Merry Christmas!

All of the Christmas cards have been sent out!

And to my great surprise, we have run fresh out!

So here's a peak at what went in the mail this year.

We hope your Christmas is full of love and great cheer!

“The first time I tried organic wheat bread, I thought I was chewing on roofing material” - Robin Williams

Hello everyone this is Paul. I am not sure if I am allowed to post, but I am anyway. I have a sad, sad story to tell. You see, Kristen and I love to cook; But, neither of us are any good at following a recipe. I think that this may be the reason until now, we have really abstained from the delving deeply into the baking arena. This is no good though, seeing that we really are a bread family. We admire the artisan breads at Kroger (clearance, of course) as though we were in an a (delicious) art gallery, and really want to make our own.

So...a month ago I tried my hand at it. My loaf was much closer to a brick than bread. I even had a book that I had gotten at the library. Apparently, you can't proof your bread in the oven while it pre-heats to 350 degrees (something to do with the yeast being cooked into oblivion).

Flash forward a month or so and Kristen decided to try her hand at it. These bricks weren't as much her fault, as they were the fault of the vague recipe that she found on a blog.

Anyway, here is the challenge: We need someone to tell us how to make bread. We are trying to eat whole wheat, but half wheat/half white would work. Really, anything that won't resemble a brick when we pull it out of the oven. So all you master bakers out there, help!!

Not a lot of time....

T-minus 2 days!

This is a really funny ornament!

Christ centered Christmas

Look how cute this blog is.

Compromising

Our first Christmas together as a married couple, we had a big decision to make; what was our Christmas tree going to be like?

The battle:

Real Tree vs. Fake Tree

White Lights vs. Colored Lights

Paul wanted a real tree with colored lights.

Kristen wanted a fake tree with white lights.

Who would win?

Years 1 & 2: Real tree, white lights

Years 3-6: Fake tree, colored lights

Year 7 (current): Fake tree, colored lights, and white lights

We're having twins, twins, twins, twins!!

I'll be honest, it was really the chickens who had twins, but now we have them. My neighbor's grandpa-in-law owns a 20,000 chicken (egg) farm. These eggs here didn't make the cut, so my neighbor (I call her Santa Claus. More on that later.) brought them over.

Some eggs are big, some are small. Some are tall and skinny.

They remind me of people. We are all differently shaped on the outside, but inside, we are all people.All the big eggs are twinner eggs. I remember as a kid, a twinner egg was considered a great prize. Everyone would crowd around the pan to see the special egg with two yolks. Out of the 24 eggs that we have, 18 of them are twinners. Needless to say, we are eating a lot of eggs right now.
As for the Santa Claus part: My neighbor cleaned out her kids rooms while they were at school and brought over two huge piles of toys. They are currently locked up in the bathroom that is "broken". Merry Christmas, kiddos!

Kiddie Ornaments

No, my kids didn't have anything to do with the ornaments that I made this year. I am too controlling with some things. It's an issue that I have been working on. I now let Paul cut Dallin's hair, but I can not be in the same room. I used to cut it, but OCD is not a good mix with clippers and a 3 year old who won't sit still.

If you are a better mom than me, you will let your kids help.

Here are a couple fun ideas for your kids that I want to try with mine:

here

and here

Annual Christmas Ornament

Every year since Paul and I have been married, we make new ornaments for the tree. Some we don't get out any longer (like the painted glass balls and the popcorn strings, which, both, are self explanatory as to why they remain in storage). This year, we decided to keep going with the paper globe theme. To make smaller circles, I used a Cricut on loan from a friend to do the dirty work. We all love how they turned out.

Today, I found these cute little puppies that I might try, too.

Thanksgiving Feast-ivities

What a JOY it was to have Paul home Thursday through Sunday. I would take him home any day, really. This morning, I called him at work. He answered with his sexy I-am-getting-a-chest-cold voice. Sexy nonetheless. (My mom hates that word. Sexy, Mom. Sexy. I like to bug my mom sometimes.) I am off track now.

Sorry. Right. Where was I? Oh, yeah, Thanksgiving.

We woke up and cut veggies, made key lime pie, opened a can of cranberry jelly, and whipped some cream.

Despite Dallin's love for cooking, his love for eating what he cooks remains sparse. Our annual bread turkey relish tray.
Dallin's had a grand old time playing outside after the big feast.

Thanks, Mork family, for having us over to be part of your family for Thanksgiving.
We felt at home!

You might be shocked to find out ...

...that I didn't spend a single cent today. I didn't venture out on Black Friday. Nope. Nada. Zero. Zip. (Me? Not shop? Insane, right?) This year it will be a "Do we need it?" Christmas. (The only thing we need is food storage, so that's what we are getting.) Everything else will be handmade. Simplify is our new motto. We have been so blessed this year with Paul's job, our health (not including these horrible colds/coughs that stretch on forever), happy children, wonderful family and friends (I could keep naming all our blessings, but it would get long) that we have decided to simplify things. Including: canceling Satellite TV (gulp), saying goodbye to our DVR (double gulp), bye-bye faster Internet, sianara caller ID (I won't be answering my home phone any longer ;). It's all just a matter of setting the final date (which we have, but avoid talking about) and DOING IT. That will be the hardest part.

He's the man

My friend Traci showed me this video today. I laughed out loud every three seconds! It has a PG-13 part, so cover the little ears.

Christmas Pizza

"Mommy? Make pizza, home. Pepperoni."

He has a French-Austrian-Spanish accent when he talks.

I had just got him out of prison (aka his bedroom, to him, it was a death sentence) for being bad. He was sobbing. I felt bad.

"Of course we can make pizza!"

He has this quiet little squeaky voice after he's been REALLY upset.

It's REALLY cute!

The voice, not the tantrum.

I couldn't resist.

Christmas Pizza

bread

ketchup (or pizza sauce)

shredded cheese

pepperoni

cookie cutters

Toast under the broiler, set on high, but watch it carefully!

These will be ready in about 30 seconds, flat!

Eggnog Fondue for Two

It's Sunday night. That means it's dessert time. Put the kids to bed and snuggle up with your sweetie because, baby, it's cold outside! Eggnog Fondue

Scant 1/2 cup (about 1/4 c + 1/8 c) eggnog

1 1/2 tablespoon butter

3/4 cup chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips)

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

1/16-1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a saucepan heat the eggnog over medium heat almost to the boiling point, whisking constantly. Do not allow to boil. Remove the saucepan from heat, turn heat down to low. Add the chocolate and the butter to the eggnog. Stir until chocolate and butter are completely melted, returning to low heat if necessary. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg. Serve fondue immediately with bananas, marshmallows, graham crackers, sponge cake, pretzels, whatever suits your fancy.

Photo Shoot

Diva baby helped me with a photo shoot today.

My friend, Sara Frisby, (okay, that's not her last name anymore, but I've known her since I was a wee lass and I am still on my childhood memories kick) made this dress out of a vintage pillow case.

We wanted to show her, and you, that it is not only cute alone, but cute on!

Notice her shoes, made by Sara as well.

It's adorable with a shirt underneath, as well, but once we got that far into the snap shots, Diva Baby was D.O.N.E. for the day.

She said something about child labor laws.

Thanks again, Sara!

No chocolate left

Dear sugary confections of the non-chocolate* variety,

You are all that is left. Are you sad? Do you feel neglected and unwanted? Or are you glad that you are still alive? Does this prolonging of your life bring you joy?

Sincerely concerned,

Chocoholics

*I'm sorry Tootsie Pop, you don't count as chocolate

Some things take time...

A long time ago, I was asked for recipes. A long time ago. Sorry!

Here they are. We don’t use recipe a whole lot, and if we do, we never measure. Here are some guesstimates of what we did:

Ravioli Soup

3 cups chicken stock (or 3 cups water+3 chicken bullion cubes)
½ package frozen ravioli (or tortellini)
½ an onion, chopped
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 can green beans, drained
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can diced tomatoes (with the juice)
Spinach (I never measure this one, maybe a handful)
Salt and pepper to taste
Parmesan Cheese

Bring chicken stock, onion, and dried basil to a boil. Add frozen ravioli and boil for three minutes (or according to the package directions). Add green beans, kidney beans, tomatoes, and spinach. Warm these ingredients through. Salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

paul's tomato crustless quiche

Extra Virgin Olive oil (couple tablespoons??)
Potato
Tomatoes
Eggs (maybe 6??)
Milk (a couple tablespoons??)
Basil (a teaspoon??)
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat your cast iron skillet (or oven proof pan) on the stove top. Drizzle skillet with extra virgin olive oil. Slice the potato thinly, about a ¼ inch thick and layer in the bottom of the skillet. Whisk eggs, milk, basil and salt and pepper in a bowl (just like you were making scrambled eggs. Pour egg mixture over the potatoes (add more eggs if it looks like you need more., the quiche was only about an inch thick) and layer sliced tomatoes on top. Move skillet to the oven and bake until eggs are firm (not sure how long, sorry).

dirty-dirty chocolate-coconut cupcake

Your favorite chocolate cupcake
Coconut flakes
Chocolate frosting

my chocolate frosting recipe:
1/3 cup butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla
2-4 tbl milk
2-4 tbl cocoa powder (I don’t measure, I just dump)

Make chocolate cupcakes (I used devil’s food mix).
Beat frosting ingredients together to make thick, yummy goodness.
Toast coconut in a pan or in the oven.
Frost cupcakes.
Roll frosted cupcakes in toasted coconut.

German Pancakes (via Mom via Janet White)

1 cup milk
1 cup flour
6 eggs
½ sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cube butter or margarine

Melt butter in 9x13 Pyrex pan. Mix the rest of the ingredient in the blender. Pour into the pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Serve with syrup or sprinkle with powdered sugar (I like both BOTH).

picnik.com

How do you go from this To this?
Without Photoshop or Picasa?

Picnik

to quote my "source" via Kim ala Karen, YUMMY!

"Dirty Trick" water

Paul curses me and his mother during the Holidays. His mom taught me how to play this Dirty Trick.

"Oh! Smells GREAT!.....{after a long day at work, Paul walks into the kitchen}......Curse you and my mother!! What a dirty trick!"

He thinks I bake! he he he

The Dirty Trick Water Culprits:

water

cinnamon

cloves

ginger

nutmeg

oranges

apples

{any of the above can be used or not used, fresh or dry--except the water, of course, always use the water}

I have a BIG bottle of cinnamon from my mom's cupboard, circa 1994 (I swear!) reserved just for this purpose.

I wasn't baking. I was cutting paper. And stapling instead of gluing.
I like short cuts. And the way these slowly twirl in the air.

My house smells yummy and it's starting to feel a lot like Christmas.
At least inside it is.

Feelin' fally

Pumpkin scones recipe here (sans chubby baby hand) Thanks Giving tree inspiration here

Halloween Preview

We had our church's trunck or treat tonight.

Mickey Mouse
(Outfit put together before the party. I was holding on to the hope that he would want to be Elmo. Nope!)

Little Fairy Princess

Bob and Wendy, we KNOW you are dating!

some things

we wait to do until after the kids go to bed

not that sicko

ok, that, but

this too

Food, glorious food!

I need to sit down and write out the recipes you so kindly requested. We don't use recipes often so when one asks, the question is answered often with a blank stare and an "ummmmm....."

But here is a recipe that we tried this past weekend:

{and just in case one side of the pizza didn't fare, the other side was topped with mozzerella, tomatoes, red onions, and basil}

Roasted Acorn Squash and Gorgonzola Pizza

1 (1- pound) acorn squash

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 teaspoon red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon salt, plus

1/4 teaspoon 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper,

1/4 teaspoon 1 pound pizza dough

1 cup shredded whole milk mozzarella

1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola

1 cup arugula

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Slice the squash in half from top to bottom. Scoop out the seeds. Slice the squash into 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide half moons and place in a medium bowl. Toss the squash with the syrup, olive oil, red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place the squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the squash until tender and golden, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Keep the temperature on the oven at 375 degrees F. Roll out the pizza dough on a flour dusted piece of parchment paper to a 13-inch diameter. Place the pizza and the parchment paper on a baking sheet. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and the Gorgonzola on the pizza dough. Bake in the oven until golden and cooked through, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Peel the skins off the squash. Top the cooked pizza with the cooked squash. Top with arugula and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Slice and serve.

Our review:

We LOVED the squash. I would recommend trying just the squash if you're a gourd lover. The pizza was good. Different. I would use less Gorgonzola next time. Leftovers, straight from the fridge=delicious! If you don't like blue cheese, this one is not for you.

And for dessert: Graham crackers, melty warm chocolate chips, whip cream, and raspberries.

Don't mind getting lost

On our way to a pumpkin farm on Saturday, we thought we got lost. Turns out that we just went the really long way. And the really cool way. The Valley View Ferry way.




I'd drive a extra half an hour out of my way to do that again!

Love this

"I warn of extra details that will not push the narrative further along, but remember blogging really is about sharing insignificant bits that posterity will enjoy. Or will they? Anyway, insignificant is what I do best."

author: cjane

mmmm....uuuuuuuuu

that's the sound of me moaning 1.dirty-dirty chocolate-coconut cupcake

2.paul's tomato crustless quiche

3.ravioli soup

4.german pancakes

so full

sew busy thriftin'

To do list:

hand sew cherries and handles on my new cherry pickin' bag from this pattern

thrifted: table cloth, women's skirt, and men's dress shirtcut this twin size quilt in half, quilt remaining half, sew back together, bind, and celebrate

thrifted top: men's dress shirts {idea from her}
try to release some of these stains

thrifted: hole cut in the shirt by a curious three year old

appliqued the hammer, then noticed the stains!

We love her

but we REALLY like her.

abcdefg morning

a - apple

b - banana

c - caramel, cookie

d- dallin, dip

e - ellie

f - funny face

g - grins, giggles

National Emergency!

Sara! Renee! Amy! Anyone else out there that quilts....read me now....HELP me now!!!! I am making this quilt. Made with these luscious fabrics. Although I never got the fabric that I won, I bought some any way. All this is really beside the point. The point is....

(warning...cell phone pictures edited in Picasa) I turned on my iron today, and it started spewing this {look down}
AAAAUUUUGGGGHHHH!!!! What am I supposed to do? I can't just throw it in the wash, nothing is back-stitched. Please, somebody, help! This is a national emergency!!!!!

A Prototype (skirt)

I am constantly scouring the internet for free tutorials. Easy ones with no buttons, snaps, or zippers. Here is one that I found that took up less than an hour of uninterupted free time. Anyone can do it! Now, I just have to find all of my scrap ribbon. Where did I put it? That's the question of the day!