Hippity Hop Hop, Easter’s on the Way

Posted on by April 6, 2012

I know I’ve already talked about Easter Sunday Dinner, but just a bit more about food…this time it is more about the fun, which may become a tradition…ya never know.  You know I love ‘pancake art’…so, I’m thinking about these before going to Church…

Maybe I’ll make a whole bunny, with a dollop of whipped cream as the tail :).  You know my not-so-dirty little secret for serving my kids their morning pancakes…they dip in whipped cream, not syrup…way less drippy and sticky.  The little blueberries will be so yummy…maybe freshly picked strawberries on the side?  Thinking of that as a little activity for today, but the weather is a bit icky…

I would LOVE to make these precious little ducky rolls…my babies LOVE these rolls!  So appropriate for our table, don’t ya think???


We need to dye our eggs for Easter, then I will use them to make deviled eggs…but I usually get that icky grayish green stuff on the yolks…so I found this little ‘recipe’ for making the perfect hardboiled eggs.  Look at how much prettier these are when done properly…I hope I can make it work!  I am fairly confident in my abilities, but this does intimidate me just a tad.

My little Ducks and I wish all of you a very Happy Easter!

Today’s secret revealed…I have a picture of myself, about Em’s age, with my baby duck that the Easter Bunny brought me…I’ve always loved ducks :).  If I find that picture, I will put it on my FB page.

Not Just Sunday Dinner…

Posted on by April 4, 2012

Easter Sunday Dinner.  My wheels are spinning with what to serve.  The Garden Guru and The Laundry Fairy (aka Uncle Tim & Aunt ‘Chelle) will be joining us for our annual Masters viewing party.  It is not really a party, more like us having a good excuse to hang out together…it was an annual tradition before we moved to Arizona, we took a few years off, but picked right up where we left off when we moved back.  This is the weekend that you know Spring is really here to stay.  If you haven’t watched The Masters, golf fan or not, you should check it out to witness the beauty of that course…Spring in the South is magnificent.

Back to the task at hand…planning dinner for Easter Sunday.  I am thinking of doing my Grannie’s traditional Easter dinner…ham, deviled eggs, green beans with red potatoes, mac and cheese (probably in the crock pot), and Aunt Lela’s coconut pie…it wouldn’t be complete without Lela’s pie (or Lee-ler as it was pronounced).  I don’t have her actual recipe, but found this over at Stacey Snacks…can’t believe she is a Jersey girl! 

I can taste it now!  Can’t wait to make these (the recipe makes 2!).  Here is what it looks like in the pie dish, just so you know what to expect.  Take a long stroll through Stacey’s blog…she has LOTS of wonderful recipes.

Today’s secret revealed…I am so happy to finally be able to complete the Easter table with this pie I remember so well…always present at Easter and any Family Reunion, Aunt Lela would be happy I found this…Grannie, too.

 

Spring Break Fun

Posted on by April 2, 2012

Our Spring Break is in full swing…gotta make some plans for the kiddies to have some fun!  We may have a little rain this week, so we need both indoor & outdoor activities.  I really want to try these SUPER GIANT BUBBLES…there is even a tutorial for the giant bubble wand!

Another little project that I think my kids will really have fun with…homemade flubber.  Ideally we will do this outside, but it could be an inside project if we have to.  We’ve made plenty of homemade play dough, with great success…but this will change it up a bit.  I love the shiny texture…I may even try a batch with the glitter glue (maybe). 

I am definitely going to keep them away from any carpets or rugs…we got play dough in the carpet at our last house…not a fun clean up process, to get it out I had to hire a pro :(.

Another fun item I want to try is this jelly fish in a jar (or plastic bottle).  It looks easy enough.  I have this on my “Ideas for Kids” pinboard…but I am going to warn you now, once when I accessed this I got a disturbing pop-up of the pornographic variety, so I will not be adding the permalink to this tutorial.  When the kids and I try this, I will take pics of each step and do my own tutorial.  I did not report this pin, because I have accessed it since that incidence without any popups, but I just wanted to warn everyone of my experience.  How cool do these look?!?!

I also have a big park trip and a mini-golf outing planned…not to mention planting the garden.  I would love to hear about your Spring Break plans…whatcha’ got?

Today’s secret revealed…am I the only one that worries about how my kids will look back on their childhood?  I stress a little about if I am making happy memories…or will they only remember me yelling “STOP!” or “WHO MADE THIS MESS?” or “UP, DOWN, or OUTSIDE!”.  Surely they will remember the fun stuff, too…right?  I mean, I remember the fun stuff…not the punishments (except that time I was grounded for 3 months…but that was on me, not Mom)…and of course I remember Momma’s cooking…YUM!

 

Spring is in the Air

Posted on by March 28, 2012

Literally…a fine, yellow blanket of powdery pollen covers EVERYTHING…A-A-Choo! Despite that, this is one of my favorite times of the year.  Everything is coming to life…trees are budding, flowers are blooming (well, except my daffodils 🙁 ), and the animals are stirring (even frogs & snakes EEK!).

My garden is cleared out and ready to be planted…we sodded large chunks of our yard…and I am itching to get some new flowering bushes (roses, gardenias  & peonies).  I plan to work in the yard with some help from my monkeys during our Spring Break next week.  This is Em’s idea of ‘helping’ with the sod…my princess and her frog.

Today’s secret revealed…last spring we remulched all of our beds…right after my colorful array of daffodils had bloomed (pink, white & traditional yellow).   I told DH we needed to leave the remaining stems & leaves to “feed” the bulbs…Johnny Patience whacked them all down an guess what happened…no blooms this year, only stems :(.

Rockstar Handy Man Strikes Again!

Posted on by March 26, 2012

After the fabulous closet redux, Darling Husband (aka Rockstar Handy Man) was on a roll…one of the higher priority projects on my “LIST” got knocked out!  The days of the eyesore trashcan partially blocking one of the major walkways of my kitchen are gone…HOORAY!  DH converted one of my cabinets to a pull-out trash & recycle.  I had to rearrange a few things, but am MUCH happier with the arrangement.  My cookbooks got relocated to the “new” closet…

 

Now I can actually see them, rather than having to get on the floor to look in this cabinet…the new home for all of my plastic storage containers…

I wonder how long I can keep it organized LOL.  These used to live in the next cabinet to the right, now it is…

Can I get a “WOOT! WOOT!” ???  It is conveniently located right beside the sink…no more need for a “garbage bowl” when chopping veggies, etc.  I am in love with this…makes a huge difference for me on several levels.  No more hideous trashcan in the walkway…

It used to sit right there at the end of the counter on the left.  That is probably the most traveled area of the house, right beside our make-shift drop zone (yes, that is on my LIST) that is at the entry door from the garage (the only one most of us use).

Removing that trashcan really made the space instantly feel tidier (despite the boys coats, backpacks & shoes everywhere).  I am sparing you a picture of the big nasty trashcan.  This wasn’t a cheap project, right under $100 with the trashcans, hardware, and mounting attachment to hook it to the door (so the whole thing pulls straight out, rather than open the door and pull the cans out)…not so bad considering a stainless steel trashcan would cost upwards of $65.

Today’s secret revealed…I don’t miss the cabinet space that I had to sacrifice, I actually LOVE the way things are arranged now, makes much better sense.  If you are considering doing this project…GO FOR IT!

 

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The Party is in the Planning

Posted on by March 23, 2012

I’m a planner…so much so that often I expend all of the allotted energy on the planning.  In other words, I plan a project and never actually do it…I like to think I properly plan so that I know what I’m getting in to, and maybe after really looking at it, it isn’t worth my efforts.  The current project looming in my brain is our Summer garden.  My planning wheels are spinning.  I had been dreading the big clean-up (should’ve done that in the fall), but a little visit from Uncle Tim…and magically it was done :).  Aunt Michelle (or C-shell, as the kids call her), is the famous Laundry Fairy…be jealous, very jealous…probably shouldn’t call Uncle Tim the Garden Fairy LOL.

I didn’t take a ‘before’ picture of the garden…trust me, it was shameful.  Here is after the Garden, um…Guru visited…

We have lots of clover…imagine that.  That’s on Darling Husband’s list…grass, we have weeds.

I had a really successful garden last year, especially considering it was my first try.  I learned a few things.  I learned that I want to have 2 jalapeno plants, rather than 1 each of 3 varieties of hot peppers (if I have extra room, I may do 1 hot banana pepper…no New Mexican Reds, too waxy).  I also know that I will have to fight with the squash bugs…they were mostly on the hill, where the pumpkins, watermelon & cantaloupe were planted.  Apparently they like the mulch…no pumpkins at all last year.

 

They were creepy, and there were TONS of them.  I have been reading about what to do to prevent these…most suggest just squashing them…EWWWWWW.  I think I will just plant a sacrificial plant or four to keep these creepy little boogers occupied & out of my veggies.  I also have read that companion planting helps ward them off, planting things they don’t like…radishes, some herbs…that’s on my list.

So this is my plan…I’m sure it will evolve over the next week or so.  I believe that this is going to be our Spring Break project.  I will have to purchase all of the plants before they are out of school…imagine trying to focus at the garden center with 4 monkeys running around.

What are you planting this year???

Today’s secret revealed…I was so sad as last summer came to an end, I knew I would miss cooking with fresh herbs, but our winter was so mild that the only herb I lost to the weather was basil.  I hope it doesn’t snow at Easter.

 

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Silver Linings

Posted on by March 20, 2012

I found this…where else?  Pinterest.  It is from Keep Calm Gallery…I loved purusing this site.  This just might become my mantra.  So simple…you’ve heard it a million times…and so TRUE!  Sometimes you have to search for that glimmer of silver in your gloomy situation, other times it shines brightly. 

I witnessed a very poignant example of silver linings over the last few months…from devastating illness came amazing healing…from suffering came peace…what was broken became whole again.  It was beautiful…and so sad.  My heart was heavy, and yet I was so grateful to be a part of such an amazing family.

Remember those silver linings.

Today’s secret revealed…I’m still searching for some of the silver linings in a few past cloudy days…they are there, and when the time is right I will realize what it was all about.

It’s Our Thing…

Posted on by March 15, 2012

Clovers…the four-leafed variety always makes me think of our children.  Where did this all begin?  I think it started with St. Patty’s Day 2001…we spent the day in Virginia-Highlands…probably my favorite part of Atlanta…at a little bar, Atkins Park.  I think we were the first people in the place.  They served the BEST chicken fingers…we love ‘bar food’.  They were battered, with fresh thyme in the batter…so yummy…the puffy crunchiness.  We were watching March Madness, the only time I even remotely pay attention to basketball…having a few coldies.  All of a sudden, we looked around and the place was PACKED…standing room only…and we had the best seats in the house.  We had always done something fun on St. Patty’s Day, but this one was special…it was a Saturday…no work, pre-kids kinda Saturday :).

Maybe my affinity to clovers stems from my love of red-heads…I still can’t believe that NONE of my babies have red hair.  Sometimes, when the light hits it just right, Em’s hair has a strawberry tint.  I have a bit of Irish in my heritage…Tannery, pretty Irish name…maybe that’s it.  Whatever it is I am drawn to four-leaf clovers.  My kids even go to Clover Schools. 

Last July, DH and I celebrated 10 blissful years of marriage and I wanted to give him (us) something very special to commemorate our day.  I wanted to do a piece of art…thought about DIY’ing it, but wasn’t confident enough in my abilities…not to mention it sounds WAY cooler to say “I had a painting commissioned for you” LOL.  I contacted Lindsay over at Hello Hue, I chose her for several reasons…she is talented, reasonably priced, and in Hawaii (where we got married!).  I waited and waited for her custom queue to have an opening, and our anniversary got closer and closer.  Finally I begged wrote to her and explained the situation, and the meaning behind everything…she graciously squeezed me in!  I was overjoyed!  I told her I wanted a four-leaf clover…but not a green one, a khaki-ish one…on a turqouise-ish background (my color obsession).  She did a fabulous job, sending me sneak peeks along the way. 

 

At the very last minute, I asked that she incorporate the kids’ initials in some way…E L O e.

So special!  Lindsay has a whole shop of paintings ready to go…or you can have your own painting commissioned ;).

One day, a few weeks ago, I was purusing Pinterest (odd, I know), and came across this necklace …

I fell in love!  MUST HAVE!  I decided this would be the very thoughtful gift from my family to ME for Mother’s Day this year…I love it and they don’t have to worry about thinking of something for me…it is a win-win :).  When I went to purchase this, it was sold out…but I was determined & contacted her…I had it, in hand, in a week!  I love etsy!

Again, purusing Pinterest (weird!), I came across a fun little tutorial for clovers made from paper rolls…of course, I painted mine turquoise.

I hope everyone has a fabulous St. Patty’s Day!  I will be celebrating in Clover, SC…’running’ in my very first 5K.  Wish me LUCK!

Today’s secret revealed…I find many of my ‘collections’ are somewhat accidental.  I have several ducks…obviously a few clovers…antique bottles…Nativities…but I don’t exclusively have a designated area for each of them (well, most of my bottles are in one area), but I have them scattered about.  It lends some degree of cohesiveness to my style, I think.

I am considering a Pinterest support group…anyone want to join? 😛

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It’s So Easy

Posted on by March 13, 2012

“It’s so e-easy but nothin’ seems to please me…” sorry, little meaningless digression to my early years of high school…I’m quite easy to please, actually.  On with my point.  My BFF has shared many recipes passed down from her New Orleans Nana with me…you may remember the positively delightful lemon squares.  This is another, it is simply delicious…and could not be easier! If you are unfamiliar with New Orleans fare, the name may be deceptive…BBQ Shrimp…it has absolutely nothing to do with barbeque sauce…and no grilling is involved.  This is old school New Orleans at its finest.

The original recipe I got calls for 3 pounds of shrimp…one of my favorite things about this is it can easily be divided into smaller batches (when it is just DH & I we eat 1 pound) and just as easily it can be doubled.  Gotta love versatility!  So, you need some shrimp…peels & tails on…

I hate peeling raw shrimp…so this instantly made me happy :).  Spread the shrimp out in a single layer on a sheet pan covered in foil (easy clean up!).  Now some lemons, let’s do 3 (1 per pound)…I like them fairly thinly sliced…lay the lemon slices on top of the layer of shrimpies.

Aren’t lemons simply beautiful?  Now for the punch of flavor…melt 2 sticks of butter in a sauce pan, add 1 cup of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of parsley, 1 tablespoon salt, 2 tablespoons pepper, 3/4 teaspoon oregano (you can sub an italian blend for the oregano & parsley if you need to), 1 tablespoon paprika, 3 tablespoons worchestershire and 5-6 cloves of minced garlic.  I like to let the flavors meld together for a few…like while the oven preheats.  Then pour over the top of the shrimp & lemons.

Now, mix it all up…I find my (clean) hands are best for this.  Then, I have to rearrange the lemons back on top…it probably doesn’t really matter, but isn’t this pretty???

This goes into a 425° degree oven for 15 minutes…

The shrimp are perfectly cooked every time!  The smell is heavenly!  The New Orleans’ way to serve this is with beautiful crusty bread, but we were livin’ la vida low carb…

I roasted the asparagus and the cauliflower at the same time as the shrimp. 

Today’s secret revealed…the first time Brandy served this for us, we had an extra baguette…we ate it for breakfast…with our coffee…dipping it in melted chocolate…topping that with strawberries and whipped cream…so sinfulicious!

 

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Running…Really?

Posted on by March 12, 2012

Really.  I have never been a runner, never had any desire whatsoever to run…until recently.  Whatever it is…the company I keep…the limited ‘free’ time I have…or just me being me, wanting to see if I can do something I have never really done before.  Many of my friends run…actually, most of them do…all different levels, those who run for a ‘normal’ workout to those who run marathons. 

My crazy marathon running friend, Julie, started a local group for running…they even drug me out of the house with Em in tow for nearly 4 miles…I’m not going to claim that I ran it, mostly walked…BUT I got out of the house & made the effort. 

To say I was intimidated by ‘running’ with Julie is a gross understatement.  She is an accomplished marathon runner, now with Ironman on her radar…but she is a great encourager.  She writes about her new ventures into triathalons at SwimBikeRunBeHappy .  She and I have an upcoming first in common with running…we are doing our first 5K on St. Patty’s Day…pretty sure she will beat me to the finish LOL.  Darling Husband is running in it, too.  I am proud of myself for the attempt…and now I will have a goal…this year I will probably mostly walk this, but next year I hope I will be able to run the whole thing.  I think that is an attainable goal.

So, here I go…in just a few days I am doing my very first 5K…I’m going to need the Luck of the Irish to get to the finish ;).

Today’s secret revealed…I’m super glad that I have green running attire for this, I would hate to be pinched by every person that passes me :D.

 

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