Birthday Skirt?

Marci got Addie this adorable Birthday Shirt from Gymboree.

But... she needed a skirt to go with it! She told me she saw these "no sew" tulle skirts on line and thought they were really cute. I did some hunting and found this, this and this.

I got some ballet pink and hot pink tulle and had fun making this EASY little skirt.

Thank You Thursday

Happy Birthday Addie!

Today Adeline Amani Freeman is 2 years old.

and that's a reason to

CELEBRATE!

(Marci made this for Little Addie and ALL I want to do is watch it over and over again...she's just so cute!)

Baby Love Part 2

Last night the Baby Shower for little Alan Boyce was so fun. We ate delicious food,

(Rachael brought the most delicious cheese ball and spinach dip. I promise I'll post some of these recipes)

.... enjoyed wonderful friends ... and got lots of Baby Sugar!

Life Lesson# 45893

One of my favorite friends sent this to me and I just had to share it!

I was due for a good laugh...Enjoy!

Life Lesson# 45893 = Always check your child's homework before it gets to school!

When asked to draw a picture of what they wanted to be when they grew up, second-grader "Sarah" turned in the lovely drawing shown below. Needless to say, the teacher was a bit surprised -- Mrs. Smith had always seemed like such a conservative woman. So she sent a note home to the girl's mother asking for clarification as to the picture's meaning.

(read Mom's reply below the picture)

Dear Mrs. Jones,

I wish to clarify that I am not now, nor have I ever been, an exotic dancer. I work at Home Depot and I told my daughter how hectic it was last week before the blizzard hit. I told her we sold out every single shovel we had, and then I found one more in the back room, and that several people were fighting over who would get it. Her picture doesn't show me dancing around a pole. It's supposed to depict me selling the last snow shovel we had at Home Depot.From now on I will remember to check her homework more thoroughly before she turns it in.

Sincerely, Mrs. Smith

Baby Love

Tomorrow night I'm having a baby shower. It is one of my favorite things to do. It's so fun to celebrate new babies ... don't ya think! This is for a baby boy that was born on January 3rd. I was looking around for anything blue to add to the dining room where the buffet will be. I came across one of Kayley's cute plaques that she made for a sample a few years ago. I hung it on the mirror.

Ribbons ....

Buttons....

Isn't he a little doll! I decided to make one of my Etsy Frames

to display the cutie pie's picture.

Chocolate Anyone?

Frosted Chocolate-Buttermilk Cupcakes

Martha Stewart-FoodEveryday

Recipe: Frosted Chocolate-Buttermilk Cupcakes

Looking for Candy Recipes?
Here You Go Sweetie
Just click on the name of the CANDY to see the recipe.

2 Minute Microwave Fudge 5 Minute Fudge 7 Layer Bars Aaron's Buttery Cashew Brittle Almond Bark Amanda's Peppermint Creams Ann's Cream Nut Candy Bavarian Inn Peanut Bars Beth's Delicious Fudge Brownie Fudge Dessert Buckeyes Butter Toffee Candy Bar Brownies Candy Cane Brittle Candy Cane Fudge Caramel Krispie Treats Caramels Carmel Corn Chocolate Almond Bars Chocolate Balls Chocolate Billionaires Chocolate Chow Mein Candy Chocolate Covered Cherries Chocolate Covered Nuts Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls Chocolate Covered Pretzels Chocolate Nut Caramels Chocolate Popcorn Chocolate Silk Bon Bons Chocolate Truffels Candied Walnuts Chunky Mallow Candy Cinnamon Hard Candy Cinnamon Popcorn Cranberry Nut Fudge Cream Cheese Candy Creamy Chocolate Truffles Creamy Microwave Pralines (Texas Stye) Crispy peanutbutter balls Dark Chocolate Fudge Deborahe's Chocolates Disappearing Marshmallow Brownies Dish of Dirt Divinty Dorothy's Peanut Butter/Butterscotch Noodle Cookie Dreamcicle Fudge Easy Candy Easy Divinity Easy Divinity Candy Easy Fudge Easy Granola Candy Easy Microwave Carmel Easy Microwave Fudge Easy Pecan Logs English Toffee Bars Fabulous Fudge Fake Brittle Fantasy Fudge Festive Chocolate Truffles Five Minute Fudge Fool-Proof Fudge Frosted Pecans Fudge Brownies Fudge for One Fudge Puddles Georgia Nuggets Grandma Donna's Nummies Grandma F's Delicious Fudge Grandmother' s Fudge Hard Candy Hard Tack Candy Hazelnut Fantasy Fudge Honey Comb J & D's Peanut Butter Balls Jeanne's Tiger Butter Jen's Chocolate Meringues J's Cream Fudge Kim's Famous Cashew Brittle Magic Marshmallow Fudge Mama's Fudge Margie's Best Candy Martha Washington Candy Martha Washington Mounds Marzipan Melting Moments Memaw's Reese's Meme's Best Ever Peanut Butter Fudge Meringues Micky's Mints Microwave Peanutbutter fudge Microwave Pralines Milk Fudge Milky Way Bars Million Dollar Fudge Mimi's Famous Fudge Mocha Truffles Mom's Mints Mr. Monroe's Famous Fudge Mrs. Eisenhower's Fudge Never Fail Fudge No Cook Peanut Butter Fudge No Fail Fudge Novia Scotia Treats Nut Mallow Goodies Nutty Fudge Orange Balls Out Of This World Fudge Oven Carmel Corn Peanut Brittle Peanut Brittle (Microwave) Peanut Butter Balls Peanut Butter Bars-A Favorite Treat Peanut Butter Candy Peanut Butter Cups Peanut Butter Fudge Peanut Butter Snowballs Peanut Clusters (microwavable) Peanut Krispies Peanut Patties

Am I Limber One?

Last night Scotto had a camp-out so Hope decided to have her friend, Sierra spend the night. She is so sweet. They did Show Choir together during the summer and really clicked. Now they're in another little singing group. Here's a couple of clips from one of their Holiday performances that Marci (of cource, THANKS Marc) took for us. I just realized I never posted about them at Christmas. oops

Jingle Bells

(This one is cute because you can hear little Ella sing "Hey".)
Angels We Have Heard on High

Last night Hope thought it would be fun to do Sierra's nails. They turned out really cute. She painted them and then embellished them with tiny painted instruments.

It reminded me of a story from a few years ago when Hope was about 5. We were living in Florida at the time and she came with me to take Kayley to the dentist one afternoon. Kayley has always been SO creative and her nails were always painted to look absolutely adorable.

This particular day it was her toes. (Kayley always wore flip flops.) That day there were little murals of the beach on them. It was amazing ... the detail she painted on her own toes. There were palm trees, birds, a sun... etc. The dentist happened to notice them and couldn't get over the fact that she had painted them herself. He said, "Boy, you are so artistically talented... and LIMBER too!" Hope thought that must be a huge compliment and excitedly asked the dentist, "Am I LIMBER One?". It was pretty funny. The dentist was cracking up and never forgot it. Neither have we!

Here are the pictures of the girls last night:

Smile for The Camera (don't be too excited though....)

Paula Deen and Chicken Boudine

I love Paula Deen's Recipes and just found this:

Chicken Boudine

A true comfort food favorite - Yield 8 to 10 servings

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup drained, chopped pimentos
• 1(2 1/4-ounce) package slivered almonds, toasted
• 3 cup grated sharp cheese, your choice, divided
• 1/4 cup dry sherry (don't worry, the alcohol burns off during cooking)
• 4 cup chopped cooked chicken
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 (4-ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
• 2 (10 3/4-ounce) cans cream of mushroom soup
• 2 cup cooked egg noodles
• Salt and pepper to taste
  

Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2.In a large bowl, toss together the noodles, soup, broth, and sherry. Add the chicken, 2 cups of the cheese, the almonds, pimento, mushrooms, and salt and pepper to taste, and toss gently to combine. Transfer the mixture to a greased 13-by-9-by-2 inch casserole and top with the remaining cup of cheese.
3.Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until bubbly.

Thank You Thursday

I am so blessed to have the sweetest EVER friends! Today my fun friend, Cynthia, (who happens to be one of the most talented people on the face of the earth) took me to lunch for my birthday. We wanted to wait until all of our company had left, the kids were back in school and life had settled a little....just a little. I know what you're thinking... Yep, it took this long.

We went to the Red Oak Grill (my pick)! The first time I went there, she took me.

It is so delicious. I've been back several times.

Their menu is amazing.

My favorite thing is the BEEF KABOB- Two skewers of tender beef cubes served with rice and special salad. The rice and cucumber salad are to die for....Seriously. I had a wonderful time catching up with her. It was a real treat!

Thank you Cynthia ♥.

The restaurant is close to Marci and Mike's place so

I swung by before heading home and got

me some baby sugar from Adeline.

Then I was "good to go"!

If only everyday went this way:0

hearts

why do hearts taste better?

9 more days 'til February!

It's time to get ready....

favorite heart shaped cookie cutters

pampered chef bread tube

Never Ending Story

I try desperately to stay on top of the on going "laundry saga". There are two things that just drive me crazy....
-I too often start a load of laundry and forget about it. I had to list that as one of my 3 bad habits on a tag ... so sad.
-my other laundry ta bu is having laundry baskets full of clean clothes sitting around waiting to be folded ... getting all wrinkly ... even more sad.

The wonderful rods Mr. Mark installed have helped tremendously!

Picture from House to Home
Anyway, I'm always looking for ways to improve my "Never Ending Story" situation. Here are some great Laundry Tips from Martha Stewart Living.

Separate and Pre-soak Laundry:

Follow the washing instructions that appear on the label of each garment. Separate laundry into batches, such as dark fabrics, shirts, towels, underwear, and rags.

Launder clothing in the shape in which they are to be worn:

Zipped, velcroed, and buttoned up, with pockets emptied and cuffs unrolled. Always pre-soak heavily soiled items and dinner napkins in an enzyme detergent either in the washer or in a basin; wash the following day. First, launder your batch of white fabrics. Wash white towels on the hottest setting with no bleach.

Detergents:

There is a wide variety of laundry detergents from which to choose. Powdered detergents work best for hard water and for removing mud and clay. Liquid detergents are good for taking out grease, oily dirt, and stains, and work very well as a pretreatment. A good tip to follow is to buy laundry detergent in bulk and pour it into smaller bottles or airtight containers. Also, always wear household gloves and old clothes when you hand-wash items in bleach.

Color-fast Test:

Martha suggests always checking for colorfastness on dark clothing before washing. To do a colorfast test, dampen fabric in a discreet spot and blot with a white cloth to see if any color appears. If color does appear, wash the item separately until it becomes colorfast.

Removing Oil Stains:

Use cornstarch to help absorb oil stains. Sprinkle the stain with cornstarch, wait 10 to 15 minutes and scrape off.

Easier Ironing and Drying:

For easier ironing, remove items from dryer while still damp. This will help prevent wrinkles from setting in. Clean the lint drawer before drying each load of laundry.

Washing Pillows:

Most pillows should be washed every 3 to 6 months. Check tags to make sure the pillows are not "dry clean only" Wash them in the gentle cycle with warm water and mild detergent. Be sure to check the tag to see if you can dry the pillows in the dryer. When drying pillows, add tennis balls in a sock to the dryer, which will help break up clumps of filling. This tip also works well for down jackets and comforters.

I hope some of this information will be helpful to you. I learned something new and that's always good...or as Martha would say a"good thing".

For great

Laundry Charts

to Print

Click the Logo

Comfort Food

This recipe is perfect for cozy dinner with the family. Don't you just love meals like this on cold winter evenings. Fluffy, cheesy biscuits are smothered in a creamy chicken and veggie sauce -- comfort food at its finest.

Chicken and Biscuits

Ingredients:
2 cups chopped round red potato (2 medium)
1 cup coarsely chopped carrot (2 medium)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped onion (1 medium)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped celery (1 medium)
1 4-oz. can (drained weight) sliced mushrooms, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. dried thyme, crushed

1/2 tsp. dried sage, crushed

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

2 Tbsp. quick-cooking tapioca, crushed

1 pound bone-in chicken thighs, skinned

1 cup chicken broth

1 cup frozen peas

1 3-oz. pkg. cream cheese, cut up

Cheesy Biscuits
Directions:
1. In a 3-1/2- or 4-quart slow cooker, combine potato, carrot, onion, celery, mushrooms, garlic, thyme, sage, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle tapioca over the mixture. Top with chicken thighs. Pour broth over all.
2. Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 6 to 7 hours or on high-heat setting for 3 to 3-1/2 hours.
3. Remove chicken from slow cooker. When cool enough to handle, remove meat from bones and coarsely chop; discard bones. Return meat to slow cooker along with peas and cream cheese. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir well; serve with Cheesy Biscuits. Makes 6 servings.
Cheesy Biscuits:Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a medium bowl, combine 1-2/3 cups packaged biscuit mix and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (2 ounces). Stir in 1/2 cup milk. Turn out onto a floured surface and knead 10 times. Pat into a 1/2-inch-thick circle. Cut with a floured 3-inch biscuit cutter. Reroll scraps as needed. Place biscuits on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Recipe from Better Homes & Gardens

Another Brunch Recipe

I just came across this recipe and can't wait to try it. It's from the cookbook, The Christmas Table. I don't think I can wait until Christmas to make this one!

It is from the brunch selection but after looking at Kayley's post, I'm thinking it'd be great for dinner with a green salad.

Spinach, Cherry Tomato, and Feta Frittata

• 12 large eggs
• 1/2 cup half-and-half
• 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small yellow onion, halved lengthwise and cut into thin wedges
• 6 ounces baby spinach leaves, coarsely chopped (about 4 cups firmly packed)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, stemmed and halved
• 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
• 1/2 cup (about 3 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
  

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs and half-and-half until thoroughly combined. Whisk in the salt and pepper. Set aside. Position an oven rack about 3 inches below the heat source and preheat the broiler.
In a 12-inch ovenproof skillet, preferably nonstick, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Swirl to coat the pan, add the onion, and sauté, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens, about 2 minutes.
Add the spinach a handful at a time, and sauté just until wilted and bright green, about 3 minutes. As soon as the spinach is wilted, add the tomatoes and oregano and sauté, stirring constantly, until the tomatoes are heated through, about 1 minute.

Add the egg mixture to the pan, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook, without stirring, until the frittata is set on the bottom and around the edges, about 4 minutes. While the frittata is cooking, simultaneously lift one edge of the frittata with a spatula and tilt the pan a little so the uncooked egg flows under the set edge. Repeat this at regular intervals around the edge of the frittata.

When the eggs are mostly cooked, scatter the feta cheese over the top and place the frittata under the broiler. Broil until the top is golden brown and the eggs are set but still moist, about 3 minutes.

Allow the frittata to rest for 5 minutes, then slice it into wedges and serve immediately on warmed plates.

Recipe courtesy of The Christmas Table

Get Back Up

Be inspired!

A Book for Nie

Remember Nie ? I was visiting one of my favorite blogs, Daring Young Mom, and found out about this new bookthat was put together by these Great Bloggers and all of the proceeds will be used to help Nie Nie and her family tackle their rapidly accumulating medical bills. Thanks Navel Gazing At It's Finest!

Go here, and order your copy or 2, 3.....

(available in paperback or downloaded)

Thank You Thursday

Warm Soup on a Cold DayGrilled Corn and Roasted Red Pepper Soup

We are having a cold spell....mind you, I'm not complaining. Mark is in Ohio and well, he's complaining...Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

I was having a so, so day, trying to cross things off my "to do" list. You know how it is. Sometimes that can be fun and then other times, well there was just so much to do, to do, to do.

I got back from running a couple of errands and there was this delightful message on the home voice mail. It went something like this, " Hi mom, this is Marci. The girls and I are on the way to the library and I was wondering if you'd like to come by for lunch. I have some soup I made yesterday and Mike's not really a huge soup fan. Let me know if you'd like to see the girls and join us. I'll call you when we're on the way home."

Now that gave me the boost to do, to do, to do so I could have a little afternoon fiesta with

Marci and the Cuties.

I got to play with

Her

and

Her!

The soup was so delicious and the company was well, what I needed!

Such Cuteness

Remember the t-shirts with the Owl Appliques

to wear with their skirts after Halloween.

I made for Ella and Addie in November. After all... they needed to have another little shirt

Here are some pictures of the cuties:

I just loved hearing that Miss Addie 

chose the skirts to wear for their play date at the park.

Sunday Dinner

Sunday Dinner.....Finally
I know it's Tuesday, I'm a little behind again. Setting the table Saturday night.
We had the fam over for dinner to celebrate Mr. Mark's birthday.

He wanted to California Combo for dinner. It's a family favorite, fine by me....easy to make!

We had fun loading his Million Dollar Pie with lots of candles. He was a great sport about the whole thing.

Marci recoreded it:

Dad's Birthday Song He wore the shirt from Kayley & Scott (loves it guys...thanks!)
Frog and Addie ready for dessert.

Ella & Addie entertaining themselves while the big people visit.

What nice little girlies!

By the way, we're doing some new things over at the Pineapple Hill Blog.

click the logo

Heaven is in My Refrigerator

Instead of a birthday cake, Mark's request is ALWAYS this Heavenly Dessert. I got this recipe years ago. Actually, I think I got it first from Heather's mom, Diane when we lived in San Diego. I have since found the exact recipe from one of my Paula Deen cookbooks, The Lady & Sons Savannah Country Cookbook ( I adore her!) . Here it is:

Million-Dollar Pie

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 8-ounce pkg. cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 quart heavy cream, whipped

with 1 cup sugar until stiff

2 3.4-ounce packages instant

chocolate pudding mix

(we use 1 box chocolate & 1 box vanilla)

3 cups milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass dish, melt butter and stir in four and 1/4 cup of nuts. Bake about 15 - 20 minutes, until firm. Let cool.

First Layer: Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 cup of whipped cream. Layer over cooked nut crust.

Second Layer: Combine instant pudding mix and milk. Layer over first layer.

Third Layer: Combine remaining whipped cream and remaining chopped nuts. Layer over top. (we top ours with shaved chocolate) Keep refrigerated.

Marci's "gluten-free" Heaven

heaven for the little ones