of a book

2010-06-17T20:41:00.000-05:00

Once in a while I get to spend a day out of routine but still get paid for it. Today was that day.

Several weeks ago in my office we had a discussion about creativity. Remember back to the early days of your childhood, like kindergarden. If someone had asked you if you were an artist, most likely you would have said yes. In our early years, we all tend to think we are creataive but then as we get older, something happens. It's been proven that by 4th grade very few kids would answer yes to that same question of whether or not they were an artist. By that age, we've all been judged by our peers. Our artwork has been passed over for recognition. Our confidence starts to sink. Sadly, not only does our confidence sink where art/creativity is concerned but in other areas too. All because we begin to realize that we're not necessarily as good at particular activities as we think we are.

To make a long story short, our firm decided to sponsor an artist/illustrator to speak at a local children's organization today. Our goal was to share with the young people of the community that it is ok to be creative. It is possible to get paid doing something that is FUN. The job of playing hostess fell to me. A job that I was more than willing to do today.

Our speaker/guest was Brad Sneed. I was first 'introduced' to Brad years ago when my girls were little. My SIL purchased several books that he had illustrated and she even managed to have him sign them. I finally asked how in the world she managed to get every book signed. As it turns out, he's got ties to my hometown. His parents live in the community now and he also spent his childhood summers in the area. Oh, the world is a small place.

Today I met Brad at 9am. He was booked for three presentations and I stuck around to hear the first one. He was great! The kids loved him. He spoke about his childhood and how he first learned that he had a natural ability to look at something and then recreate it on paper. His parents and art teachers noticed it and encouraged him to grow that talent. It wasn't always easy but because others encouraged him, he's now a full fledged illustrator....he gets paid to draw and paint. Wouldn't that be a fun job? Oh my.

As a hostess, it was my job to have lunch with him. This was my favorite part of the day. We covered a lot of ground during that hour -- childhood, art, dreams, family, more childhood, creativity, etc. Such great conversation.

I also listened to his last presentation. At the end of the day, he presents me with one of his books. And, he asks if he could sign it for my girls. Why, of course!

Even at 17 and 14, my girls were appreciative of this treat. I love that we have these for the girls. Such treasures to be able to send with them someday.

Brad also told me about his newest project. Check out Felix Featherbottom. What a great idea. I think my girls may have to get this book as part of their Christmas present.