LubAtHome

Quality Over Price

2012-01-20T18:08:00.001-08:00

Just got inspired reading a blog post about seeking quality over price. Nothing earth shattering or new, just a really well written article. You can check it out here.

http://www.wisebread.com/quality-over-price-15-items-to-spend-more-on?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wisebread+%28Wise+Bread%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

2011-09-11T20:12:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I went on a long run and came upon a runner who had fallen, hit his head, and was unresponsive but breathing. The first person on the scene was an off duty police officer and he contacted 911. The rest of us stood by to help however we could while we waited for the paramedics. He didn't seem to have ID on him. Someone suggested checking his phone/mp3 player to call the last dialed number to find out who he was and to notify his family. It took a while to figure out how to work his smartphone and then call through the recently dialed numbers. Most seemed to be businesses. Finally, 20 minutes later we were able to find someone who knew who he was. I left after the paramedics arrived since there wasn't any more help I could offer. On my way home I remembered having seen a product called Road I.D., a wrist band with emergency information for a situation just like this. I had considered getting one in the past but thought $20 was a bit expensive, and that bringing my cell phone was good enough. I've changed my mind after this experience and just placed an order for a Road I.D. You certainly don't need a "Road I.D." specific brand, but it's important to find some way to communicate important information when you are unable to communicate yourself, especially if you are an athlete and go out alone. You can google to find a coupon code, most seem to be 10% or $1 off. Don't wait until it's too late.

Preparing for the Inevitable

2011-08-24T13:29:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of K-Log.

In light of the recent earthquakes on the east coast and Colorado, this serves as a gentle reminder that things beyond our control happen all the time. But, there are things that are withinin our control, which can give us peace, if we do our part to prepare.

I realize this is a bit of a morbid post, but I think talking about important things like preparing for our inevitable death is important if not essential.

Last week, one of my favorite blogs featured a post about preparing an "In Case Of" file for your loved ones when you die. It tells them after you die everything they need to know to deal with all those things you don't think about, like closing down your Facebook or Twitter accounts. It's more than a will with bequests, it's all the little mundane things, too, like if you have a child who has music lessons when and where those are.

It really got me thinking and motivated to get started on mine. It's going to take some time to amass all the online accounts I access, with their log ins, passwords, and security questions. I came across this document that I know will give me a starting point, and it may be helpful to you, too.

Don't forget - this information is highly confidential, make sure you password protect, incrypt, or file in a safe place like a locked, fireproof safe, or in your file drawer under an inocuous label like Old Recipes.

Do you already have an "In Case Of" file? What has worked for you in getting it started?

Skillet Mac with Zesty Meat Sauce

2011-08-22T21:43:00.000-07:00

I came across this recipe in my June/July 2010 copy of Cook's Country, and have adapted it below. It's been sitting patiently in my to-try pile ever since and I sure wish I hadn't waited so long. The standard macaroni noodles and crushed tomatoes are elevated to a whole new level with the addition of banana peppers which really brighten and freshen up the flavor of the tomatoes, and the basil adds a sweet note. The cheese gives it the final touch adding a rich and creamy flavor. It's not trying to be spaghetti, the sauce is much lighter and fresher than that. This is a great recipe that's going into our regular rotation.

The winner here for us is that the ingredients are normal purchases for us, not anything fancy or that would only be used for this one recipe. The HubLub was skeptical - we've tried a few skillet mac dishes which have all been ho-hum - and when he saw the ingredient list he thought for sure he'd have to add some chili powder or cumin to spice it up and get some flavor out of it. We were both surprised at how different this tasted from all the other recipes we tried. The canned tomatoes didn't even taste canned, it was that good! The recipe claims it serves 4, but I think you can get 6 reasonable 1 1/2 servings. Serve it with some bread and veggies and you're good to go. This is a great weeknight dinner, it's a 30-minute type of recipe and it's all cooked in one large skillet, which really helps with clean up. Go ahead, give it a try and let me know what you think.

1 tablespoon canola oil (or another vegetable oil)
1/2 - 1 pound 85% lean ground beef (we used a little more than 3/4 lb and thought that was just fine)
1/2 teaspoon of salt (plus more for seasoning)
1/4 teaspoon pepper (plus more for seasoning)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes in puree
2 cups water
12 ounces elbow macaroni (I could only find a 16 ounce box, so I used used my scale to measure out 12 oz)
1/2 cup drained jarred mild or hot banana peppers, chopped (I know this sounds different, but I promise you don't want to skip this because it really brightens the sauce, you can skip chopping them and just pick out the pieces when you eat it, like the HubLub did)
1-1 1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil

Pour oil in large non stick skillet (with a lid) and heat on medium-high until shimmery. Brown beef with the salt and pepper. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds or so).

Stir in tomatoes, water, macaroni, and banana peppers. Cover and cook about 7 minutes, stirring often. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, covered, about 7 minutes or until al dente. Turn off stove.

Stir in 1/2 cup cheese and basil and add salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with remaining cheese using as much or as little as you like, cover and let sit until melted, about 1 minute.

Enjoy!

27 inch iMac Computer Cozy

2011-06-26T17:46:00.000-07:00

The HubLub wanted something to protect our new computer from dust and was using a rag as a temporary solution until he could find something. I jokingly offered to make a Cozy (you know, those cheesey things you see at Grandma's house covering the toaster, blender, kleenex box, etc.), but he said yes! I thought more about it and figured I could use some leftover scraps and quickly sew something up. It was a bit trickier than I expected once I realized that the base that attaches to the back of the monitor meant that the top and bottom would be different dimensions. I ran out of the cool fabric I had, but just sewed some coordinating fabric to make up the difference, and since it's on the back, you don't notice it.

What you'll need:

Fabric of your choice at least 58 inches long and 20 inches wide
Coordinating thread
An hour or two

If your fabric is directional, keep that in mind when you're choosing your top (I didn't and it was too late to turn back). Fold the fabric in half, right sides together with the fold on the left and the raw edges on the right. At the top right edge mark with a pen or pin 27.75 inches from the left folded edge. At the bottom right edge mark 28.75 inches from the left folded edge. Take a straight edge to cut a line from the top measurement to the bottom measurement. Pin 1/4 inch around the top and right side parallel to the edge. Dry fit the cozy on the computer, keeping the fabric inside out so the pins DO NOT come in contact with the computer. Adjust fit as needed. Sew 1/4 inch seam around top and side. Trim the top corners to reduce bulk when turned right side out. Press seams out. Pin and press bottom under 1/2 inch. Sew 1/4 inch seam around bottom. Turn inside out and slip over computer. Sit back and enjoy.

Keep an eye out for my Cozy 2.0. I've got some great ideas to improve the cozy from the LubHub and they may make their way to my etsy shop. Of course, I'll post it here first.

Please comment below if you have any questions or if you've made the cozy and how it turned out!

Crunch 'N' Cream Chocolate Torte

2011-06-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

The HubLub's favorite cake I make is the Crunch 'N' Cream Chocolate Torte, and I get rave reviews every time I make it for a group. In fact I just took it to a dinner party a few weekends ago and was asked for the recipe.

It looks sinfully rich, but actually it's very light because the frosting is just whipped cream (I'm talking perception here, I have no idea what the calorie count is). It's a great dessert to share after a heavy meal. Best of all it uses a cake mix, so it's pretty easy to pull together. This recipe originally comes from one of the Duncan Hines recipe books about all the different things you can make with a cake mix (thank you to Mother-in-Law Lub for the gift!) and I've adapted it here. While you might be tempted to use any brand cake mix, I personally have not come across a better cake mix than Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe line - you won't be disappointed.

Crunch 'N' Cream Chocolate Torte

1 package Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe Devil's Food cake mix
4 Skor or Heath bars, crushed
Chocolate Whipped Cream Filling (recipe follows)

Cut two circles of parchment paper to fit the bottom of two 9 inch round cake pans. Grease or spray pan, lay parchment on bottom, sprinkle a bit of cake mix (instead of flour - to avoid that white look) to coat the sides of the cake pan. Prepare and bake cake according to package directions to make two 9 inch round cake layers. Cool in pans on wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove layers and cool completely. Cut any humps on the top to create a level surface. Cut each layer horizontally in half to make 4 layers.

Prepare Chocolate Whipped Cream Filling. Fold in 3/4 of crushed candy bars.

Place a small dollop of frosting on the center of your serving plate to help anchor the cake to the plate. Place 1 halved bottom cake layer (right side up) on a serving plate. Spread with 1/4 - 1/2 inch filling. Repeat layering with remaining cake layers and filling (top cake layer right side up, top cake layer upside down, bottom cake layer upside down). Spread remaining frosting around outside. (Don't worry if you run out of frosting for the outside edges after you frost the top - the original recipe doesn't call for frosting the edges to show off all those layers you worked so hard for :) Sprinkle remaining crushed chocolate bars on top. Chill until serving.

Serves 12 (cut cake in quarters, than each quarter in 3 pieces)

Chocolate Whipped Cream Filling

2 cups heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup cocoa, sifted (measure first, sift after)

In a small mixer bowl, combine cream, sugar, and cocoa. Chill 15 minutes. Beat mixture to stiff peaks. Fold in crushed chocolate bars.

Please let me know if you try this recipe, or have any questions about it, by posting below.

A Good Reminder

2011-06-23T15:57:00.000-07:00

I came across a great article on one of my favorite websites, Unclutterer.com. It's always a good reminder to pause and gain some perspective about the rudeness and annoyances that we come across on a daily basis. I definitely need to work on having more patience and giving others the benefit of the doubt. Especially for fellow BART riders who listen to their music so loud I can hear the lyrics loud and clear :) I'm really working on that one . . .

And, because who really wants to read a post without a picture, here's a cute one from another of my favorite blogs, theittybittykittycommittee.com. Such cuteness!

Homemade Salsa

2011-05-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from a woman I used to work for in college. She was making this salsa for her neighborhood block party and when I tried it I begged for the recipe. I've been making this salsa and getting complemented on it ever since. I've tweaked it a bit, but not much. It's more of a pico de gallo style salsa, rather than a traditional cooked variety.

Combine in a food processor and pulse until desired consistency.

1/4 bunch cilantro
juice from one lime (fresh is always best)
1/2 tablespoon chili pepper seeds
1/2 onion (next time I'll try a red onion, I'll bet it's better than yellow)
1 glove garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
7 roma tomatoes (wait until they aren't fresh and in season-it's worth it)
1 can Rotel (or Mexican-style diced tomatoes with chiles)

Serve with tortilla chips and enjoy.

MamaLub's Dip

2011-05-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

The HubLub is obsessed with his mother's dip recipe, for good reason, it's so yummy! We recently made this to share with my folks when they were over for dinner recently and it was a big hit. We serve it with carrots and ridged potato chips. So addicting!

MamaLub's Dip:

16 oz sour cream
1/2 cup mayo
1 tablespoon onion flakes
1 tablespoon dill weed
1 teaspoon seasoned salt

BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger

2011-05-15T18:39:00.000-07:00

Tonight dinner was simple, yet delicious. First, we fried up some bacon. Then, we took some of our organic ground beef from Costco and made patties with Worcestershire, seasoned salt, and pepper mixed in. We fried them up on the stove top with our grill pan and topped them with some colby jack cheese. We toasted up some Milton buns from Trader Joe's and stacked up our patties, bacon, shredded lettuce, beef steak tomato, and Bulls Eye BBQ sauce. We tossed up a quick salad with mixed greens, tomatoes, and croutons. It was a great Sunday meal.

We have some leftover apple pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert. I can't wait!

BzzAgent SC Johnson Smart & Easy Spring Cleaning

2011-04-26T13:13:00.000-07:00

As you know, I'm a BzzAgent. In addition to trying Silk soy and almond milk products, I recently got a chance to try out some cleaning products from SC Johnson: Scrubbing Bubbles Extend-A-Clean Mega Shower Foamer, Pledge Lemon Clean, Continuous Clean Toilet Cleaning Gel, and Glade Sparkle of Spring scented candle. I got to try these products for free and now I get to tell you what I think of them. I don't get paid for these reviews, so you can be sure they are my honest feelings.

Scrubbing Bubbles: I've tried this product in the past and this version is nearly identical. I had some serious soap scum to get rid of in our shower when we moved from our old place and this is the product I used to try to get it back to looking as new as possible. It did a fine job. I did have to repeat the process a second time to really get everything, but I could really sense it making the soap come off more easily than just scrubbing or using an abrasive like Comet. I used it on the toilet and bathroom sink and it did a great job there too. For some reason I can't explain I think I prefer using that to a multi purpose cleaner like 409, but they do the same job. Maybe it's the foaming? I don't know about the "Extend a Clean" claim, but I do feel like using this product once a week to maintain the shower would have been a smarter think to do than a once-a-month deep clean.

Pledge Lemon Clean dust spray: This seemed like the same product I've used before - nothing wrong here though. It's a good smelling dust spray. It's not a product I use very often, I find I use microfiber towels or Swiffer sheets to do my dusting most often.

Toilet Cleaning Gel: this is a really strong smelling product, but the smell is good enough (Fresh Clean). I'm not a fan of products that sit inside the toilet bowl, so I can't imagine purchasing this in the future.

Scented candle: this is a good but strong smelling candle. I haven't even lit it yet because I haven't needed to yet. It's a good smell, a bit citrusy. It's pretty, too. I have a candle warmer and will try that out to see how it works. It's been long enough that I'm not noticing the candle very often so it's probably a good time to either light it or warm it to release more of the fragrance.

Have you tried any of these products?

BzzAgent Silk 1-Day Challenge

2011-04-26T12:58:00.000-07:00

As a BzzAgent, I get to try out lots of products and share them with you. If you're interested in becoming a BzzAgent go to their website at http://www.bzzagent.com/ and sign up. You'll fill out questionnaires and get opportunities to sign up for different types of product reviews, what they ask in return is that you spread the word (and any coupons they send you) after you try the products. The definitely want your honest opinion, and are very serious about disclosing your status as a BzzAgent when you talk about the product - which I appreciate. I got introduced to BzzAgent by the HubLub, and was very jealous when I saw a Sonicare toothbrush arrive in the mail for him!

Recently, I had the chance to participate in the Silk 10-Day Challenge, and you've probably seen commercials recently about it. I got to try two products for free, and I choose Chocolate Silk and Pure Almond Vanilla almond milk. Some of the literature they provided taught me some things, like soy milk has fewer calories, the same amount of calcium, and less saturated fat than regular milk. Surprisingly, it's better for the planet too - less water and greenhouse gases than regular milk.

I've been interested in soy milk as a healthy alternative to regular milk, and a year ago I tried unsweetened soy milk. Honestly, I couldn't even finish it! It tasted so "earthy" and plant-based that I just couldn't do it. Still, I was interested in it because it seemed so popular. I later tried Almond Milk (AlmondBreeze) to see if that was any better, which I felt that it was, but not better than regular milk. So, when this "campaign" started I was interested in giving it one more try.

I got two coupons to try different products from Silk. I ended up with Chocolate Soy Milk and PureAlmond Vanilla. I would have liked to try PureCoconut, but there wasn't any at the store when I went.

I ended up really loving the Chocolate Soy Milk! The texture was thick (which I happen to like) and the flavor of chocolate was similar to cocoa, so it was the right balance of sweet. It tasted pretty close to regular chocolate milk. Also, I didn't ever notice the "earthy" flavors that I noticed when I tried regular soy milk before. I would recommend this as a healthier alternative to chocolate milk or in making milk shakes, however not as a recovery drink. I drink regular chocolate milk as a recovery drink after a work out to help bring into my muscles a great ratio of protein and carbs. Unfotunately, soy milk doesn't deliver on the right ratio because there's not as much protein. In fact, I did notice soreness in my muscles when I was substituting the soy milk for regular. I don't notice soreness when I drink regular chocolate milk.

The PureAlmond Vanilla soymilk tasted good, but not as good as the chocolate soy milk. The vanilla was pretty strong, but I didn't mind. I thought it would be great to try as a substitute for milk in baking, but I didn't get a chance.

Even though I generally liked these products, I'll probably stick to regular milk mostly because I don't want to buy regular milk for the LubHub and then soy for me, especially since soy is more expensive. Plus, I really need regular chocolate milk for my recovery drinks.

Have you tried soy milk or Silk products? What do you think of them?

Getting Settled

2011-04-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy few weeks for us moving to a new city and getting settled in our new place. With a bigger kitchen I forsee more inspiration to try new recipes and post the results here.

I baked my now-signature Apple Pie for my family's Easter dinner on Sunday. I couldn't believe how much easier it felt to assemble in my bigger kitchen, it's making such difference. (Excuse the old picture - but really, how many do you need?)

Favorite Friday!

2011-03-27T20:19:00.000-07:00

Our kitchen is about to get bigger! We're moving to a new and bigger apartment and couldn't be happier. Our new kitchen has a dishwasher, double sink, disposal, and normal size oven. We're looking forward to more cooking and new recipes now that clean up won't be such a bother!

Favorite Friday!

2011-03-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday! Today I want to share with you something I use everyday and love, love, love. (Disclaimer: a family member works for the company, so I wouldn't have normally bought this product myself initially, but if this family member stops working for this company, I will still be a lifetime purchaser and user. I definitely do NOT get any benefit from posting this, and it's highly unlikely said family member reads this blog.)

CamelBak bottles. My favorite bottle is their new Groove stainless steel bottle in white. It looks way cool, and feels really substantial, yet light. The best feature of the bottle is that is has a small filter that's used as you suck up the water. For me, that means I can bypass the Brita filter in fridge and just fill up my bottle from the tap whenever it runs low. Super convenient and healthy. I drink way more water with this puppy sitting on my kitchen counter always ready to go.

At work I use the Better Bottle, which is bigger than the Groove, and is BPA Free plastic. It's cute, and super convenient. I keep it in front of me to remind me to keep hydrated. Which, unfortunately, means more trips to the bathroom, but still totally worth the health benefits. As it gets low, I head to the filtered water faucet at work and filler' up! The best part is that I don't have to worry about unscrewing a lid, or the bottle tipping over - which would be very, very bad in my world.

No matter what bottle you choose, choose one and use it. It's better for the environment and for your health.

Consistecy is the Key

2011-03-16T19:54:00.000-07:00

I've noticed definite benefits in my life when I've exercised my will power to achieve consistency.

I've seen it help me with my running. When I stick to my training program, instead of rearranging the order of my workouts I notice I feel stronger.

I've noticed it with my relationships. When I was really consistent calling my parents every Sunday when I lived out of state I felt a stronger bond with them.

I've noticed it with chores. When I get into a routine, I think less about how I don't want to do something and I just do it without really thinking.

I've noticed it best with waking up early. The more often I get up at the same time each morning, the less I think about it, and the easier it becomes.

Consistency is really, really hard. I find that I have spurts of it, a few months in a row here or there. But I'm always striving to maintain.

Inside-Out Lasagna

2011-03-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

Adapted from recipe on RealAge.com

I loved this recipe, while the HubLub liked it enough to be willing to eat it again sometime in the future. This is a two-dish meal which saves time in the cleaning department :)

8 ounces whole-wheat rotini
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 gloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1 - 14 ounce can diced tomatoes with Italian herbs (processed to desired consistency)
6 cups baby spinach
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
3/4 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/2 - 1 lb ground turket

Bring large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta; cook until just tender, 8-10 minutes or according to package directions. Drain, set aside.

Meanwhile, heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Brown ground turkey with onion, then add garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds or so).

Add tomatoes, spinach, and crushed red pepper. Increase heat to medium-high; cook, stirring once halfway through, until the spinach is wilted, about 4 minutes.

Add the pasta to the sauce and divide among 4 bowl. Dollop each serving with 3 tablespoons of ricotta.

Favorite Friday

2011-03-11T16:21:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite kitchen tools is the simple spatula. I've had cheap ones and some nice ones from Crate & Barrel and William Sonoma, but they all had the same problem, the handle would loosen from the silicone head and get all gross and eventually fall off, or the silicone would start to deteriorate. On a trip to Target I found exactly what I was looking for, a spatula that was one solid piece. I got a medium and small one, in purple, the only color unfortunately. I love having a small spatula on hand for all those small spaces. The spatula is good quality, holds up just fine, has a good grip, a nice weight to it, and the price was reasonable. I'm a big fan!

For some reason Target online does not have the spatula I got, so the photo above is one that is very similar, which you can get it here on Amazon.

Make Your Own Microwave Popcorn

2011-03-05T14:08:00.000-08:00

I like popcorn as a semi-healthy snack alternative, or when watching a movie. Microwave popcorn is usually the most convenient, but not the healthiest. I've had an air popper in the past, but it can be a hassle and difficult to salt. Until recently, my preferred method was popping it in a pot on the stove in some oil. But now, I've found the best of all worlds - making my own microwave popcorn. This recipe is adapted from Alton Brown's Plain Brown Popper recipe.

DIY Microwave Popcorn

1/4 cup popcorn kernals
2 teaspoons popcorn oil
1/4 teaspoon popcorn salt

Mix ingredients together and pour into a brown paper lunch bag. Staple closed (staples will not spark in microwave, it's okay). Lay a paper towel underneath the bag to make clean up easier. Microwave for approximately 2 minutes 20 seconds, or until there are a few seconds between pops. Carefully remove bag from microwave and cut open with a pair of scissors. Enjoy!

Favorite Friday!

2011-03-04T13:51:00.000-08:00

Each Friday I like to feature something that makes my life easier. This week I'm really grateful we started using paper plates. It seems like a wasteful thing to use paper plates instead of our regular plates, however, it saves us so much space and time when it comes to cleaning (since we don't have a dishwasher and a small countertop and sink). I try to recycle the plates when I can, since we don't have composting at our apartment, so it helps me not feel so guilty. I have to admit, when dinner is done and I go to recycle the plate instead of piling it in the sink to be handwashed later, a smile comes to my face. It's a little bit of freedom.

Favorite Friday!

2011-02-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

Each Friday I post one of my favorite things. This week I want to share an item that is cheap, simple, and totally changed my life. No joke.

I've always struggled with clothes piling up on the floor until it resembled a small mountain. However, living in 350 square feet only emphasizes messes and even makes them seem worse than they are. So, it didn't take too long to realize my bad habit of just tossing my worn clothes on the floor was causing me serious trouble. Walking into the bedroom I would immediately get angry and stressed out from the mess.

The HubLub (my brilliant husband) suggested one day to get over-the-door hooks for our closet to hang jackets and things, since our closet is small to begin with. We picked up something like this from Target, and did some closet re-arranging.

The clothes hamper ended up inside the closet, right beneath our hanging clothes, and our make-shift dresser is right next to that. So, when I come home from work it's super easy to hang up everything in the closet, dump the dirty clothes in the hamper, and change into my jeans and t-shirt. (This habit was encouraged by a post on Unclutterer.com about only touching something once. Instead of putting the clothes on the floor, and then days later picking up the clothes and then hanging them up, you save energy and time but just immediately putting things in there rightful place right away. For some reason that really struck me, and always pops in my head when I need the reminder. It really does save energy, time, and peace of mind.)
Now, when I see a clothes item on the floor, instead of getting angry or stressed out, I don't even think about it-I just grab it and hang it on the hook. It's amazing the peacefulness that's come about by not having clothes on the floor. It's my zen :)

Love is still in the air!

2011-02-20T19:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a recipe you can look forward to for Valentine's Day next year, or just use different cookie cutters and food coloring and who cares what day you're celebrating!

These are a family Valentine's Day tradition. My grandma used to make them for her Sunday school children, and my mother made them for us kids' classmates for Valentine's Day (6 kids x 25 classmates . . . a LOT of cookies on our dining room table, granted not all 6 kids were in elementary school at the same time, but still!). She would even go so far as to write each child's name on their cookie. My mom is the Original Martha!

I have very fond memories of Valentine's Day and want to continue that tradition in my house. Since I can't and shouldn't eat an entire batch by myself and I don't have any kids I decided to make them for my co-workers, and skipped the elegant bordering and writing, which they didn't miss at all. They devoured them and came back for more. I did the fancy frosting for my husband and myself, though. Although, the cookies unfrosted were surprisingly great.

This recipe is based off my mom's recipe, but I've tweaked it a bit to make them more soft and added some almond flavoring because I love that subtle flavor in sugar cookies. Please try this, I promise you'll love them and get tons of compliments! Please email me or comment below if you have any questions about the recipe.

Valentine's Day Sugar Cookies or Conversation Heart Cookies

1/2 cup Crisco
1/2 cup margarine (room temp)
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
Cream until fluffy

4 1/2 cups flour (measure by spooning into measuring cup, then level off top)
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoon baking powder
mix with wire wisk, pour slowly into creamed mixture

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
2 tablespoons milk
Add before all the flour has been added.

Chill dough to make easier to work with. Roll out 1/4 inches thick. Cut 3 inch hearts, and transfer to cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or Silpat liner. Bake at 375 degrees for nine minutes or until no longer shiny and edges are just barely turning light brown. Cool slightly on cookie sheet, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Frosting
1 pound of powdered sugar
1 cube margarine (cold)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon almond extract
red food coloring
4 tablespoons milk (or less)

Put powdered sugar and margarine in food processor, blend well, add vanilla and almond extracts then a few drops of red food coloring. Add milk to get desired consistency. Make one batch of pink frosting, and one batch of white frosting for the borders and names. Frost cooled cookies and allow frosting to set and harden a bit. Do one think layer of pink frosting all over, then using pastry bag with star tip, outline edge of heart with white frosting. Use a small round tip to write names on inside with white frosting. Be careful when transporting, as frosting will get smashed relatively easily.

Favorite Friday!

2011-02-18T11:46:00.000-08:00

I'm introducing a new feature to this blog: Favorite Friday! I will be featuring something each Friday that is a favorite of mine. The idea is mostly to share products that make my life easier, and may make your life easier too.

This week my favorite thing is those silly rubber gloves they sell at the grocery store! My mom used these growing up and I thought they were so ugly and dumb. I hated how the inside coating made my hands smell funny. However, they are great for bathroom cleaning, so I bought a pair recently. One day I was doing the dishes (we don't have a dishwasher, so all our dishes are washed by hand) and thought, hey maybe I could wear those dumb gloves while I do the dishes so my hands don't get so wrinkly and chapped (like they always do). That was my "a-ha! moment". My hands still smelled funny, but a quick wash with soap after I was done with the dishes and a little bit of lotion made me forget all about it. Recently, our apartment complex installed a new water heater with a much higher temperature, so the gloves really save my hands from getting irritated from the hot water.

Now, I'm kinda wanting those even sillier, pretty rubber gloves . . .

Clone of a Cinnabon

2011-01-17T14:47:00.000-08:00

Stay tuned for the recipe for these lovely cinnamon rolls that taste almost like a Cinnabon.

Gretchen's Flank Steak and Chocolate Doughnuts

2010-12-06T20:40:00.000-08:00

I got this recipe from my friend Gretchen years ago and have really wanted to try it ever since she gave it to me. But, to be honest I was pretty intimidated to purchase a flank steak. I know, what's the big deal right? I guess I felt like I wasn't mature enough to pull it off or that it was too expensive to try. However, my dad makes a mean flank steak grilled on the bbq, so I know the awesomeness that is flank steak. Eventually I gave in and purchased some from Costco. In my quest to freeze more meal options, I figured I could get the most bang for my buck, and the best quality meat, but purchasing from Costco and freezing what was left. We spent about $15 for 3 pounds of flank steak. When you get over the initial sticker shock and realize that's really about $5 per meal, it isn't so bad. Another intimidating factor about this recipe is that you cook the meat on the broiler. My broiler intimidates me because it's not normal. However, after some Google searching I found my oven model and the instructions for using the broiler. With the faithful support of the HubLub we charged ahead and cooked this baby up. It was a lot easier than I expected, and I was really happy with the result. The only problem I had was that I chopped the onion too small, so the onion flavor ended up a bit strong. I should have stuck with Gretchen's recipe. It's just that the Ninja Master Prep I was using to cut the onion got a little carried away on me :) Another bonus is we ended up not eating all the meat, so we've got left overs for lunch this week - I'm thinking bbq flank steak sammy . . . I digress, here's Gretchen's amazing recipe:

Gretchen's Flank Steak

1 1/2 cup diced onion (remember, not too small!)

1 cup soy sauce (I would recommend using low sodium, we didn't and wished we had)

2 Tbs lemon juice

1 tsp thyme (I bought fresh but at the last minute ended up using dryed)

1 Tbs oil

1 lb flank steak (at least that's the size we used)

Mix all ingredients in a gallon zip lock bag, then put in the flank steak. Marinate for a few hours or overnight (we were fine with about 3 hours). Remove flank steak from marinade and pat dry. Broil 5-10 minutes or more, depending on how cooked you like your meat. Feel free to rotate it or put foil over the top to keep it from drying out. Let the meat rest before cutting it across the grain.

As if that wasn't enough for Sunday dinner, I tryed out another brand new recipe. The problem with trying new recipes is that it makes me feel like a failure in the kitchen. It seems like more often than not what I end up with is not what the recipe says I should end up with. However, despite a suspect way too soft dough, these ended up tasting pretty good. However, after all was said and done, I'd rather save myself the time and aggravation and just go buy some chocolate cake doughnuts. So, I guess I won't be posting the recipe on this one, but at least you can enjoy the photo. These tasted pretty good, they got their chocolate flavor from unsweetened cocoa powder. The glaze reminded me of hot chocolate, which was good, but not good enough to make these again :)

Taco Soup and Cornbread

2010-12-05T20:22:00.000-08:00

I'm going to be honest with you. Cooking dinner has been such a grind lately. We had been doing really well for a long time with our meal planning and grocery shopping, but lately it seemed like the HubLub and I were getting home so late we were just too exhausted to think about getting our micro-mini kitchen cleaned and the dirty all over again, so we ended up eating out a few more times than usual, eating mac n cheese, soup, and sammys. So, I got to thinking about freezer meals and how we could prepare and freeze meals that were a cinch to pull out and cook on those really bad days. I researched on the internet and had a tough time finding recipes that met my expectations - no cook prep, single pot/pan cooking out of the freezer. So, I started thinking about our own recipes and how we could work with those. I thought of this Taco Soup recipe. The recipe makes a ton and is easy to pull together. I don't remember trying to freeze it before, but I figured it would be a good candidate. Then, I started thinking about storing it in the freezer and drooled over the Food Saver. There is NO way I can justify that taking up half my counter space, even if I used it daily, and cupboard space is not an option. Then I saw the Handi Vac which I had laughed at when I saw it before. But after reading a not horrible review on Consumer Reports I decided to order one and try it out. After all, for around $13 bucks on Amazon, it can't be any worse that me hand sealing zip lock bags, right? I'll let you know how that goes. But, until then, on to the stuff you care about, the recipe!

This taco soup is stupid easy to make. I know everyone and their mother has a recipe like this, so I've resisted posting this recipe. But, since it really is something we fall back on every once in a while I thought I'd go ahead and let you in on our recipe (which co-incidentally enough is from my mom :)

Taco Soup

Serves 5-6, or barely three meals for the HubLub and myself.

1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1 tsp garlic, chopped/minced/pressed
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 can turkey chili with beans
1 can vacuum packed corn
1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed well
4 oz tomato sauce
2 tablespoons or 1/2 packet of taco seasoning

Brown beef, add onions and garlic. Cook until onions are translucent. Add canned ingredients, undrained. Simmer on low 1 hour.

Optional: top with cheese, sour cream, tortilla chips, chopped tomatoes, or guacamole.

I felt like our favorite cornbread was a perfect compliment to the soup. We've usually just had it before with chili, but it really worked well with the soup. It's another stupid silly recipe. In fact, I got distracted and pulled it out of the oven 10 minute late and it still tasted great.

New pages!

2010-12-04T23:07:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to point out the new pages that have been added. Why and Where. So, if you wanted to know about why this blog exists or where you can contact me, just click on the links.

Apple Pie

2010-11-24T20:07:00.000-08:00

(pictures to follow shortly :)

This year my family requested I make 2 of my apple pies to serve the masses, which I gladly agreed. It turns out this pie has become signature dish, and I have no shame that it makes me feel pretty proud when someone requests it. This is the first time I've made 2 pies at a time.

Obstacle #1 was obtaining a second pie pan. Of course, I do have a second one - in storage, so I opted to borrow my sister's pan. Which, I found out is an in and a half larger in diameter and a bit deeper than mine.

Mistake #1 was buying the Golden Delicious apples too far in advance. We do our weekly grocery shopping on Saturdays, so that's when I stocked up on my 5 lbs. of apples. I was a bit disappointed today when I started cutting the apples that they didn't seem as crisp as I remember.

Genius moment #1 was realizing I could peel the apples with my veggie peeler in one long circular strip starting at the top all the way to the bottom. That way I didn't have to worry as much about slicing a finger, much better control. I think I picked that tip up from America's Test Kitchen.

Bad decision moment #1 was thinking I was being clever by wetting the top AND bottom of the overhanging lip of the crust. Unfortunately, it only ended up making everything too sticky and then I think resulted in my Fail #1.

Fail #1 was when I pulled Pie #1 from the oven to find the pie top separated from the fluted crust edge on 50% of the pie :(

Success #1 was pulling Pie #2 from the oven and it looked just about perfect.

One of the smartest things I did (at the suggestion of the Hub) was making the crust doughs yesterday so I didn't have to worry about it. Also, I started the baking process after lunch, so I don't have to worry about staying up late to finish.

In love with this

2010-11-23T17:21:00.000-08:00

Photo from www.nikkimcclure.com

I spontaneously ducked into a local store (Ruby's Garden) with really cool baby clothes and accessories. I wanted to see what other people were doing in the onesie department. I got some great ideas, but also got a bit humbled at what great artists are out there.

What I really fell in love with were some prints by Nikki McClure. I highly recommend her website. I'm also adding her website to my favorites bar.

You can purchase her prints at buyolympia.com

Sweet Pork

2010-11-22T15:47:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite recipes right now, it's super easy and super yummy. My big sister turned me onto this recipe when she had the hubby and I over for dinner. Here's the shopping list:

Pork roast (5ish pounds, whatever cut they have at the market is good)

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 jar green salsa (we like the Herdez brand salsas)

Combine the above in a slow cooker and cook away on low until meat is pull-apart tender (about 5 hours).

Serve up with your favorite accompanyments like seasoned rice, throw them in tacos, or make nachos. The possiblities are endless, but any way you try it, you'll like it!

PS - this recipe is supposedly a Cafe Rio copy cat recipe of their Sweet Pork Barbacoa. Since I've had both I can say they are equally good. I don't know they taste the same, but in my opinion this is the next best thing for those of us not lucky enough to live close to one.

Bon Appetite!

Giveaway (but not from me)

2010-08-05T10:38:00.001-07:00

I know I'm majorly slacking on the blog, and I have lots of great post ideas, but you'll just have to bare with me while I get organized and cross a few more things off my to-do list first.

In the meantime, take a minute to check this triathelete blog out: DC Rainmaker. I follow him because he has really incredible in-depth reviews of sports-related products, and he keeps me motivated to get out there and run. This giveaway he's doing is for a Garmin 310XT. Even if you're not interested in the giveaway check him out anyway.

Disclaimer: I am getting an extra entry for posting this here.

2010-07-11T22:19:00.000-07:00

You'll need stabilizer, double-sided fusing material, a hoop, scissors, thread, and the fabric of your choice. For this onesie I was provided the butterfly flannel by a client, and luckily had several threads on hand to choose from.

Next, cut out your shape from the fabric.

Lay out the fabric however you like best. Consider adding detail to the back side of the onesie, for a fun touch.

Cut out a piece of double-sided fusing and follow instructions for applying to the fabric. (note: the correct and easier way is to cut out the general shape, trace the shape on the fusing, cut and apply the fusing, then cut the shape to the exact shape you want.)

Remove the paper and follow the fusing instructions to adhere to the onesie.
Next, cut out a piece of stabilizer at least as big as the embroidery hoop. Lay out and combine all layers.
Sew along the outline, adding antenae free hand style, if desired.
Pull threads from top through the bottom. Do this by lightly tugging on the length of the bottom thread (from the bobbin) until you see a loop pop through. Gently pull on the loop as the top string comes through to the bottom. Tie the two threads together and trim.
Trim excess stabilizer.

Finally, iron the onesie flat.

Flag Cake

2010-07-07T22:07:00.001-07:00

At first I thought it was a cheesy, cliche thing to make for 4th of July, but then I got in the spirit of it and it seemed like a good idea. I will post the recipes I used later (but not the disaster butter cream one). Dunkin Hines bailed me out on this one. So, for your 4th of July pleasure:

Onesie Tutorial Coming Soon!

2010-07-07T21:55:00.000-07:00

I'll be posting a tutorial on how I make my onesies, stay tuned!

Go-To Quick and Easy Cookies

2010-07-07T21:53:00.000-07:00

I discovered these No Bake Cookies I on allrecipes.com, submitted by Denise. I got rave reviews from the 12-14 year olds I teach on Sundays, and my husband really liked them too. Oatmeal, peanut butter, and chocolate = yummy goodness!

1 3/4 cups white sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter

4 tablespoons unsweeteded cocoa powder

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

3 cups quick-cooking oats (old fashioned oats work if that's all you have, but changes the texture a bit)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax or parchment paper. Let cool until hardened.

Enjoy!

Pork Nachos

2010-06-11T20:58:00.000-07:00

I came home from work today to find these ready for me :) My hubby dreamed up these beauties after hearing his co-workers rave about a local restaurant's pork nachos. He took tortilla chips and layered them with warmed refried beans, warmed Kirkland Smoked Pulled Pork from Costco (amazingly good), and shredded colby jack. He put it in the oven at 350 degrees until the cheese melted, then topped them with guacamole. They were so good I didn't need to add anything, although my hubby added Cholula, of course!

Chicken Milenesa

2010-06-08T22:09:00.000-07:00

This is a simple one. I love Milenesa made with thin steak, so we tried the same theory with chicken, which we always have on hand (thank you Costco!).

Pound boneless skinless chicken breasts to 1/4 inch, or butterfly cut the chicken breast

Dredge in lightly beated egg mixture, then seasoned bread crumbs.

Fry in 1/2 inch of hot vegetable oil in nonstick skillet, flipping half way through until brown on all sides and cooked through.

Drain on paper towels or cookie rack.

Serve with broccoli and seasoned red potatoes.

Enjoy!

Packing for a trip?

2010-05-24T20:12:00.000-07:00

I came across a great article from Unclutterer.com about packing carry-on luggage. Considering how expensive it is to fly these days and with all the extra fees, I think it's a piece of advice that might interest us all. The article links to a New York Times pictorial where Heather Poole, a flight attendant from LA, demonstrates cleverly packing 10 days worth of clothing into a standard carry-on bag. Her biggest secret? Rolling clothing instead of folding. My mom taught me that trick years ago, but Heather takes it to another level and really maximizes space and keeping clothing from wrinkling.

The Results are In

2010-05-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

Thanks everyone for your comments! Picture #1 is me without makeup, Picture #2 is me with Simply Ageless Corrector (230), eye Concealer (light medium), Foundation (classic ivory), and Sculpting Blush (royal plum), and Picture #3 is me with MAC Studio Fix Fluid foundation (NW15), MAC blushes in (spice and dame).

I tried the Simply Ageless makeup throughout the week to really try it out and see what I thought. I tried it with the sponge pads included with the foundation and blush. However, I preferred using my brushes, I felt like I got more natural coverage and the application was easier with the brushes.

What I did like about the Simply Ageless line was that the coverage seemed more even, or opaque. My freckles really faded away. The colors they sent me were pretty spot on, especially considering when I signed up all I could pick was the foundation without a color sample. It felt light on my skin, despite looking a bit heavy. The packaging is fun and sturdy.

However, I didn't like that the containers screwed apart (as opposed to the MAC powders which have a hinge, so you don't have to worry about putting the top somewhere while you're using it). When I first used the blush with the sponge the application was awkward and unnatural because it comes on so strongly and the sponge isn't conducive to a natural look. I was a lot happier with the results when I used it with a brush. Also, I noticed that when I used both the corrector and concealer around my eyes, the lines seemed accentuated, especially when I applied the foundation over them - it's probably my error in applying it too thickly, but still. Finally, it seemed to take a bit more effort to wash it off at the end of the day (although I did notice it didn't rub off on napkins during the day, compared to MAC).

Overall, I was pretty happy with Simply Ageless, and if I decide not to continue with MAC, I would definitely consider this makeup, since I wouldn't have to travel to a department store to buy it, and I'd be saving around $14.

At the end of the week, I found myself back to my tried and true MAC lineup. I just liked the more natural look, and it came off easier at the end of the day.

The bottom line:

Simply Ageless
Corrector: $10.99
Concealer: $10.99
Foundation: $13.99
Blush: $10.99
TOTAL: $46.96

MAC
Foundation: $26.00
Spice powder: $16.50
Dame powder: $18.50
TOTAL: $61.00

If you are interested in trying Simply Ageless yourself, let me know because I have a ton of $2.00 off coupons!

Sticking to my schedule

2010-05-16T20:23:00.001-07:00

I got up this morning and did my training, feels good! I think I'm back to my routine again (finally)! Although, my legs are a bit sore from the Saturday run.

I did it!

2010-05-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

I went for a run this morning. Granted, I still slept in, but I did go out for a run. Since it's been so long, I didn't want to over do it so I just went for a mile jog. It felt so good. It felt even better when I came back home and felt the sense of accomplishment of finally getting back into the swing of things. I think I feel the little spark of motivation to push me back on the work-out train :) Tomorrow's goal is yoga and P90X ab workout. Wish me luck!

I actually went in to work today for some overtime to get caught up with a back log of filing. I didn't get as much done as I wanted to, but definitely I feel more settled with what I was able to do.

I'm telling you, I don't know how working mom's do it! I can barely keep myself together after working full time, I can't imagine having to nurture a child on top of that. Necessity must make mothers much more efficient and productive :)

BzzAgent Covergirl & Olay SimplyAgeless Trial

2010-05-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of covergirl.com

So, I am a BzzAgent. What that means is that I get free stuff to try out, and then give my opinions and "buzz" about it. I don't get paid for giving positive reviews of the products I try. I do get points towards prizes for filing reports, regardless of positive or negative reviews. Hence, no incentive to lie.

This is my second bzz campaign. Yesterday I got the Covergirl & Olay SimplyAgeless makeup in the mail and thought tonight would be a good time to try it out. I'm going to post three pictures of myself (sorry! I DON'T recommend doing this to yourself, I am now painfully aware of flaws I didn't see before, ouch!). I have my regular make up, the new makeup, and no makeup at all. I'm really curious what you think. I am a bit on the fence about what I think about it.

I don't want to tell you which photo is which yet. Leave a comment below and vote in the poll about your favorite, and I'll let you know which is which next Friday! I'll also be a bit more detailed in what I do and don't like about the new make up and my current makeup (Mac).

Photo #1
Photo #2
Photo #3

Climbing Back on the Wagon

2010-05-13T22:36:00.000-07:00

I don't know why, but I have really have lost all motivation to blog the past few months. It's weird, it's not that I don't want to, but I just haven't had the energy. I have tons of pictures and things to share. So, my fingers are crossed that this Sunday I'll have some more to share.

Sadly, I haven't really been running in the past few weeks either. Fingers crossed that I can get out of my cozy bed early tomorrow morning and get my butt back in gear ;) Wish me luck!

STOKED!

2010-03-05T15:39:00.001-08:00

I just got published! The EBRC newsletter has been uploaded to the website and is ready for everyone to check it out. I'm pretty proud of my little baby. This was my concept and I turned it into a reality. It wouldn't have been anything special if it weren't for the people who supported me and contributed content (thank you Jessica and Emily).

Please check it out here.

Brick and Mortar vs. Online for Shoe Buying

2010-03-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Nordstrom.com

I have been looking for some work shoes for the past six months and just haven't found anything that was worth the price. I had an idea in my head of what I wanted and could never find it. What was more frustrating was in the time that I was looking to just replace my work shoes, I came to realize I really needed to get a pair of commuter shoes and a pair of casual shoes.

I commute to work and end up doing a fair amount of walking. I learned early on that wearing my work shoes on the half mile walk home nearly killed my feet. I tried flip flops, but got creeped out walking through the really dirty city streets without more protection. I started wearing my work flats, but ended up totally trashing them because I ended up wearing them everyday. Currently I've been sporting, my casual shoes, but they've gotten worn down and I've gotten tired of them. Plus, they look funny with my work clothes. My critera were they needed to be comfortable, well-made, leather (because of occasional rainy commutes), cute, and reasonably priced.

Secondly, I wanted a pair of shoes to replace said casual shoes. I wanted them to be as versitile as possible. I needed something I can wear running errands and hanging out with friends. Something comfortable, stylish, cute, versitile, and reasonably priced.

Thirdly, I wanted a pair of shoes to wear at work. I've pretty much just have one and a half pairs :) One pair is pretty comfortable, black wedges, that go with just about everything. The half-pair is considered "half" because cute as they are they are uncomfortable for wearing for more than just a few hours. Great for church, but not for work. Plus, they've stretched quite a bit and just don't stay on my feetsies very well anymore, which is super annoying. I just wanted something cute, preferably a flat, that was comfortable, versitle, and reasonably priced.

In my search for my shoes I went all over: Ross (I don't know why I try, a needle in a haystack-IF you're lucky), Macy's, DSW, macys.com, shoebuy.com, piperlime.com, amazon.com, zappos.com, Clarks, and all sorts of mall stores. I tried the brick and mortar stores first, hoping to find something there, and when that didn't work and I just didn't have time to continue driving around all over, I found that online stores were pretty convenient. Problem was I found myself spending too much time going through the online stores comparing styles and reviews and still not finding the right shoe at the right price. I found a few good options, but nothing I was gaga over, nothing that fit all the criteria perfectly.

Finally, I decided on some Keen's for commuting. The Erin Ballerina, to be exact. The name just was the tipping point. It was cute enough, casual, fun, leather. Sure, it's a bit chunky, but I think it's still fun. I imagine myself to be an outdoorsy kind of person, and I thought this style reflected that part of my personality. I found a killer deal on this $90 shoe at shoebuy.com, I ended up getting a discount from their already discounted price. I typically only purchase shoes online from places with free shipping and returns, which is what attracted me to shoebuy.com in the first place. The shoes arrived about 5 days after I ordered them and after I put them on I was disappointed. The sizing was off a bit, too wide, even though it was the right length. They looked even chunkier on my foot than the picture, and just was not flattering. All I could hear in my head was Stacy and Clinton talking about shoes that look like potatoes. Sadly, I thought, I needed to return them.

After that disappointment, I was more committed than ever to finally find a shoe once and for all. I decided to go shoe shopping that Saturday in San Francisco with a determination not to leave until I had something to show for my time. Three hours later, and MANY stores later (I had only planned on going to DSW and Macy's) I ended up with three pairs of shoes. A pair of black flats from Macys, and a pair of Converse and Vans from Nordstrom.

My experience at Macy's was mixed. It was a madhouse. Macy's has a sale just about every other day, yet still the place was packed. If you've every been to Macy's at Union Square you know how huge the women's shoe department is. After doing about two laps around the floor I decided on four pairs of flats to try on. I waited around for a saleswomen to get me the sizes I needed. She was amazing. Considering how many customers she was helping I was truly impressed. She remembered the exact sizes in the different shoes and didn't forget about me. Three of the shoes were available in my size, and only one fit. I looked at the price and figured it was the best I was going to find at that price (plus I had some credit on a store gift card I wanted to use up). I was done looking for the perfect flat. This guy was patent leather (not my ideal choice), but it had a cute buckel, and most importantly it fit. Considering all the flats I tried on that were way too wide and not as cute once I put on my foot, this one was a star. I was a little bummed that I only had one pair after that first hour, especially since it wasn't really the pair I needed.

So, off I went to DSW. I had scouted it out earlier in the week. I was surprised to find they had the Erin Ballerina there for the same price I paid online. I was pretty impressed. After trying on several pairs of shoes, nothing really stood out. I felt like as much as I wanted a pair of shoes, I wasn't going to pay $50 for something I didn't at least feel good in. I mean, isn't that the point - you want to feel like you look good, so then you feel good all around, right?

Lucky for me Westfield mall was right there. I started at Nordstrom (one of my favorite stores, probably because I used to work there, and my mom and sisters worked there when I was growing up). Some contenders, but nothing amazing. So, I went to most of the stores that I thought gave me the best chance at finding a commuter shoe and a casual shoe. I was tired and I was bummed. I found a pair of Clarks I liked okay, but they certainly didn't scream cool or fashionable, plus they were $110. Ouch. As I was walking around feeling desperate I started rationalizing. "If I get the Converse and the Clarks, then average that with the $20 out of pocket I spent on the flats, maybe that's not so bad for three pairs of shoes." Yes, I was that desperate. So, back I went to Nordstrom to get the Converse. While I was there looking around, next to the Converse were those old school slip on Vans. I had Vans when I was in elementary school. Now, they aren't on par with say the quality of Clarks, but they were kinda cute, they slipped on, and they were kinda comfy, and they were definitely cheaper than Clarks. Actually, I could get a few Vans for the price of one pair of Clarks. At Nordstrom the sales guy was super nice and helpful. I explained that I wanted to try out the Converse and the Vans and that I was not too sure on my size in those shoes. He brought out lots of boxes and let me do my thing without hovering, which I really appreciated. I was trying on a pair of the Converse and thought, gee I should try on the next size down to see if those are a better fit, just in case. I looked through the boxes and surprise, there was the next size down! After himming and hawing on sizes and styles (one foot is a half-size different from the other - is a bit too small or a bit too big better?) I ended up purchasing a pair of grey Converse and black Vans.

The moral of this long story? Despite the "convenience" of shopping online with the immense variety and often better deal, in the end I'd rather have an experience like I did at a brick and mortar store like Nordstrom where I could sit down and try the different sizes on at the same time and compare them side-by-side to make sure I ended up with something I felt good about. The sales associate was exactly what I needed: helpful, proactive, and not a hoverer. I suppose I could have ordered several sizes online and then just returned the ones that didn't fit, but that's a bit of a hassle logistically and financially, especially when returns can take several cycles to show on the credit card statement. When it comes down to it, I'm willing to spend more money for the experience and "convenience" of a brick and mortar store.

Tool Organizer

2010-02-25T11:33:00.000-08:00

I wish I had tools and a garage just so I could do this project! It makes the organizer inside me so giddy. I found this reposted on Unclutterer.

(Image from Instructables)

Black History Month

2010-02-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

My work has been promoting Black History Month all month long with different activities like weekly quizes, an art exhibit, and today a presentation on African Americans and Criminal Justice. It was a reminder to me of how far our society has come, and yet how far there is still to go in providing equality in the criminal justice system. A large portion of the presentation was on the difficulty in assembling a jury of one's peers for African Americans. The majority of jury's are white and can't relate to some experiences of African Americans, and a majority of the justice system (judges, attorneys, law enforcement) are white.

Here is a link to a 10-minute documentary on the jury process called "Juror Number Six". It gave me a lot to think about in regards to the biases faced as a juror and whether any one person can truely be prejudice-free.

My take-home from the presentation was that injustice still occurs today in the African American community, they face prejudice from the law enforcement level to the prosecution level. It's important to be aware of these injustices and recognize them as real issues, serve as a juror when the opportunity arises, and recognize that we all have biases.

Here's a funny clip they couldn't show during the presentation but suggested we take a look at. It's the Kings of Comedy and Cedric the Entertainer jokes about African Americans and running. The truth behind the joke is that when people in the African American community run away from police, often it's not because they are guilty or have done anything wrong, but it's something that they've learned - it's best to avoid dealing with the police all together.

Cleaning Tips

2010-02-22T09:10:00.001-08:00

I came across this suggestion from Unclutterer and thought I'd pass it along. I tried something like this when I first got married and it lasted about two weeks. It's a great idea, though, and I'm inspired to try it again.

"Don’t feel you need to take on cleaning your entire house all in one weekend. At Chez Doland, we deep clean the kitchen and dining room on Monday, Bathrooms on Tuesday, Bedrooms on Wednesday, Living and family rooms on Thursday, and Friday is for the foyer, garage, and laundry room. After a 10 minute general pick up around the house, we focus for 20 minutes on the targeted room."

Latest Onesies

2010-02-21T17:54:00.001-08:00

Looking Forward

2010-02-18T14:48:00.001-08:00

One of my dearest friends is getting married on Saturday in Los Angeles, so my hubby and I are packing up the car tomorrow and making the seven hour drive down. Sadly, it will be a quick trip and we'll drive back home on Sunday. But, this means less time off of work and we don't have to find someone to take care of our cat, Roland.

Some things I'm really looking forward to are:

1. Seeing my dear friend Sarah tie the knot here (learn more about Mormon temples here)

2. Watching the ring ceremony here

3. Enjoy the reception here

4. Side trip to Cafe Rio in Lake Forest, sure it's an extra hour there and back from LA, but it's the closest we've gotten in four years. NOTHING compares to Cafe Rio pork salads and burritos.

5. Enjoying not having to clean up after ourselves at the hotel.

Yeah for weddings!

Resolutions Update

2010-02-17T15:51:00.001-08:00

So, January was all about focusing on my role as Flashmeister for the run club I belong to, EBRC. I think it went well. I feel really happy about the spotlight. The club organizer says it's one of his favorite things about the club! A few weeks ago, unfortunately, I was met by some resistance from members I wanted to spotlight but who didn't want to participate. I got a little insecure about the idea, but was really encouraged by the feedback I got from other club members who think it's a great idea. I'm working on ways I can revamp it and thinking of new questions.

The newsletter is still a work in progress, but it's going to be awesome when it's completed. I wanted to take the time and make it really special, rather than rush it. The feature will be from our Yogameister who takes you through some great yoga poses for runners. We did a photo shoot at her studio where she teaches Yoga (Jack London Square in Oakland, CA). It was a really neat experience - I've never done a photo shoot before. I think it turned out well. Also, I'll include our Brunchmeister's contribution of a fantastic banana bread recipe. We have a few honorary club members who are well-known in the running community. I really want to do an interview for the newsletter.

So, I guess February has been a continuation of January's goals of working on the club.

Recently, though, I started working on my etsy site. It's still pretty rough, but getting better. I'm working on some items and will post pictures of them when I'm done. I'm really excited to see how they turn out.

Onesies

2010-02-10T22:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the onesies I've done. If you 're interested in a custom order, visit my etsy shop.

How to Get Rid of Hiccups

2010-01-27T21:19:00.000-08:00

When I get hiccups, I get them bad. I did some googling and found a solution that finally actually worked. I have used this method ever since and it works every time.

Take a huge breath and hold it. While still holding your breath try to take a few more breaths and continue to hold your breath as long as you can. You should notice that your hiccups have stopped and then you can relax and exhale. If not, just repeat the process.

I hope this works for you like it does for me.

2010-01-18T21:52:00.000-08:00

I had an idea for a newsletter for the run club, I hope it turns out well. My goal is to have it finished by the end of the month. I'll post it when it's done.

To Resolve or Not to Resolve, that is the question

2010-01-15T21:43:00.000-08:00

This year I have not made any formal resolutions, like I did last year. I have to say I'm pretty proud I was really good about honoring those resolutions for most of the year, then life got a whole lot more complicated and I needed to make some changes. This year I decided I want to simplify and balance my life. I'm the type of person who has a million ideas, starts a thousand, and finishes one (if I'm lucky). So, I'm trying to be very picky about how I spend my time and what ideas go from drawing board to reality. I'm liking the idea of picking one thing to focus on for the month.

This month I decided to focus on my run club and my role as an officer, the Flashmeister. I'm in charge of taking photos during our club activities. Lately, that's mostly been our weekly Saturday morning runs. I started spotlighting a member each week to learn more about each other, and that's gone really well. A club friend lent me his digital SLR for the week to play around with, which I was pretty stoked about (and TOTALLY sold on - the photos here are from playing around with it). So, I'm working on exploring my creativity through photography. I wish I were better and would really like to take a formal photography class one day (oh, maybe when I get my own digital SLR - my hubby and I are drooling over this one that will film HD movies). I'll report on how this goes through out the month.

Thinking ahead, my goal for February is sewing. there are several projects I need to choose from. I want to do another pillow for our Ikea chairs, a tote bag for commuting to work, and that infamous baby quilt that kicked my butt a few months ago. I'll post my decision on February 1 and report through out February on my progress.

Amy Butler Designs

2010-01-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

I have fallen in love with this designer. I've never really known what "my style" is, but I would just love to adopt this style. The patterns and fabrics are gorgeous.

I saw this pattern in a local shop and it's on my project list now (since my current bag I use every day is dying a slow death.

So dang cute!

Digital SLR fun

2010-01-07T22:51:00.000-08:00

These are photos my hubby and took with my friend's SLR at the Berkeley Aquatic Park. I can't believe my friend trusted me with his SLR, what a super nice guy! This was fun, and I really did notice a difference in the pictures. I think they would be more impressive if I actually knew what I was doing.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T21:01:00.001-08:00

I decided to do some hiking and exploring today to celebrate the New Year. One of my favorite things about living where I do is that even though I live in the city, after a short 10 minute drive I can get lost in nature. It was a bit drizzly and muddy, but totally worth it. I decided to bring along our point and shoot camera and play around with the settings. A friend of mine is loaning me his DSLR for the week, which could prove very dangerous for my bank account. I may fall in love. We'll see. So, I guess you could consider these a "before" digital photos. I plan on taking the DSLR on a hike on Sunday. We'll see how they compare.

Candy Cane Joe-Joe's Truffles

2009-12-23T23:07:00.000-08:00

I've seen, and made, the Oreo Truffle recipe before and always received compliments. I was at my sisters for dinner, and for dessert she brought out Candy Cane Joe-Joe's from Trader Joe's. They were so yummy! My mind just wandered - Joe-Joe's, Oreo, Oreo Truffle, Joe-Joe's Truffle. But, I hated that the Oreo Truffle recipe called for cream cheese since my hubby hates cream cheese, and the truffles need to stay cold. I wanted to make some to take for work, and they needed to be able to be left out on a counter. So, I did some Google searching and found a substitution by Beantown Baker that satisfied both issues. I brought these into work today for my co-workers and they went bananas. They remarked that they were "light", "effervescent", "delicious", and "well-balanced minty". They couldn't believe they were homemade either.

Here's the recipe (but you may not want to know :)

1 box peppermint Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

1 bag milk chocolate chips

Crushed candy cane

Crush Jo-Jo's in food processor until all fine crumbs.

Mix in sweetened condensed milk with a spatula.

You'll know you've added enough because the mixture adheres and forms one ball.

Spoon out enough to make a one-inch ball using a 1 teaspoon measuring spoon. Roll into a ball and set aside onto a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.

Continue until all the mixture is used up. Refrigerate one hour to set.

Melt chocolate chips according to package directions. (Mine said to mix one cup chocoloate chips with one tablespoon vegetable shortening over a double boiler.)

Roll balls in melted chocolate, one at a time, using two forks to remove the ball and let excess chocolate fall off, then set back on wax paper.

Sprinkle crushed candy cane or drizzle melted chocolate on top. Refrigerate at least one hour to set the chocolate. Before serving remove from fridge at least a half hour so they aren't cold when they are eaten.

Enjoy!

Etsy Shop Grand Opening!

2009-12-14T22:44:00.000-08:00

I'm still tweaking the design of the shop, but the onesies are all in there. I am so excited! Please share this with anyone you think who might be interested.

Visit me at: http://LubAtHome.etsy.com

Fishy T-shirt

2009-12-13T13:20:00.001-08:00

I sold a custom order for a Fishy t-shirt for an 11-month girl. I think it turned out much better than the onesie. I'm still playing around and experimenting with the stitch settings and tension. I'd love to take a sewing class to really learn how to do it, right now I'm kinda faking it till I make it. My mom taught me the basics growing up, and I do know a lot, but doing projects like this and the infamous quilt just make me realize how much I still don't know.

I'm working on setting up my shop on etsy.com, so stay tuned for the grand opening!

Craft Fair 2009

2009-12-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

First, the good news. My office craft fair was yesterday and I sold two onesies and one pillow! I was a bit sad to see the ice cream cone go because it's so dang cute, but then again, what am I going to do with a 3-6 month onesie?? I got an order to do the fishy on a 12 month onesie and will be filling that order this week.

The two pillows (same size, different photos) turned out fabulously and I didn't want to bring them for fear of selling them :) Well, I got an order to do another one, so I didn't have to lose them. But, I felt like they were too expensive. The pillow, fabric, notions, and time really can't beat what you can find at Target for cheaper. So, I don't plan on continuing to sell those. For now I'll stick with what I know and experiment here and there with other crafts and ideas (coffee sleeve, running sleeve, etc.).

Now, the bad news. I almost finished the baby quilt, but messed it up. The first round of machine quilting went perfectly, but the second round totally bunched up the top (but not the bottom, weird). It went from bad to worse and I totally lost it at 10:00 pm Sunday night because I was so close and it was looking so cute and then it turned out so horribly bad. I felt like such a failure. My hub was so sweet and talked me through the tears and sobs. I now have enough distance from the catastrophe to decide to learn a lot more about machine quilting, picking out ALL the stitches, and re-doing it. It's now on my back burner. Still, any suggestions on machine quilting at home would be GREATLY appreciated. I'll post a photo of it here later today so you can see exactly what I did wrong.

Apple Pie

2009-11-28T16:44:00.000-08:00

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! This year I continued my tradition of baking an apple pie. This is a recipe adapted from Joy of Cooking the first year I was married and have made it each year since. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have (this is a verified crowd pleaser).

Deluxe Butter Flaky Pastry Dough

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks cold unsalted butter cut into 1/4 inch pieces
1/4 cup Crisco
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon ice water (plus 1-2 tablespoons more, as needed)

Mix flour, sugar, and salt. Add butter to dry ingredients, working quickly to prevent softening, using a pastry tool until butter is pea-sized.

Add Crisco with pastry tool. Continue chopping until mixture is coarse crumbs with some pea-sized pieces. Make sure mixture does not soften or begin to clump. It must remain dry and powdery.

Drizzle ice water over mixture and cut with rubber spatula until mixture is evenly moistened and begins to form small balls.

Press down on the dough with the flat side of the spatula, if balls stick together you have added enough water, otherwise drizzle 1-2 tablespoons more ice water as needed.

Press dough with hands until dough coheres. The dough should look rough, not smooth. Divide dough in half.

Press each into a round flat disk and wrap in plastic. Refrigerate 30 minutes.

Apple Pie filling

2 1/2 pounds (5-6 medium-large) Golden Delicious apples
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

topping:
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Wash and peel apples. Slice into 16ths, pieces should be approximately 1/4 inches thick at thickest point.

Mix apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice, cinnamon, and salt. Let stand for 15 minutes, stirring several times, so apples soften slightly.

Remove one dough disk and roll out into 13 inch round shape. Fit into 9-inch pie pan and trim overhanging dough to 3/4 inch all around. Cover and return to refrigerator. Remove second disk and roll out into 12 inch round shape for the top crust. Cover and refrigerate. If necessary for room, you may fold the round in half and then half again, just make sure to let the dough warm a bit before you try to unfold it over the pie.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Remove pie bottom and top from refrigerator. Pour apple and all liquid into bottom crust. If time allows, I take one slice at a time and lay it out on the pie slightly overlapping to make the pie as dense as possible, so it will shrink less as it cooks, and make cutting easier.

Dot top with butter. Brush 3/4 inch overhanging bottom crust with cold water.

Unfold top crust and place over top. Seal edge and then fold overhanging top crust under bottom crust. Next, either crimp with a fork dusted in flour, or flute (as I did in the picture). Cut steam vents in the top and then sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon.

Bake pie for 30 minute at 425 degrees in lower third of oven. Slip a baking sheet beneath pie and reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for 30-45 minutes longer, until apple feels just tender when a knife or skewer is poked through a steam vent and thick juices have begun to bubble through the vents.

Cool pie completely on a rack, 3 to 4 hours in order for filling to thicken properly. If you want to serve the pie warm, stick the pie in a 350 degree oven for 15 minutes. Best served day it's baked, or can be kept for 2 to 3 days on the counter.

I prefer to serve my pie warm with vanilla ice cream. Once you have this pie, you'll never want to buy a store-pie again, there's just no comparission.

12 x 16 Pillow Tutorial

2009-11-27T18:07:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to get a pillow for our chairs since we got them, but could never find the right size and design style. So, I decided to break out a really old pattern my mom bought me when I was 12 that I'd never used and make my own pillow. I found some cute fabric at Jo-Ann's, and found one for me and one for my hubby. Since I'm a fan of the tutorial, I thought I'd try my hand at it. Unfortunately, I didn't start taking photos until 1/2 way through :( I'll re-do this when I make my hubby's pillow.

1 yard of fabric of your choice
60 inches chord for piping

Cut two pieces of fabric 12 1/2 x 16 1/2
Cut 1 3/4 inches wide bias strip for piping 60 inches long. You will have to cut at least two strips and sew them together to get the length. To cut on the bias, start at the corner by the selvage and cut at 45 degree angle from the selvage. To get the two pieces to join properly put the strip ends perpendicular to each other so they form an L.

I had to play around with off-setting them just enough so when I finally sewed them together they ended up being completely joined into a straight line.

To sew the piping, place the chord on the wrong side of the bias strip, fold the bias strip so wrong sides are together and right sides are showing. Using the zipper foot attachment on your sewing machine, sew the bias strip right along the chording.

Next, place one of your two rectangle right side up on your working surface. Pin the piping with raw edges matching. I started a few inches from the bottom left, so when the edges were joined, they would be less noticeable. Pin in place. You will need to snip the edge of the piping when rounding the corners.

When the edges of the piping meet, trim the chord so the ends will meet. I found taping the ends and then cutting in the middle of the line of tape will keep the chord from unraveling over time. Trim one end of the fabric to the same length as the chord it's covering. Cut the other end about an inch or so longer. Fold over that end, and enclose the other end of the piping so the chord ends now meet, and the end is covered by the extra length of fabric. Pin in place. You may baste it in place if you prefer (but I didn't bother).

Next, place the second rectangle wrong side up and pin in place. Using the same zipper attachment, sew the perimeter of the pillow case, leaving a big enough end unsewed to allow for turning right side out and stuffing the case with the pillow. Try to sew as close to the chord as possible, without actually sewing the chord, this way, your first set of stitches on the piping won't show.

Clip the corners and trim the edges to about 1/4 inch all the way around. Turn case right side out and stuff the case with the pillow. Sew the opening using a slip stitch.

Lunch sacks

2009-11-22T18:52:00.000-08:00

I think I might make some lunch sacks, like these, for the craft fair. A lot of people bring their own lunches, so this might be a great item to sell. I've read that oil cloth can't be used for children under 12, so if someone wanted to get one for their child, I would need to figure out a different material to use. Any suggestions??

I just finished an awesome pillow and need to post the pictures, stay tuned.

Milenesa with Seasoned Rice

2009-11-10T20:56:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite dinners. I always get really excited when it's on the menu. The salty breadcrumbs and thin steak are a wonderful combination. Add a side of my mother-in-law's seasoned rice and it's to die for.

4 pieces steak cut very thinly, sometimes labeled for "milenesa"
1/2 cup (+ more as needed) seasoned breadcrumbs
2 eggs
salt to taste
canola oil

Lightly beat eggs in a shallow bowl. Add salt as desired. Dredge steak slice in egg mixture then in seasoned bread crumbs. pan fry in oil for a few minutes on each side until browned. Rest on paper towels to drain excess oil.

This makes enough for my hubby and I to have 1 1/2 slices each, with one for leftovers the next day.

Check this post out for the seasoned rice recipe.

Chicken and Potatoes with Thyme and Garlic

2009-11-10T20:47:00.000-08:00

Recipe courtesy of Ukiah, CA newspaper. This is simple and easy and quite tasty. The smaller you cut the potatoes and chicken, the faster it will cook. We cut 15 minutes baking time by doing just that, and by using a slightly larger pan so there was a single layer of the chicken potato mixture.

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, but across the grain into strips (we cut ours into cubes)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
+2 thyme sprigs
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 medium-sized Yukon gold potatoes cut into wedges (we cut ours into cubes)
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a pan with non-stick aluminum foil or aluminum foil sprayed with cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine chicken, potatoes, olive oil, garlic, and thyme. Using a large spoon, toss to coat. Transfer the mixture to the pan, and bury the thyme sprigs in the mixture and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast for 1 hour. Remove the thyme sprigs before serving.

I think substituting rosemary for thyme would be a great alternative. It's just that my hubby likes the thyme so much we haven't tried it yet.

Wish list

2009-11-10T19:57:00.000-08:00

I saw this adorable charm by tinkertown on Etsy and thought it would make such a cute Christmas gift. It's such a cute idea, especially for Scrabble fans (which I happen to be).

Admiring

2009-11-10T19:47:00.000-08:00

I saw this cute little guy on LaurieMaid on Etsy. How cool is that?!

But, you know what's even cooler? My friend Shanda makes these awesome stick horses. She just designed them in her head. Incredible. Check her website Mitico out.

Penne with sausage and broccoli

2009-11-06T20:55:00.000-08:00

The hubby and I made this for dinner tonight. It's easily one of our favorites. To mix things up a bit, the hubby bought turkey sausage, which I ended up enjoying more than the traditional sausage. Go figure. Yeah, and it's healthier, too! The best part is how super easy and simple it is to make.

Baby quilting

2009-11-06T20:50:00.001-08:00

I'm slowly piecing together my baby quilt for the craft fair. I bought the backing and binding last week and will be posting pictures of those soon. I also got some cute fabric for the onesies.

Loving this

2009-11-04T13:30:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of GracieBeanBaby from etsy

If I had kids, I would totally make this for our back yard. How stinkin cool!

I love my new table!

2009-11-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

I stopped by Costco this weekend and decided to grab a folding table and a pair of chairs. I knew I wanted a folding table so I could put it away when it wasn't being used. I pulled it out for the first time tonight and worked on my quilt for the craft fair. I don't know what I was thinking trying to sew on that tiny table, once I took another look at the photo I knew I couldn't do that again. It worked out really well and was actually pretty comfortable.

Re-Do: Carne Asada Chicken Salad

2009-11-02T22:13:00.000-08:00

I love making salads like these for dinner. They are quick, healthy, and yummy. I've done this before, but sometimes it's good to revisit the tried and true. Plus, this is a little bit different. We took chicken and marinaded it for a few hours. Since we are sadly without a grill right now, we used our grill fry pan and cooked the chicken up on the stove. We piled it on top of lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, salsa, Cholula, guacamole, and corn. It turned out great. I just wish I had some fresh lime, cilantro, and black beans to really round it out.

Motivation

2009-10-28T16:02:00.000-07:00

I've been wondering lately how to get motivated to get organized and get my to-do list tackled. I think, for me, that motivation is in more abundance when I'm in a good mood. Most of the time I'm in a neutral mood, but the times when I'm feeling happy that energy just makes me want to create and get things done. It's almost like a snowball effect, because it makes me happy to have done creative things and checked something off my to-do list, which gives me more energy to do those things. Knowing this is helpful for me, but I just need to figure out how to feel that happy energy when I'm feeling down, stressed, and sad. What are things you do?

We really need a table, badly

2009-10-26T21:35:00.000-07:00

I have some strips of fabric left over from when I made a baby quilt for my sister-in-law a few years ago. I thought I could use them up in another quilt and maybe sell it at the craft fair. Maybe I'll have to keep it for a lap quilt :)

As you can see, it's a bit cramped in our little apartment. We don't have a table, just a side table and Ikea chairs. It makes it pretty challenging, but funny at the same time.

Diaper Cake

2009-10-26T21:27:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law had a baby shower on Saturday and I wanted to do something practical, but fun. I'd see diaper cakes around before and thought it would be fun to try. Too bad I waited until the last minute. Target didn't have any cool ribbon, so I had to settle for the thin curly kind. Luckily it came together just fine, but I had such a different image in my head.

More crafty goodness!

2009-10-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

I have been keeping track of crafty posts all over the internet and have started to go through it to get some cute ideas. I thought I'd share a few of my favorites:

Super cute onesies, I MUST make some like this. Seriously, a cupcake?! Fantastic.

Ruffly apron, my sister-in-law made me one and it is so cute!

Adorable purses, how talented is my sister-in-law?!

I am now realizing the saved posts are 95% recipes and 5% (if that) crafts. More blog stocking on the horizon :)

Speaking of recipes. Besides sugar cookies, I'm thinking of making some Clone of a Cinnabon rolls, oh - so- good! I can't believe I haven't posted them yet. I will have to make that a priority. Until then, check the recipe out here where my hubby and I found it. And here's a little picture to taunt you until you make it yourself.

Photo courtesy of Lindsey.

Sugar cookies on my mind

2009-10-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

I saw these forever ago, and was thinking on my commute home yesterday that a Christmas version would be great for the craft fair. Don't you think?

Craft-y

2009-10-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

My work is having a craft fair next month. Employees can bring in anything they or their family makes and sell it. My mind is racing with projects. A few ideas so far are some onesies, photo prints, and baked goodies. I'm so excited to earn some spending cash and get in the holiday spirit by making crafty stuff.

Do you have any suggestions of things that would be great sellers?

I promise, more photos are forthcoming!

Addiction

2009-10-20T13:32:00.000-07:00

For years I've been joking about Twilight fans, well, because it was easy. Now it's my turn to eat crow. I love the series and it's like crack to me. I finally got a copy of the third book in the series, Eclipse, from my library. I had to wait for months because of all the holds. Anyway, I started Saturday and finished it last night. I never read books so quickly, but I couldn't put this down. So, to all the people I teased and made fun of, I'm sorry. I totally get it now.

There's hope yet!

2009-10-17T23:17:00.000-07:00

I did it! I did my meditation and I went on a 9 mile run (well, 7 mile run and 2 mile huffing and puffing :). Hopefully, I can keep the momentum going!

Darn

2009-10-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness tomorrow's a new day :)

Wake up sleepy head!

2009-10-15T14:07:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Happy Lists

I'm failing miserably at waking up early to exercise and meditate before I get ready for work. Inevitably, my alarm clock goes off at 6am and all thoughts and promises from the day before about getting up are pushed aside and the attitude of "I don't care" takes over. I'm such a grump! I've noticed, though, in the times where I have willed myself out of bed, once I'm up and going I'm happy to be awake early.

So, the psychologist in me wants to come up with some reward or punishment, but so far nothing has worked. Tomorrow morning I'm trying guilt. I'll let you know how that goes. I'm hoping that by posting this it will also help motivate me, since I have to face you tomorrow and report :)

Good books

2009-10-14T12:26:00.000-07:00

I'm reading Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin. I hadn't heard of Ms. Grandin until about a year ago. I was working as a substitute teacher's aide with severely disabled elementary school students. My supervisor, the director of the program, recommended I read her books to learn more about autism. Ms. Grandin is autistic and is an icon in the field of animal welfare. This is the second book of hers I have read. Toward the end of this book she speaks of her own religious beliefs. In explaining how she feels about her designing "one of the world's most efficient killing machines" she explains how most people have become detached from the "natural cycle of birth and death." She says "They do not realize that for one living thing to survive, another living thing must die." This struck me on two levels. First, this is absolutely true. Personally, I am rarely exposed to birth and death and so my perception and understanding of it is a bit skewed. It's difficult for me to think of all the animals who have died for me to eat and live. Second, and more profoundly, it made me think of Jesus Christ, my savior. In a very literal sense he died that I may live. His atoning blood in Gethsemane made it possible for my sins to be forgiven and to live with my Father in Heaven when I die. His "giving up the ghost" and dieing on the cross made it possible for my spirit and body to be rejoined after I die.

I am constantly being reminded in this life of all the many symbols there are that point to a Father in Heaven and a Savior.

A thought for today

2009-10-13T15:33:00.001-07:00

I came across a powerful quote reading the Nie Nie Dialogues and it really rang true to me and I wanted to share it with you.

"There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire,
which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity;
but which kindles up, and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity."
-Washington Irving

Sometimes life is easy and wonderful and carefree. In those times I savor that peace and joy greedily. When adversity comes, I want to be the "true woman" Irving speaks of who's "heavenly fire . . . beams and blazes". I think I'm finally at a point in my life where I can feel less sorry for myself at those dark times and feel more empowered to face my adversity head on and plow my way through until that peace and joy to return.

Expanding

2009-10-13T09:49:00.000-07:00

I think I'm ready to expand this blog a bit. In addition to recipes (which have died down considerably since we moved) I'll be including a little more about me. I hope you enjoy the addition :)

Penne with Spicy Sausage and Broccoli

2009-09-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

adapted from Tracey's Culinary Adventures as adapted from Everyday Italian by Giada de Laurentiis

My husband just about died he loved this meal so much. I'm not kidding, I've never heard him gush about a meal we've made as much as this one. I really liked it too, it's very light tasting and easy to make. It think Giada uses Broccolini, but we only saw broccoli at our grocery store and it tasted great. This is the kind of recipe you could really get creative with, substituting asparagus for broccoli, or turkey sausage for pork, you get the idea.

salt
2 bunches broccoli
12 ounces (ish - ie a box) of penne pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound spicy pork sausage, casing removed
3 garlic cloves, minced
pinch crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Blanch the broccoli in a large pot of boiling salted water for 2 minutes. Remove broccoli from the pot (reserve all of the cooking liquid) and immerse in a bowl of ice water. Bring the reserved cooking liquid back to a boil and cook the penne in that water until tender but still firm to the bite (see box for time, around 10 minutes). Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with spoon, until browned and juices form, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli and toss to coat. Add the penne and enough reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Stir in the Parmesan cheese, salt (to taste) and pepper.

Enjoy!

Gourmet Macaroni and Cheese

2009-07-28T19:55:00.000-07:00

This is one of our most favorite meals. It's so rich and creamy, and the toasted bread on the top just makes it better. It's certainly not the most healthy meal, so unfortunately we don't eat it very often.

1 stick (salted) butter
6 slices bread, torn
5 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 1/2 cups grated white cheddar
1 1/4 cups grated Parmesan
1 lb. dried macaroni (or other small noodle of your choosing :)

Heat oven to 375. Butter pan. Melt 2 tablespoons butter and pour over bread pieces in bowl and set aside.

Start cooking macaroni noodles according to package directions (less 2-3 minutes). Drain and rinse in cold water.

Heat milk to get hot without scalding.

In saucepan melt remaining butter over medium heat. When butter bubbles add flour a little at a time and cook, wisking for 1 minute. Pour in hot milk and continue cooking until thick. Remove from heat. Stir in salt, nutmeg, cayenne, and pepper. Stir in 3/4 of cheeses (reserve 1/4 and set aside). Stir in noodles with cheese sauce, pour into 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with remaining cheese and top with bread. Cook 30 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes. Serves 12 (but we give ourselves 2 servings, because it's so yummy, so it's more like 6 servings for us).

Blackened Chicken and Seasoned Potatoes

2009-05-22T23:42:00.001-07:00

This is easy and cheap. We always have frozen chicken breasts in our freezer, and the rice and spices in our cupboard. As for the potatoes, this time around we just bought a seasoning packet from the store and I was surprised how good they turned out.

Blackened Chicken

1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cayeene pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper (optional)
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together paprika, salt, cayenne, cumin, thyme, white pepper, and onion powder. Rub each side of the chicken breasts with the mixture.

Heat oil in a cast iron skillet over high heat for 15 minutes.

Place chicken in hot pan and cook for 1 minute. Turn and cook 1 minute on other side. Place breasts on a non-stick foil lined cookie sheet.

Bake 10-20 minutes or until no longer pink and juices run clear.

BBQ'ed Brats and Baked Beans

2009-05-22T23:38:00.000-07:00

I had my first brat when my father-in-law bbq'ed for us at our house when my in-laws were visiting. I was skeptical at first, but loved it when I tried my first bite. This is an easy and delicious meal, and great for summer time when you just want to grill.

My husband gets Johnsonville brats, and we started getting them a little spicier than before, now that Cholula has started to win my wimpy taste buds over :)

We just heated up a can of beans, and I had forgotten just how yummy they can be. I guess it had been a really long time.

Tex Mex Cheesesteaks

2009-05-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

I got this recipe from my friend who got it from Rachel Ray's magazine. We've tweaked it a bit and made it our own. The recipe is how we usually make it, but when I took the picture we improvised a bit. It's easy and delicious.

Tex Mex Cheesesteaks

1 package prepared guacamole (we love Wholly Guacamole!)
2 hoagie rolls, split (put in 350 degree oven until crisp)
1/2 lb roast beef from the deli
2 teaspoon chili powder
2 slices provalone or pepper jack cheese
1 tomato, sliced (optional)
Cholula

Spread guacamole on roll. Cook roast beef with chili powder until hot. Add cheese on top of each portion, cook until melted. Transfer to hoagie. Top with tomato and Cholula

Albondigas

2009-05-22T23:16:00.001-07:00

This recipe comes from Allrecipes.com and was submitted by Belen. I've changed it a bit. I came across it looking for recipes to use up ground beef. It's easy and it tastes great. Plus, it tastes even better as leftovers. I bet you could freeze your leftovers for an easy dinner.

2 cups water
4 carrots, sliced
2 small potatoes, peeled and diced
1 medium onion, diced
1 1/2 cups salsa, medium or hot (I like to use Herdez here, see previous post)
2 cans low sodium beef stock
1/2 pound ground beef
Seasoned dry bread crumbs
Milk

1. In a large stock pot, bring water, carrots, potatoes, onion, salsa, and beef stock to a boil. Reduce to a medium simmer, stirring occasionally, approximately 10 minutes.

2. Mix the beef, and enough bread crumbs and milk to make a good-texture meatball. Form into 1/2 inch meatballs, and drop into boiling broth. Once soup returns to a boil, reduce heat to medium-low.

3. Cover and cook 20 minutes, or until meatballs are no longer pink in center and vegetables are tender.

Chicken Rice Casserole

2009-05-22T23:10:00.000-07:00

I think this recipe originally came from my husband's sister, and we've tweaked it a bit. I know I say it a lot, but it really is one of our go-to recipes. It's pretty easy, but it takes time to bake and it's not the healthiest meal. But, boy does it taste yummy!

Chicken and Rice Casserole

1 1/4 cup rice
2 chicken breasts, cut into bite size pieces
1 can cream of chicken (low sodium)
1 can cream of mushroom (low sodium)
1 can cream of celery (low sodium)
1 1/2 cans of water
1/2 stick melted unsalted butter
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (separated into 1/4 and 1/4 portions)

Combine all ingredients (reserve 1/4 cup parmesan). Place in 9x13 dish lined with non-stick foil. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup parmesan on top. Cook 1 1/2 hour at 350 degrees.

Empanadas Cordobesas

2009-05-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

This is a family favorite of my husband, and now one of my favorites. The recipe comes from my mother-in-law and is named for the region in Argentina where she grew up. Each region has it's own recipe. Last year she gave me a tutorial on how to make them which was pretty cool. We finally decided to be brave and try it on our own. The only problem we had was finding the empanada discs, which literally don't exist in our town, apparently Goya doesn't deliver this far north. So, we made homemade dough, but I won't include that recipe here, but post a comment if you want it and I'll be happy to share it. I figure most people don't live so far out of the way as we do (but not for long, we're moving the the big city in a few weeks :)

Empanadas Cordobesas (this is the full recipe, but we halved it for just the two of us with plenty of left-overs)

2 package Goya empanada discs (frozen food section) defrosted and cover until ready to use
2 lbs. ground beef
1 large potato, chopped very finely chopped (raisin size)
1 large tomato, chopped
1/2 to 1 small onion, chopped
1/2 package pinenton dulce or 1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon cumin
1 beef bullion cube
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 tablespoon sugar
1/2 to 3/4 cup raisins
2 boiled eggs, chopped
green olives without pit

Brown meat with onions, drain fat. Put 2 tbs oil in pan with meat. Turn down heat. Add tomato and potato. Simmer 5-10 minutes. Pour 1/4 to 1/2 cup water and add bullion cube. Stir to dissolve. Add salt, pimenton/paprika, cumin, sugar and raisins. Simmer covered 1 hour. (don't dry out-if you want juicier add more water or another small tomato). Cool mixture.

Flour table or surface. Stretch disc slightly. Place 1 1/2 to 2 tablespoons filling in center of disc. Add 1/4 teaspoon boiled egg and 1 olive. Lightly brush edges with water and fold disc, overlapping small folds ("repulgue"). Don't over stuff!

Fry in hot oil (375-400 degrees). Cook until golden brown. Drain on paper towel.

You can freeze extras and heat up in the oven (350 degrees 15 minutes).

I would love to try baking the empanadas, but my husband flatly refuses, that's not how mom does it :) I guess you just gotta live a little every now and then.

Classic Comfort Food

2009-05-22T22:40:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite lunches is tomato soup and grilled cheese. I recently discovered Trader Joe's Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper soup, and I love it. The grilled cheese on homemade wheat bread was pretty awesome too.

Whole Wheat Bread

2009-04-26T00:30:00.000-07:00

You have to try this recipe, it is so easy and GOOD. This is another recipe from my mother-in-law. It's the perfect balance of flavor and texture. It's light and soft and oh, so good. I'm sold on making this bread every other weak or so and skipping out on the store-bought bread. My loaves ended up a little "muffin-top" because I let them rise too long, so next time I'll pay more attention on how fast they rise.

Whole Wheat Bread

1 tablespoon yeast
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup oil
1 tablespoon salt
1 1/2 cup water and 1 1/2 cup milk (combined and warmed to 115-125 degrees, about 2 minutes 15 seconds in the microwave)
3 cups flour (plus more as needed, for some reason I needed A LOT more)
3 cups whole wheat flour

Mix well the yeast, honey, oil, salt, and water/milk. Add wheat flour and mix for 5 minutes. Add white flour 1 cup at a time. Mix well. If dough is too sticky add more white flour until dough does not stick to side of mixing bowl.

Remove dough and gently knead on floured surface for a few minutes. Shape into 2 loaves. Grease 2 bread pans. Place pans in warm place and cover with a kitchen towel. Let them rise until they double in size.

Heat oven at 350 degrees. Brush melted butter on top of bread for softer crust. Bake for 40 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack. Cut loaf when warm, but not still hot.

Oh, so good!

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

2009-04-26T00:16:00.000-07:00

When my husband BBQ'ed up that chicken the other night, he cooked 2 extra breasts for leftovers. We had some hoagie-style rolls, which we sliced open and toasted in a 350 degree oven until crispy. I loaded up my sammy with:

Leftover BBQ chicken
More BBQ sauce
Banana Peppers
Avocado
Lettuce

Super good meal!

Favorite Bottled BBQ Sauce

2009-04-26T00:09:00.000-07:00

I love, love, love Sweet Baby Ray's Hot 'N Spicy BBQ sauce. We started using their Original BBQ sauce, but then saw the Hot 'N Spicy and decided to gamble, and we've been getting it ever since.

What's your favorite BBQ sauce?

BBQ Chicken with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2009-04-25T23:50:00.000-07:00

One time my husband and I were visiting his parents his Dad made us BBQ chicken and it was so amazing. The sauce he used was Sweet Baby Ray's and it was seriously the best BBQ bottled sauce I'd ever had. I was so excited to learn that our grocery store carried it too. We've never bought another brand since. We've made BBQ chicken lots since then, and it's always a treat. We use the frozen boneless skinless breasts from Costco to save on the money. Boned chicken breasts, what my father-in-law uses, generally are more moist.

My husband always does the BBQ'ing. He seasons the thawed breasts with Poultry Seasoning and grills them up, then adds the sauce at the very end of grilling so it doesn't burn. So, so good!

A great side with BBQ chicken is mashed potatoes. This is our favorite mashed potato recipe. Come to think of it, I don't know that we've tried another recipe, it's just so good and easy. The original recipe comes courtesy of Betty Crocker's Cookbook, my version is as follows.

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

6 medium Yukon Gold potatoes (round red, white potatoes or Idaho work just fine too)
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1/3 to 1/2 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons butter or stick margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
Dash of pepper

1. Wash and peel potatoes, and place potatoes and garlic in 2-quart saucepan, with enough water just to cover potatoes. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20-30 minutes or until potatoes are tender; drain. (UPDATE: You can leave in all or some or none of the garlic cloves, depending on how garlicy you like your mashed potatoes. In my opinion, leaving them all in won't make it overly garlic.) Shake pan with potatoes over low heat to dry a bit.

2. Mash potatoes in pan until no lumps remain. Add milk in small amounts, mashing after each addition.

3. Add butter, salt and pepper. Mash vigorously until potatoes are light and fluffy.

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