Sharp Dressed Man

Getting my little one to wear anything but dino gear is a real chore. I pretty much gave in a couple years ago to the whole thing fighting it thing. Now....I just have to get creative. While we were out, he spotted this. The awesomest tie in the whole universe. No... it doesn't have T-Rex on it, but it did have some other of his favorites and that was perfect. He was so proud to put it on!!!

And of course, since he got it I had to take pictures of it......isn't he handsome?!!!

Like I said... I gave in a long time ago. These are dinosoles. They are his third pair. He went with the Stegosaurus ones this time. Of course they light up.

Song: Sharp Dressed Man, ZZ Top

I know I have a few people waiting on pics this week (from a bit ago!) I promise I have not forgotten about you, had to finish a little project (I've had several people ask lately if I ever don't have a project I'm working on....) and then I will be back in the editing room until I'm done. Thanks everyone for being patient!

Patience

Patience is a virtue.
I say that at least once a day.
to myself.
to my kiddo.
Because, really waiting for something, makes it even sweeter and better.

This little tiny one came to visit clear from across the country. I was soooooooo happy she did. Along with her came a bunch of others I was so happy to have at my house. It was the perfect reason to celebrate. A new life. A new perfect little girl...with A LOT of hair!

I like this one because the binky is almost bigger than her face. :)

Thank you to my family for driving far and away to get together.  You know how much I like to entertain and you put up with me!!

Love to all!

Song: Baby Mine, Bonnie Raitt and Was Not Was

Freeze Frame

She's quite a character.

She dances.

She poses.

She sings.

She smiles and wrinkles her nose at the same time.

She's  a perfect listener.

....and is about to be a big sister, which from what I can tell...she's pretty darn excited about.

The below series...one of the cutest things I've seen in a long time. She's a very caring little girl with all kinds of personality!!!

Song: Freeze Frame

Toes

The little toes.

They are my favorite thing.

So are little hands.

And little cheeks.

And little elbows.

And little knees.

And little bums.

Song: Jack Johnson, Bubbly Toes

Going To Be New

They will be moving away soon. To a whole other part of the country. Where it's not dry and snowy. It will be a huge adventure for them.

But I won't get to see this little one get bigger. At least through my lens.

I have moved almost every three years of my life. In the last few, it's only been new houses, but regardless, I know exactly what it's like. How much work goes into it. How it's hard at first to meet new people. How being new makes you an outsider for a while and rely on your family, no matter how small it is for the support you need. I know.

So, I want to wish them luck on their new adventure. I hope they get to see and do wonderful new things and embrace the newness!

This was my theme song growing up. I listened to it a lot.

Song: New Kid in Town, The Eagles

Sticks and Stones

 I picked out the color for the downstairs accent wall pretty early on in the project. It's a boy area down there, but I still want it to be comfortable for everyone. So, it's got a good mix of rustic and modern things in it. I wanted it to feel warm. Cozy. Comforting. Relaxing. Yet.... kind of a little itty bit stylish.

Well...it's kind of hard to be stylish with a giant breaker box in the middle of the room. This breaker box was in the room where we put the bathroom on the other side of that wall and of course that disrupts all kinds of codes, so we simply turned it around and put it in the living room. Well, then we really didn't know what to do with it, so our contractor built a frame around it. Then we had him add another frame on top of that (beveled out in the back so it can hold something) and attached it so it opens like a door. So all we had to do was find something to put in it. Originally, I was going to put a photograph. Woodsy one. BUT...they are kind of all over the house, SO. I made a clock. Out of sticks.

The whole project cost me less than $10.  I just bout a piece of foam board and then painted the same color as the accent wall. Then I attached the clock mechanism (you can buy at most any craft shop) and then cut sticks for the numbers. It worked out perfectly.  I love building things out of sticks!!! And the great thing about it.... it's removable. I can change it at anytime, which knowing me I will. Several times over.

Song: Sticks and Stones, Tracy Lawrence

La La La

I love lemons in the summer. I love to have them in the house, just to look at them, because a big bowl of them seriously makes me happy.

For L day we started of with
Lemonade starter to make Lemonade
Lasagna
Lemon Bars
and later for me... a latte. Hey I had to squeeze coffee in there somewhere.

I don't like to make big pitchers of lemonade, because if it's sitting in there, it has to be drunk. Which, I'm not one to cut my kiddo off from sugar too often, but juices, in general, we have never been big on. They have A LOT of sugar in them.  Only a few less grams than pop.

So to make it easier and to only enjoy one cup at a time... I made a lemonade starter. Which is super easy and can keep for quite a while.  And it's fresh!!

Lemonade Starter
3 cups water
1 cup sugar (recipe called for 1.5, but I cut it down a bit)
1 1/2 cups lemon juice
1 tsp lemon rind

Boil the sugar in the water until dissolved.  Let cool completely. Add lemon juice and rind. That's it. I doubled this recipe and it turned out perfect!!! We had a couple glasses and then put it away for another day!

I also made PW's lemon bars, which I had made at Easter. SOOOO easy. So fast and Park gets to use his hands to mix, which always makes him happy!

Crumble Lemon Bars
1-⅓ cup All-purpose Flour

½ teaspoons Salt
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 stick (1/2 Cup) Butter, Slightly Softened
1 cup Brown Sugar (lightly Packed)
1 cup Oats
1 can (14 Ounce) Sweetened Condensed Milk
½ cups Lemon Juice
Zest Of 1 Lemon

Mix butter and brown sugar until well combined.

Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder.
Add oats and flour to butter/sugar mixture and mix to combine.
Press half of crumb mixture into the bottom of an 8 x 11 inch pan.
Mix together condensed milk, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Spread onto the bottom layer of the crumb mixture. Top with the other half of the crumb mixture, but don’t press.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.
Allow pan to sit on counter for 30 minutes after baking. Cut into squares and refrigerate for a couple of hours or until cool.
Serve cool.

And lastly....lasagna

Which, I don't eat hamburger, so I made chicken instead. I have no idea if they are comparable as I don't eat the one with beef. I liked it though! :)

Song: La Belle et la Bad Boy, Mc Solaar

Too Kool

K day was a pretty easy going meal. Summer normally calls for easy going meals as it's hard to get excited about turning on the oven for an extended period of time.  We did find an awesome afternoon snack (though I know my kiddo wouldn't choose it, as he could live off fruit, we all do really...a deserted island , full of mango and coconuts would be his dream come true.)

For K we had:
Kiwi
Kabobs (both grilled and ungrilled)
Koolaide
Kit Kat Kookies

Kit Kat Kookies (don't taste like Kit Kats... but taste pretty good anyway)

2 c. graham cracker crumbs

1 c. butter
1/3 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. milk
25 Club crackers
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/2 c. peanut butter chips
2/3 c. peanut butter


Mix crumbs, butter, sugars and milk together in pan. Bring to boil and boil for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Put 1 layer of crackers in ungreased 9 x 13 inch pan. Pour 1/2 of the boiled mixture on top of crackers. Put a second layer of crackers over mixture and top with remaining boiled mixture. Top with 1 more layer of crackers. Melt the chips and peanut butter together. Spread over top of crackers. Cool and cut and refrigerate. Makes 5 dozen.

Recipe from cooks.com

Chicken, Red Bell Peppers, and Pineapple and marinated Mozzarella.

Song: Too Hot, Kool and the Gang

Jiggle and a Wiggle

I have an ex-sister-in-law that has an amazing family. I've heard the greatest stories. Been involved with a few. I also have had the pleasure of enjoying some of their famous recipes.

For J day.. the first thing to come to mind was Jack Salad. I have no idea where the name came from. Probably something they made up, much like most of their entertainment. I've never seen a family that can make up a game within minutes and have everyone playing along with them.

So for J day we had:

Jack Salad

Johnny Carinos Pasta (when I started making this, it was still Johnny Carnios, so it still counts)

Jello Jigglers and

Jicama

Weaver Family Jack Salad

1 small head cabbage, chopped

1 large sweet onion, chopped
20-30 sliced jalapenos from a jar, finely chopped (more or less to your taste)

1 pckg. (1 lb.) bacon, cut into small pieces and cooked (easier to cut the pieces first)
5-6 large dill pickles, chopped

1 cup vinegar

1 cup vegetable oil

On the stove, bring the vinegar and oil to a boil, then reduce heat just to keep warm. Meanwhile, combine all the other ingredients in a large bowl. You can add more or less of any of the ingredients, the idea is just to have close to the same amount of each one so that each bite gets some of everything. Pour the vinegar and oil over the salad and stir to combine. The salad is best cold, so I usually put it in the freezer. The leftover salad is even better a day or two later, as the flavors combine more.

Johnny Carinos Pasta:

For Spicy Romano Sauce:

1 Pint Heavy Cream

4 Tbls Butter

1 tbsp Salt

1 Tbls Pepper

1/4 Cup Romano Cheese

1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

2 tsp Cayenne Pepper

Melt butter in hot saute pa. Add Cream, Salt and pepper and heat to a boil. Take off flame and fold cheeses and Cayenne pepper into sauce. Allow to sit 2 to 3 minutes after cheese has melted.

For Pasta:

1/2 ounce of melted butter

1.2 cup of sliced mushrooms

1/4 cup of sliced green onions

1/2 cup drained artichoke hearts

3 oz of sliced grilled chicken

1 oz heavy cream

1/4 teaspoon saute sauce

10 oz bow tie pasta

Directions:

In a heated saute pan add butter, mushrooms (I don't use mushrooms in mine... don't love eating fungus) green onions, artichoke hearts, chicken, sundried tomatoes and saute spice. Saute for about a minute. Add cream and spicy Romano sauce to saute pan. Lower heat and reduce. Add Bow tie pasta to pan. Toss well.

Song: Wiggle, Barenaked Ladies

Double Take

Remember this little one. I knicknamed him Rolls. Well... Rolls has a new baby brother.

And they look EXACTLY the same.

It's pretty astounding. Pretty amazing. Pretty adorable!!!!

He's only three months old.

Song: Jelly Roll Stroll, Jelly Roll Kings

Finally

I'm still trying to play a little catch up from all of last week. I've been trying to get together with this family for over a year. For some reason... it just wasn't happening. the weather, sick kiddos, the weather, etc.  I finally got to meet them and I'm so glad I did!!!