Jeans redo

by Stephanie

Ok.  This might be kind of a stretch to say “redo”.  But they did have a hole…that you can no longer see.

Usually by this time of year my kids are in shorts….full time.  But here in the northwest…we are lucky to hit anything over 65 degrees.  So….no shorts…yet.  And yet, they have holes and are growing out of them.  I REALLY don’t want to buy new pants.  They will get about a months wear and then put them away only to get them out in the fall and they will be too small.  I am coming up with creative solutions…like a heart.  Right on her little bootay. 

Here is the before.  Seriously…how did she get that?  Was she sliding around on her behind?  I have no idea….

 

And here is the after…..

Okay, not earth shattering.  But I am pretty proud that I didn’t have to buy another pair of pants and we can make these works. 

I had some denim and cut a heart to fit and just zig zagged the edges with navy thread into place. 

Corn Bread

By Stephanie

I got this from one of my great dinner group friends from Las Vegas-shout out to Carrie!!  She serves it with white chili.  YUMMO.  I love it because it is cakey and sweet.  It goes great with something spicy and hot…like white chili.

I have been making it into muffins.  Portion control.  Either way it’s super easy and really, I don’t even put butter and honey on it.  Really.  It’s that good.  But you can if you want to.

Corn Bread

Makes 12 muffins or servings

1/2 cup butter softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup corn meal

1 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups milk

Cream butter and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time and beat well.  In other large bowl mix corn meal, flour, baking powder and salt.  Add 1/3 of dry ingredients to egg mixture.  Then add 1/3 of milk, and keep alternating until all is mixed together.  Pour into 8X8, 9X9 or 12 greased muffin pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes for cake or 15-18 minutes for muffins.  They are done just when the edges are light golden.  Don’t overcook it. 

Technorati Tags: cornbread,corn bread,recipe,corn bread muffins

Content

By Stephanie

The one constant in life is that it is always changing….

Then why is it as women we are hardly ever content?  We are most always looking for something in the future.  A good example is my hair.  I am either growing it out, looking for a great short do, wanting bangs, wanting to grow out the bangs I had cut, getting ready for a color change, or wanting highlights.  And this usually comes within a week of having it done.  Why?   Why can’t I just be happy with what I have…for more than a week? 

Same goes for our living conditions.  (At least for me).  Right now we are in a beautful place.  Literally.  But then I look at the temperature in Vegas…and I am totally jealous.  Our house here has a ton of personality.  It was built in 1900.  Anything built in 1900 has been torn down in Vegas.  The houses pretty much look the same, stucco with tile roof.  And rocks as landscaping…Here we have lush green…and flowers.

See..this is out our window on the side of the house….

this is out my kitchen, and yes that is a bunny that just hopped over from next door…

 

Who would not KILL for this view (no it’s not mine, but we live about 20 minutes from here..)

Or not have your heart full when you see this…(yep about 30 minutes from us)

And this is what I see when I take my kido to softball…I have to drive through these feilds

 

And yet…I can’t help but want to get to our next step.  In my husbands career we are at a place where the next few promotions will be moves.  Big moves.  Most like to a different state.  It should happen within the next year (we are hoping).  Maybe as soon as in six months.  And I am anxious to start planning and packing.  Since my crystal ball still isn’t working, I have no idea when or where.  So you would think I would be content, just enjoy it here….um….not really.  I am trying…

Don’t get me wrong.  I am grateful he has a great job.  With places to move up.  And we aren’t worried if his paycheck is going to clear (we know..we have been there too).  We have a home that works for us and is close to shopping and his work.  Rent is pretty cheap.  The kidos have a great school with fantastic teachers.  We have some great friends here…and….still anxious to get to our next step. 

It might be that I am to learn patience…again.  Really?  You would think I would have that one down.  Alas, no, not yet.  So I will continue to work on it and try to stop and enjoy the lush green of our current surroundings.  And try to not be jealous of those that have made it over 70 degrees this year! (If you are tan and swimming already this year, I don’t want to even know about it!!)

Kandee Land

by Stephanie

 

So if you haven’t been to Kandee Johnson's website…you should.  She is a blogger, makeup artist, a mom of three,  and has totally changed how I think of makeup.  Seriously.  Love.  Her.  Here she shows you how to do liquid eyeliner.  Cool huh?  Obviously this is not for everyday…although if you want to put on liquid eyeliner to clean the bathroom…I am all for it!  Your hubby might get nervous if he comes home to you in liquid eyeliner.   He might think he forgot a special occasion…..

Zulily

by Stephanie

 

Zulily.  Have you seen this site?  If you have little kids, you should check it out.  Actually there are lots of great things for women too.  But it’s the kids stuff that is getting me.  They really do have some great prices on things!  I am NOT being paid to say this.  I just am drooling over a few of their dresses, swimsuits and accessories.  So I thought I would share for those of you that haven’t been on.  AND if you get friends to sign up, you can get a $15 credit.  That is $15 for EACH friend!!  That can add up fast.  See their site for details. 

They are a site that has events each day…so if you see something you like, you might want to jump on it.  But they have a huge variety and for the things I have been looking at…good prices.

White Chili

By Stephanie

My mom made this for me a few years ago.  I fell in love.  Super easy and a nice variation of taco soup that I have been making for years.  And yes, the kidos do eat it!  And not too bad on the diet. Bonus!  Unless you are doing Atkins, in which case you can have nothing I make…

White Chili

Serves 6

2 Chicken Breasts cut into 1” pieces (or if you have left over rotisserie chicken or grilled leftovers-really any chicken will do, but lets pretend you don’t have any)

1/2 onion diced small

1 tsp cumin

1/2 clove garlic minced

salt and pepper

1 Tbsp oil

2 cups chicken broth

1 can white beans

1 can garbanzo beans

1 small can chopped green chilies

1/2 cup sour cream

 

In large pot put oil in pan over medium high heat.  Add chicken, onion, salt and pepper and cumin.  Cook until onion is soft and chicken is golden on the outside.  About 5 minutes.  Add in cans of beans (including liquid from beans) and chilies.  Simmer at least 15 minutes but up to an hour.  Add in sour cream (or you could use 1/2 cup half and half or 1/4 cup heavy cream) and stir.  Dish up and top with tortilla chips, cheese, avocado and/or green onion chopped as desired. 

Pumpkin Cookies

By Stephanie

My kiddos had a bake sale for their choir at school.  I made 4 dozen cinnamon rolls and a few trays of pumpkin cookies.  I know, I know, it isn’t fall.  But these remind me of fall.  And they were a hit at the bake sale.  I actually made some of them bigger and flatter and put two together with the buttercream frosting and substituted maple for the vanilla and they made a pumpkin whoopie pie.  (Kind of brilliant…I know)

This recipe came from my friend Holly.  When she brought them over for the first time we were just getting the kids in bed.  Now my hubby isn’t a big dessert guy.  So I figured they were fine till morning.   Uhhh, no.  He ate one, then another, and another (all unknown to me) until they were…GONE.  The next morning he didn’t feel so good.  Duh…

He said they are like crack.  You eat one and think “these are okay”.  They you start thinking about them and another sounds really good.  And you eat another one, and it’s better than the first.  Repeat.  Until they are all gone and you don’t feel so good. 

Only make these if you have people coming over so you can share…

and not eat them all…by your self.  Or do, whatever.

Pumpkin Cookies

Makes 24 cookies

1/2 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 egg

1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp vanilla

1 tsp lemon juice

Cream shortening and sugar.  Blend in egg and pumpkin.  In separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and spice.  Add to wet ingredients.  Dough will be sticky.  Drop by tablespoons onto greased or parchment lined cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  When cool top with maple frosting.

Maple frosting: 1/4 cup butter (softened), 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 Tbsp. milk and 1/2 tsp maple flavoring.  Stir to combine.