2Cool4myMinivan

moving out

2011-09-12T20:32:00.001-07:00

Hi friends. This past summer we retired the minivan and went all SUV up in here. I also got sidetracked by life and slacked off on the blog as a result. I want to get back into the swing of things and catch up with my blog-land buddies. Instead of just cleaning house, I’m moving out. The minivan title doesn’t quite fit anymore anyway. So, as of right now you can find me here:

http://denimanddandelions.blogspot.com/

Come check it out. It’s a little of this and that – books, shopping, funny kid stories along with the occasional randomness you’ve probably come to expect from me.

Thanks for reading along in the past and for the sweet comments and words of encouragement. I’ve so enjoyed hearing from each and everyone of you. Except the solicitors who only commented in hopes that I’d buy a timeshare.

best Facebook wall post of last week…

2011-09-12T08:43:00.001-07:00

I found this on my friend Shannon’s wall:

“Re-post this if you know someone who is still alive today because you can't afford a hit man...”

image source

angry birds for lunch

2011-09-09T06:39:00.000-07:00

My co-worker found a picture online of Angry Bird snacks made from bagels, lunch meat, cheese & black olives. I modified it to make a version my daughter would eat and it turned out like this:

Ingredients: English muffins, sliced cheddar cheese & salami, string cheese for they eyes and black beans (eyes & brows)

Split the muffins in half and lightly toast while you cut triangles in the bottom of the salami slices. Save the triangles to make feathers for on top of the head.

Now it’s time to cut the cheese. Hahaha. Get it? No really…slice the string cheese for the eyes and make circles with the cheddar slices. Use the corners of the cheddar to make the beaks. Use pieces of black olives or black beans for the eyeballs and eyebrows.

I microwaved them for 15 sec to slightly melt the cheese so it wouldn’t all fall apart before it was eaten.

Serve with a side of fruit and watch their faces light up!

so long my not-bummer summer

2011-08-31T05:46:00.001-07:00

Today is the first day of school, which means summer is coming to a close. I’m not one of those moms to lament the end of summer. I was always the kid who was ready to go back to school, and my kids are the same. Maybe being a household of type A’s has something to do with it. So today we’re celebrating school as we salute our not-bummer summer.

Here’s a little recap of the things we managed to squeeze into the last 8 weeks:

besides the usual tooth fairy visits, living room forts & backyard barbecues, there were:

movies galore,including X-Men First Class, Harry Potter & Winnie the Pooh as well as girls nights to see Bridesmaids & The Help

a couple of concerts – big ones! U2 and Taylor Swift

fun with food & sidewalk chalk

a dance recital & a doggie makeover from Chewbacca to CHIC!

swimming, beach time and Junior Lifeguard competitions

my birthday & the gift that changed my life: a Kindle!

I’ve read 11 books since mid-July (most were FREE downloads) –which explains my lack of blog posts this summer

And in the spirit of getting older, we bought a Sleep Number bed and I joined Weight Watchers to get ready for the dream vacation that we bought the same place we buy toilet paper - Costco!

It was our 1st real family vacation in over 4 years – a trip to Maui.

and don’t think I didn’t fit in some shopping in between all these activities & working part-time.

Hope you had a not-bummer summer too!

I guess you really can by anything at Costco

2011-08-25T09:00:00.001-07:00

I love Costco. The samples. The great deals. The unique things you sometimes only find there. We’ve bought tons of things at Costco. TVs. An i-Pod or two. Books. Bulk toilet paper.

However, our most recent purchase was the most pleasant surprise of all. A little piece of paradise purchased on Costco.com – a trip to Maui, and it was the best vacation. EVER!

it included so many things – a beautiful hotel with lots of FREE upgrades and the friendliest staff in the world

snorkeling for the boys with plenty of turtle sightings

a gorgeous beach that was great in the morning for my daughter, but had waves big enough to keep the boys busy with boogie boards and body surfing all day

banana macadamia nut pancakes and Kona coffee

complimentary activities for the kids such as ukulele lessons

lots of photo ops and “Alohas” from passersby

finding coconut shell treasures and hula girls

seeing the luau pig unveiled

more photo ops and an excuse to wear my favorite halter dress

the view above the clouds from Halekala crater

and the dreamy Maui sunsets

It was the first vacation that I was actually sad to leave.

my daughter’s budget bedroom revamp

2011-08-11T14:38:00.001-07:00

The evolution of my 5 year old’s room. We started with the traditional girly pastels of pink, green & yellow.

A major leak due to a burst pipe forced a repaint, and she requested PINK walls.

After the pink paint job I wasn’t quite feeling it, but she was really attached to the color. Inspired by some art she made at her craft camp last week, I knew I wanted to go with brighter bedding.

A random stroll through Bed Bath & Beyond yielded a pleasant surprise. She fell in love with a bed in a bag ensemble ON CLEARANCE! Now her room looks like this (included but not shown are coordinating sheets with pink flowers on a white background like the patches on the comforter):

She made the hoop mobile (below) at her camp last week. No-cost decorations include the tissue flowers (made my be over a year ago) and the butterfly art (scrapbook paper in a white Ikea frame, both of which I already had). She picked out the soft, fuzzy throw to compliment her new room at Target.

You can’t help but smile when you walk into this bright, cheery room. I love the new fun colors, which reflect her personality much better than the pastels.

seeing stars

2011-08-08T04:03:00.000-07:00

As I was going through summer photos, I noticed a recurring theme:

stars

cookie-cutter watermelon stars with red white & blue sprinkles

and a variety of refreshing smoothie pops

plus my daughter’s dance recital star

and the real stars around here -

my little dancer who sparkled at her 1st recital

along with a husband who cheered my son on,

and the boy who finished a 2 mile swim/4 mile run last week in a junior lifeguard competition

all shining bright and adding a little lovely to my day

I’m linking up with Heather and friends.

you know you’re getting old when…

2011-08-01T06:49:00.001-07:00

the highlight of your weekend was buying a Sleep Number bed

image source

oh yes we did!

better than a plain old tee

2011-07-27T14:23:00.001-07:00

Heads up girls! Loft is having 25% right now. Here are a couple of basics that I picked up to replenish my t-shirt stash after purging a number of old, stained and worn-out tees this season.

These are way better than the boring solid colors I threw out, and they weren’t too hard on the checkbook either.

source

I got this one in the weathered blue, but may pick up another since it’s SUPER-flattering and so comfy!

I also scored this fun necklace for $6 after discounts and a birthday coupon. I love it with a simple white linen button down top and dark jeans.

And these are great fall looks that just made their way to my favorites folder:

A girl can dream, right?!

my favorite summertime place

2011-07-25T05:38:00.000-07:00

Sure somewhere tropical is great to visit, but most of my summertime memories are made in my own backyard.

Sitting around the barbecue, enjoying a meal cooked entirely by my husband, surrounded by friends and family.

Cooling off on hot days with a refreshing treat.

The place where everyone gets to be included.

Where good times are had by all.

liked it. loved it. had to have it.

2011-07-22T17:01:00.001-07:00

Last weekend my boys went fishing. So naturally I took my shopping buddy (my 5 year old daughter) to Nordstrom to take advantage of the kids sale where we scored some major cuteness like this,

and this,

and some of these:

My first WIWW of summer

2011-07-20T04:11:00.000-07:00

I’m slowly getting something through my thick noggin – skirts are more flattering on me than shorts. Why? I don’t know. I feel frumpy when I wear shorts, but skirts…LOVE THEM!! Especially the first and last outfits of the week.

Work: Loft cardi & tee, Linen skirt from Nordstrom, wedges from Kohl's, necklace – Brown-Eyed Fox. Loved this simple linen skirt so much when I saw it last week that bought it in 2 colors with the Nordies g.c. I got for my b’day.

dinner with my husband: jacket – Nordstrom B.P. (old), striped tee – Target, jeans – Loft, shoes – Sam Edelman, necklace – NY&Co

As you can tell by this pose, I really do feel less sassy in shorts. Maybe I just need to learn how to work it. Haircut & errands: Gap tee, shorts from Nordstrom

Grocery shopping & lazy day at home: tee & knit skirt – Target (it’s like wearing pjs), sequin flip flops – Yellow Box

work: Loft tee & skirt, wedges (OLD) Nordstrom?, necklace – gift

I’m linking up at The Pleated Poppy today.

My new magic number

2011-07-18T05:09:00.000-07:00

I joined Weight Watchers last Sunday. I watched the number on the scale climb since this time last year. I’ve also noticed that my metabolism isn’t what it was 3 years ago, and neither are my eating habits. Those factors alone had me considering joining the program. The final straw was last Sunday night when I put on my “fat” jeans and found that they were snug. I joined online that night.

I actually enjoyed being on “a program” this week. I opted to do it all online and forego the meetings since I don’t have a significant weight loss goal. My new magic number is 29, which is my daily points allowance. It was fairly simple to track my points between the online tracker and a free phone app.

Having guidelines in black and white made me carefully consider what I ate, and it forced me to plan my meals ahead of time and stock my fridge with fresh, healthy goodies. I’m impressed with the healthy choices I’ve made over the last week and amazed that I had to completely restock my fruit bowl after only a few days.

I never left the table hungry in spite of eating less (actually I think I ate more fruits and veggies and cut back only fat and carbs), and I’ve avoided the sugar-induced headaches I often experience after inadvertently consuming too much processed foods. And on the couple of days that I “splurged” on my midday points, I simply halved my entrée portion and doubled the size of my salad at dinnertime.

I had a couple of friends ask me why I joined, since from the outside I look reasonably fit. The reason is more related to health and making good choices rather than weight. I want to model good habits for my kids, but I often get overwhelmed when trying to do it on my own. After this week, I feel good about practicing what I preached and was pleasantly surprised when I weighed 2 lbs less at my personal week 1 weigh in.

Angry Birds – the home edition

2011-07-17T05:46:00.000-07:00

There’s a little app you may have heard of:

image source

My husband recently returned from an overnight trip with a surprise for each of the kids – their very own Angry Birds stuffed animals. My daughter calls them angwee buhds.

Upon receipt of their new toys, they created a real-life game of Angry Birds. They taped Angry Birds scenes to my daughter’s wall and now have fun launching their birds at the pigs, just like in the video game.

I call it Angry Birds: the home edition.

mailbox sunshine

2011-07-16T06:40:00.000-07:00

step 1: open package

step 2: begin happy dance

(Thanks to an Amazon g.c. for my birthday last week)

makeover glamour shots

2011-07-14T15:47:00.000-07:00

Buddy the Schnoodle (he’s a schnauzer/poodle mix, or a fancy mutt) was starting to look like Chewbacca (as mentioned here), so a trip to the pet salon was in order.

Before: he was all eyebrows and ear hair

After: he looks like a patriotic dog show champion

He may look classy now, but he still drinks out of the toilet.

teaching the kids to multi-task

2011-07-12T05:26:00.000-07:00

I’m a multi-tasker. Sometimes it’s productive, but it’s not always a good thing. Especially when it results in burnt dinner or smoke alarms going off. Not uncommon around here, sadly enough.

Apparently my kids are starting to inherit this trait. I caught my daughter napping in the car with a Blowpop in her mouth.

sand, stars, tutus and bling

2011-07-11T05:24:00.000-07:00

I feel like I need to apologize when I’m slack about posting and commenting on my favorite blogs. It seems like there are phases where the inspiration and words flow freely, and other days where I get around to it if I can. Lately, it has been the latter.

Here is a glimpse of what I’ve been doing the last 2 weeks in addition to the normal afternoons spent in the pool and keeping up with the kids’ activities. I want the kiddos to fondly remember summertime when they look back someday.

exploring nature with the family. What is it about stinky, dead sea creatures that they find so enthralling?

enjoying summer time desserts like creamy lemonade pie and star shaped watermelon slices with red,white & blue sprinkles

supervising a little gardening, although I had nothing to do with the gardening attire

making silly breakfasts

recital pictures & all the pre-recital necessities that drain my wallet

and a little ear-piercing for my girly-girl

Hope you’re having a fun-filled eventful summer too. Don’t forget to enjoy the little things.

I’m linking up here today.

not so subliminal messages

2011-07-10T08:30:00.001-07:00

I’m going to be honest and tell you that sometimes my kids irritate each other, especially during summer vacation. Now that they’re getting older I’m trying to avoid intervening too much so that they learn to work things out.

One day the kids were driving me crazy so I told them to go outside and play with their chalk. Through open windows I heard constant arguing and fighting over whose picture was better or who had the blue chalk first.

Then I heard laughing. I went out and found my daughter (the pesky little sister) obliviously standing in a circle with an arrow pointing to it.

At the other end of the arrow were these words:

Take that little sister! After my son aired his frustration, they both laughed, the fighting stopped and all was right with the world again. At least for a few minutes.

you know it’s time for a spray tan when…

2011-07-06T07:14:00.001-07:00

you look like a walking cadaver in the 4th of July photos taken by your husband

why don’t I use self-tanning cream? uhm, I do. that’s actually me with a glow.

at least my lucky kiddos got their dad’s sun-loving skin. even with SPF 50 and 10 minutes in the sun they tan. so unfair!

way to make a 1st impression

2011-06-30T05:59:00.000-07:00

This is my daughter. She’s our funny girl. You never know what she’s going to do next. Sometimes her actions are downright mortifying. Other times, I laugh so hard I cry. Usually it’s a combination of both.

Like the other day when she started her first day of summer school. She’s in a social skills therapy group with other ASD kids. Upon being greeted by the teacher for the first time my girlie began scratching her bootie and replied to the teacher’s greeting with “sorry, but my butt is itching.” Hence the need for social skills therapy, I guess.

you know it’s time for a haircut when…

2011-06-29T14:48:00.001-07:00

I can’t procrastinate any longer, I’m picking up the phone now to book a trip to the “pet salon” as my Littlest Pet Shop loving daughter calls the groomer. The signs are there:

peripheral vision obscured by bushy brow hair,

hair on the top of his nose that blends into above referenced brows,

and ear hair that is long enough to braid.

I’m over the Chewbacca look. He’s a Schnoodle, not a Wookie.

wrap it up

2011-06-24T10:33:00.001-07:00

I was looking forward to school being out so we could take it easy, but the week seemed to fly by nonetheless. We started with swim team kicking off this week and had my son’s first meet of the season last night. He moved up to the next age group so his first race was 4x the distance he swam last year! By the last lap he looked like he was towing a trailer up a steep hill, but I don’t think I could swim 100 meters in under 2 minutes so I give him props even though he wasn’t the fastest kid in the pool.

Maybe next time, we’ll avoid planning meeting friends at the beach and tiring him out on swim meet days. But it was worth it in spite of being such an overcast and chilly morning.

Not only did the kids have fun, I got to hang out with some of my favorite people and see a sandy baby-bootie. So cute!

I also made a Trader Joe’s run and stocked up on my fave French vanilla half & half, pomegranate green tea and lots of other goodies.

I came home and threw together a Mediterranean style black bean & veggie salad (tossed with some Persian cucumbers, onion, garbanzos, red bell pepper, salt, pepper, EVOO, balsamic vinegar & lemon juice). I added some of it to a batch of cooked quinoa for today’s lunch, and the rest will make a tasty side dish at dinnertime. I also picked up some frozen mango chunks and pineapple salsa to make one of my BBB’s (best blogger bud – the blog land version of a BFF) mango pineapple chicken.

Today, like most Fridays, is my day to wrap up the week, get organized for the weekend, and hopefully start on the kids scrapbooks for this past school year. I’m crossing my fingers that the novelty of the fort they just built won’t wear off before I get everything accomplished!

Have a great weekend!

things I heart and my new ‘do’

2011-06-21T21:53:00.001-07:00

I love it when this happens:

She stopped napping at age 2, so it’s a pleasant surprise when I look in the backseat to find her getting a catnap and looking so sweet. And the momentary peace and quiet ain’t so bad either.

I heart having a movie-buddy in the summer. He’s always game to see the action/adventure and sci-fi flicks I love, and it’s so rare that it’s just the 2 of us anymore.

I also love the 3 minutes it takes me to style my new ‘do. Yes, I cut my hair. Again. I can’t seem to grow it out. I think I’m a short hair girl for life.

I also love grilled veggies and Greek food in the summer. And lots of iced tea, especially peach.

this, that and the other

2011-06-17T06:19:00.001-07:00

Since it has been a crazy kind of week, I had to wrap it up with a random this and that post.

Last Friday my littlest kiddo woke with a fever and didn’t make it to school. It ended up being one of those low-grade fevers with no real symptoms, but to be safe I kept her home. Playing Webkinz helped lift her spirits.

Over the weekend my boys went on a campout with their Adventure Guides group. My husband has been taking both my son and my nephew along this year. My nephew (below) exclaimed that it was the most fun he’s ever had.

We celebrated our last day of school this week, and my niece “graduated” from 5th grade. This was the one and only year that the 4 cousins will attend the same school. For a small gift, I mod-podged her a cute clipboard and notepad since she likes to draw and write.

I also got domestic last weekend and busted out some cakes in a jar for teachers and school volunteers.

I started a new book – Unbroken and am trying to find the time to read it. It’s a big book. So was my last read. Maybe it’s time for a Kindle…

And then there is the question of summer vacation. We have no plans! Summer crept up on us, and now we can’t decide what to do and where to go. So many options, so little time!

Do you have a wish list or big summer plans? Hope you have a great Fathers Day weekend.

2 recipes and a minivan redemption

2011-06-10T12:58:00.001-07:00

What do a yummy dessert and a vegetable side dish have in common?

apple-blueberry cobbler

broccoli-cheddar gratin

One word…BUTTER!

Oh, and they are also 2 of my super-easy, go-to recipes that always seem to please. Recipes for both are found below.

Now onto my minivan redemption story. If you were horrified by my last post, I’m pleased to tell you that we (as in my husband) had my car detailed. And they even cleaned UNDER the seats. Now the floor mats are clean enough to eat off of, not that their being dirty ever stopped my daughter – 5 second rule or not.

It should stay clean for a while - no kids will be riding in it for a few days since it’s being loaned out to the in-laws.

Here are the recipes:

apple blueberry cobbler

1 box yellow cake mix

2 cans of apple pie filling (love the Market Pantry brand from Target)

blueberries or blackberries (2-4 handfuls)

1 stick of butter (melted)

chopped pecans

In a 9x13 dish, dump the 2 cans of pie filling and use a wooden spoon to spread it and make it level. Sprinkle some berries over the top to kind of fill in between the apple slices. Evenly pour the cake mix powder over the fruit, again using the wooden spoon to level it. Evenly pour the melted butter on top and then scatter the desired amount of pecans on top. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Serve warm with ice cream on top for extra-dreamy cobbler. You’ll want to have the leftovers for breakfast the next day.

*this a modified version of her recipe.

broccoli cheddar gratin

broccoli crowns (steamed until crisp-tender) + salt & pepper for seasoning (amt. depends on how much you need)

crumbly topping: 1/4 – 1/2 c. butter (melted), grated cheddar & bread crumbs

Steam broccoli crowns until crisp-tender. Place the steamed broccoli in a baking dish, spreading it out evenly. Season with a little salt & pepper. Layer desired amount of cheese on top. Sprinkle a layer of breadcrumbs on top of cheese. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake at 400 for about 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and slightly bubbly. It’s crunchy-cheesy yumminess that my kids love.

the white trash swagger wagon

2011-06-08T09:25:00.001-07:00

This is my minivan. It’s almost 7 years old and from the outside it doesn’t look so bad.

But lets take a closer look. This is what happens when your kids pimp your ride:

Not shown: a moldy partially eaten peach I found under one of the seats, a plethora of USED tissues in the back cup holders and trash that was thrown over the fold-down seats in the back.

Remember the “Swagger Wagon” video a while back that almost made driving a minivan seem cool? My Sienna is like the “people of Walmart” version of that.

priceless

2011-06-05T10:49:00.001-07:00

3 tickets to Disneyland: $212.00

1 Disney parking pass: $15.00

overpriced meals & snacks: $40.00

Having my daughter tell me at the end of the day that her favorite ride was the carousel…

PRICELESS!

(we could have ridden one at the mall for $2.00)

wordless Wednesday

2011-06-01T06:00:00.000-07:00

WIWW–I’ve been AWOL

2011-05-25T05:51:00.000-07:00

I’ve been AWOL from WIWW for a while so I’m linking up today with some outfits from the past couple of weeks. To be honest it’s been hit or miss for me lately. Do you ever have those days when you feel like you’ve lost your mojo? That has been me for the past couple of weeks. I think it’s the overcast weather. I NEED SUN!! All day sun. Summer?! Where are you?

flower headband – Queen Bee Market, jacket – Nordstrom BP (old), ruffle tank – Loft, jeans – Gap, camera strap – SheyB (I was getting worried that it would NEVER arrive, but after about 5 wks I finally got it.)

Loft tee, cardi & jeans, DSW shoes, necklace – ?

Skirt, jacket & tee – Loft, shoes – Nordstrom (3 yrs ago)

On me – whole outfit…you guessed it! Loft. There is one down the street. It’s just easy! Shoes are SO old and are from Nordstrom.

On my daughter, an outfit a handmade outfit from a friend and a Happy Meal box that I should have put it on my head to squish down my poufy hair!

Thanks for stopping by! Check out The Pleated Poppy to see who else is linking up this week for What I Wore Wednesday.

*praying for the people of Missouri today – the devastation on TV is heartbreaking, and I can’t imagine what those people are going through.

wish I was here…

2011-05-18T08:55:00.001-07:00

if I could do whatever I wanted today, I’d go here:

source

to pick up a few things and copy ideas like this:

pretty boxes with holes cut in the back to hide the unsightly cable modem & external hard drive

source

as well as some storage baskets and other inexpensive goodies like plants, white flowerpots, and white gallery frames for a future project like this:

source

But instead, I’m using a day at home to catch up on my bible study, apply some touch up paint to the plethora of nail holes in my walls, and accomplish some school-related tasks. What was I thinking when I signed up at the beginning of the year to be a room mom for each of my kids’ classes?!

I promise to post my own pics after I make that trip to Ikea

Happy Wednesday!

Lowes + YouTube = me getting stuff done

2011-05-13T12:54:00.001-07:00

There are lots of things about my house related to organization and storage that bug me – like having too much stuff for our limited storage space. Actually we probably have ample storage with the problem being too much stuff. How many Gap tees and pairs of socks does one really need?

But that’s another discussion for another day. Today, I’m going to show you phase 1 of my DIY projects. Yes, I have a list. It’s at 4 phases and growing.

I’m rather proud of this first project because usually I wait for my husband to do stuff for me. The problem is that he’s busy so I felt guilty asking him to use his limited free time to do the thing he hates most…installing wire closet systems. Since I didn’t want to wait, I went all Little Red Hen and decided to do it myself. I even used a drill, tape measure and stud finder because I’m hardcore like that.

My daughter’s scary closet before picture:

Adding vertical storage in the closet and purging junk allowed me to move lots of toys off her bedroom floor and into the closet. Her entire room looks SO MUCH neater now. Here is the closet after:

Now she can reach her clothes, and we have a place for everything. The challenge for her will be the “everything in it’s place” rule.

My mom was here a couple of weeks back and helped me measure and figure out a good configuration. Then we headed to Lowes where they will cut the shelves to the size FOR FREE. All you have to do is ask.

I have 4 large bags of adorable clothes and toys sitting at the curb for the donation truck today. Why does home organization give me such a feeling of being in control?! And it feels good knowing someone in need will benefit from them.

Next project – painting my master bath. I found a video on You Tube showing how to paint behind your toilet without removing it. If it works, I’ll share the link when I show my after pics. You don’t know how may DIY projects I’ve found on You Tube this past week.

the style file: looks I’m going to shamelessly copy

2011-05-11T06:54:00.001-07:00

When I have a piece in my closet that I can’t figure out how to style, I look on Polyvore for a similar item and get tons of ideas. The site can be overwhelming, so I usually check out the collections of my favorite bloggers. Here are a couple of E.A.S.Y. to copy outfits created by a fellow blogger (linked below) with a great casual chic style:

OOTD 4.12.10 by seaandtea featuring a scoop neck tank

Back from Hawaii by seaandtea featuring a louis vuitton tote bag

And here is one of my own creations using the same equation:

(easy cardi + tank = comfy casual but not frumpy)

There is no shame in my game when it comes to being a total copycat.

Are you a copycat too? Who are your “style” icons? I’d have to say Reese Witherspoon gets the award from me, and here is the gal who created the 2 Polyvore looks above.

funny story Friday & a fab find at Costco

2011-05-06T08:23:00.001-07:00

Just a funny picture I snapped of our fat cat (on the wall outside) taunting our little spaz of dog.

Now onto my fab finds from Costco. I found this colorful set of melamine serving bowls this week for $19.99. They have the ceramic look and feel without being fragile or heavy. They come with lids – great for outdoor entertaining or storing leftovers.

They have a rubber ring around the bottom to keep them from slipping and tipping, and they even nest inside each other for easy storage. Don’t walk…RUN to Costco and grab a set for yourself!

HAVE A HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

the people of Stagecoach

2011-05-01T21:08:00.001-07:00

This past weekend 2 other couples and my husband and I attended a 2 day country music festival near Palm Springs. Sure, there were really cool artists there like Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Josh Turner and Darius Rucker (who busted out some old Hootie and the Blowfish songs!). The best part though, had to be the people watching. Here is the most tame example of what we saw:

I’ll spare you the photo of the man wearing nothing but a TINY Speedo, cowboy boots and a hat.

funny story Friday: booger crackers

2011-04-29T07:45:00.001-07:00

We’re enjoying spring break and a visit from my parents from Alabama this week. It has been nice having them as witnesses to the kids’ antics – especially my daughter.

My son nicknamed his sister “Evil Genius” when she was 2. Here is a recent example of why she still holds that title at the age of 5.

The other day she was eating a pack of oyster crackers. Her brother saw them and said, “hey, can I have one of those?” She replied, “No. They have boogers on them.” Then she proceeded to stick her finger up her nose and touch each cracker. One by one she christened them so she could have them all to herself.

*On a more serious note, please pray for the people of Alabama and other areas affected by the tornadoes on Wednesday. Most of my family is without power for at least several days, and there are so many who lost loved ones and all their belongings. It’s amazing how the people there pull together and encourage each other and remain positive in spite of the circumstances. I’ve seen wall posts on Facebook where friends are offering open invitations for meals, shelter and hot showers to those who are displaced or without power.

the style file: wardrobe rescue

2011-04-26T04:10:00.000-07:00

Over the past couple of months I have been trying to shop less and be more creative with what I have. I’ve found that lots of looks and trends I like can be easily re-created for free by shopping my closet. Free?! Can I get an AMEN up in here?!

One way I get ideas is by saving pictures I see online to my favorites in a folder I call my “style file.” Just recently I found a combo that inspired me:

706. What about love? by la Madii ♥

From the inspiration pic, I created this outfit using what I had in my closet:

Rocket science? No. But I was getting ready to donate that sweater thinking it didn’t work with anything in my wardrobe. Even if it’s not an exact replica, it’s a big improvement over plain old jeans and a boring tee.

From the inspiration ensemble I got the idea to mix my boring sweater with floral sandals from Target and a bright top which is also a piece that I have trouble styling.

I used to be somewhat challenged when it came to style until I found out how to be a shameless copycat! I’m no fashionista, and I’m okay with that. I’m just a wife & mom searching for the perfect balance of cute, casual and comfort without breaking the bank.

Good Friday & Easter inspiration

2011-04-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

Happy Good Friday. Here is a little inspiration that I ran across this week.

The first is a quote directly from a book I’m currently reading as part of an online bible study.

Remember that Jesus stands beside you right in the middle of your crisis, in the middle of you darkest day. He also stands in the middle of your tomorrow, fully aware of your future.

-Rachel Olsen from her book It’s No Secret

The second is a link to The Lego Easter Story created by a blogger friend and her family. I think it’s genius and my kids enjoyed it.

Enjoy the weekend and have a Happy Easter. I forgot that I bought festive decorations last year. Too bad I can’t remember where I put them. But then I again, I’m not in the mood for a repeat of this…. My daughter embellished the simple bunny and tree of eggs last year by adding tupperware bowls, Littlest Petshop and a barrel of monkeys to our display. Frankly, it scares me to think what she might do this time since her LPS collection tripled recently due to some hand-me-downs from a friend.

a little WIWW and a lot of kid stuff

2011-04-20T11:45:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned last week, our house was hit by a bug that started with the kids and eventually took me down for over a week, hence my slackness at reading your blogs and updating my own. As a result, I have ONE outfit to share as part of my weekly what I wore post, and this is it. Loft jeans and a Gap tee with flip flops – woo-hoo.

Now, moving on to more exciting stuff. The kids. I wrote on Sunday that my daughter lost her first tooth. Finally. After the big tooth was already growing in.

Phew. Glad that’s over. It was dramatic. Then exciting.

After the Sunday morning drama we spent the afternoon at one of my son’s activities - Pinewood Derby sponsored by Adventure Guides.

The cars were SO creative this year. Check out the ice cream cone with sprinkles in the front row, and the Orange Crush car in the 2nd row. Those were two of my favorites.

My son and husband have participated in the YMCA Adventure Guides for the last 3 years. Through this organization, they have done lots of events like camping at the beach and in the mountains as well as a Night at the Museum sleep-over at a local Natural History Museum. Pinewood Derby is one of the events that the whole family can attend. The boys always love it.

This year my husband signed up my nephew since my brother-in-law isn’t the outdoorsy type and works most weekends. He helped both boys build their cars. My nephew (below, far right) took home 3rd place in his age group the first time he ever made a car!

I’m a high-maintenance girl who prefers a hot shower and room service to a campground, so I’m so thankful that my husband makes the effort to expose my son to “boy” stuff. Look at their happy, cute faces. I love how it’s so easy for them to just be “buddies.”

breakfast of champions & chocolate lovers too

2011-04-19T08:21:00.000-07:00

Want a fast balanced breakfast that your kids will think is a treat?

Here is my favorite vitamin and protein packed breakfast that takes 5 minutes to make and not too much time to eat, and it results in smiling faces around the table.

Jamba style fruit smoothies with hidden leafy greens & mutli-grain toast with Nutella

smoothie ingredients:

a handful of rinsed greens like spinach, kale or Swiss chard (trust me…they’ll never know!)

a banana, frozen mixed berries, orange juice & yogurt

toast: multigrain or Ezekiel bread toasted and topped with Nutella spread

Place your bread in the toaster and while it’s toasting throw your greens (I used organic spinach), fruit, about a cup or so of yogurt and some OJ into your blender and mix until you get the nice smoothie consistency. I never measure, but my smoothies seem to work no matter what ratio I use. If it’s too tart (depending on the yogurt), add some honey or sweetener to your liking.

My daughter calls it “Pajamba juice” and chocolate toast.

I think her favorite part is the Nutella.

The smoothie was easy for her to eat this morning after LOSING HER FIRST TOOTH on Sunday!

Suddenly I'm 8 all over again!

2011-04-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

Hi friends. I haven't fallen off the planet, but I have been quieter than usual this week. Largely due to the bug that my kids so lovingly shared with me. After almost a week, I broke down and went to the doctor when I suspected a sinus infection. An added bonus was the ear infection that went along with it. The last time I had one of those, I was in like 3rd grade or something.

I'm on the road to recovery. Today is dedicated to house cleaning and grocery shopping, and maybe a facial that I've rescheduled twice already due to sick kids!

Have a great weekend!

an event that changed a heart

2011-04-10T21:06:00.001-07:00

This weekend I attended our church’s Women's Ministry Event. I was on the team who planned and carried out the event, and was amazed by how my involvement proved to be a divine appointment.

Sure the event was fun – a fashion show, a guest speaker with a phenomenal story, and lunch while reconnecting with friends. However, it ended up being so much more to me.

My friend Nancy encouraged me last year to join a team with her. She had participated in planning past events and was stepping up as a team leader. Our first meeting was scheduled for a Tuesday night, and it was earlier that same day that my daughter’s teacher approached me about concerns she had regarding my daughter.

On that day I began the process required to either rule out an Autistic type disorder or to get a diagnosis. It was an emotional roller coaster. Little did I know when I was recruited by my friend to participate in the planning of this event, that the timing would coincide directly with events in my life to prepare me for this.

During our last team meeting before the event, I was able to tell this story to these ladies – my teammates and new friends - a handful of ladies who for the most part didn’t know each other.

I am convinced that sometimes God reaches down from heaven to put His arms around us by sending certain people & and situations into our lives at just the right time. In addition to my church friends, I’ve had an outpouring of encouragement from blogger friends with similar stories.

I am guest posting my story here today. Katie is hosting guests posts all month since April is Autism Awareness Month. Be sure to check out both her blogs, God Moments for Mom and Minivan Diva.

the spring “FASHION” event

2011-04-08T08:55:00.001-07:00

Here is a sneak peak of what my weekend will look like:

coffee, girly time, a fashion show, and an amazing guest speaker followed by lunch with the ladies

I’m so excited for the Women’s Ministry spring event at our church (which I helped plan as part of a team lead by this fun gal) - the event that hasn’t happened yet but that has already touched lives and blessed people (including yours truly).

After a week of sick kids, three hours of girl time is going to be the equivalent of a cruise to the Bahamas for me.

Stay tuned for the details on Monday!

WIWW: hello sunshine!

2011-04-06T05:31:00.000-07:00

Hooray, after a winter of dreary weather, we finally had a week of mostly sunny days. I celebrated by buying a big white watch. Although I’ve had my eye on a similar Michael Kors watch for a while, I opted for the $12.99 version from Target, saving ~~myself~~ my husband around $300. I think he almost had a panic attack when he saw me wearing it (before I confessed that it was the Target knock off). I’ve been wearing it almost every day as you’ll see…

a little shopping & errand running on a sunny day

Loft tee & jeans, watch-Target, shoes-DSW, scarf-Nordstrom, oh and those are white sunglasses in my hand – I’m into white accessories lately.

work followed by chauffeuring kids

tank & jacket-Loft, skirt-Marshalls, shoes-DSW

forgot what I did this day, but I remember it being so hot I had to lose the cardigan

striped tank-Target, pink tank-ON, jeans-Loft, shoes-DSW, necklace-Sosobella, earrings-??

chilly Saturday – running errands and hangin’ around the housetop-American Eagle, tank-?, Gap Long & Lean jeans (my fave jeans)

church on Sunday (with a close-up of some of my favorite accessories)

jacket & skirt-Loft, shirt-NY&Co, DSW boots, Jewelscapes earrings & necklace from Brown-Eyed Fox.

dressing it up a little for work

Gap pants, Forever 21 tee, Nordstrom sweater, wedge sandals-Payless, JCrew outlet satin ribbon belt

The last look is the “I haven’t slept in 2 days and my hair is oily, but I still have to get up and go” look. I could also call it “both kids are sick and keeping me up all night” look. I’ll spare you the close-up.

top-Marshalls, Gap long & lean dark jeans, DSW shoes (because my daughter always wants me to wear them, and they’re fun like my Target watch!)

I’m joining my usual Wednesday linky parties at Pleated Poppy and Jewelscapes today. I’m also joining a new party at No Model Lady’s All Dressed Up, who is hosting a GIVEAWAY today:

things that scare me

2011-04-04T15:42:00.001-07:00

port-a-potties

and the 20 foot radius surrounding them

carnie rides

especially the vomit-extracting variety

creepy carnie plushies-

are those nooses?

Is it just me, or is anyone else creeped out by all things carnie related?

just show up

2011-04-01T07:58:00.000-07:00

Before transferring to Auburn, I attended a smaller school my freshman year for financial reasons. I was offered a full 4 year scholarship to Jacksonville State University, and although it’s a great school, it had quite the reputation for being the place to go if you like to party. The shortened name was JSU, and the joke was that JSU stood for Just Show Up.

I encountered the phrase just show up again several times this week. It happens to be the mantra for the online bible study that I just joined. I love that all that’s asked is that we be present and devote time each day, whether it’s 10 minutes one day or half an hour the next. I also love that it’s a guided study, but that I don’t have to commit to being physically present at a specific time and place. I can do it at 6 a.m. in my pajamas before I even brush my teeth, or I can do it in while waiting on the kids at piano, swim or dance lessons.

All I have to do is to commit to showing up. And that, I can do. For more information on what just showing up can mean, read here. If you’re interested in the online study, click here. Happy weekend to you!

WIWW: spring is in the air

2011-03-30T03:04:00.000-07:00

After a week of yucky weather, yesterday was the first day I was inspired to get outside and have a photo taken. I actually wore bright colors and felt the spike in my energy level that signals the beginning of Spring.

One outfit is all I have this week, but the forecast looks promising. I hope that next week is full of color and warmth so I can wear the fun outfits that are calling to me from my closet!

This Old Navy scarf (spring 2009) is my go-to piece for adding color to an otherwise plain warm-weather wardrobe.

J.Crew outlet cardi, Loft tee & earrings, Gap jeans, Tory Burch flats

Linking up for Jewelscapes & Pleated Poppy WIWW posts today.

Don’t be tardy for these parties!

the most versatile recipe ever

2011-03-28T21:02:00.001-07:00

The other day I was perusing my favorite blogs when I stumbled across a recipe for a healthy & versatile way to make quiche. Healthy because in lieu of a crust you use sliced potatoes topped with fresh veggies and other yumminess. Versatile because you can make it your own – vegetarian style, the brunch version or a heartier dinner pie. To cut back on the fat/calories just substitute low fat cheese and egg whites.

Here is a picture of how I made the grown up version using ham, asparagus, tomatoes and mushrooms before topping it with cheese and spinach.

The final product is below, and the smaller one next to it is the kid-friendly version with my daughters fillings of choice – ham and peas. I baked both the same amount of time.

It was super-easy to make and such a crowd pleaser – you can find the complete recipe here. Kris at Simplify has NEVER steered me wrong with a recipe. I also made her quinoa salad tonight, which I’ll be taking to work for my lunch tomorrow. Seriously, check out her recipes. Now (after you leave a comment of course)! What are you waiting for?!

a backup plan & other random stuff

2011-03-27T07:00:00.001-07:00

Friday morning I woke up early to hit the gym. But then it was rainy and cold outside, so my gym bag and shoes still look like this, except for the layer of dust that may have collected on them over the weekend.

Instead of a workout, my son and I had a dance-off before school on Friday. I rationalized 20 minutes of cardio playing Wii Just Dance 2 was almost as effective as a trip to the gym. Plus later in the day I got my eyebrows waxed followed by a trip to Homegood and Marshalls. Between waxing, dancing and the money I spent, surely I lost a few ounces. I know my wallet did. How’s that for a backup plan?

On Saturday I enjoyed playing with my new toys. The camera is a gift to myself that I finally was able to afford due to my new part-time job. The laptop will give me more flexibility with my job by working from home or swim lessons or wherever versus going into the office as much. There may be some blogging, emailing and facebooking by the pool this summer as well. Gotta love technology!

Oh, and the weathered blue-ish stool is another exciting weekend acquisition that I scored at Marshall’s on Friday for next to nothing. Seriously, it was love at first sight!

Get ready to be wowed by my future photos as soon as I figure out my new camera and this darn rain stops falling so I can get some natural outdoor light. Hope your weekend was fun.

Espresso for the soul

2011-03-24T07:08:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks back, I wrote about how an encouraging book, the Bible and a cup of coffee are my required morning combo if I’m going to be the kind of role model I want my kids to see.

You can read that post today over at Katie’s new and inspirational blog: God Moment for Moms.

On some days, real life takes its toll and I may not have 30 minutes to myself to dive in and absorb as much I’d like. Kids wake up early, a crisis arises with my 5 year old, or something sabotages the time I set aside for myself. On those days, my 5 minute online devotions are my morning “drive thru” fix until I can take time later in the day to focus.

While I’m all about making spiritual growth a priority worthy of my time, sometimes (as any mom would probably agree) my time isn’t my own, no matter how well I plan or how early I wake up. Today’s reading from Proverbs 31 Ministries was a great reinforcement of why some days are a one or 2 verse days – like a shot of espresso for the soul. If you aren’t signed up for their daily devotional emails, check it out here.

WIWW: John Kerry edition

2011-03-23T06:39:00.001-07:00

Remember during the Bush/Kerry campaign a few years back when Bush accused John Kerry of being a flip-flopper?

Well that’s what our weather has been like the past few weeks around here. Some days are beautiful and in the 70s while others are chilly and dreary. That makes for a WIWW in which you’ll see tanks and flip flops (the shoes, not the politician) as well as Uggs and cozy sweaters.

Here’s what that looked like:

above left: St. Patrick’s Day – J.Crew blouse & cardi (both really old), NY&Co jeans, Mossimo shoes – Target

above right: one of the days that started out chilly but warmed up quickly – Loft cardi, Target racer-back tank, gap jeans & converse with cute girly earrings, leather bracelet & Sosobella necklace

left: another warm day that got so hot I had to lose the cardi (Gap), Loft tee, etsy necklace, Vigoss jeans (Nordstrom), shoes – Target, flowers picked by my kids who insisted I take a picture with them

below left: the chilly days are back! Nordies cardi, Target striped l/s tee, JCrew ruffle tee, Gap skinnies, Uggs

below right: Loft purple cardi, F21 polka dot tee, ruffle scarf-Target, black jeans-Gap, DSW flats

That’s it for my week. I’m linking up at Jewelscapes and Pleated Poppy today.

Taking it all in

2011-03-20T22:25:00.001-07:00

Oh, how I wish I had it in me right now to write an entertaining, witty post on a trivial topic. My mind has been on more weighing things lately – things that have been in motion for a couple of months now as I’ve had lessons to learn about faith, hope and perseverance.
My weekend began as I left work Friday to pick up my daughter and meet my husband at a medical office building with a very nice man with lots of initials after his name. It was at the meeting that we learned “officially” that our daughter was diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. I prefer to state it in those terms versus Autistic, because while it’s a part of who she is, it doesn’t define her.

I knew going into it that we would likely get a diagnosis, yet I was overcome with a sense of peace. Not to say that I didn’t wrestle with questions along the way: Why? How did we not know until now? Could I have done something to prevent it? Amazingly, every time one of these questions or doubtful thoughts popped into my head, it was chased away by phrases like fearfully and wonderfully made and God’s handiwork as well as a reminder that God created my daughter exactly how He wanted her to be in order to fulfill His purpose.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:14
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
We’re taking a turn down a new path this week as we use the information to make the necessary changes at home and at school that will result in an easier time for all of us but mostly for her. As for the things beyond my control like whether she’ll struggle with certain subjects in school or relationships with friends, I have this promise that we used for her baby dedication at church:
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
I debated whether or not to share this piece of my life, but I was compelled to do so because of the moms in similar situations whose stories and encouragement have inspired me.

what WE wore Wednesday: the colorful edition

2011-03-16T05:24:00.000-07:00

Since I have one whole outfit to post this week, I’m including my daughter’s newest pick – the most colorful t-shirt in the Children's Place. And that’s saying something because that store looks like a rainbow exploded inside!

ON cardigan, Place skirt and tee, socks-Kohls, funky laces –Payless

Now onto the colorful mom attire - it’s all I have this week. Not that I ran around clothes free the rest of the week. I just didn’t take any pictures, and the week got away from me. But enough fanfare….here’s the outfit.

Cardi – J.Crew outlet, Loft ruffle tank, Pleated Poppy pin, necklace-Etsy, Gap jeans, DSW flats

I’m linking up at Pleated Poppy and Jewelscapes today.

a glimpse at our weekend

2011-03-14T17:58:00.000-07:00

We celebrated my husband’s birthday with family on Friday and friends on Saturday, but the best part of the weekend…

for her, probably the Wii dance party or an afternoon at the park

for him, it had to be winning a knot tying contest at a fishing show

(watching him do it was probably my husband’s favorite thing)

for me, it was just having a great all around weekend that included some extra time with family and friends.

does something ever trigger a song in your head?

2011-03-11T08:17:00.001-08:00

The other day I went to Target to pick up some sporting goods and cleaning products. As I meandered through the food section, I had one of those melodic moments where I stood in the cookie aisle and looked to the sky expecting the heavens to open and the angels to sing. Then I began to hear the Belinda Carlisle song “Heaven is a Place on Earth” in my head. SERIOUSLY!

All because of Tim Tams. Then, tears of joy and a call to my husband at work as I could barely speak in an audible voice.

Let me explain…

I was introduced to these heavenly biscuits by my Aussie BFF. Prior to my Target excursion, Tim Tams were something that I experienced if they sent us a care package, as I’ve never found them in the U.S. 10 years ago we went to Australia to visit our friends, and I stuffed my suitcase with these on the return trip. Stuffed! No exaggeration! They got me through the first couple of months of a pregnancy.

Pure yumminess. Seriously, try them. Unless you’re on Jenny Craig, then maybe not because I don’t want to make you fall of the wagon.

I picked up some stuff for the kids too. We’re not on the Atkins diet around here, as you can see.

But don’t think that those Tim Tams aren’t hidden on a high shelf in the back of my pantry. One day I’ll share with them. One day when they’re old enough to appreciate and savor them. Until then… they’re all mine! (insert evil-sounding laugh here).

because actions speak louder than words

2011-03-10T05:40:00.000-08:00

This school year I started out strong. I had a set time each morning to make reading and studying the Bible a priority before anyone else woke up to distract me. However, lately I’ve found myself slipping. I justified spending less time by reading a quick online devotion at home and praying on the way to work. The devotions started to become sporadic since I have a habit of getting sidetracked by chores or tasks whenever I’m trying to get out of the house. But at least I still prayed on the way to work, right?

Then last week as I was praying, someone cut me off in traffic. My sentence went from “and thank you God for…” to “watch where you’re going, {insert not so nice word here}!” That was my first clue that maybe my heart wasn’t really in it. I guess it came down to the fact that I viewed a daily walk with God as an appointment I can pencil in when it works for me, yet I expect Him to be there whenever I have a request. It makes me cringe to admit that. Do I really like to be reminded how self-absorbed and selfish I can be?

So after reading Erin’s post yesterday, I took action. I pulled out the unfinished book that has been unopened on my coffee table for the last month: The Power of a Positive Mom by Karol Ladd. I picked up where I left off, and would you believe the chapter was about modeling righteousness for our children? The chapter began with a quote by Leo B. Blessing – The foundations of character are built not by lecture, but by bricks of good example, laid day by day.

I have no choice but to make this my morning combo:

It got me thinking about the kind of example I’m setting for my kids. For the last few weeks, they’ve seen more of a frustrated mom with a short fuse rather than a patient mom who always has a loving attitude and kind words for them. Sure, we go to church and quote memory verses in our home, but my actions were speaking louder than any lecture or sermon they’ve been hearing.

John 15:4b No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I’ve tried so many times to be a Godly example, and the times that I try to do everything on my own results in failure. To be the daily model that my family needs, I have to make the conscious effort to remain attached to the vine so that bearing fruit starts to occur naturally. So from now on, I’m setting the alarm clock early because there’s something important I have to do. Something that will determine the legacy I leave my children and that will have eternal value.

I’m linking up with Erin at It’s Grace today. Actually, it was Erin’s guest post yesterday that gave me a wakeup call and inspired me today. Thanks Erin for the wakeup call.

WIWW: featuring the turtleneck & my favorite cardi

2011-03-09T03:40:00.000-08:00

There are 2 items on my WIWW agenda this week. The concealing turtleneck and the versatile short-sleeve cardigan.

Lets start with the turtleneck. Because sometimes concealer just isn’t enough to cover up things you don’t want seen. No, it’s not what you’re thinking – 2CoolDad and I didn’t get carried away or anything like that. I had an allergic reaction over the weekend and broke out in red spots, hence the look below – a Forever21 turtleneck & necklace with my favorite skinny jeans & boots.

Now onto the next order of business – the impulse cardi that I bought on sale, but that turned out to be my favorite item during the 30 for 3o challenge – the slouchy, short-sleeve cardigan.

Here are 4 of the ways I wore it during challenge:

I’ll be linking up at Jewelscapes, No Model Lady and Pleated Poppy today.

Remix rock-star: the black tee

2011-03-07T06:06:00.000-08:00

Last month during the 30 for 30 challenge hosted by Kendi Everyday, I chose a basic black long-sleeve V-neck tee as one of my 30 items. I’ve had this tee for ages, but I had so much fun finding different ways to jazz it up for the remix challenge. Here are the different ways I wore during those 30 days.

Prior to the challenge, I’d just worn it as a layering tee with jeans. I never realized how much potential this old black tee had, and now that the challenge is over, I can’t wait to remix it with other things in my closet.

sand in your shoes

2011-03-04T06:02:00.000-08:00

my daughter’s shoes after school:

makes me wonder how any sand is left in the sandbox

when she’s bringing home this much everyday

February 30 for 30 outfit recap

2011-03-02T21:02:00.000-08:00

For those of you who aren’t familiar, 30 for 30 is a challenge in which you are allowed 30 pieces of clothing from your closet to remix 30 DIFFERENT outfits for 30 days. Oh, and NO SHOPPING ALLOWED during the 30 days.

After one casualty (the sweater in #1 shrunk when I handwashed it), I made it through 30 for 30 with 29 pieces. Here is the recap (photographed by my 9 year old son who rolled his eyes each day when I asked him to take my picture).

Thanks to Kendi Everyday for hosting this fun challenge! Over the next few days I’ll be sharing my favorite outfits, my most remixed items, and lessons learned.

Here is the first lesson learned – accessories transform an outfit! That’s why today I’m linking to up to Jewelscapes, even though I’m a day late.

a trip to the salon: before & after

2011-02-27T16:34:00.001-08:00

Before: check out the greaser fro’, but the picture doesn’t quite capture the barnyard stench.

After: Help! My schnauzer head is too big for my poodle body!

Never fear, in a couple of weeks the body and head will match up, and he’ll be a cute lil’ Schnoodle again.

worth a thousand words and a million smiles

2011-02-25T08:31:00.001-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about our garage remodel. In addition to a new and improved space, we also found several boxes of old framed photos from our old house that somehow never made an appearance in our current home – most likely due to my aversion to putting nails in the wall.

Last weekend I took advantage of an extra day off to remedy that situation. Now I smile when I look at these formerly blank walls and several years of memories all in one place.

The wall above the piano was the former home to one of those giant decorative clocks, which after about 4 weeks and numerous battery changes could only be relied on for the correct time twice a day at 1:17.

This is the wall beside my desk in my little office nook off the living room. I love that it’s colorful and eclectic, while the rest of my house is more neutral and contemporary.

My upcoming project is to get our newest photo additions framed and on the wall. I played around with the grouping (on the floor, as you can see), and am leaning toward this configuration:

I’ll post photos of the finished product if I get my act together this weekend.

WIWW: 30 for 30 outfits 16 - 22

2011-02-23T05:14:00.000-08:00

Okay, time for a confession. Although I did style a different outfit for each day this week using my 30 items, one day I chose my favorite faded jeans and a comfy sweater that were not part of my 30. Technically that’s not breaking the rules since I still created an outfit for the day (I just chose not to wear it all day). Cold and rainy days sometimes call for drastic measures!

Here are the outfits that incorporated items from my 30. Details are found after the photos.

17 – Ugg cardi boots, Gap skinnies, Loft top layered over Target striped tee, necklace – Etsy (no longer available)

18 – Loft dress & tee, Nordstrom B.P. sweater, Gap tights, socks – Target clearance for 50 cents!, necklace – here, boots – DSW

19 – Black l/s tee & earrings – Nordstrom, chinos, flower belt & necklace – all Loft, shoes – DSW

20 – Gap trousers, NY&Co sweater& shirt, black pumps – Nordstrom, Etsy necklace (see #18)

21 – tee, chino, & shoes (see #19), sweater (see #18), flower pin – Gap (way back when Sarah Jessica Parker was their spokesmodel), earrings ?

22 – Loft top & l/s tee, ON scarf, Gap skinnies, DSW boots, earrings – Jewelscapes

Takeaways from the week

I’m looking at all my other stuff in a whole new light and can’t wait to experiment with different ways to wear it!
I’m getting sick of looking at these 30 items. Actually it’s now 29 due to a shrunken sweater.
It’s getting harder to come up with brand new outfits from these pieces. I wish I would have chosen more diverse items.
I think I’ll more carefully consider items on future shopping trips – only things that can be styled in several different ways will make the cut.

I’ll be linking up today at Pleated Poppy’s WIWW and Jewelscapes Bejeweled Wednesdays.

stamped

2011-02-20T20:29:00.001-08:00

You know those goody bags that your kids get at birthday parties? My daughter got one months ago with a smiley face stamp. At the time, I took it out of the bag and hid it from her in one of the many compartments of my car. My intention was to give it back to her later under adult supervision, but of course I forgot all about it.

Well, she found it on the 5 minute ride home from school the other day. Guess how I knew?

*note: I was not driving and the car was parked when these pictures were taken.

WIWW & 30 for 30: 9-16

2011-02-16T04:45:00.000-08:00

I’m halfway through 30 for 30!! No doubt my 9 year old son/photographer will be glad when it’s over.

My personal favorite outfits were 10, 11 & 14. Of these, I had never remixed them in that way before and was surprised to see them in a whole new light.

Outfit descriptions are at the end of the post.

9. Loft v-neck, Gap jeans, metallic ballet flats, necklace – etsy, bracelet – handmade by friend

10. black tee, scarf, Vigoss skinnies & shoes – all Nordstrom, bracelet – Cookie Lee

11. tee, chinos & cardi – Loft, metallic ballet flats

12. Nordies black L/S tee, Loft S/S tee, Gap black jeans, metallic flats

13. tee, dress & cardi – Loft, tights – Gap, boots – DSW, necklaces – F21 & Target, leather bracelet. This is an outfit I’ve mixed in the past, but not yet for 30 for 30, so I reused that one since it’s the only dress in my 30 items.

14. Loft v-neck,Vigoss skinnies, NY&Co cardi & earrings, DSW boots, Etsy necklace, leather bracelet

15. black tee, Vigoss skinnies – Nordstrom, TB orange flats, bracelet is a J.Crew outlet necklace that I wrapped, head scarf - old Gap, earrings – Jewelscapes

16. Loft top & cardi, J.Crew outlet belt, Gap trousers, shoes & necklace – Nordstrom, earrings – Jewelscapes

I’m linking up today for Pleated Poppy’s WIWW and Jewelscapes Bejeweled Wednesdays. Outfits 1 – 8 can be found here.

Recipe Randomness & Valentines Day

2011-02-14T18:41:00.001-08:00

I was a slacker this weekend and didn’t post my regular Monday recipe, but I’m going to redeem myself and link to one of my favorite breakfast recipes.

First things first though - Valentines Day. 2CoolDad outdid himself this year. Partly because of his lack of attention to detail, specifically when it comes to reading my emails. I sent him an email about 3 weeks ago with the subject: Valentines Day hints, in which I linked to several handmade items with instructions for him to pick one and surprise me. Turns out, he misread the email. So the end of last week, I got an early package that looked like this:

which I immediately ripped open to find all this:

Happy Valentines Day, indeed!

Now, onto Monday business. If you want a great breakfast recipe, try this:

Meg Duerkson’s Baked French Toast

Garage Makeover

2011-02-11T08:28:00.001-08:00

Here are the garage makeover pictures now that it’s almost complete.

BEFORE: I forgot to snap true before pics, but our garage looked like this picture of our storage container with all our junk piled into it.

AFTER: Now it looks like this when you open my garage door:

Pretty clean, right? But look a little closer to appreciate the details -

details like an epoxy coated floor (see above) and overhead storage (below),

hanging bike racks, and a spare fridge covered with the whole family’s racing numbers,

wall racks for 2CoolDad’s fishing poles and a closet with shelves for hanging wetsuits, waders and tackle,

a wine fridge to keep our stash fresh,

plus more storage for random gear like life jackets, camping supplies, sporting goods, seasonal decorations and the like,

a tabletop work surface over which a future flat screen will be mounted to make the space an official man cave,

and a couple of more small shelves for memorabilia and other things that we’re not ready to part with.

Now we could actually park in there. Not that we would of course! It’s way too pretty, so now we use it to hang out and play.

equipped and encouraged

2011-02-10T05:45:00.000-08:00

I had a few days last week where I just felt overwhelmed. Between juggling commitments, adjusting to a new schedule and dealing with the kids, I had a lot going on and seemed to lack the patience to deal with it.

Fortunately, encouraging words from friends and other sources reminded me of this:

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)

Equipped and encouraged is an empowering combination. If you’re a mom in need of some encouragement, click on over to Erin’s today for her weekly link up. I’ll guarantee you’ll get your daily dose of inspiration if you do.

WIWW - 30 for 30 outfits 1-8

2011-02-09T05:32:00.000-08:00

Having made it through my first week of the 30 for 30 challenge, I found that having set choices made getting out the door in the morning much easier. The challenge will probably get tougher as I have to find new ways to wear the same pieces, but I’m actually having fun with it.

1) anthro ruffle cardi, Gap jeans, NY&Co tee, DSW flats, Jewelscapes earrings, flower pin (gifted)

2) ruffle scarf & striped tee-Target, black top – Loft, Vigoss jeans (Nordstrom), Uggs

3) Cardi, v-neck sweater, tank & chinos – Loft, flats-Tory Burch, necklace-thrifted

4) Loft tee, floral top & cardigan from Nordstrom, Gap skinnies, boots-DSW, necklace – Silpada, earrings, gifted

5) NY&Co Cardi, Loft tee, Vigoss jeans, cardi Uggs & necklace from Brown Eyed Fox

6) Loft tee & chinos, Nordstrom B.P. scarf, TB flats, earrings Jewelscapes

7) NY&Co tee, Gap trouser pants, black pumps-Nordstrom, Burberry bag-gifted, Jewelscapes earrings (LOVE THESE! and wear them almost every day)

8) Gap Jeans, NY&Co shirt, TB flats, belt-Target clearance!, necklace-gifted

Holy Cow! I wore a lot of orange and purple this week! They’re 2 of my favorite colors – can you tell? Guess I should try to integrate some new colors into the mix next week.

I’m joining these link up parties today:

Bejeweled Wednesdays at Jewelscapes and WIWW at the Pleated Poppy.

my Ruby Slippers moment

2011-02-07T05:29:00.000-08:00

I’ve been getting so much style inspiration lately from a number of different fashion blogs. What do these blogs have in common? They all encourage remixing what you already have, and most of them create fab outfits on the cheap. One of my favorite outfits I’ve worn in the past week (and the one that I’ve gotten the most comments on) was indeed inspired by a picture on a blog.

To create this outfit, I pulled out a dress from my closet that I got for a steal but have hardly worn since I wasn’t quite sure how to style it. By itself it looks a little too baby doll-ish. However, by adding a tee under it and layering a cardi on top and pairing it with with textured tights and boots (all which I already owned), I got a more grown up outfit and a whole new look.

That’s when I had my Ruby Slipper moment. Just like Dorothy, I really did have the power all along. I just had to be shown how to use it. So thanks FFM for being my Good Witch of the North and posting this picture.

Meal Plan Monday Recipe: Porcupine Meatballs

2011-02-06T17:39:00.000-08:00

I’m sharing my friend Summer’s Porcupine Meatball recipe, which was an instant hit with my kids because it’s yummy and has a fun name. It was a hit with me because it’s EASY!!!

ingredients: Beef flavored Rice a Roni, 1lb ground beef, 1 egg, 3 c. water

you’ll also need a little cooking oil and a skillet with a lid.

Place ground beef, dry rice (BUT NOT THE SEASONING PACKET) and egg into a mixing bowl. Mix with your hands then roll into small meatballs. Place into a hot skillet with just a bit of cooking oil. Turn them after a few minutes until brown on all sides.

After the meatballs are browned, mix the rice seasoning packet with 3 c. of water and pour over the meatballs. The meatballs should be almost completely covered, so you can add water if necessary.

Cover and simmer on low to med-low for about 50-60 minutes, stirring occasionally. Some of the liquid will evaporate, but you want to have some left to serve with the meatballs.

Serve with your favorite veggie side dish and egg noodles or biscuits.

WIWW 4 and other fun stuff

2011-02-01T21:13:00.000-08:00

The pictures and outfits get better as the week goes on, I promise.

right: j.crew outlet blue cable cardi, loft tee, Pleated Poppy pin (jeans & converse, not shown)

left: black cardi- Loft, tee – F21, necklace-J.Crew outlet, Gap skinnies, wedges – Nordstrom. The fuzzy blur in the background is my crazy dog chasing his tail.

left: target tee over ON tank, Loft cardi, 7 Jeans, converse shoes, necklace purchased for $1 at a friend’s closet cleanout sale, daughter’s hair clip

right: dress, tee & sweater-Loft, Gap tights, DSW boots, F21 Necklace. On my daughter – Mini Boden dress & tee, Gap leggings, purple Uggs (from Grandma)

Left: Gap black jeans, black tee-?, blue s/s tee – Loft, 2 necklaces (layered) Target, black pumps – Nordstrom.

Right: Outfit 1 of 30 for 30 - Gap jeans, Anthro ruffle cardi, NY & Co tee, DSW ballet flats, my daughter’s flower hair clip, Jewelscapes earrings (also pictured below).

I’m linking up today to Bejeweled Wednesdays and the Pleated Poppy. Check out those link parties to see what others are wearing.

Now onto other business…thanks to Bobbi for nominating me for the stylish blogger award. Instead of adhering to the rules of sharing about myself and nominating others, I’m just going to give a shout out to some of my newly discovered faves, or to my old friends who are mixing it up each week in new and interesting ways. Seriously, check these ladies out!

Genn at Life in the Hass House recently started linking to WIWW and has the cutest style around. I wish we were neighbors because I know we’d be instant BFFs.

Genn’s mom Kris at Simplify recently opened an Etsy shop with great accessories and she has the yummiest recipes on her blog.

Paige at The Wandering Cottage is a new blogger friend who also links up to WIWW

My newest fashion inspiration blog is Jewelscapes and I ordered these earrings from the Etsy shop for 30% off (she discounts her blog features).

Katie at Minivan Diva is someone I met in person last year, but who always surprises me as I get to know her better through her inspiring posts.

My first 30 for 30

2011-02-01T05:55:00.000-08:00

What is 30 for 30?

30 items from YOUR OWN CLOSET for 30 days worth of outfits -

NO SHOPPING ALLOWED FOR THE MONTH!

Stop by on Wednesdays to see my weekly remixes starting next week.

Here is what I’ll be wearing in February:

6 sweaters and 1 button-down shirt

5 pairs of shoes

9 tops & 3 pairs of jeans

add these 2 tees & black pants

and 1 dress

plus 1 pair of black slacks & 1 pair of gray chinos (not pictured)

Click on the link in my side bar for more information on the 30 for 30 Challenge hosted by Kendi Everyday.

a man in uniform

2011-01-31T05:29:00.000-08:00

During our garage reorganization we found some boxes of my husband’s old Army gear. My son tried on a uniform (from 2001) just for fun.

Look at the cutie in camouflage!

pasta with Italian sausage & tomato cream sauce

2011-01-30T20:50:00.000-08:00

Lately I’ve been a huge fan of tomato cream sauce and pasta. It just kicks up spaghetti and meat sauce to a whole new level. It’s so easy to make– sometimes I simply add a little whipping cream when cooking a traditional jar sauce (although I’d recommend this with a less sweet sauce like Classico or Barilla as opposed to Ragu). But if I’m in the mood to be really fancy, I make my own sauce with Italian sausage instead of ground beef. Garnishing with shaved parm and basil make it extra yummy looking.

approx. 1 lb. ground Italian sausage

pasta (approx 8 oz.) of your choice (pictured above with fettucine)

1 onion, diced & approx. 4 cloves crushed garlic

1/2 c. red wine & 1 can diced tomatoes

1/2 pint whipping cream

fresh snipped basil and parmesan cheese for garnish

Prepare noodles as you start the sauce. The dish takes approximately 20 minutes, so time your pasta accordingly. Sauté onion and garlic in oil. Add Italian sausage and brown. Add wine and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer a few minutes more. Add whipping cream, stirring as it simmers and reduces. Pour over hot cooked pasta and garnish with fresh basil (or parsley) and parmesan cheese. Serve with red wine and a Caesar salad, and get ready to hear lots of compliments on your cooking!

Not perfect and okay with that

2011-01-27T05:00:00.000-08:00

One of my most eye-opening discoveries as I’ve built closer friendships with ladies/moms my own age is that we all seem to have the same insecurities and issues. Whether it’s related to our physical appearance, our parenting skills, or our talents and abilities, we girls seem to have the tendency to compare ourselves unfavorably to others – always seeing how others are more than we are. More stylish, more crafty, more organized, more popular, better cooks, better entertainers… and the list goes on.

My goal for the upcoming year is to get over myself and replace this negative internal chatter with biblical truths.

image from http://www.purewordjewellery.com

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. -Psalm 139:14

By doing this, I am finding that it’s getting a little easier to accept that I’m not perfect and never will be. And not perfect is okay with me because God uses even the most ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever – do not abandon the works of you hands. – Psalm 138: 8

I’m linking up today with Erin at It’s Grace for her new weekly series Mama’s Heart. Click on over there for a daily dose of encouragement and inspiration.

if you really want to see a makeover…

2011-01-25T21:50:00.001-08:00

Sorry to disappoint, but I have no WIWW pics to show you other than myself in my pajamas below. Why? I was too busy yesterday today taking down my Christmas tree to coordinate a WIWW post.

Yes, you read that right. I just took down my tree. But I have a good reason for the procrastination. Honest.

Here’s the deal – our artificial tree & decorations get stored in the garage during the off season. However, the contents of said garage are in a storage container that has been parked in our driveway since early December. All my bins and boxes for my decorations were in the back of the container and inaccessible until just this week.

The storage container is due to an garage makeover. The catalyst behind the makeover…2CoolDad’s fishing poles and tackle kept getting tangled so he decided to gut the entire garage and create a special place for his most prized possessions. And while he was at it, he decided to convert it to a Man Cave and throw in a flat screen and sofa.

The garage makeover isn’t done, but here are some in progress pictures:

This is the view of the partially unloaded container that a couple of days ago was packed from top to bottom.

About half the contents were unloaded over the past couple of days into these beauties – our new storage cabinets, which are only about half full so far.

Guess I’ll continue to park in the driveway.

I’ll post the final pictures once the transformation is complete.

The Bling Board & accessories

2011-01-25T05:45:00.000-08:00

"The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize." – Clairee (Olympia Dukakis in Steel Magnolias)

I’ve found that the only practical way for me actually wear accessories to compliment the outfit of the day is to have my jewelry in plain sight, organized, and easy to grab as I'm running out the door. That's where the Bling Board entered the picture. I took advantage of an empty space that is out of site, but that gives me plain view of my arsenal of bling.

I originally posted about the bling board over a year ago but recently added to my accessory display – my new addition hangs on the back of my door and holds my scarves, belts and hair accessories.

Organization and accessibility are key, because a girl can never have too much flair.

the bling board is a cork board purchased at Target with jewelry hung on push-pins

the hanging scarf holder is the Ikea Complement hanger

my original Bling Board post is found here

fanciness, pinkness and making it lovely

2011-01-23T21:56:00.000-08:00

This was my daughter’s room before the makeover to PINKness.

One of my favorite things in her room was this framed Fancy Nancy book jacket hung with a hot pink ribbon.

It looked so pretty against the pale green walls. The room was so calm and tranquil. That is until a burst pipe and some wet walls forced a new paint job.

My daughter had one criteria when choosing a new color: it must be HOT PINK. The only problem was that all the PINK happening in her room meant rethinking the existing wall décor.

I started by moving some things around, but couldn’t find the right spot for Fancy Nancy so I created another way to display the picture, a banner, and other cute photos in her room that were previously in individual frames.

It was super-easy. I found a really cool textured frame at Goodwill, which I spray painted white. Once my frame was dry, I stapled grosgrain ribbon to the back of it and used mini clothespins (from the craft store) as my photo hangers.

My daughter painted the clothespins with glue and dipped them in glitter over the holidays to hang our Christmas cards.

I like being able to change out the photos so easily with this display. I also made a similar project with a small frame that I use to display her hair clips in the bathroom.

I’m linking up this with Heather today. Check out Heather’s Blessed Little Nest for more ideas to add some loveliness to your life.

The Future of Meal Plan Monday & Simple Fried Rice

2011-01-23T06:34:00.000-08:00

While I will continue to plan my weekly meals, I am going to cut back my meal plan Monday post to feature one weekly recipe. Posting a whole week of meals is pretty time consuming, so going forward I’ll name each post based on the recipe I’m sharing and link them under my RECIPES page (found just below my blog header).

Today, I’m sharing one of my kids most favorite meals of all time. SPAM FRIED RICE. Yes, you read that right. SPAM fried rice. I know what you’re thinking… “Spam? Are you serious?” Well, yes I am. Read on, if you dare. And if it just creeps you out way too much, you could always use chicken. Personally, I use organic peas and eggs – it always makes me feel better about myself when cooking with canned meat.

Early in our marriage when 2CoolDad was in the Army, we were fortunate enough to be stationed in Hawaii for 3 years. The islands have an appreciation for the canned meat known as Spam. You’ll even find it featured on the menu of famous chefs like Sam Choy. Plus, in many Asian-American households Spam is a pantry staple. Including my own pantry in my own mixed Asian/Caucasian family.

Ingredients: 1 can of spam, frozen peas – thawed in microwave (or other veggies of choice like onion, carrot, etc), 2-3 eggs, cooked rice (not too moist), cooking oil & soy sauce

*I use leftover rice from my rice cooker, which I can’t imagine living without. Day old rice works best because it dries out a bit.

1) Remove Spam from the can and cut into cubes. (Don’t be alarmed by the jelly like stuff that comes out of the can with the Spam, although I don’t recommend serving it with toast.)

2) Heat a skillet, add just enough oil to coat it, and add cubed Spam to brown it.

3) Add thawed peas and toss them around for about a minute or two with the Spam

4) crack the eggs and stir them in with the peas and Spam to cook, stirring constantly to break them up

5) add cooked rice and top with a couple of dashes of soy sauce (season to your taste, but start out light and add more if necessary)

6) mix it up a bit and serve!

My kids top it with ketchup in the shape of a smiley face. Kind of like the big smiles on their faces when they hear that Spam Fried Rice is for dinner!

impulse buys

2011-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

I guess it’s true what they say about going grocery shopping when you’re hungry. Because you might leave the store with a slice of double chocolate cake from the bakery section and a big bag of barbecue chips like this:

Even if you normally don’t eat chips or cake, you might get in your minivan and whip out a fork (that you carry in the glove compartment for such emergencies) and chow on the cake before even putting your keys in the ignition. Then you might open the bag of chips and scarf down the whole thing on the .3 mile ride home. Or not. But you might.

Please tell me caffeine doesn’t stunt their growth…

2011-01-19T18:03:00.001-08:00

My favorite thing to do in the morning is to grab a cup of coffee and check my calendar before starting the day. The other day, I was in the middle of my usual routine when I walked a way for about a minute, leaving my coffee cup on my desk.

I returned to find my ~~pet monkey~~ daughter sitting at my desk beside my empty mug with a coffee mustache.

At the young age of 5, she has already figured out the best way to start the day.

What I Wore Wednesday #3

2011-01-19T04:25:00.000-08:00

This week my husband asked me “what’s up with the What I Wore posts?” Well, here’s the deal. I look forward every Wednesday to my favorite outfit link ups. I get such inspiration from seeing how ladies of various ages, shapes and sizes show their individuality and style , much like flipping through a great fashion mag, without the $900 shoes and $1500 dress on a 6 ft. tall size 0 body.

Real, attainable and fun fashion?? Sign me up! Plus knowing I’ll be posting pictures forces me to resist the urge to wear yoga pants too often (a good thing for a girl who doesn’t do yoga).

The above outfit was worn on a day that started out chilly with a HOT afternoon forecast. I wore it with a light sweater, boots & knee socks to my morning volunteer meeting, then I shed the sweater and changed to wedge shoes for the afternoon.

And here’s what was going on the rest of the week:

With the exception of the of the orange ruffle sweater and checkered blue shirt combo in the first photo (both NY&Co. purchased ON SALE recently), most of the above clothing has been in my closet for years. Only the brown boots (DSW), plum ruffle top (Loft) and the polka dot tee (F21) were fall additions.

My future wardrobe goals include less shopping, more quality (versus quantity), creative accessorizing, and finding new ways to wear what is already in my own closet. I’ve worn more hair accessories in the past 2 weeks than I have in the preview 4 years combined. I also took the plunge today and signed up for Kendi’s 30 for 30 challenge. Wish me luck!!

I’m linking up today at Jewelscapes and the Pleated Poppy. Check out the other bloggers who link up. It’s like a mini-fashion show at your computer!

Man versus Food

2011-01-17T12:41:00.001-08:00

Since we were out of milk and the kids were home from school today, I couldn’t think of a better excuse to go out to breakfast.

My son ordered the kids “big breakfast” which included a little of everything. When it arrived with a side of toast (not pictured) he said…

“Wow! This is like Man Versus Food!”

I’m pleased to report that “Man” was the victor.

Meal Plan Monday: week 3

2011-01-17T08:12:00.000-08:00

Since 2CoolDad had a craving for barbecue, we went out Friday so he could enjoy this:

This is the same guy who was making fun of me this week for photographing my meals. He asked if I wanted to take a picture of him for the blog making peanut butter and jelly. Don’t worry…you won’t find it on the menu, but here are some other oldie but goodies:

Chicken tenderloins with rice & gravy

Ingredients: 10-12 chicken tenderloin strips, butter, crushed garlic, salt & pepper, thyme or sage for seasoning, flour, white wine (or whipping cream for a thick & creamy gravy), chicken broth

First start your rice, and prep some broccoli to steam or microwave. The chicken & gravy takes 20-30 minutes to cook, so time your rice and side to avoid overcooking the meat.

Coat skillet with enough butter to cover the bottom of the pan (or you can melt a little butter and then add some cooking oil). Meanwhile, season chicken with salt, pepper and herb of choice (we like thyme or sage).

Add garlic to the pan to caramelize, and then add chicken,slightly browning on one side. Sprinkle with about a quarter cup of flour over the chicken, and then flip it over. As chicken just begins to brown on the other side start stirring it around to get any extra flour in the pan to brown (see below).

This is my favorite part. Pour yourself a glass of white wine. Then after taking a big sip, pour a couple of glugs from the bottle into your pan.

Scrape up the brown bits and let it reduce a bit before adding about a cup and a half of chicken broth. Continue cooking uncovered until the liquid reduces and begins to thicken.

Add salt & pepper to taste before serving. Serve with rice and top with gravy.

*if you want to make a creamy, heavier gravy, you can omit the wine and add cream after the chicken broth

Tamale Casserole

ingredients: 3/4 c. yellow cornmeal, 1-1/2 c. milk, 1 egg (beaten), 1 lb. lean ground beef, 1pkg chili seasoning, 2 tsp. salt, 1 can (16 oz.) whole tomatoes, 1 can corn (drained), 1 c. shredded cheddar

Preheat oven to 350 & coat a 2 1/2 qt. casserole with cooking spray. Mix cornmeal, milk and egg in a glass casserole dish. Brown meat in skillet. Add chili seasoning, salt, tomatoes and corn and mix well. Stir into cornmeal mixture.

Bake for about an hour. Sprinkle cheese over the top and bake about 10 minutes more to melt the cheese. Sorry, I didn’t get a picture of the finished dish before we dug in.

Tempura battered pork cutlets with peas and biscuits

Ingredients: 1.5 lbs thin cut boneless pork chops, salt & pepper, seasoning salt, flour, 1 egg, 1/4 c. milk, Japanese panko bread crumbs (found in the Asian food section), cooking oil

In 3 separate bowls place a little flour, eggs and panko. I start with enough to coat 3-4 pork chops and add to it as I run out. I also add more milk to my egg wash if it begins to run low.

Coat skillet with a generous amount of oil and heat on med-high. Add seasoning salt to the flour and mix with a fork. Sprinkle pork chops with salt & pepper, then dredge in flour, dip in egg mixture and then coat with panko. Brown in hot oil on each side. Finish cooking in a 400 degree oven for about 10 minutes, depending on the thickness of your pork chops.

Cheesy potato soup with bread and salad

Click for cheesy potato soup photo & recipe. I’m serving it with Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast from the freezer (just in case the potato soup doesn’t have quite enough carbs), and salad from a bag.

Friday Inspiration: de-cluttering the mind

2011-01-13T21:35:00.001-08:00

With the new year, I have noticed lots of posts or articles containing creative tips to de-clutter and organize various rooms of the house. I was even inspired last week to purge a couple of closets in my own home. Letting go of the things that are cluttering the space in which I spend my time, or even just cleaning out my car or purse often brings that sense that order has been restored.

I’ve also found that a little mental housekeeping is also good for the soul. Sometimes I lose sleep due to all the random thoughts going through my head or the mental lists I’m keeping. Since I wouldn’t want the inside of my head resembling anything close to this:

I took Genn’s advice and got myself a “BRAIN.” My brain is a big green binder with tabbed dividers and lots of paper to jot down the random thoughts that require later action or good ideas that cross my mind. It also holds my recipes for the week, my shopping lists and my meal plans. Once I jot those random thoughts down on paper (in a central location) they no longer keep me up at night.

As for the things that I can’t control – this quote hit home for me:

Every evening I turn my worries over to God. He’s going to be up all night anyway. - Mary C. Crowley

Don’t forget to smile - it’s Friday.

What I Wore Wednesday: week 2

2011-01-12T06:37:00.001-08:00

I did a little better this week with remembering to take photos, so I’m linking up to a couple of my favorite blogs today for the very first time. YAY!!!

I went shopping this week at an obscure boutique that I had written off for a while. It’s a little place called MY CLOSET. As in my bedroom closet. I was surprised at all the free stuff in there. A good de-cluttering and inventory assessment changed my perspective on my wardrobe.

The big closet purge/reorganization definitely made it easier to throw outfits together quickly. I forced myself to break free from my rut and incorporate long unworn items into my outfits, especially all the colorful scarves that were out of sight.

Thursday - Loft cardi, skinny jeans & animal print scarf (both from Nordstrom B.P), Gap tank & Uggs Cardi boots

Friday – seeing my boys off on their camping trip.

tank & sweater (on sale, Nordstrom B.P.), button front ruffle tee, Gap jeans, converse shoes & Loft earrings & Sosobella necklace with my kid’s names

Saturday - attending a surprise party for a friend (not great photos, but you get the idea)

J. Crew Outlet cardi & tank, Gap dress & footless tights & knee socks (from Nordstrom), necklace – ?? (all items I’ve had for years) and boots from DSW.

Monday – all in the family - my kids & nephew rocking our team colors just before watching the Auburn Tigers become the National Champs! On the far right is my Littlest Tiger. Gotta raise them right!

Auburn tee over L/S white tee, Loft jeans, & orange/yellow scarf (found in closet ??), orange ballet flats

Tuesday – and here we have my super exciting “I have a cold outfit and can’t stop blowing my nose outfit” which I threw on around noon after sitting around the house in my pajama pants and Auburn tee (yes, the same one pictured above) for the first half of the day.

Confession time - I slept in that Auburn tee. My son woke up and exclaimed “You’re still wearing that?!” To which I replied “Yes, and I’m never taking it off because we’re the National Champs!” But then I gave the dog a bath, and the whole issue of personal hygiene and smelling like a wet dog got the better of me.

Gap jeans & ballet flats, NY&Co. ruffle tank over an old lace-trimmed tank, with a navy J.Crew Outlet Cardi

So there you have it – what this 30-something mom of 2 leaves the house in. I’m linking up at the Pleated Poppy for WIWW and Jewelscapes – Bejeweled Wednesdays. Check them out.

Meal Plan Mondays: Week 2

2011-01-10T06:54:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I’ve got to be honest. Monday will be a KFC night up in the 2CoolHouse. We’ll be too busy watching my Auburn Tigers play the Oregon Ducks for the National Title.

But here are 4 other easy meals I’ll be serving up this week:

1) Swiss Bliss Chicken with a side of rice and steamed broccoli

Swiss Bliss Chicken

8 boneless chicken breasts (cut into strips or tenderloins works best)

sliced Swiss cheese

1 can Cream of Celery soup, 1/4 c. of sherry or dry white wine

1-1/2 c. of stuffing mix, 3 Tbsp butter – melted

Arrange chicken in 9x13 baking dish. Cover with cheese slices. Mix soup & sherry or wine and pour over chicken. Sprinkle with stuffing and dot with butter. Bake at 350 for 40 min. or until chicken is cooked through.

2) Hearty Pasta with Italian sausage & tomato cream sauce

approx. 1 lb. ground Italian sausage & cooked pasta (approx 8 oz.) of your choice (we like bowtie or penne with this dish)

1 onion, diced & approx. 4 cloves crushed garlic

1/2 c. red wine & 1 can diced tomatoes

1/2 pint whipping cream

fresh snipped basil and parmesan cheese for garnish

Sauté onion and garlic in oil. Add Italian sausage and brown. Add wine and simmer for 5-10 minutes. Add tomatoes and simmer a few minutes more. Add whipping cream, stirring as it simmers to a thicker consistency. Pour over hot cooked pasta and garnish with fresh basil (or parsley) and parmesan cheese (pictured above is a similar recipe with shrimp, but you get the idea – that nice orange-colored tomato cream sauce is yummy).

3) Santa Fe Soup (courtesy of my good friend Nancy at The Goat and the Kid), served with cheese quesadillas.

1.5 lbs of ground beef or turkey, 1 lg. onion – chopped

1 can of corn, 1 can black beans, 1 can kidney beans, 1 can pinto beans

1 can stewed tomatoes with garlic & 1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 pkg of taco seasoning and 2 – 1 oz. packages of ranch dressing mix (or make your own taco and ranch seasoning using simple ingredients from the pantry. It only takes 5 minutes.)

2 c. water

Brown the meat and sauté onions. Add remaining ingredients and simmer in the crockpot a few hours or on the stovetop for a couple of hours. Top with cheese and sour cream and serve with tortilla chips.

This is one of my son’s faves. The best thing is that I throw half in a large ziploc and freeze it for another night. (tip: when freezing in baggies, lay the item on a cookie sheet & freeze – once it’s frozen it’s flat and takes up little space in the freezer)

4) Beef with snow peas from PW’s 16 minute meals, recipe found here.