Grin & Bear It: October 2008

>> Friday, October 31, 2008

The perfect weather, the perfect friends, the perfect day!

I love Halloween!

Hope you had a haunting day!

>> Thursday, October 30, 2008

You bet there is....and my 1950's washer and dryer that was bought for $100 at the begining of my marriage 9 YEARS ago has finally crossed over to that yard of junk in the sky. HOORAY!!!!!!!!

So if you rrreeeaaalllyyy know me, you know this has been a subject of contention, me and my washer and dryer. I've loathed them for so long. I tried to break them, prayed they would break but they just took a lickin and kept on tickin. But alas, they have made their last move. The move to my barn to make way for this only mine are in white.....

I was nervous this may come off as bragging, but a good friend just told me to brag away. When you are a SAHM, you only get your kids and appliances to brag over, so here you go....I'm bragging.

Old Washer Vs. LG Front Loader:

Front Loader:
Instead of moving water to the tub using an agitator, a front-loader uses gravity. It requires less water, holds larger loads and saves energy. LG's front-loading washer performs distinctively based on its powerful Direct Drive system, incredible loading capacity, and value-added technologies (like the freshen up cycle on the dryer, child lock out((thank goodness for this)) drying rack, steamer, detergent, softner saver, and get this....I can wash and dry up to 20 towels!!!!! brag, brag, bragging!)

Old Washer/Dryer:
(Approx. 5 shirts, 2 jeans and some socks in the washer) Turned the dial, pulled it out, it filled with water, spin cycle was so loud it sounded like a helicopter was landing in my laundry room, not to mention it shook the whole 2 story house, then it would come to a halt about an hour later and my wash would maybe we washed and ready for dryer. Put clothes in dryer, turn dial, flip switch and dryer would start spinning. Again, an hour later the squeak from the dryer would stop and the clothes would still be damp. Open the dryer door for about 15 minutes and let it cool down, and start process again.

So goodbye OLD, ANCIENT and sometimes faithful friend. You always started, kind of did your job and you've lasted way beyond your years and for that I am thankful. Rest in peace now and enjoy your stay in junkyard heaven!

This way to spooky town

>> Sunday, October 26, 2008

A before Halloween trick or treat in our cool little town.

Gotta have it!

>> Friday, October 24, 2008

Four words

Tirzah's gotta have this

I'm a tad bit obsessed w/aprons. I really like wearing them. I have a couple, but this one is the coolest. Go check out the blog (but don't you dare enter the give away....this one is all mine! I tell you allllll miiinnnneee- muuuhahahahaha)

http://www.funkyvintagekitchen.blogspot.com/

What Works for me Wednesday!

>> Wednesday, October 22, 2008

I don't know why I do it, but every night I stay up late, blog stalking and always end up hungry. Its because I'm always drawn to food blogs. I have this never ending obsession with planning my monthly menus and always looking for something new and fun to try. I'm a frequent stalker of Picky Palate (http://www.picky-palate.com/) but I have a new blog that totally works for me to share with you tonight.

Clap your hands if you LOVE girl scout cookies!!! If you didn't clap, then stop reading my blog. Just kidding. Seriously though, who doesn't love girl scout cookies? I associate girl scout cookies with love not only because I do love them, but they always seem to appear around Valentines day. I like them all. I like Thin mints a little more than some but my favorite cookie is by far the Samoa's (or Caramel De-Lites as they call them now, by the way, anyone know why they changed up the names of their cookies? Am I getting that old?). I literally could eat a whole box at a time. My mouth is watering just thinking about their crunchy, gooey, goodness. If you love Samoa's too, then it won't come by any surprise why I jumped off the couch, did a touch down dance, and a few cart wheels when I saw this blog.

http://onceuponaplate.blogspot.com/

Ladies and Gentlemen, girls and boys.......let me introduce you to my new love affair.

Expect these for Thanksgiving, Christmas and every other holiday where I would maybe send or give you something. I can't wait to bake these babies up. I am thrilled beyond expression at finally finding a recipe for my favorite cookie. I'm feeling a bit excited at the possibility that this recipe could be the one to make me stop supporting the Girl Scouts, as they love me and my order but I would rather send that money to help adoption matters, or cancer research (or more coconut, chocolate and flour for homemade cookies), and also a bit overwhelmed at the usage of my tread mil if the recipe does exceed my expectations. Good thing Sarah and I are "TRI-ing" next summer. I will have a lot of running to do to work off these bulge adders, but I'm going to say that they will be my fuel for training.

Enjoy the Once Upon a Plate Blog. It has a ton of good recipes and I can't wait to try some of them. Once Upon a Plate gives the Samoa recipe credit to Nicole @ Baking Bites ,
See Nicole's Original Recipe here: http://bakingbites.com/2008/01/homemade-girl-scout-cookies-samoas/

Now enough of my rambling and on to the recipe from Once Upon a Plate/Baking Bites:
Cookies ~ Homemade Samoa's (also known as Caramel De-Lites)
Makes about 3 1/2 to 4 dozen

Cookie:
1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
up to 2 tablespoons milk

Preheat oven to 350F.Cream together butter and sugar in a large bowl. Mix in flour, baking powder and salt at a low speed, next, the vanilla and milk, adding in the milk only as needed to make the dough come together without being sticky (you may not need any at all). The dough should come together into a soft, pliable ball. Add in a bit of extra flour if your dough seems sticky.It's easiest to roll the dough out in 2 or 3 batches (between pieces of wax (or parchment) paper to about 1/4-inch thickness (or a little thinner) using a 1 1/2-inch cookie cutter to make rounds. Place on a parchment lined (or on silicone mat) baking sheet and make a hole in the center. I used the small end of a large round piping tip. Nicole comments that you can use a knife, or the end of a wide straw, to cut a smaller center hole. Repeat until the dough is used up (it's okay to re-roll, this dough is shortbread-like and very forgiving.)Bake cookies for 10-12 minutes, until bottoms are very lightly golden brown around the edges.Cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet, to allow them to firm up slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Topping (the goodness!)
3 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
12-ounces good-quality chewy caramels
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons milk
8 ounces dark or semisweet chocolate (chocolate chips will do)

If you prefer milk chocolate, by all means use that. My notes: The caramel-coconut mixture is quite sweet, so I used Bittersweet chocolate to balance the sweetness bit. Preheat oven to 300 degrees (F)Spread coconut evenly on a rimmed baking sheet and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden. Watch carefully, especially near the end of toasting time; the coconut toasts very quickly once it begins to become golden. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside. Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave-safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high for 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with a spatula.Using the spatula or a small offset spatula, spread topping on cooled cookies, using about 2-3 teaspoons per cookie. Reheat caramel for a few seconds in the microwave if it begins to firm up, to make it soft and spreadable once again.While topping sets up, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat on high in the microwave in 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. (I melted mine stove top using double boiler method.) Dip the base of each cookie into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper (I used silicone baking mats instead). Transfer all remaining chocolate into a piping bag or a zip lock bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle finished cookies with chocolate. (Melt a bit of additional chocolate, if there is not quite enough for each cookie.) Let chocolate set completely before storing in an airtight container.

Monday morning

>> Monday, October 20, 2008

If you give a mom a pumpkin spice donut (from Dunkin Donuts of corse),
She'll want a cup of hot cider to go with it.
She'll pour herself some.
Her three-year-old will spill the cider.
She'll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks.
She'll remember she needs the washer and dryer hooked up.
While trying to make it to the stairs to put the socks away
She'll trip over boxes and bump into the fridge.
Bumping into the fridge will remind her she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of turkey from the freezer.
She'll look for her cookbooks.
The cookbook is in a box setting under a pile of mail.
Flipping through the mail reminds her that she needs to disconnect her cable and water and pay the remaining balance.
She will look for her wallet.
The wallet is in her purse that is being dumped out by her four-year-old in search of gum.
She'll smell something funny. She'll race the three-year-old to the potty (but not in time).
While she is changing the pullup, the phone will ring.
Her four-year-old will grab the phone and run.
As she's chasing the four-year-old, she'll remember she wants to phone a friend.
Thinking of the friend reminds her of wishing the friend was close enough to enjoy hot cider and Dunkin donuts together.
Thinking of cider will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are...her kids have eaten the donut that went with it,
so the mom will just have to settle for nothing.
Whats hot cider without a donut anyway?

......and that was just the first 30 minutes of my morning!

Can it be?

>> Friday, October 17, 2008

A new post....is this for real?

I have never appreciated the internet more than I have this past week. I have been without a phone, tv, and internet for a whole week and it has seriously sucked! Thank goodness I had my cell and my cool new Ipod or I would have gone crazy. I don't want to even think about all my favorite shows I've missed and news that has gone past. Anyway, I'm back!!!!!

Since I will be unpacking for the next...oh....year it seems, I will be posting little bits here and there. I did, however, want to share some of my favorite things from this week. I took a break from the mundane of unpacking and lifting heavy boxes and grabbed the boys and headed outside to enjoy the sunshine and brisk air. Also for a chance to explore our new surroundings. I am always amazed at the wonder of nature. I am truly blessed to be surrounded by its beauty and am grateful that the boys will grow up appreciating its wonder as well.

My fully packed garage (and you don't even want to see the barn)

View from my driveway

Beautiful fall colors surround me

Bike rides down our lane by the barn

(and of corse exploring a mud puddle even when Mom said "NOWAY!")

Nature walk

Milk weeds

(Tell me you remember these)

Pumpkins

2 Ponds on my property

Leaf and rock rubbings

and lastly my favorite part of the day:

Sharing with my boys one of my favorite things to do in the fall in MI when I was a child, Showing the boys how to tear the milkweed apart to the "silkies" and letting them blow in the wind

What Works for me Wednesday!

>> Wednesday, October 8, 2008

What is working for me today....

Packing tape

Ethos Water (Buy ETHOS people!!)

My comfy tennies

Oh and about a thousand of these

Oh happy day!

>> Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Don't cha wish your IPod was cool like mine......well, maybe it is but since this is my first Ipod (yes, I've only had the cheapy Mp3 players) I'm pretty excited about it. I got an IPod Touch today and it is a very happy day indeed!!!! No time to brag now, i need to get my music downloaded! First song is Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama" to bring me smiles and memories of the south.

What Works for me Wednesday!

>> Wednesday, October 1, 2008

There is nothing like going to the Orchards and picking fresh apples. We did that a few weeks ago, and as the final apples lay in my basket on the kitchen table, they were screaming for carmel. My little cooks helped with all the prepartion and in no time, we were chewing into gooey sweetness. I used 2 bags of carmels and added about 4 TBS of water to a pan. Melted the carmels while stirring every so often so they didn't burn. Once melted, we dipped and spooned carmel over the apples. I set them on a small cookie sheet lined with wax paper and then let them cool in the fridge. The apples haven't last long at all. The boys love them and I love them (plus its a semi-healthy snack-ha)!