Another success!

Saturday night we hosted a friends 40th birthday party here!  A dinner for 30!!
Here's the process.......................
6 Sirloin tip pork roasts with a chili rub on them waiting to be cooked...............

 Almost 8 dozen rolls.............................

 Chex mix (for munching on when the party moved out to the shop after dinner)

I didn't get pictures of 7 lbs of glazed carrots, 3 - 9x13 dishes of cheesy hashbrown potatoes, 4 heads of romaine with craisins, mandarin oranges, feta cheese, and bacon bits, 80 stuffed mushrooms, 80 dilled grilled prawns, 1 lb colby jack cheese sliced w/summer sausage and crackers and this time we purchased the desserts and had a dessert and candy "bar" out in the shop(so mad that I forgot to take pics!)

Here's the set - up, Kathi and Stacy always work their magic!

Everyone seemed to have a good time and it was so fun to listen the the laughter and chatter from this group of friends and family!  These friendships go way back and it was neat to be a part of the evening! 

Once again - Dan & Marla, Jeff & Kathi, Jim & Stacy all dug in to work and made things go smoothly - such a great group of friends!

Welcome to the Classified Ads

For Sale

2008 Lance Scooter

$1800 brand new

asking price $1200

Great unique orange color

locking storage in seat

50cc/goes up to 35mph/ has 60 miles on it

Please call 360-961-9450 to schedule a test drive!!

Here's the rest of the story:
A couple years ago we used a gift certificate that Randy was given to pay for part of this scooter - the problem is - we don't live in town!  I had it parked at a friends house in town for a while, they used it and I drove it a couple times - that's where the 60 miles came from. It is a BLAST to ride around in! It is in brand new condition and it needs a good home.  In 3 months Emily will be getting her drivers license and we could use the cash to help get a car for her to run around in.  If you know of anyone who might be interested PLEASE have them call me!  The past 2 spring/summers I've tried Craigslist and only gotten weirdos with strange offers, so I'm done with that!

This ends the disruption to our normal blogging and it will resume shortly.

Buttons galore....................

I'm a very A.D.D. person!  When I am home for a day working on projects, I get to the end of the day and have 4 projects started that must be finished.  The other day when I was cleaning out closets, etc. I came across a box with a lot of my sewing supplies in it.  I decided to sort through the box (since we have been her 2 1/2 years I guess it's ok to finish unpacking :).

I ran across these in the box.............................

you know what these are don't you! these are the little envelope of extra buttons that are hung on to a new piece of clothing.  I always save them - feel like it's the right thing to do!  But after years and years , AND no longer owning most of these items of clothing (some were dresses of Em's when she was little), I figured it was time to add them to my craft room button supply. So, I started opening envelopes and traveling down memory lane.

Yes, I actually owned pieces of clothing with the ladybug buttons (good ol' Christopher and Banks) and the green flower button.  Okay - these things may be fashion faux pas now, but what great crafts and scrapbook pages they will make!

Maybe it's time you empty all your little envelopes of buttons? I know you have some too!!

Fried Rice

This is a recipe my friend Stacy taught me to make.  I love how simple it is, how fabulous it tastes and what a great addition it is to a meal.

FRIED RICE

2- 2 1/2 c. rice (not instant - I use calrose)

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

1/2 c. finely chopped onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 c. diced carrot

1/2 - 1 c. frozen peas

1/4 c. soy sauce (NOT worcestershire as previously posted!)

2 eggs, beaten

Cook rice according to package directions.  I have a rice cooker and just start the rice in that (it takes about 20 min.) and get veggies chopped up and ready to go. In large skillet heat up olive oil and saute onion, carrot and garlic until tender. 

 

 Then add cooked rice, peas and soy sauce (1/4c is the most, try a bit less at first)and stir well, keep mixing over low heat- the rice will all get brown from the sauce. After this is all mixed spread rice to the edges clearing the center and add the eggs and scramble them right in the middle breaking into small pieces as it cooks.  When egg is all done, stir it into the rice.

This step is VERY important - you MUST taste several fork fulls to make sure it is acceptable :)!  You can serve the rice right away (after the tastingS), or you can simmer on low or turn off heat and put a lid on it to keep it hot.

I really hope you will try this dish - it has become a favorite here!!

Our new condo

Yes, Randy went and splurged and built us a new condo!!

Max just had to try - he's definitely afraid of heights

..................unfortunately.............it's for the kitten!

Progress

Yesterday Kathi came over and we did some latte' drinking and scrappin'.  I worked on my Daily December Album (finally!).  I hadn't done any work on it yet, except for getting the pictures printed (and remember, I bought a "cheater album" with pages already started!). I'm adding backing to the pictures, ribbons, a few embellishments, etc.  The snowflake punched out and mounted on a circle is where I am stamping the number of the day) When I stopped to make dinner I was halfway done!  I am going to try and get it done this weekend.

 It's pretty simple and not heavily embellished, but it's soon to be done!

I have so many small albums I want to make, not mention getting Emily's album caught up before she graduates in 2 1/2 years - her book is currently at 1st grade!  I have small albums purchased for the following events: our trip to Australia (click here Australia Vacation,)the Barnabella party Sally gave for me (click here if you don't remember it -  A Barnabella party ),and a book of Nathan's accident click here - Nathan's Accident) I'm thinkin' I need to keep my hind end home on some of my days off and get busy.  I do so enjoy working in my craft room - it is a dream room after all!!  I'm so bad about sitting down by myself - always some chore to be done around the house first!  So, if anyone wants to scrap for a day, come on over!

SNOW DAY!!

YES - we got one!  Slept til 9, got up got coffee and crawled back in bed to watch What Not To Wear! 

Made Pancakes for the girl - yes I had TWO!! :-) Now I'm gonna clean a bathroom and then BFF Kathi is coming to scrap for the day!  WOO HOO! 

Yes I am aware that it is quickly melting, but for now, I am "stuck" at home!

the best laid plans......................

.............get blown out of the water when you have to go to Bellingham on a Monday and come home with a sinus headache :-(!  I swear - is there a day that is less busy in Bellingham?!?!  Honestly, I am so sick of it (notice my ranting here!). Saturday Marla and I went to the Mt. Vernon Walmart and Costco - and they were better on a Saturday then Bellingham on a Monday.

I had a zealous list here waiting for me, instead I made a latte' and sat in front of the fire and watched TV when I got home at 4pm.  The chores will be here later this week.

I did have to make bars last night for our Women Unplugged at church tonight, so I tried a new recipe.  Found it on AllRecipes.com ........................Emily gave it a thumbs up - so did I!

CAN'T LEAVE ALONE BARS

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package white cake mix
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine, cubed

Directions

1. In a bowl, combine the dry cake mix, eggs and oil. With floured hands, press two-thirds of the mixture into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking pan. Set remaining cake mixture aside.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, combine the milk, chocolate chips and butter. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 45 seconds; stir. Microwave 45-60 seconds longer or until chips and butter are melted; stir until smooth. Pour over crust.
3. Drop by teaspoonfuls of remaining cake mixture over top. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool before cutting.

Creamy chocolate filled yuminess!!!  Super simple too!  I love recipes that use cake mixes!  Try them.  The comments on the site said to try different combinations of cake mixes and chips ie: white cake mix w/white choc chips, Choc cake mix w/butterscotch chips, etc.

Enjoy your Tuesday - SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW SNOW!!!!

Creamy Mac and Cheese

This fall I came across this recipe on my favorite cooking blog Mennonite Girls Can Cook, when  Kathi and Marla were coming for one more lunch on the patio in the beautiful fall sunshine.  It was awesome and has become a regular.

I got home from church yesterday and it just sounded good - warm, comfort food good!

Creamy Mac and Cheese

2 Tbsp Butter

1/4 c. flour

1 tsp. salt

2 cups milk

4 c. penne pasta (you can use anything, but I prefer penne)

2 c. grated cheddar

Cook pasta according to directions on pkg. Place butter in med. size bowl and melt in microwave, add salt, flour and then milk.  Cook in microwave for 6 minutes stirring every 2 minutes. 

Place 1/2 of drained pasta in a 2 qt dish (I have used all shapes, 11x7, 9x9, round pyrex, etc) and pour half of white sauce and cover with half of cheese. Repeat layer.  Bake 30-40 min at 350 degrees until edges start to brown!  ENJOY!

My husband was in a "project" mood and he pulled out everything from under the stairs closet and started putting in new shelving for me!  I've never loved the setup under there, but I've never told him and he went to get something out of there and he couldn't stand it - how I love that man.

Somebody has a lot of stuff!!

After!

I still need to go through and organize the stuff (and toss some I'm sure), and then it will be done!  I had a few projects going myself!  Randy had built some stair step shelves for my spice cabinet, so I needed to reorganize that! I keep opening it when I walk by cuz' I just love how it looks!

 Then I moved on to my baking cupboard!

I took the Christmas tree down that was upstairs - you know what they say "out of sight, out of mind"!  It was easy to ignore!  Now Christmas is officially put away. I did leave the garland w/snowflakes and twinkling light up above my cabinets for January.

We rented Dispicable Me and ate Potstickers and Baked Chocolate pudding with Em.  It was a great family night!  (If you are adding up my calories consumed for today - just stop - it was awesome!)

Today my goal is to get this house cleaned and organize my pantry - time to take it all out and put it back in! My office is due for a digging out in a couple spots too!.  Randy hung a "new fun thing" in there for me I will show you later!

I'd better get moving, my list is kind of long today!  While I'm working away I will have a roast in the oven - gotta love comfort food on these cold days!

I got nothin..............

I've needed to blog for days............but I got nothin'.

Since New years, here are the happenings:
-sent Brandon back to College :-(
-went to church, took a nap and went for a drive with my hubby
-worked 28 hours from Monday-10:30am Wed (gotta love inventory)
-got a bad cold and have putzed around the house for 2 days
-took down Christmas decor (now I need to get it out of Randy's side of the garage)
-made soup without a recipe, just kind of tossed (it was good, it just needed more salt which I was out of even after stealing from every salt shaker!), along with a batch of fresh bread to go with it.

fried some cut up bacon pieces, added onion and carrots

added some corn, milk, evap milk, and hashbrowns

a close up view

I would make it again, only thicken it up a little with some flour and maybe add polish sausage for a kick.

Today, work - I count it a blessing to have a job I love! Tonight, feeding the cheerleaders and then the Bff's and then we're all heading to the LC@ NVHS basketball game.

Tomorrow, SLEEPING IN, and maybe a brave trip to Costco and Walmart.  I think we're going to Mt. Vernon. (yes, I know it's Saturday, and probably need my head examined)!  I DON'T DO Walmart, but I can handle the Mt. Vernon one every once in a while with a BFF in hand! :p

Enjoy your weekend and maybe some snow (bring it on!!)

A wedding on New Years Eve

Thursday we had a rehearsal dinner here for my nephew Monte and his soon to be bride Chrissy!  Things went very well and once again the friends were awesome in helping!  It's funny because as we were prepping that day I was mentioning that we didn't have another dinner scheduled and within the hour the phone rang and a friend asked if we would have her husbands big 4-0 party here!  Of course we said yes!

Back to the wedding..........  It was 6pm on Friday - New Years Eve!  I haven't gotten dressed up on New Years Eve for a VERY long time!  It was fun!

The bride and groom....................

 This is a game they played at the reception - very cute!

Of course there were cousins for pictures........................ this is my nieces Jen and Jessie with Emily.  Such sweet and pretty girls!

 Jessie, my nephew Jeremy and his wife Trang.

 Jen holding the newest cousin...........Jace, 10 days old!

I had a chance to get a quick family shot and of course - thanks to my frustrating camera - it's blurry again!

One more shot of Randy, me and Em!

After the wedding we came home and brought the New Year in with the Bff's.

On a more serious note, I think this year -  I look at a New year in a new way. A little apprehensive after our year last year.  But there is  a reality of the fact that God is the one in complete control and we have to rest in His plan and His Sovereignty.  It's an old saying, but so heart felt for me right now.  I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future!

Blessings to you and yours in 2011.  The only thing that never changes is God~