Saturday, January 31, 2009

WE HAD A DELICIOUS DINNER

with friends to finish celebrating birthdays for Shane and Deb at J Bellas Ristaurante...

THE FIRST TIME I TASTED BUTTERMILK SYRUP

was this morning and my taste buds were singing hallelujah!, hallelujah! with every bite I took....


I got the recipe from Monica, and now I'm giving it to you.

Seriously, the best syrup EVER and you will be addicted and licking your plate.


Buttermilk Syrup

Bring to a boil in a large pan (the syrup "grows"!):
1 cube (1/2 stick) butter
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 TBSP. corn syrup
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Once syrup boils for 7 minutes add:
1 TBSP vanilla

You're welcome....

I HAVE NEVER TASTED A BEET

Photo by WordPress
What's your favorite way to eat one?

I HAD THE HONOR OF KIDNAPPING DEB THIS

morning for a birthday brunch....
We had the most scrumptious breakfast which consisted of whole wheat pumpkin pecan bread french toast with buttermilk syrup, cottage cheese, peaches, strawberries, juice and hot chocolate, smiles and a lot of laughter.

Debbie has been my friend for many years and she is seriously one of my favorite people in the world. She is fun, brave, optimistic, loving, talented, outgoing, hilarious, caring, interesting and interested, thoughtful and I laugh my butt off whenever I'm around her. I love her guts!

Happy Birthday Deb!

BLOCK PRINT TOWELS

These are hot for February cooking in the kitchen....

An Etsy find. Tea towels found at ArtGoodies.....

Friday, January 30, 2009

BLACK IS MY FAVORITE COLOR

and I would love to have a bedroom like this...

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO FIND HEARTS

hanging from your ceiling; one for every day you have been with your loved one?

Someone has a very romantic person in their life. Check it out the Apartment Therapy post here ....

WAX PAPER HEARTS

Photo by Martha Stewart
We're going to be making these. Click here for instructions.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

I'M A HAPPY CAMPER

Were you as "ahhhh" as me when Michael and Fiona kissed?

Photo from Burn Notice

ONE LOVE

by Hanazuki.... What a cute USB flashdrive from Shopintuition.....

OLD FASHIONED VALENTINES

Limited edition cards from The Paper Moon Project. So cute....

SLEEPING BABES IN THE CAR...

Aren't they scrumptious....

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

LANDON HAD A BIG DAY

He got his very own library card and is strutting his stuff.

He's thrilled with his book choices but I think he's going to have a problem turning the Batman book back over to the library. It's a 'starred book' and that means no renewal. Uh oh.....

I HAVE BIG PLANS FOR THE

garden this year....

I just ordered some seed packets from Seed Savers Exchange. L to R: Dragon carrots, Danvers carrots, Golden Bantam corn, Bushy cucumbers, Beams Yellow Pear tomatoes, Chelsea watermelon. Just to name a few.....

I'm getting excited already!

CHILDREN'S BOOK AUTHOR

and illustrator, Charise Harper, gave Design Sponge a sneak peek into her home....

I love how carefree and cozy this room is and the light is incredible....

and how this striped floor is welcoming and fun...

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

TOMORROW NIGHT AT 7:30

the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company will be in Portland....

I wish I was able to go! I've heard they are AMAZING. If you are available, go and then tell me all about it!

And a bonus, tickets are on sale for 20% off....

IT'S BEEN COLD AND RAINY

and I love this idea from Apartment Therapy to keep winter rain and slush out of the house....

Now to keep my little ones out of the rocks....

I'M NOT A HUGE FAN OF FOOTBALL

but I watch and cheer for a team every year in the Super Bowl...

I pick my team by location and color. This year I have had a big dilemma though.

The Steelers wear my favorite color - black, but I'd rather visit the Cardinals home state - Arizona.


After much thought, I have made my decision.

Since I'd rather visit Arizona and it's February and they wear the color of love, I will be cheering for the Arizona Cardinals in the 2009 Super Bowl....

I WAS LURKING AROUND SOME

blogs I stalk and discovered Devotchka on the rockstar diaries....

Click here or here to have a listen. Too bad they aren't coming to Portland while they are touring.

Me likey......

Monday, January 26, 2009

MAN VS WILD

is such an incredible show...

Bear Grylls is insane and absolutely incredible.

Are you a fan too?

TODAY WAS HAIRCUT DAY

for Lach and Landon....

It was Lach's first haircut and he was fine until the haircut actually started and ended up on my lap and we left very hairy. Landon didn't want a haircut either. I had to bribe him with his favorite - a cinnamon roll.

Looks like it should have been an easy errand, but it wasn't. They look cute though.....

I AM REALLY LOOKING FORWARD

to Confessions of a Shopaholic...

Click here to see the movie trailer....

PAY IT FORWARD PORTRAIT PROJECT

challenge from Photojojo:

Take a portrait of another photographer with whatever matters most to them, give them a copy of their portrait and they do the same for another photographer...


This is my sister, Stephanie, and she is all about individual style and she is known as the princess (hence the tiara).

We're going to have another shoot outdoors, but these three were my favorite from our raining day shoot. (The curtain in the second one drives me crazy but she is going to fix it in Photoshop :-)

What do you think?....

Sunday, January 25, 2009

WE GOT TO CELEBRATE MOM'S BIRTHDAY

with her tonight.... She's young for an old gal....

She got presents and lots of kisses from the grandkids....
And a yummy cake.....

LARRY IS HAVING A BLAST

in San Diego and having fun with friends Brandi and Eric....

Photo by Eric

Photo by Larry's Blackberry

I'm so glad that he's coming home tonight!

DECORATIVE VICTORIAN LETTERS

on these pillowcases by Lush Designs....

LOVE them!

TOMORROW IS CHINESE NEW YEAR

Our Monday evening meal will be pot stickers, twice cooked chicken served with rice, sesame green beans, Asian pear crumble and of course, fortune cookies with my own fortunes in them.

Here's a recipe to make your own:


1/4 cup flour
1 egg white, beaten stiff
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp oil1 tbsp cornstarch
3 tbsp water
1/4 tsp vanilla

Combine flour, sugar, cornstarch, and oil. Fold in egg white. Add vanilla and water.


In a small skillet (non-stick or lightly oiled), over medium heat, pour 1 tablespoon of batter, spreading it out into a 3" circle. Cook 4 minutes until lightly browned.Turn with spatula and cook 1 more minute. Remove from the pan (careful - it will be hot!).

Place paper fortune strip in center of circle. Fold in half over the edge of a glass, and then bend to form Fortune-cookie shape. Hold until cool, or place in an egg carton to hold the shape until the cookies firm up.

I know fortune cookies are Chinese American, but they are so fun!

Saturday, January 24, 2009

LARRY J HAD A LOT OF FUN ON THE

snow campout, so I thought I'd like to give it shot.....

but in Sweden, 124 miles above the Artic Circle, at the Ice Hotel....

LARRY IS ENJOYING SURFING

in San Clemente, California....

Photo by This Luxury
Yesterday he didn't realize until AFTER he got out of the water that there was a shark sighting where he was....

I'M DREAMING OF A VALENTINES DAY

weekend in Switzerland at Villa Castagnola in Lugano...

Photo by This Luxury
One day.....

IT WAS A ROCK 'N ROLL DINNER....

5th Ward Rock 'N Relief Society Presidency
L to R: Ruth (President), Me (2nd Counselor), Rachael (Secretary), Martha (3rd Counselor), Monica (1st Counselor).

We had an awesome dinner, great company and we brought the house down with our rock 'n roll skills.......
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