Your Sister Friend

Learning Tower

2011-03-20T20:24:00.000-07:00

This is an item I have thought would be so helpful for little ones in the kitchen! You know how my little one is always "helping" me bake and do the dishes. At least I would feel safer about her helping and not falling off a chair.
The learning tower

photo credit from Learning Tower

You can win one right now over at Our Ordinary Life.

Pancakes or Crepes?

2011-03-08T19:32:00.000-08:00

My husband calls today Shrove Tuesday. I don't really know what that means, but he is English and that is what they call it. I call it FAT Tuesday and it is a grand excuse (do I need an excuse) to eat decadent foods. The theory is that you are then supposed to give up such decadent foods until Easter. (I don't participate in that portion of the tradition.) Every shrove Tuesday my husband goes on and on about having pancakes. He means crepes really. I guess that is the tradition in the UK, you eat pancakes on shrove Tuesday. Today I decided to surprise him with savory crepes for dinner and sweet ones for dessert.

I used this recipe from Tasty Kitchen for the savory crepes.

I deviated from the recipe a bit. I used mushrooms and spinach for the veggies and then served broccoli on the side. I also added some herbes de provence to the mix. These are french crepes after all so they needed some frenchy seasonings.

On to the best part...dessert! I filled mine with nutella and strawberries. My favorite treat from the crepe vendors in Paris. Alex chose his family traditional favorite of fresh squeezed lemon juice and sugar. Not half bad either. I had to try one for quality control purposes of course.

So there you have it. I have decided not to give up anything for lent this year. I can't seem to get motivated. I need to start something (like a strict gym routine) rather than give something up!

What was the husbands verdict you ask? He was very pleased I went to all the trouble (they weren't very difficult, just when you have two kiddies at your heels). Let's just hope he is impressed and thankful enough to get me this for our Anniversary later this month.

The Clover bag by Epiphanie

Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore

2011-02-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

Do you use a crock pot? I use mine all the time. Nothing better than throwing some ingredients together in the morning and having a warm meal for dinner. Usually with very little clean up too! I am always on the search for a new recipe since it seems like I have a pretty limited repertoire of recipes. Past the old pot roast and pulled pork I am usually at a loss. I also find many crock pot recipes include lots of cnned goods. Canned veggies, canned condensed soups etc.
I recently got a new crock pot cook book called Art of the Slow Cooker:80 new recipes. It was on my amazon wishlist and my Mommy surprised me by sending it to me! Yippeee! I love cook books. Today I busted it out and made a new recipe from the book, Chicken Cacciatore.

I have to admit, this cook book is not your usual "throw ten ingredients in the pot" and call it dinner sort. It definitely requires some prep, fresh ingredients, and dirtying dishes. The nice thing about it for me though is I can do all of this during nap time, or quiet time in the afternoon or late morning. I then wash all the dishes as well. This way we have a fresh, yummy tasting hot supper without all the last minute rushing and dirty dishes.

This recipe I served with spaghetti noodles and broccolini.

Sorry the finished meal photo is not so good. It was evening and all the natural light was gone so the kitchen lighting was not the best. Trust me, it was good. This is the closest recipe to the one in my book. My recipe says to remove the skin from the bone in chicken which I like because it reduces the fat and doesn't leave the slimy skin in the dish. I would definitely make this again and it is even good enough to serve for company!

Serve this Italian classic over fresh egg noodles or strand pasta, such as fettuccine or pappardelle, to soak up all the juices.

Ingredients:

1/3 cup flour
1 Tbs. salt, plus more, to taste
1 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more, to taste
1 chicken, 3 1/2 to 4 lb., cut into 8 serving pieces
1/4 cup olive oil
2 red or yellow bell peppers, sliced
1 yellow onion, halved and sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup dry red wine
3/4 cup chicken broth
1 can (28 oz.) crushed plum tomatoes
1 Tbs. dried oregano
6 oz. button or cremini mushrooms, sliced

Directions:

Brown the chicken
On a large plate, stir together the flour, the 1 Tbs. salt and the 1 1/2 tsp. pepper. Coat the chicken pieces evenly with the flour mixture, shaking off the excess. In a large fry pan over medium-high heat, warm the oil. Add the chicken pieces, in batches if necessary, skin side down, and cook until golden brown on the bottom, about 7 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook on the second side until lightly browned, 3 to 4 minutes more. Transfer the chicken pieces to the slow cooker.

Cook the chicken and vegetables
Return the fry pan to medium-high heat. Add the bell peppers, onion and garlic and sauté until they start to soften, about 3 minutes. Pour in the wine and broth, and deglaze the pan, stirring to scrape up the browned bits on the pan bottom. Stir in the tomatoes and oregano and bring to a simmer. Pour the mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on the high-heat setting for 4 hours or the low-heat setting for 8 hours.

Add the mushrooms
About 10 minutes before the dish is ready, stir in the mushrooms. Season with salt and pepper and serve. Serves 6.

Adapted from Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast Series, Slow Cooker, by Norman Kolpas (Oxmoor House, 2007).

Consider yourself warned!

2011-02-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

It all started with this recipe for Chocolate butermilk cake donuts. Not that I am a huge donut fanatic but something about them just sucked me in. It was probably the sprinkles. My little one and I are suckers for sprinkles. I just didn't have a donut pan though. Here is where CSN stores come in! They have so many stores with so many products but I always come back to their cooking site. It was possible meant to be that they had a donut pan. Therefore without further ado I give you...donuts!!!

Here is the donut pan I got from CSN's cookware.com I know it is a single use item in the kitchen but it was only $10 and is it really so cute! I decided to make them for breakfast last week since the littlest one woke me rather early. Let me say, baking at 7AM when you are super tired is not the best idea! I got flour everywhere and I burned myself too!

Here it is filled with that chocolate donut batter.

The finished product!! So cute! I didn't frost them with the glaze right away because we were in a hurry to get to preschool. I did glaze and put sprinkles on them later that afternoon. I just did a powder sugar dusting for breakfast. Of course now I can't find the pictures of the finished sprinkles ones for the life of me. I guess I will just have to make them again.

I think the husband approves.

I know this little one was a big fan!

Here are a few pointers for anyone who wants to give it a go. The pan says non stick. I never believe them and always spray with a little pam. On the first batch I used Pam for baking and it left little craters in my donuts. Fine for a moon theme morning but not terribly attractive in general. The next round I went sans pam and it was fine. I just had to turn the pan upside down and give it a moderate whack! Oh and don't over fill the pan or your donuts wont have holes.
I am thinking I will try this recipe next Whole wheat powdered sugar donuts
Oh but then there are these Red Velvet donuts and who could pass up these chocolate stout donuts?
How is a girl to choose?

Dream Home

2011-01-11T21:49:00.000-08:00

I know when my husband and I bought our home we had to make some concessions on things we would like to have and things we had to have. One of the things we caved on is a formal dining room. We have a lovely eat in kitchen but no formal dining room to entertain in. This is one feature I know we won't compromise on in our next home. An attached garage is a must as well!! Oh and a gas cooking stove. The list goes on and on. One fun thing about getting a formal dining room is getting to buy nice dining room furniture. I know my husband would love modern dining room furniture from CSN stores. I would just like something we can all sit around for Sunday roast dinner and not have to clear off all the weeks mail, play doh, and craft projects. At CSN stores you can find fabulous modern dining room furniture and everything else you would need to stock your kitchen too. I find something new I "have to have" each time I browse the site. That is why I am so excited for my next review of a product from CSN stores! Don't you think our modern dining room furniture would look spectacular in the dream home above? A girl can dream can't she? Did I fail to mention the beach front location and infinity pool on the list?

Say What? Josie Duggar

2010-12-10T16:19:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or is there something weird about this picture? Regardless of your personal views on the Duggar family, I won't go there today, is it just me or does this look like a headband that comes with little fake piggy tails? I mean, she looks bald except for these two wild sprouts of hair coming out of the top of her head. Maybe it is the new fashion in extensions for babies? Either way, I think she, and Oprah, need to fire their stylists. Just saying.

Money Laundering

2010-12-09T13:57:00.000-08:00

I have a new hobby. Money laundering! Well, unfortunately not this much cash.

I was dropping off the little one at preschool Tuesday and parked in front of the bar. No she does not go to preschool in a bar, although not a bad idea. The preschool could function in the day and the bar at night? Hmmm. Anyway, her preschool is located in a shabby strip mall next to a dive bar. It is a great preschool, just a little trashy location.

As I got everyone out of the car in the drizzly morning dew I noticed a $20 bill on the ground. It was wet and dirty like it had been there all night. Obviously someone did not end up paying for a round the night before at the bar. As I bent over to pick it up I sort of looked around as if to see if the owner was nearby. If the owner was still nearby from the drunken night before I don't think I would have wanted to run into them. My first reaction was to think of how to return it to them. I was not about to take my kids into the bar searching for an owner. So the old saying, "finders keepers losers weepers" kicked in. This bill was pretty dirt and who knows what germs it contained. I shoved it in my pocket to take home and wash it off. Yes, laundering money is not always a crime. I spent my morning free time thinking of ways to spend my treasure. I decided that since I had found the money I would try to pay it forward as well.

Today I took the trashy bill to starbucks and bought 4 five dollar gift cards. Now, friends who read this blog, don't be lurking at your mail box looking for your gift card. I am going to pay it forward to the people in our lives we don't always remember to appreciate. The postal lady (even though she is quite crabby, and often doesn't take my out going mail), the UPS lady (because she works super hard and always pets our nutty barky dog and gives him milk bones), and two other unsuspecting elves. I hope it brings a little Christmas cheer to these people and to the person who lost the $20 I hope it is not too much of a hardship to you, a couple less beers never did anyone any harm!

Merry Christmas!

Baby Jesus

2010-12-05T22:15:00.000-08:00

We busted out the Christmas decorations and got our tree up this weekend. It looks so fun and festive in our house now! I am even hosting a cookie exchange this year for the first time. I can't wait!
Little is starting to get into the Holiday spirit and is sort of figuring out what this is all about. She had no clue last year at age 1 1/2 so now that she is over two she has some understanding of what Christmas is all about.
Last year my mom handed down a couple little nativity sets for her. One of them was this precious moments set.

It is a HUGE hit. She loves to set them up, line them up to march, put them in the "barn" when it starts to "snow" and make the mommy hold baby Jesus. She also has a set that includes the three wise men. We have of course dubbed them the three wise guys and she carries all these figures around now shouting "baby Jesus and the three wise guys!!!" It is hilarious! I actually don't mind playing along as well because after a million years in Sunday school I actually have a lot of story lines for the figures to carry out. Not like Dora figures where all you can do is climb crystal mountain and avoid swiper the fox.

Now getting her to go to bed without Jesus and the wise guys or leave them at home when we go to story time is going to be my daily challenge.

B&O Espresso Seattle

2010-12-05T22:07:00.000-08:00

We don't get out much. We have two kids age two and a half, and two months. Eating out isn't what it used to be. You know, enjoyable. We do try to find kid friendly, yet fun, hip and yummy places to try.
Thanks to a tip by our friend Brandi who came to visit us for Thanksgiving we decided to try breakfast at B&O in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. It was a huge hit!

The menu isn't huge, but it is tasty and portion sizes are just right. You don't leave feeling stuffed or hungry. They have delicious cornmeal and apple pancakes, just ask little, she ate a whole short stack herself! They were not crowded, no wait to be seated, and great service. Not to mention the valencia latte and mocha that Brandi introduced us to.

I can tell you we will be back, if only parking in Capitol Hill wasn't a huge pain.

Not your turkey Thanksgiving

2010-12-03T22:48:00.000-08:00

So recently I got a fabulous offer from CSN stores to do another review of one of their products. Choosing which product was not an easy decision. I mean, being so close to Christmas and all you would think I would order a gift for a loved one. Well, why not choose something that can be enjoyed by all and is a gift I can share. You can read between the lines here....I wanted something for myself. I wanted yet another kitchen gadget. I figured I could justify it because I would be feeding the ones I love. Besides, we would all be tired of turkey after Thanksgiving and would need a little beef!!! So without further ado, I give you the deluxe mini burger set!!

This little baby was just begging to make the new Barefoot Contessa mini burgers. You see I just got her new cookbook "How Easy Is That?" and she has a recpe for mini burgers similar to this one.
We made them a few days after Thanksgiving when we had our share of turkey and were ready to bring on the beef! They were really easy to make. The kit comes with a burger shaper, a bun cutter, and a wire grill holder. It had everything you need to make the burgers and was so convenient. I have even used the burger shaper twice since! It makes really good sized meatballs as well!
I really wanted to get a photo of the finished product but by the time we were ready to eat I couldn't bear to pause and grab the nice camera. The phone was right there so this is the best phone photo I could get.

The burger with the bun, and of course with all the toppings.

Everyone at dinner was really impressed. They were just the right size. Eat two for a light meal or three if you are hungry for a real dinner. Besides everything is cuter when it is small. The cooking time was really short as well.

The kit held up well and looks like it will last a long time. It was only $20.89 for the whole kit. A bargain compared to some I have seen at Williams Sonoma and Crate and Barrel!! Thanks CSN.

I even had enough to spare on my account to get this Progressive Pastry Mat.

You see, I am not the girl who can just roll out her pastry and know what size will fit in my dish. This one has all the measurements right on it and even has recipes for a quick reminder. I used it to roll out the Stilton Crackers from the new Barefoot Contessa "How Easy Is That?" cookbook. You would think I am working my way through the whole thing. She sure doesn't disappoint though. I thought the cookies were a bit rich and you can really only eat one. Not a bad thing considering how much cheese and butter is in them. The mat makes easy to roll and easy to clean up.

Thanks again CSN for providing the two products for review. I am going to have to get these items to give to the foodies in my life for Christmas and I suggest you do the same!! They have something (or several things) for everyone.

This guy walks into a bar...

2010-11-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

Guy walks into a bar and sits at a table. Tells the waitress, "I'll have a Bloody Mary and a menu." When she returns with his drink, he asks "Still servin' breakfast?" When she says Yes, he replies, "Then I'll have two eggs-runny on top and burnt on the bottom, five strips of bacon ON END-well done on one end and still raw on the other, two pieces of burnt toast and a cold cup of coffee." Indignantly the waitress says, "We don't serve that kinda stuff in here!" Guy says, "Funny... that's what I had in here yesterday..."

Well, if that doesn't get you in the mood for bar tables and stools I don't know what will!

Oh and stay tuned for another super review from CSN! They have everything you need for the home for everyone in your home! We have been so lucky to review great products from their toy stores, and kitchen stores!

Tuesdays Ten

2010-08-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Feeling in the mood again for a Tuesdays ten...

1. Thank you to the PETA folks who put a sticker on our car while we were at the circus this weekend. You are really warming me to your cause by trying to ruin our paint job.

2. We had steaks for dinner the next night. You think they had a feeling we were carnivores too?

3. Our dog is now limping horribly after a big round of fetch at the park. Maybe they put a curse on us?

4. We lost our second gold fish in two weeks as well. Do you see a pattern or is it me?

5. All humans in the house are alive and well. Lucky us. The one on the inside shows no real hurry to make her appearance.

6. Friday makes 3 weeks to go. I am DONE, COOKED, FINITO! Let's get this show on the road.

7. Two more shifts at work until maternity leave. Happy dance.

8. I have been schooling my husband on what I want for a push present. You gotta love that! He did great with the first one...Tiffany's. I am gearing towards and ipad and a new camera lens this round. Hey I know I am spoiled but they don't call it labor for nothing. The 9 months prior are no piece of cake either.

9. Made a batch of triple berry jam today. Yum yum good. Bet it would taste super on vanilla ice cream! Like I need more of that!

10. Preschool starts next week and I would LOVE to be pleasantly surprised that my little sweets is not scared or cries and just has a great time no problem! A mom can wish can't she?

CSN comes through once again!!

2010-08-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

I know you have all been waiting with baited breath to see what it is I chose to review from CSN stores!!

Well there is good news and bad. I really really wanted to review this:

But it was out of stock!! :( I waited to see if it would come back in stock but alas, that is what I get for waiting until the end of summer. To be the LAST person to jump on the home made ice cream bandwagon. I mean, the recipe for double cookie dough ice cream from Annie's Eat's should be enough to send us all scrambling to buy an ice cream maker. The pleasant surprise from CSN is that because I had registered for an email notice if the ice cream maker came in stock, I received an apology notice that it was indeed still out, and a coupon for 10% off another item! Wow, that is a super deal. I could have chosen any one of the other ice cream makers they offer but thought it was maybe a sign to move on and try something else.

It didn't take me long to find about twenty other items I would love to try. I ended up deciding on two items! First up is the Stanley Roberts ceramic scalloped pie plate. It was so beautiful (I chose red) and with all the quiche recipe's I have been trying will get plenty of use. I thought it would look lovely for holidays in red. Just think of the 4th of July pie I can make next year.

The second item is something we have been needing and looking for at many stores for a long time! We actually found the PERFECT one at the perfect price at CSN.
The safety first nature next booster seat.

We wanted something small and low for our two year old to sit on to join us at the kitchen table on the padded window seat. All the other boosters were too big, bulky, or expensive. Yet we needed something to buckle her in to keep her seated during meals. This has turned out to be the perfect match for our needs. At $11 you can't beat it!! Truly I thought we had looked everywhere and were going to have to shell out $30 for something not as good, or let her be free on the bench and roll around like a wild one!

The only disappointment was perhaps the shipping time on this order. We have enjoyed super fast shipping on past orders. I think we usually received our purchase in less than a week. With this order I waited well over a week and the items came in separate shipments. I was hoping to make a pie for our out of town guests in the new pie dish but it did not arrive in time. They didn't seem to mind the raspberry cream pie in a plain old glass dish though!

Thanks again CSN for the opportunity to try one of your many products and there will be pie a plenty here at Your Sister Friend thanks to you!

I received the above products from CSN stores free of charge to review. All opinions are my own. I was not paid for this review or told in any way what say in my review.

Have you heard?

2010-08-17T22:10:00.000-07:00

Some fun things I have found lately...

50 best cupcakes on the internet
I can't vouch for any of them as I haven't tried any yet but a lot of them sure look good! The one that really caught my eye is the #4 chunky hubby cupcakes, based off the Ben & Jerry's Chubby Hubby ice cream flavor. I can tell you it is my fave B&J flavor and I can only imagine how good it is as a cupcake!

New Dress a Day
I love her "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade attitude." Her sewing skills are pretty good and she has a great sassy attitude about it as well. Not that I could pull of those frocks but she lives in the LA, is young, and has a cute figure to carry it off! Cute idea, I might just have to subscribe.

Chicken and Artichokes in Wine Sauce
Going to make this for Mom tomorrow for dinner. You can't go wrong with Annie's Eats (well, except for that one taco casserole dish). It looks yummy and easy and just a hint of Midwest casserole-ish enough to satisfy her tastes.

Eat Pray and Love right here
I found this one through Stephanie at Metropolitan Mama. It is an awesome take on the whole Eat Pray Love phenomenon. I will admit I am taking the Mom to see it tomorrow. I don't really care to see it but she wants to and it is a good Mother, daughter outing. I read the book before the "hype" hit and liked it well enough. After Oprah got a hold of it and I saw the interview with the author my feelings soured. I like Emerging Mummy's perspective on the book and agree. Can I can enjoy a little Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem without being a sell out?

Bright Ideas
Speaking of Metropolitan Mama...she and her family are selling their house to buy an RV and live in it while they travel the USA! Oh yes she is! How awesome. You have to read about it and subscribe to their new blog. I plan on "following them around" on their blog. I can't say we are about to follow suit but we do have some bright ideas of our own. Let's see what happens and live a little vicariously through Stephanie!

Monday Musings

2010-08-02T14:02:00.000-07:00

I am not a huge Chelsea fan or follower but I have to say I was intrigued to see how her wedding went down. I think it is becoming a bit ridiculous how every bride wears a strapless gown. EVERY ONE! Can we have a little variety....but, that said, hers was fabulous.

That Vera Wang knows a thing or two doesn't she?

Speaking of weddings. There was another celebrity wedding this past weekend. Smart move to get hitched the same day as Chelsea so all the paparazzi would be distracted.

Seriously though, the dudes name is Swizz Beats? Guess it is a good thing we are having another girl so I am not tempted to steal his name.

In other breaking news. I spilled my entire iced latte on the carpet last week. As if that wasn't devastating enough I had to clean up the yucky mess. After a few days of faint latte odor we are now stuck with sour milk stench!! UGH! I am getting nauseated just sitting here. So I bought this today:

I am waiting for my little Cinderella to wake up and help me. Well, actually I am just waiting for her to wake up so I don't wake her with the noise of it. I had another little hand held carpet cleaner and when I went to bust it out this morning I realized the power cord to charge it has gone missing. I am sure it got separated and I wondered what the cord was for and somehow tossed it. UGH! Oh well, this one looks spiffy and better. I will let you know how it goes!

During my trip to Costco this AM I also picked up a box of mangoes to make this

Home made mango chutney!

We love mango chutney with spicy food, well with just about anything, and at $8 a jar for the good stuff I am hoping to recreate something as delicious so we have it all year! Again, I will let you know how it goes.

On a final note. The kind UPS man brought my order from Carter's which included these:

Such cuteness!! Just 7 weeks away!

I've said it before... CSN

2010-07-28T14:10:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again, CSN stores have everything you need from le creuset cookware to toys! Well, and just about everything in between! I was lucky enough to do a review for them a while back for my daughters birthday. You can read about it here. It was a big hit!! Really, le creuset, who would not love to own one of these!!

I have been given the opportunity to do another review from them and I cannot wait! I have been reading all the foodie blogs about their summer treats. This one is going to cool us all off and just in time for blackberry season!

Oh great, I just saw this on CSN and now I cannot decide!!

Emile Henry Bake for the cause pie dish!!

Stay tuned to see what arrives and what tasty treats I make! I'll share recipe's and reviews!

Quiche of the week

2010-07-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

I have been making quiche from scratch lately and have found it to be a super easy meal you can make ahead of time with ingredients you usually have in the fridge. The added bonus being you can stuff it full of vegetables and use up what is in your garden (or CSA box).

This week I made a zucchini leek quiche based on a recipe I found on Girl Gone Mom.

Summer Squash and Leek Quiche Ingredients
1 Pie crust—either homemade or store bought
Quiche Filling:
2 cups of Zucchini, coarsely grated and drained
Salt
1/4 pound of unsalted butter
2 cups of thinly sliced leek
4 Eggs
1 1/2 cups of whipping cream/or whole milk
1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard
1 cup of crumbled Chèvre cheese (goat cheese—plentiful in spring and summertime when goats are in milk)
½ cup of Mozzarella Cheese or Swiss cheese
Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat an oven to 350ºF. Spread Pie Crust over pie pan. Bake until set and almost crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool.

Meanwhile, make the filling. Place the zucchini squash in a colander set over a bowl or in a sink. Generously sprinkle with salt, mix with your fingers to distribute the salt, and let stand for 30 minutes. Gather squash in your hand and gently squeeze to release any additional moisture. Set aside.

Heat the butter in a sauté pan or skillet over medium-high heat, add the leek, and sauté until soft, about 5 minutes Add the drained squash and sauté about 5 minutes longer; set aside. In a bowl, combine the eggs, cream, mustard, cheeses, and salt and pepper to taste and whisk to blend well. Stir in the leek and squash mixture, pour into pie crust shell, and bake in the 350F oven until filling is set and the top is golden, about 30 to 35 minutes.

I modified mine by adding some fresh herbs from the garden to the zucchini/leek mixture. I also used cheddar because that is what I had. I also threw in some sun dried tomatoes because I thought it would add a little kick. My husband said he would leave them out but I liked the added flavor. He of course would have liked some prosciutto or bacon added. Well who would argue with that? We took it over to the lake and had a picnic with some fruit. It was easy and delish and the best part is my daughter loves quiche and will eat it even with all the veggies packed in!

Wonder what I will have next week to throw in a quiche. We have been getting lots of beets in our CSA but I can tell you I wont be putting those in!

Tuesdays Ten

2010-07-19T21:21:00.000-07:00

Look! Two weeks in a row and I am doing a Tuesdays Ten post. Perhaps it is because I have a lot of random thoughts and it feels good to get them out.

1. I have 5 pints of Ben & Jerry's in my fridge. It was on sale for $1.99. That is cheaper than a kiddie scoop at the shop. It is still on sale and I have a coupon too. I need an intervention.

2. This baby is WILD in there. Way more than L was. I wonder if that is going to mean something once she is on the outside?

3. L has started inventing new words of her own to assist in getting her point across. Tonight we took a picnic dinner to the pool. She LOVES the pool. We get there and get her ready to go in but instead she turns to me and says "unch, unch" Alex and I were like???? He says, I am gonna need your help on this one. It took me a minute but she was saying lunch, which she has just started saying. I guess someone wanted her dinner before the pool.

4. I made a quiche for dinner. I have been making home made quiche more frequently and it is so easy, yummy and a great way to get in your veggies and use up whatever you have in the fridge. Tonight was leek, zucchini, and sun dried tomato. Pic and recipe to follow soon. Oh and L loves it so it is a great way to get veggies and protein in her too!

5. I am tired of waiting until 2 PM for the sun to come out. We are not at the beach people, this is not morning burn off.

6. I have a love/hate relationship with my job. (My dollar paying job, not my "mom" job) Right now the hate portion is winning.

7. My roots are so bad I have a permanent dark brown with gray streaks "headband" going on. Don't worry tomorrow eve this will be remedied and I will be a blond again.

8. At the science museum today the ticket lady asked L how old she is and she responded in her cutesy voice, "two". The lady said, well two doesn't look so terrible. I responded, no we think it might be terrific two. I hear three is the new two though!

9. I miss my "friends". The one's who don't live here and I rarely get to see, yet when you see them it is like not a day has passed. Wish we could all live somewhere like Hawaii together.

10. My house is still a mess. I am trying the "do one thing each day and at the end of the week it might resemble something close to clean" approach. Today I vacuumed. Tomorrow, bathrooms. We will see if this works!

11. I know it is supposed to be 10 but I have one more. L has always loved books and being read to. I have to wonder though, she is just barely two and she could have you read 50 books a day, no joke. She could sit for an hour straight twice a day and have you read to her. She has her favorites but really she can pull any book off her shelf and listen intently. Is this normal? Do other two year olds sit still for so long for so many books? She BEGS us to read them all day. She follows you around with books. She talks about her books all day. I don't know any other two year old who has that sort of attention span for reading?

Freecycle

2010-07-13T21:56:00.000-07:00

I recently joined freecycle after hearing about people getting awesome stuff for free. I started off by listing up something for free. After all, in the karma world it is best to offer something up first right? So we had an electric lawn mower that quit working on us and rather than pay to have it fixed we just bought a new one. They are only about $150 and it probably would have cost more than half of that to have it looked at. So I posted it and got a response, then the guy never showed up to pick it up. Whatever! So I posted it on craigslist free section. I got 7 responses the first day and it was gone by 7PM that night! Sweet!

I keep checking on the freecycle site just to see if anything good comes up. You can also post a wanted ad if you are looking for something specific. Tonight I was browsing and came across this ad:

OFFERED: 15oz Jar Lays French Onion Dip

15 oz Jar Lays French Onion Dip - it's been opened but I don't think anyone ate
any of it. It was left over from my daughter's birthday party and none of us
want to eat it.

easy "porch" pickup

SERIOUSLY??? You are trying to give away an open jar of food!!! Nasty preservative filled fake food? YUCKY! No one at your party would eat it so you think you should pass it on? I saw someone giving away a package of unopened lunch meat the other day and someone took that. At least it was unopened. Blech!!!

Worth a good laugh though. Maybe I will write a funny spoof post offering up a half a peanut butter and jelly sandwich my daughter didn't finish at lunch? Any takers?

Tuesdays Ten

2010-07-12T21:47:00.000-07:00

Ten random things for a Tuesday:

1. I had my vitamin D level checked finally and it is pretty low. Thanks to my friend Gwyneth and her blog I know what my level should be and how to properly supplement. What would we do without our good blog friends?

2. Little has been sleeping in her big girl bed for a week now and had no problems. I am almost afraid to say that out loud and jinxing it.

3. It was cool and overcast today after a whole week of heat here. I am almost embarrassed to say that it was a nice break so I could get things done around the house. Does that mean I am becoming a Pacific North Westerner?

4. I am getting tired of being pregnant but not yet ready for los dos to be here yet. With numero uno I was ready for her to be born from the very beginning.

5. We are watching the bachelorette (hangs head in shame).

6. I really wanted a beer tonight and had two sips of husbands.

7. I thought I invented the word skeevy, but I didn't. It means disgusting or distasteful. I thought it should meen a mix between creepy and scuzzy.

8. Lately I really don't like house work and if you were at my house right now you would know it.

9. We don't have a baby name picked out yet and keep flipping around with the same options. Not sure how we are going to decide.

10. My roots are so bad right now even my husband noticed. Oh and all my grays are peeking through. Yikes!

Kitchen's done! & CSN review

2010-07-01T15:02:00.000-07:00

You may remember this post I did a few weeks ago about a project I was working on for my daughter's birthday and a review opportunity from CSN. Well....I finished it! My daughter's second birthday was Tuesday and it was a blast! She had fun at her party with two of her little friends. It was such a blast in fact, that she was too worn out to open her present from Mom and Dad!!
We waited until today when she had her BFF over for a play date to finish opening gifts.

Here is the project I was working so hard to finish!! The kitchen was made based on the tutorial on Out of the Crayon Box .
It is made from a two drawer bedside table I picked up at goodwill. It was really easy to follow the detailed tutorial. I was lucky enough to have a handy husband to help with some of the more difficult parts, like attaching the "oven door" with hinges. The top drawer is essentially torn completely apart and you use the front door face as an oven door by attaching hinges from the bottom.

Notice the super cute Melissa and Doug pots and pans set on the burners? Well, I was lucky enough to receive them for review from CSN stores! They have EVERYTHING at their sites it was hard to narrow it down. I figured you can't have play kitchen with an oven and burners without any cooking accessories!!
I had also picked up a Melissa and Doug sandwich making set from CSN around Christmas time. They were having a great sale and I just couldn't pass it by. I held on to it for a rainy day and decided it would make a nice set with the kitchen. I think someone agrees!!
Thanks CSN for adding the final touches on our birthday girl's present! Check out CSN for just about everything you need for a real kitchen or a little one, or any room of the house for that matter!

Summer Time!

2010-06-14T14:56:00.000-07:00

Summer time and the livin's easy! I have to admit I relate summer to fresh fruit, BBQ's and cool drinks. Of course my best summer memory was my daughter's birth two years ago this month!!

To celebrate summer you can join in the fun at www.gograhamgo.com and www.jollymom.com!
They are hosting a step into summer blog party! The party starts June 21st so keep checking back. We will be celebrating my daughters birthday soon and the arrival of #2 at the end of the summer! Let the watermelon and lemonade start coming!

Annie's Eats and so do I!

2010-06-08T20:52:00.000-07:00

Perhaps my most favorite food blog is Annie's Eats.

I don't know where I first found her. Perhaps it was through Pioneer Woman or another one of her favorite food bloggers. Anyway, I have found my home. Well, I can't exactly move in. Perhaps I could just be neighbors? Considering how often she has dinner parties I think that would be a good deal! I could be a nurse at her office and get to taste all those cupcakes she brings to work. Can you tell I have put too much thought into this. It doesn't matter. I am not a stalker. I am not moving to the South people.

My most recent endeavor of hers was this Pasta with Garlic, White Cheddar, and Wine Sauce. It was really easy and I used left over chicken from last nights roasted chicken. The little one kept saying yum yum the whole time so that was a good sign! I don't normally go for recipe's with lots of garlic because it tends to upset my stomach but I think roasted garlic is the exception to the rule. Hey Kristen, even you could manage this recipe!!!

photo by Annie's Eats

I highly recommend her site and have dozens of "must make" recipe's on my list. I think she even talked me into trying to make my own pizza...again. Will let you know how it goes if I give it a try. Oh, and I am for sure going to try her "my favorite salsa ever" asap. I am going to test run it to see if it is worthy of my canning adventures and home grown tomatoes.

Oh, I just discovered her "meals for new parents" post in case any of you want some ideas what to bring me in September when "los dos" (as we are calling her) arrives. Ok, I am getting carried away. I am going to go back to perusing her site. Join me?

Do you have Joy?

2010-06-08T20:43:00.000-07:00

Joy the Baker that is.

I thought I would spotlight a few of my fave food blogs as I try out some of their recipes.

The first one up is Joy the Baker

She tempted me today with a post she recently did about her kitchen disasters. You gotta love the honesty. Anyway, I had an overwhelming urge to make these chocolate chip cookies!

picture from Joy the Baker

They are an Alton Brown recipe and while a little odd to melt the butter, and a little annoying to sift dry ingredients, they were worth the effort. Buttery, light, chewy, and delish. The only changes I made were to decrease the cooking time (perhaps mine were smaller than his) and I used ghirardelli dark chocolate chips. Truly sinful. I have eaten more than my share and get to do my biggest loser in reverse weigh in (24 week MD visit) tomorrow. Hope I didn't tip the scale too far and get a gentle lecture.

Motivation...and upcoming review!!!

2010-06-08T13:37:00.000-07:00

HELP!! I need to get motivated to get my pregnant butt off the sofas and get busy! I have undertaken the project of making my daughter a play kitchen for her birthday at the end of the month. Of course, I could have taken into account the fact that we were going to be out of town for two weeks. Oh and then there is the fact that I am pregnant. Oh wait, shall we add the complication that I can really only work on it during her nap time?

No need to worry friends! I work better under pressure. We will get there. Besides, I have the added motivation of an upcoming review for CSN stores!! You may remember my previous review for them here. I have been given the opportunity to do another review of one of their fabulous products. It was near impossible to choose. I am telling you, with over 200 stores to choose from I could spend days searching. Not only is there a fabulous selection but the prices cannot be beat. There are items I have seen in stores for a 30% mark up!!

I did manage to narrow it down. I wont spoil the surprise but it goes well with the play kitchen and it can be found at CSN stores here. I was super tempted to choose this for myself, but that would certainly not get me off the sofas and get the kitchen done! I will keep you posted on my progress and do the final reveal with photos near her birthday!

Best Starbucks visit ever!

2010-05-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Husband and I stopped at starbucks drive through after our doctors visit this AM. We don't go often and almost never together so this was an unusual stop. Let's just say if this dude was working every morning and it was on the way to work we would be regulars.

Employee: Welcome to Starbucks, may I take your order?
Me: A tall non fat no whip mocha
Employee: Anything else?
Me: Yes, an iced grande nonfat latte with one slpenda
Employee: Ok, can I get you anything else?
Me: Yes, what kind of muffins do you have?
Employee: Let me take a trip over to pastry land and see...doodley doodley doodley doo......ok so we have blueberry and berry sunshine...Mmmmm.....
Me: I'll have the berry sunshine
Employee: Ok, now when I hand it to you at the window don't look directly in the bag, it has been known to cause eye damage....Anything else?
Me:No, that's it.
Employee: Ok that will be $$ at the window

This guy was hillarious!! He literally sang doodley doodley doo at us as he went to check the muffins! We were laughing out loud the rest of the way to work. I am not sure if he was just really jolly or was taking the pi** out of the fact he is forced to provide such corny customer service. Either way, made our morning!

Oh, and when I looked for a picture of the logo for this post I came across this

Just in case I EVER wanted to look like Brittney. No thanks, even at my most pregnany moment I refuse to look this ghetto!

Sprinkles

2010-04-21T14:57:00.001-07:00

Nature vs Nurture? After a rough morning I took little one for a treat! Top pot donuts! I had no intention of buying her a whole donut. They are plenty big to share and she has never been a sweets girl.

Upon entering the shop she heads right for the child level display case and points excitedly at the donut with chocolate and sprinkles. I don't think she even glanced at another donut. She acted like it was her destiny! How can you say no to that. She loved every bit! She ate half the donut and kept picking off and eating the sprinkles.

Seriously? How do they just know these things? She had never had donuts, or sprinkles before. I think it is born in them to like sprinkles. Just when does that wear off and we start wanting other things?

Tea Collection

2010-04-19T20:15:00.001-07:00

Do you love Tea Collection clothes as much as I do? Well Gwyneth Paltrow agrees! She said so on her blog goop.

Look how cute these are!

You can enter to won some on Piece of Me blog.

Retriever

2010-04-13T12:21:00.000-07:00

I need to work on training my retriever. No, we did not get another dog, I am talking about my daughter, you know, my retriever in training.

I was taking a bath this morning (I know rough life) with my new bath bomb from Easter. The little one was running around playing relatively nicely. She mostly stays by my side when I am in the bath. She doesn't want to miss out on seeing Mama's "swim swim" time. I might play with her toys or something.

She kept bringing me things, her frog, a doll etc. I though, hey why don't I use this to my advantage and get her to bring me something I want! No I did not request a beer, or a coke. I tried to get her to go to my nightstand and bring me my book. I pointed her to Mama's room and said go get Mama's book. She looked puzzled for a bit then toddled off. Lo and behold she returns carrying a book from my night stand.

Too bad it was not the book I am currently reading. I tried for a round two but she was well tired of the game by that point.

Don't you worry, she will be fetching me lemonade and cookies by the time summer is here!!!

How many of you use your children to get you stuff?? Better yet, anyone train their dog to do it!!

See Kai Run

2010-04-10T14:55:00.000-07:00

I love me some See Kai Run shoes!

Lily got these for Easter

You can win a pair over at Piece of me!

red wine and cheetos

2010-03-10T14:05:00.000-08:00

I worked last night and we had this super sad family. The patient was a 7 year old boy with an asthma attack. His father brought him in with his three siblings. He mentioned to us that there had been some family stress recently and this boy was taking it hardest of them all. The parents had just decided to divorce and told the kids five days ago.

The boy was having a significant asthma attack so we started him on an hour long breathing treatment. Other than that he seemed fine and acted appropriately. The mother eventually joined the family at the ER and that caused even more drama. The parents were civil but the kids were obviously upset with seeing the parents together. As the breathing treatment finished we were preparing to send the boy home with his mother. I guess the father had just taken the children out to dinner but the mother was taking them home with her. The boy started to develop shaking in his arms, then legs, then whole body. He truly was flailing around in the bed so much we had to put the side rails up to keep him in.

I went out to report to the doctor that she was going to have a tricky situation in there. The parents seemed to think this was a symptom of the breathing medicine since it often causes you to be jittery after such a large dose. Honestly this boy could have won an Oscar for his acting like a tourrette's patient or seizure kid. The doctor simply went in the room, examined the boy, then asked him to walk with her alone to the freezer to pick out some popsicles. The entire trip to the freezer and back he miraculously had no jerking movement. She explained to the parents that he was making up the symptom and they agreed.

Poor little boy. So distraught he would try to look ill so his parents would both be with him. He did walk out with his mom with a smile and popsicle, spasm free so that was good. The doctor was joking that she earned her after work night cap of cheetos and red wine. Classy right?

I told the mom of the little boy in the room next door that after a night of her 8 month old falling down their steps and her husband falling down after trying to reach him, she deserved some cheetos and wine too.

CSN and Rachel Ray!

2010-03-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

Oh yah baby! CSN stores are the best! When they approached me to do a review I couldn't have been more excited. It was so hard to choose a product to review since they have over 200 stores to choose from.

I had been curious about the Rachel Ray bakeware since seeing it on her show. It was the perfect opportunity to try it out since my husband has all but banned me from purchasing any more cookware. I don't know why, it's not like I don't cook. I guess it is the fact that our small kitchen is busting at the seams with cookware and gadgets.

I received the Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown 2 piece stoneware baker set in blue. They are so pretty in real life. I was surprised how low the sides are since she uses it to bake and serve all kinds of pasta dishes. My husband thought they were serving trays!

To give it a fair review I used a Rachel Ray recipe. I have never even made a Rachel Ray meal before although I have seen many I thought looked good. I searched her site and settled on the Cheesy Italian Penne Shepherds Pie. We love shepherds pie and love macaroni and cheese. It seemed like a good combo.

The basics of the recipe call for making a meat and vegetable base layer:
Then top it with a macaroni and cheese layer:Then you bake it in the oven to finish it off.

To be honest it reminded me of a fancy home made version of hamburger helper. You know the disgusting excuse for a meal you make with ground beef and a box mix? Well, this is a "from scratch" version that tastes good and is healthy for you. The bonus is the whole family will like it. My daughter is 20 months and often I end up making her a dinner and then making something more grown up for us. This is something she can and will eat and something us grown ups can enjoy. The down side of this recipe, a lot of dishes for something that is really a simple casserole. You use one pot to boil the noodles, one pot to brown the meat, vegetables, and one pot to make the cheese sauce. Then you finish it off in the bubble and brown dish which you then have to wash as well. It is an odd shape so you can't really use it to keep left overs. The low sides on the dish also lead to messy serving. You end up spilling over the sides and through the handle.

To sum it up folks...
CSN, a huge hit! I have shopped this site for Christmas gifts and would shop it again for great deals and awesome variety.
Rachel Ray Recipe, kind of a lot of work for a simple meal but it is something healthy the whole family can enjoy. I think the second time around I could even simplify the process more.
Rachel Ray Bubble and Brown Stone ware, it is pretty, but I think you are better off with a more traditional stone ware set that has higher sides and thus less mess. The 4 quart stone ware oval casserole dish looks like a great buy with none of the troubles I found in the open dish. Man, now I am going to want that one!!

Must...stop...buying...kitchen....gear.

Thanks CSN for the opportunity to review the Rachel Ray bake ware. I did receive a free Rachel Ray bake ware product from CSN but all opinions shared here are my own.

CSN review!

2010-02-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

Such excitement in one week! Hold on to your bar stools people, this is going to be an exciting one, I would hate for anyone to fall off and get hurt!!

You thought me being pregnant with #2 was exciting, try my upcoming review from CSN! That's right. I have been chosen to review a product from one of CSN's over 200 websites. The possibilities are endless! Wouldn't you love to know what it is? Well, you are going to have to wait but in the mean time pop over to CSN and check it out.

Ergo Carrier!

2010-02-18T13:25:00.000-08:00

Hey, guess what?

Jabbering Jessi is giving away a Ergo Carrier system!

I enter to win, why don't you? If you don't need one then you can give it to me!!

Jabbering Jessie Ergo giveaway

Fat Tuesday

2010-02-16T12:39:00.000-08:00

In honor of fat Tuesday I am going to eat all day long. No not really, but that is what it is for right? To indulge because you are about to give everything up soon? Well since I am not really giving anything up (you can't ask a pregnant woman to give some food item up can you?) I am not going to over indulge either. I guess I could give up something non food related, like TV, or the internet. That would just be CRAZY! Once I gave up fried foods and soda. That was difficult. Not impossible but you would never realize how much you want something until you can't have it!

Hey maybe I will give up coffee and sushi. I know that is cheating since I have a coffee aversion right now and cant eat sushi.

My husband calls it Shrove Tuesday and traditionally they eat pancakes after dinner. I would prefer to eat pancakes for dinner, with M&M's in them sounds good to me. He would not go for that though. His pancakes are more like crepes and they eat them with lemon and sugar. Not really my cup of tea.

So what are you giving up for lent? What is the hardest thing you ever gave up and did you last?

Ode to nausea

2010-02-15T13:22:00.000-08:00

With my first pregnancy I had a pretty easy go of it. I was mildly nauseated but nothing to really too bad. I also couldn't drink coffee even though I love it. I was really worried this would last after the pregnancy but luckily I was able to drink it again shortly after our daughter was born. I don't even remember having any cravings. I thought that maybe cravings were just like when you have a regular craving for something but you indulge yourself while you are pregnant. I don't know that I ever really had a terrible craving for anything where I had to have it right away or else!

This go around (I am 9 weeks along right now) I have found the nausea much more pronounced. I am not a puker, never have been, so I just tend to be nauseated if I do not make sure I eat something regularly. As long as I eat it is not too bad. Finding something I want to eat is another thing. I can make a whole meal and then it doesn't sound good to me. I eat it anyway because I am not about to waste it but a few hours ago it sounded good and now that it is in front of me it is not desirable. I just made a nice pot of carrot squash soup. I have made it before and it is really good. Now I cannot bring myself to eat it. So I had a turkey sandwich.

The other thing I cannot seem to eat is left overs. Normally, I don't mind left overs at all. Especially if it was something yummy. Now I cannot seem to eat something the second time. Good thing husband will eat left overs, although three days in a row is pushing it.

As for cravings. I don't think I am really having any. Of course if you offer me ice cream or chocolates I will oblige but it is because they are yummy, not because I am craving them. I am looking forward to summer fruits but I don't think that is a pregnancy craving either, I always love berries and cherries.

One thing I am noticing though is lack of energy and being so tired. I remember being really tired the first time around as well. This time I feel more dizzy and light headed. A few times I have had to sit down so I don't pass out. I sure hope my energy level gets better soon because I have a lot to do and don't need to be sitting around. I really need to walk as much as I did in my first pregnancy so I don't pack on the pounds!

How about you? Did you get really sick during your pregnancy? Did you have any weird cravings?

Finders Keepers?

2010-02-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

So, this weekend we were walking the lake and saw one of these on the ground. There is a Starbucks just across the street from the lake so it is no surprise. It is almost a requirement of walking to have a hot caffeinated beverage in your hand.

I walked over it and told husband, "Hey there is a Starbucks gift card on the ground over there."
We discussed going back to pick it up. It is most likely empty you know. It was finally decided husband would go pick it up and if there was anything on the card, it was his.

This morning was his first chance to try it out. As I made him an hour late for work this morning I was crossing my fingers there would be at least enough for a mocha.

Well, there was $30 on the card!!! Honestly I think we feel a little bad about using it as the person who dropped it must be bummed. Really though, it is not like Starbucks should get the profit. Husband did some detective work (he is tricky like that) and found the card is registered. I guess that means the owner could report the card as lost and void it out and possibly get the credit on a new card.

My theory is, fine, if the owner does that then they are clever. If not, the card is husbands to use. I think he is going to wait a few days and see if the owner cancels the card and if not it is his. He is more generous than I am. I think I would just use it daily like normal and if it stops working then fine. If not, it is all mine.

Finders keepers, losers weepers. It is not like it was stolen. This is not someone's antique engagement ring, it's a Starbucks card after all.

What do you think? Use it up, or let it wait and see?

"Mini" identity crisis

2010-01-23T19:45:00.001-08:00

The time has come for us to make a long over due wise financial and practical decision. I don't want to do it. We have been putting this off for over a year now. We need to sell our Mini!

We have two cars and only ever drive one car at a time. My husband takes the bus to work and I use the car to drive around town. We are paying insurance and maintenance on two cars. We would love to get rid of our older car and keep the mini but then we could never get to the airport!

So sad to see you go mini. Along with you, you take our youth and free spirit. You are the car I always wanted and dreamed of having. I will see you again one day when I am a little bit older, a little bit slower, and a little bit richer!!

I feel like a little bit of my identity is in that car and I am giving that up. I felt a little bit cooler, younger, and more fun when I drove that car.

Stay tuned to see what new (new to us anyway) car we come home with. We are actually trading both cars in to buy one car. We hope to save money on insurance and maintenance. One thing I can promise you, it won't be a mini van, and it won't be a Mercedes.

Santa drives a RED TRUCK

2009-12-18T12:47:00.000-08:00

I saw Santa today. Yes I did!

We were driving on the freeway, getting off at our exit and the vehicle in front of us was a red pick up truck.

The license plate was... Rudolf. No kidding. This caught my attention. I thought, what are the chances I saw a red truck a week before Christmas and the license plate is Rudolf? That was funny.

Then I passed by the truck and saw the driver.

No joke. Real beard. Fully dressed for the big night.

I love people with the holiday spirit.

Gingerbread cuteness overload!

2009-12-18T09:30:00.000-08:00

One of my fave blogs, Not Martha has the cutest EVER gingerbread cookies!!

I could just sit and sip all month long with these! Check it out!

I'm all "Cinders" Ecostore review & giveaway

2009-12-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

My mother in law has this saying, when she has been cleaning house all day she says, "I'm all Cinders." I love it! I have to say there is nothing glamorous about playing Cinderella before she goes to the ball. I have every intention of playing this "game" with my daughter and giving her the dust rag as soon as she can figure out what to do with it. I am always yapping about how I am going to hire a house cleaner to come at least once a month but I have yet to follow through.

As you can see I am a cleaning product junkie. I am always looking for something to make it easier. A magic product that will take out all the effort. Well guess what self, the only thing that is going to be magic is hiring someone else to do it. Until that time comes I do want to start using safe yet effective cleaning products for my family.

My daughter has really sensitive skin. She breaks out in horrible hives over almost nothing, she has eczema, and super rosy cheeks which the doctor has diagnosed as "highly vascular." Really fancy term I know. It is very important to me that I start use house cleaning and skin products that are eco-friendly, plant based, and gentle on your skin. Enter Ecostore USA!!

Ecostore was kind enough to send me two of their products to review and share my experience with you. To get a well rounded idea of their products I chose the Baby Nappy Balm and Cream Cleanser.

We use diaper cream on my daughter's tush at every diaper change. She tends to get a rash rather quickly and we are on the defense strategy for now. It is made of all natural ingredients.

Olea Eurpaea (Olive) Oil
Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil
Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Oil
Zinc Oxide
Cera Alba (Beeswax)

I really liked the nappy balm. It has no scent so while sometimes a scent is lovely, I can't stand some of the stinky diaper cremes out there so I think no scent is better. It has a really smooth consistency like a vaseline type feeling rather than a super thick balm. It coated nicely and when we changed her diaper we did notice it worked really well.

The only complaint I would have is that it comes in a glass jar with a plastic lid. I hate sticking my fingers in jars of creme. You end up with it stuck all under your fingernail. I know this can end up happening with a tube as well. Also, my daughter likes to play with the tube or jar of creme while we change her. She ended up flinging it off the table and the lid cracked. Once again, this doesn't happen with a tube. I am overall really satisfied with the product and will definitely buy it again.

For the second product I chose the cream cleanser because they advertise it can be used in both the bathroom and kitchen. It is said to be good on stainless steal which we have, and most importantly gentle enough for glass top stoves which I have and it is a PAIN to keep clean. The ingredients include:

Water
Calcium carbonate (chalk)
Plant based anionic surfactants
Plant based glycerine
Plant base thickener
Xanthum gum
Lemon verbena oil (lemon variant only)

I tried it on our glass top stove. It worked really well! It was just as effective as the glass stove top cleaner you can buy at major chain stores. The bonus is you can use it on counter tops and bathrooms. It is smooth and creamy and really you don't need a huge amount. I would definitely buy this again and it comes in a generous size bottle so I am sure it will last a long time.

Here comes the exciting news! Ecostore has been kind enough to offer a $25 gift certificate to one of my readers! Here is what you need to do to enter.

CLOSED
Winner is
6
shari@apsychmommy

Main Entry
Go to the Ecostore website, choose a product I did NOT mention here and tell me why you would like to try it.

Extra Entries please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, you must do the main entry to get extra entries.
~Follow my blog
~Go to Ecostore USA's blog and sign up for their newsletter
~Follow Ecostore USA on twitter (@ecostoreusa) & leave your twitter username in comment
~Become a fan of Ecostore on facebook & leave your facebook name in comment

You must either leave an email address in one of your comments or have it visible on your profile so I may contact you if you win.

Contest ends on Dec 26th. That way you can start the new year off right with eco friendly products!

I did receive two free products from Ecostore USA and was not compensated in any other way for this review. All opinions stated above are mine and mine alone.

Wordless Wednesday

2009-12-09T13:47:00.000-08:00

I know it's supposed to be wordless, but I have to say, I think Santa is thinking she is on the naughty list! Look at the look he is giving her! She didn't even cry. It was an hour before closing, must have been a long day for him!

Tiger Mania

2009-12-08T14:56:00.001-08:00

I am sorry. I know it is awful but I can't get enough of the Tiger Woods scandal!! It is just unbelievable!

Have you seen the SNL skit from this past weekend. It is so funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvGABYWOTAE

Maybe they will start making Team Elin tshirts!!

I didn't

2009-11-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

Guess what I didn't do on Thanksgiving?

I didn't...
get dressed until noon
cook all day
wear fancy clothes
eat too much
iron my table cloth
make a huge mess of the kitchen
read the ads and plan my black Friday shopping
have any dessert! We couldn't decide what to have so we didn't make anything!

I did have a wonderful, relaxing Thursday at home with my family. I did eat turkey and all the trimmings. I did not even miss dessert, although I did have cupcakes the next day so maybe I did miss dessert after all.

Hope you all had a relaxing, low stress holiday weekend.

Next stop, Christmas. Yikes! Guess I should start to think about shopping.

We are thinking about buying a joint gift we "need" (very loose term) and not get any other gifts. Little gets two little gifts since she is so cute but really, what does a 17 month old need anyway.

So tell me, how important are gifts at Christmas? Could you do without them and still feel like you celebrated the holiday?

PSA

2009-11-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

As your friendly neighbor blog I thought I would do a public service announcement on the following subjects:

Craft room organization

Creative date ideas

Obaji skin care

Scrapbooking furniture

I don't know much on the above subjects (and many more) so go see what Vanilla Joy has to say!
She also has some great giveaway going on. Check out the baby beabcook, seagate, Step 2, Sharp blu ray, cuisinart and many more!

I got schooled

2009-11-27T19:26:00.000-08:00

We had a fab black Friday. Little and I headed downtown to see the Macy's parade here in Seattle. We met up with my friend and her daughter who is Little's BFF. They have so much fun together.
The girls did pretty well through the parade and even rallied to survive a little shopping after.

Little is NOT a stroller sleeper. She is not a sleeper on the go. She slept for 40 minutes in her stroller today. That was monumental for her. It helped us survive a whole afternoon. To celebrate (and kill another hour before husband was off work) we went to the toy store. I let her run free and explore and generally do whatever she liked.

She has a thing for balls right now so she needed me to take every ball out of the bin for her until they were all in her possession. As I gave her each one and she wanted another I would say "more, more" to her. You see, she is 17 months and while she says a few words she does not have a huge vocabulary. I think she has them all there but just chooses when to say them and if she can get her point across without having to say the word then why not?

The toy store holiday worker was nearby and decided to approach me and give me parenting advice. She interrupted us so she could interject that when her kids were that age she taught them the sign for more so they could tell her they wanted more.

Thank you toy store worker lady. I had never thought of that. How handy. Thanks for the parenting advice, is that free of charge or do I have to buy one of these balls?

I guess I should check out this link for teaching baby sign language.

Our Thanksgiving Feast

2009-11-23T22:01:00.000-08:00

This year husband and little and I are having a nice quiet Thanksgiving all to ourselves. We are hoping to be lazy, relax, walk around the lake in our neighborhood, and eat!!

Here is the menu of the day. Inspired by trader joe's this year!
Breakfast:

Then for the main meal...

Roast turkey breast with cranberry stuffing from trader joe's

There is one thing missing though

See, we don't really like it. I can't decide what to make for dessert instead!!! HELP!!!

Speaking of KID bargains

2009-11-20T12:50:00.000-08:00

My last post about my bread man got me thinking about sharing some of my kid stuff bargain hunting ways with you all. I am a picky bargain hunter, or should I say a lazy one.

I do not clip coupons. It is too time consuming and I do not purchase much packaged food so most of what you find isn't for me.

I do not (generally) shop at bargain stores such as Ross and TJ max. They drive me crazy. There are racks and racks of mix and match items in size medium and I am supposed to dig and claw my way through to find one gem. I will pay more for my gem so I can have a whole rack of them displayed and gently reach for my size. Lazy. My one caveat to this rule is kitchen goods. They do have some good deals but usually with a 20% off coupon I can get it at bed bath and beyond for about the same price.

So what exactly are the ways I am a bargain hunter?

Craigslist is one. I have found TONS of awesome deals there and bought much of my daughters basic baby gear there. I research what it is I want and then scour craigslist to find one. Some times if it is a specific item I am set on I set up a RSS feed for that item and wait for one to become available.

Consignment shops are another bargain lovers dream! You do have to rifle through some racks but many are well organized and nicely displayed. The best ones have a little play area for the kids to keep occupied while you shop. We have several great ones here in Seattle and I have friends who love to come visit and go hit up the kids consignment shops. I have not delved into shopping consignment for myself but it might be a new endeavor.

Just between friends sales. These sales happen in certain cities and occur usually twice a year. They can be a bit of a pain because it is like mayhem when the doors open and everyone runs for a bargain. For some reason the hype and watching the other crazies is half the fun! I have been twice and both times was able to shop the pre-sale on the Friday night before the main sale. This in itself was crowded and people bought a TON of stuff. I cannot imagine what the Saturday and Sunday sales look like. I hope I don't ever have to find out. They also sell gear, toys and some furniture.

Yahoo groups are my new horizon. When I was pregnant with my daughter I discovered this hidden gem. My yahoo site had a group for local moms. I emailed the group coordinator and plead my case for membership. Luckily I didn't have to "try out" I just had to be a mom and live in the area.

This group is for local area moms to share information, carry on discussions, post local activities, and sometimes buy and sell items. I don't think it was intended for this purpose solely. From what I can gather most people don't mind it as long as it is not too obvious or frequent. They don't want to turn this into mini craigslist. I have found great information on the site as well and learned about a local mommy toddler dance class we joined. I have also purchased kids gear and my beloved bread machine. Oh and I got a free case of diet coke once. You never know what you may find!

Crock pot crazy

2009-11-17T22:08:00.000-08:00

I made this recipe tonight and it was so crazy good. Both husband and I wished we could have had room for seconds. Good thing it made enough for tomorrow night. Best thing about a crock pot meal is, almost no clean up!

I bought the beef chuck from Costco and it was a steal. They come two in a pack so I have one in the freezer for round two. We also used the sandwich rolls from Costco (they double as Costco hot dog buns) and melted provolone on the bread in the oven on toast first.

I got the recipe from Pioneer Woman's tasty kitchen site. Here is the link so we can give props to Megan the user who submitted it.

Slow Cooker Beef Dip

Ingredients

3-½ pounds Beef Chuck Roast
10-½ ounces, weight Campbell's Beef Consomme Or Broth
12 ounces, fluid Beer (1 Bottle)
2 cubes Beef Bullion
1-¼ ounce, weight Package Of Onion Soup Mix

Preparation Instructions

Season the chuck roast. I used salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.

Place the chuck roast in a crock pot.

Mix onion soup mix in the beef consomme and pour over the chuck roast.

Pour a bottle of beer over the meat. I find that the darker and richer the beer is, the better the au jus turns out.

Place the bouillon cubes on opposite sides of the meat.

Cover the crock pot and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours.

Take out the meat, slice or shred (it will be falling apart) and place back into the juice until ready to serve.

However you serve this, PLEASE dip into the au jus. It is to die for.

Steals & Deals

2009-11-16T22:33:00.000-08:00

I love a good bargain. I think I sometimes love getting the bargain almost more than I love the item. Well, equally then. So I have been wanting a bread maker for some time. It is yet ANOTHER kitchen appliance that I really didn't NEED. That is husband speaking. I had one a long time ago when they were brand new and exciting. It was fun but I just made a few loaves and lost interest. Now that we are trying to eat less store bought food if we can make it at home I had a certain justification for yet another kitchen appliance.

Now I hear you in your pajamas saying, well you could just make it by hand like people have been doing for centuries. Yes, that is true. Yes, I have done it that way. Yes, I enjoy it. No, it doesn't work for us.

Reason number one being my little 16 month old. For some reason she doesn't exactly like to live her day around bread rising once and rising again and then baking. Reason number two. I live in an old, creaking, drafty house. To get my bread to rise properly I had to actually place it in the oven on very low in order for it to be warm enough just to rise. Geeze that is a pain.

Enter breadman!!
I wanted said bread machine but I did not want to pay new bread man prices. Therefore I decided to take advantage of the fact that TONS of people own bread machines they never use. I perused craigslist for a while. They had options. Yet my lazy nature and non car loving daughter kept me from driving anywhere over 20 minutes to purchase one. Then I had a stroke of brilliance. Why not ask for anyone willing to sell theirs on my yahoo mom's group.

Ask and ye shall receive. Twenty minutes after my late night post I had an email from a lovely lady who had this very bread man in her basement. Fifteen hours and $25 dollars later, he was delivered to my door step and is all mine!
Here is today's loaf of honey wheat bread. The maiden voyage was pesto bread which was delish!
I stole the recipe for today's loaf here, and it is mighty fine. So if you still have your machine, dust it off and give it another chance. I promise you wont miss the Mono-and diglycerides, Partially hydrogenated oils, and Sodium stearoyl lactate! :)

If not, craigslist or a yahoo group are calling your name!!!

Ghost of girfriends past

2009-11-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

Going in to this movie you have to realize it is going to be cheesy. We have been struggling to find good movies to put on our netflix queue therefore some movies we usually would pass on have made it to the top. This certainly qualifies for that category.

I have to say, knowing it was going to be cheesy and expecting to be disappointed I was a little surprised. Ghost of girlfriends past wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Dare I even say I might have LIKED it if... and this is a big if, Mathew McConaughey had not been in it. Where is the ever funny, goofy and easy on the eyes Ryan Reynolds when you need him? I used to be a fan of Mathew's but he has turned a bit greasy and almost creepy.

His supposed brother in the film looks nothing like him to the point of being ridiculous. Mathew is tall and tanned but it looks like a fake tan. He is also almost shiny in the movie. Like they rubbed him down with baby oil for each scene. His character is supposed to be a ladies man but I found him entirely unattractive.

The rest of the cast is cute, appropriate and well chosen. If only they had made a better choice in the male lead this could have been a good film.

I guess you get what you are expecting in this one. Mindless entertainment at the cost of two hours of your life.

What's in a name?

2009-11-06T13:19:00.001-08:00

I know I am a bit of a traditionalist, which influences my choice in baby names. My husband is from the UK (recently got US citizenship!!). He also prefers VERY traditional names. Pretty much if it has not been a name for over 100 years he gives it a veto.

I recently took my daughter to our local zoo for a few hours to run off some energy and wear her out. As we walked around watching the animals (other people's kids who were wilder than the real animals) I noticed parents calling out to their children the most odd names. Asher? Really? Is that like a newer version of Ashton (which is also not a traditional name). The best one was Sequioa, for a girl. What do you call her for short, Koya? I work in an ER so I have heard some SERIOUSLY weird names like D'end (he was the youngest of seven).

I am all for freedom to choose whatever you like for your child but remember people. This is FOREVER! In 40 years when they are a teacher or postal worker or Supreme Court judge are they really going to want to be called Sequioa? Call me crazy but I don't think D'end is going to make it to the supreme court, not as a judge anyway.

Maybe I am wrong and our boring, traditional named daughter will be jealous.

What is the craziest baby/child name you have ever heard? Oh and the lemonjello and orangejello urban legend does not count.

For my birthday! Halo sleep sack review and giveaway

2009-11-03T12:44:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I posted about Halo sleep sacks and their huge efforts to spread information on how to prevent SIDS during October, SIDS awareness month.

Halo was kind enough to send a sleep sack to me so I could try it out with my daughter and share my review with you.

My husband and I have been huge fans of swaddling since our daughter was born. We are big fans the happiest baby on the block DVD. One of the major suggestions is swaddling and putting your baby on their back to sleep. Being a pediatric emergency room nurse I have seen first hand the devastating effects of SIDS. I will do anything that has been proven to help prevent SIDS from happening to my child. Halo sleep sacks provide a safe way for you to keep your child warm, comforted, and safe to sleep. What more could you ask for? Well, no a personal nanny is not included.

Now that my daughter is 16 months old she no longer needs to be swaddled. I think we all had a hard time giving it up. She loved the comforting feeling it gives and we loved how great she sleeps when swaddled. A great transition is the halo sleep sack without the swaddle. She stays warm (a big concern in the winter and an old drafty house) and comfortable. She literally burrows her face in the soft fleece fabric of her sleep sack. Now that she is old enough to stand in her crib she needs something to help move with her. Enter the Micro-Fleece Early Walker SleepSack™ Wearable Blanket. Yes you heard me right the wearable blanket. It is like a snuggie for babies!
It is sooo cuddly warm!!
Ok, mom enough paparazzi!
Check out halo sleep sack website www.halosleepsack.com for more information on SIDS and check out all the amazing products!

You can fan halo sleep sack along with me on facebook www.facebook.com/halosleepsack
You can follow halo sleep sack with me on twitter www.twitter.com/halosleepsack

This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to the winner Wigget. You have been emailed and have 48 hours to claim your prize!

Some exciting news for you!! Halo has been kind enough to sponsor a give away for one of your sister friend readers! It just so happens to be my birthday so why not let one of my readers celebrate too!

All you have to do is check out halo sleep sack and let me know in the comments a product you love or something you learned. Leave an email address in your comment (unless it is in your profile) so I can notify you if you win.

For an extra entry become a follower of your sister friend and leave a second comment saying you did!

Good luck! We will pick a winner on Thanksgiving Nov 26th after all the turkey and trimmings have been eaten. Open to US shipping addresses only.

Disclaimer: I received a free halo sleep sack to review for this post. All opinions stated above are mine and mine alone. I was not paid for this review. If you would like to provide a product for me to review and/or giveaway you can contact me at sara.yoursisterfriend@gmail.com

Mini Van mom?

2009-11-02T13:18:00.000-08:00

This photo is my daughter and my friends daughter on our recent vacation to Kauai. You know the one where I spotted Jack Black in the airport.
Anyway, we rented a mini van for four adults and two toddlers. Lemme tell you this thing is HANDY!! We were all pretty comfy. It was super easy to get the girls in and out and it held all our luggage. Right now my husband and I own two cars a 2001 VW Passat and a 2008 Mini Cooper. My husband takes the bus to work and I work mainly on weekends so neither one of us does a ton of driving. Our Passat needs some work and so we have been in long debates about what to do with the cars. Do we sell both and get one bigger one? Do we keep the mini and fix the Passat but is it worth putting the money into?

I know a ton of mom's who refuse to get a mini van primarily because they don't want to fit a stereotype "mini van mom." How much does the car you drive determine how people perceive you? Do you really care that much how you are perceived? I would like to think I don't really care if people think I am a mini van mom as long as the car suits my needs. The trouble is, it is not really fun to drive. Not like my Passat is that fun to drive but it handles well. As for the mini, well it is ridiculously fun to drive. I am telling you that car is nothing but impractical for a family with kids and a dog. We had to buy a specific stroller that would fit folded up in the back. We nearly break our backs every time we get our daughter in and out of the back seat. One bonus is that she can see easily out all the windows and you can easily hand her things in the back seat. I just can't face giving it up.

For now we don't really "need" a mini van. We do have frequent company come visit but not really enough to justify a car that sits more adults. I am not going to swear it off completely for the future. I think I can handle being a mini van mom. I am confident enough in my own skin. I don't care what other people think. I just like zipping around town in my little mini (non van) for a while longer.

What do you think? Do you drive a mini van? Does being sterotyped bother you enough to keep you from getting one? Are you defined by the car you drive?

Star sighting!! Jack Black

2009-11-01T19:16:00.000-08:00

photo copyright Larryfire

You read that right!! My family and I just returned from a week long vacation in Kauai. Upon arriving at the airport for our flight out of Seattle whom did I incur? Yes, Jack Black. For those of you not in the "know" he is an actor and musician who starred in such films as "School of Rock" and "The Holiday".

Now, I am not usually one to stop an actor and ask for a photo or autograph. I grew up in LA and pride myself on playing it cool when I happen upon a star. I have some pretty good ones under my belt. I saw Jada Pinkett Smith lunching in Calabasas, and then there is Nicole Kidman at the Sydney Opera house. The thing that makes this star spotting somewhat interesting is the fact that I am pretty sure Jack Black noticed me back!!

It is not like I got all dressed up to fly across the pacific ocean with my 16 month old. It is not like I flashed him my winning smile and he melted in my arms. You see I was carrying enough luggage to qualify me as a sherpa on the inca trail and pushing a 16 month old in a stroller. I had a huge car seat backpack on my back, pulling a huge rolling suitcase with a pack and play stacked on top.

My husband and I have an airport game plan where he drops me and babe off at the curb and we check in. He takes the car to the airport lot and then takes the shuttle and meets us at security. So when I was walking in the double doors of the airport like a sherpa I create quite a scene. One of the lovely airline workers offered to help me and I laughed and said, oh no I do this all the time. I then turned to my left and there standing in front of me is Jack Black and his three person entourage. He gets three people to carry a suitcase and guitar! I am pretty sure he was on his way home to LA and told his lovely wife how he saw a crazy lady with a cute baby at the airport weighed down with luggage. When I make it big I am going to have an entourage too!

SIDS awareness month

2009-10-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

October is national SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) month. As a mom and a pediatric nurse it is very important to me to help educate parents and help their baby survive and thrive!

Here are some safe sleep tips for infants, and remember BACK is best!

Place your baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and night time

Use a safety approved crib with a firm, tight-fitting mattress

Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby's sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers and positioners)

Use a SleepSack™ wearable blanket to replace loose blankets in your baby's crib

DO NOT put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (sofas, chairs, water beds, quilts, sheep skins, etc.)

Room sharing is safer than bed sharing

DO NOT dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature between 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit

DO NOT let anyone smoke around your baby or be in a room where someone has recently smoked

Educate relatives, baby sitters and other caregivers about these important safety tips

Tummy time is important for babies while they are awake and being supervised. Place your baby on his or her tummy for playtime to help strengthen their upper body muscles.

HALO sleepsack was designed by a parent who lost an infant to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), and is now being used in hospital nurseries nationwide, the HALO® SleepSack™ wearable blanket replaces loose bedding in the crib that can cover your baby's face and interfere with breathing. It's the only product that carries seals from leading SIDS organizations in both the U.S. and Canada.

I am going to be reviewing a HALO sleep sack so check back soon!

Lord of the dance

2009-10-18T11:01:00.000-07:00

Anyone remember the lord of the dance Michael Flatley guy? Is he still around?

Well apparently my Irish neighbor likes to channel him in the wee hours of the night. This less than fabulous three AM dance and shout party used to happen once in a long while.

Now let me paint the picture for you. We live in the suburbs of Seattle. Not really far from the city, just about 10 minutes away, but still it is a pretty residential neighborhood. Our neighbors are mostly families or older couples, except for Irish jig boy. He and his pals rent the house next door. It looks like it hasn't been updated in about 20 years but they keep it up and it is certainly not an eye sore. For the three years we have lived here we have tolerated the occasional late night loud party. I mean, really, we are not that old ourselves and it wasn't all that long ago we were the ones having the late night parties right? Well, a line has been crossed and as of this weekend I have the local police phone number programmed in my phone and I am ready to use it! He always waits for his dance parties until the bars close at 2 AM. Then he stumbles home and decides he is not quite done and BLASTS his Irish music and shouts (I am not going to call it singing) at the top of his lungs. The real icing on the cake is his dance moves. I am not sure what he is doing but his house shakes so loudly that it actually causes our house to shake. It wakes up our whole family. Now, honestly if it was one song, maybe two I would probably utter a few nasty words under my breath and fall back to sleep, but this guy has stamina. He carries on this way for an HOUR!

At first I tried to convince my husband to do something about it but being the even tempered Brit he is he is not going to stomp over there at 3 AM in his nicks. I have sworn over and over I was going to call the police and now I really mean it. Flatley did an encore presentation for a second night. This time it wasn't as loud. He merely had his music on loud enough for us to hear it in our bedroom but not loud enought o wake the baby. Tell me, am I being an old bitty? What would you do, call the cops? Get mad or get even?

Gimme gimme gimme!

2009-10-15T13:20:00.000-07:00

Do you like shoes? Silly question. Do you like your child to have the best shoes and want to win a free pair? Well, check out Dealectible Mommies to win a free pair of See Kai Run shoes!
http://www.dealectiblemommies.com/2009/10/see-kai-run-review-giveaway.html

Gone Granola

2009-10-13T20:56:00.000-07:00

In case you are all wondering what to give for Christmas I have your answer! Home made granola in a pretty jar with a ribbon on it. There is also the possibility of granola bars in a cute tin. You can even accept orders for preference of nuts and dried fruits. Per husband all granola bars must be topped with dark chocolate chunks.
This batch has almonds, dried cranberries and dried apples.
In case you don't make it on to my Christmas list here is the recipe as my Fall gift to you! Enjoy!

Healthy Homemade Granola

Dry Ingredients:
6 cups rolled oats (you can also use a combination of rolled grains)
2 cups of raw almonds and/or walnuts (or other nuts)
½ cup ground flax seed
½ cup wheat germ
Optional: ½ cup unsweetened coconut,
½ cup dried fruit (add after cooked) –date pieces, cranberries, cherries, apricots, mango

Wet Ingredients & seasonings:
2 individual cup unsweetened applesauce (about 1 cup total)
1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon ground ginger
½ tsp salt

Preheat the oven to 300°F.

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients together, and then stir into dry ingredients. Stir well to mix thoroughly.

Spread the mixture into two baking dishes. Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, or until evenly golden brown. Stir every 10 – 15 minutes to ensure even browning. If you use fruit, stir once it is cooled. Store in airtight container.

Julia

2009-10-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

So let's kick things off with a movie review. Husband and I are netflix fiends (since we cut down to only basic cable last year, that's a whole other post). We have been finding it difficult to keep our queue up since it seems like we have seen every movie out on DVD.

Last night we saw Julia starring Tilda Swindon. Can you say creepy? Tilda, not the movie. She is just creepy in every movie she stars in. Don't you wonder what she is like in real life? It gets seven out of ten stars on IMDB. I can't say I agree. I think I give it 4, being generous. Her character Julia is just a train wreck.

The plot summary from IMDB says, "Julia is a drunk. She loses her job in real estate and at an A.A. meeting meets a neighbor, Elena, an addled Mexican woman who talks about having lots of money and a plan to kidnap her own son from the boy's grandfather, a wealthy businessman. Elena wants Julia's help. Julia says yes with her own plan to do this alone. Following Elena's plan, Julia manages to grab the boy, Tom, who's about 10. Now what? She asks for a ransom. Tom's grandfather and his money are connected directly to Mexican drug trafficking, so Julia is up against long odds. Will anyone make it out alive?"

I think I barely made it out alive from the cushions of my couch. Really it is not that bad, it is just far fetched. The scene where she has a fling with a Mexican man she just met and then snuggles the 10 year old boy in bed while she is naked wearing half a sheet is just creepy. I am sure a true movie critic would say it is showing her depth of character and how she is opening up her heart to truly love someone other than herself. Well, I am going to stick to comedies and feel good movies for a while. Actually we have The Proposal sitting on top of the TV and I can guarantee it isn't going to be oscar worthy but hey mindless entertainment has it's value too! Anyone have a good DVD rental to recommend? We really need to add to our queue.

Welcome Sister Friends!

2009-10-13T14:01:00.003-07:00

I wanted to share with you a little background behind the name of this blog. I made a friend in my good old travel nurse days in Hawaii, Meredith. She had this term of endearment she would use when speaking to or about her close girl friends, sister friend. A sister friend is someone who was not born your sister, yet has become as close as a sister could be. It is a cherished friendship that moves beyond the average acquaintance. That is what I want to share with you here. Come meet up, share something of yourself in the comments and laugh along side me.

Is it Spring yet?

2009-10-13T14:01:00.001-07:00

I have never been a huge fan of Spring cleaning. The idea that you set aside a whole day or week to give your house a good scrub up and sort out. I tend to "Spring clean" throughout the year as the mood strikes me. Well this time it wasn't me that decided it was time for a good clean. It was the first real rain of the Fall and good old Sir Winston Churchill!
Sure he looks innocent enough, but look what his muddy paws did to my window seat!

Thanks hound! Oh well they were overdue for a wash anyway. Once I got started I just kept carrying on. With my little helper of course!
She has a thing for the dishwasher lately. It is just the right height to step up on the door and pull out the racks! Geez! I have to load and unload when she is out of sight these days!