Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Photo Shoot
We took a quick trip to the Gardens to take some pictures of the girls near their birthdays.
June-bug, 1year
Evie Lucy, 2 years
Monday, November 28, 2011
Thing One and Thing Two Party
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thing One and Thing Two
Evie and June are turning 1&2 so to celebrate we are having a party. Here is a sample of the invitations that went out.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Happy Birthday Evelyn
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Putting Up: Vol 3
My final recipes for putting up strawberries if for a Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate. I found this recipe and wanted to try it since it's a little more fun that just a traditional jam or something.
This is also very simple but I did CAN it rather than freeze so it's a bit more work. For this you just need pureed strawberries, lots of lemon juice and sugar. You cook it to 190 degrees and then ladle into ball jars. Cap and band and then process for 15 min. This makes an adorable gift and I've already given three away. I think next year I will make more :)
If you have questions or want exact recipes for any of these strawberry posts I'd be happy to share. Just let me know.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Angel Food Cake
The perfect compliment to the strawberry sauce I made was an angel food cake. I looked into a few recipes and learned a couple of tips along the way.
It came out perfect and blew any store bought version or box mix out of the water. Homemade is definitely the way to go.
So here are some important things to keep in mind in order to end up with the perfect angel food cake.
1. Place sugar in a food processor for 2 min before using. This will create "super-fine" sugar and makes that melt in your mouth feel.
2. Egg whites MUST be at room temperature.
3. Beat Egg Whites to medium peaks and sift flour over egg whites a little at a time, folding gently to incorporate.
4. Do NOT grease pan.
5. Absolutely, most definitely DO take the time to make it yourself. It is well worth the effort.
It came out perfect and blew any store bought version or box mix out of the water. Homemade is definitely the way to go.
So here are some important things to keep in mind in order to end up with the perfect angel food cake.
1. Place sugar in a food processor for 2 min before using. This will create "super-fine" sugar and makes that melt in your mouth feel.
2. Egg whites MUST be at room temperature.
3. Beat Egg Whites to medium peaks and sift flour over egg whites a little at a time, folding gently to incorporate.
4. Do NOT grease pan.
5. Absolutely, most definitely DO take the time to make it yourself. It is well worth the effort.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Putting Up: Vol 2
The second recipe I attempted with my flat of Strawberries is a beautiful Strawberry Sauce. Here's what you need...
Strawberries
Sugar
Almond Extract (The smell while this was cooking was absolutely intoxicating)
Cook,Cool, Blend, Cool some more, Freeze.
Are you wondering what to do with it? The possibilities are endless. Think Waffles,Crepes, Ice cream, stirred into Lemonade...
What did we test it on? Check back and I'll show you! Let me just leave you with one word, "Yum".
Strawberries
Sugar
Almond Extract (The smell while this was cooking was absolutely intoxicating)
Cook,Cool, Blend, Cool some more, Freeze.
Are you wondering what to do with it? The possibilities are endless. Think Waffles,Crepes, Ice cream, stirred into Lemonade...
What did we test it on? Check back and I'll show you! Let me just leave you with one word, "Yum".
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Putting Up: Vol 1
This year I have high hopes of preserving as much of the summers bounty as I can. Hehe, get it? As I CAN? Okay, bad joke. Anyway, I do plan to do a lot of canning/freezing so we can enjoy summers yumminess all year long.
Strawberries are officially ready and that means it's time to start on my preservation adventure. So, tonight I started with the really easy process of making freezer jam.
In case you havn't tried it before here's a few photos to show you how easy it really is.
Just combine Strawberries and sugar and mix.
Then, cook surejell with water on stovetop for 1 min.
Stir hot pectin into fruit and stir mixture for 3 more minutes.
Funnel into jars, lid and band jars.
Let the pretty little jars sit on the counter for 24 hours and pop into the freezer. That's it. I know, right! So much simpler than I imagined the process to be. This is my 3rd year making jam and my family loves it. It's so much better than store bought. So, go ahead. Run out and get some beautiful berries and tell yourself..."Of course I can can!"
Strawberries are officially ready and that means it's time to start on my preservation adventure. So, tonight I started with the really easy process of making freezer jam.
In case you havn't tried it before here's a few photos to show you how easy it really is.
Just combine Strawberries and sugar and mix.
Then, cook surejell with water on stovetop for 1 min.
Stir hot pectin into fruit and stir mixture for 3 more minutes.
Funnel into jars, lid and band jars.
Let the pretty little jars sit on the counter for 24 hours and pop into the freezer. That's it. I know, right! So much simpler than I imagined the process to be. This is my 3rd year making jam and my family loves it. It's so much better than store bought. So, go ahead. Run out and get some beautiful berries and tell yourself..."Of course I can can!"
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Like nothing I've ever seen...
What a mess! Yesterday was a work day for me. I was in the middle of rinsing a color when something incredible happened. I remember commenting to my client that I couldn't get any cold water. Then the water pressure went very low. I had no idea what would happen next... 
Apparently a water main had burst under our foundation. The rupture caused the foundation to shift several inches. This made the walls buckle and the ceiling collapse in sections.
God was faithful in protecting us. We were almost directly underneath where you see the ceiling pieces have fallen but thankfully we all made it out before they fell.
We stood outside for the next hour as the water reached ankle deep. The city finally came and shut off the main valve and we were able to go in and get some of out belongings out. Time will tell exactly how much damage there is and how we will move forward but for now, I have nowhere to work! I guess I'm going to have to get creative :)
Apparently a water main had burst under our foundation. The rupture caused the foundation to shift several inches. This made the walls buckle and the ceiling collapse in sections.
God was faithful in protecting us. We were almost directly underneath where you see the ceiling pieces have fallen but thankfully we all made it out before they fell.
We stood outside for the next hour as the water reached ankle deep. The city finally came and shut off the main valve and we were able to go in and get some of out belongings out. Time will tell exactly how much damage there is and how we will move forward but for now, I have nowhere to work! I guess I'm going to have to get creative :)
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Never a Dull Moment
Today began just like any other day around here. I had fed the kids, dressed them and we had made it to morning nap time. Evie was sleeping in her room and June was out like a light in the swing in front of our front window. It was actually a quite peaceful morning with the sun shinning in. Nora was coloring quietly at the coffee table and I was busy tidying up. As I walked passed the front window to peak at June-bug I noticed something unusual. There was a cop car right outside of our house.
It is not that unusual to see police in our neighborhood but this caught my eye bc his car was parked in the middle of the road completely blocking traffic. Strange. As I stood there watching I could not believe what happend next. The front door of his vehicle flew open and out he came, weapon drawn. Holy Cats! It wasn't even his regular gun but a large rifle. He was pointing it down the street. As I looked in the direction of his pointed gun I saw three other cop cars parked in various postions surrounding a green suv. All of those officers also had guns drawn and were pointing them at the suv.
This is the point I realized I should stop watching and start protecting my children. Duh! I calmly told Nora to go sit on the floor and not to get up. Then, I knelt next to June's swing watching to see if we were in fact unsafe. I also grabbed my phone and called Jamie. I just had to tell someone what was going on.
We live across the street from and elementary school and the kids were out at recess. Withen a minute they had all the kids inside and I saw teachers closing the shades in the windows.
While that was going on I saw them approach the vehicle and a rather shady looking individual got out with his hands behind his head. They took him down in the middle of the street and handcuffed him. They put him in the back of a cop car and then a woman climbed out the drivers side and was also arrested. They then searched the vehicle and finally put their guns away after about 5 more minutes. Eventually, things died down and several police cars left. After the comotion was over and there were only two police officers left my curiosity couldn't take it anymore.
I went outside and asked if everything was okay and if there was any reason to be worried about my kids saftey.
They assured me everything was okay and that it was a misunderstanding over a vehicle listed as stolen.
Well, if nothing else, it certainly made for an exciting morning for one stay at home mommy.
It is not that unusual to see police in our neighborhood but this caught my eye bc his car was parked in the middle of the road completely blocking traffic. Strange. As I stood there watching I could not believe what happend next. The front door of his vehicle flew open and out he came, weapon drawn. Holy Cats! It wasn't even his regular gun but a large rifle. He was pointing it down the street. As I looked in the direction of his pointed gun I saw three other cop cars parked in various postions surrounding a green suv. All of those officers also had guns drawn and were pointing them at the suv.
This is the point I realized I should stop watching and start protecting my children. Duh! I calmly told Nora to go sit on the floor and not to get up. Then, I knelt next to June's swing watching to see if we were in fact unsafe. I also grabbed my phone and called Jamie. I just had to tell someone what was going on.
We live across the street from and elementary school and the kids were out at recess. Withen a minute they had all the kids inside and I saw teachers closing the shades in the windows.
While that was going on I saw them approach the vehicle and a rather shady looking individual got out with his hands behind his head. They took him down in the middle of the street and handcuffed him. They put him in the back of a cop car and then a woman climbed out the drivers side and was also arrested. They then searched the vehicle and finally put their guns away after about 5 more minutes. Eventually, things died down and several police cars left. After the comotion was over and there were only two police officers left my curiosity couldn't take it anymore.
I went outside and asked if everything was okay and if there was any reason to be worried about my kids saftey.
They assured me everything was okay and that it was a misunderstanding over a vehicle listed as stolen.
Well, if nothing else, it certainly made for an exciting morning for one stay at home mommy.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
June Marie
I can't believe our sweet little girl is already 3 months old!
To view more photos from her 3 month photo session go to flickr.com/jag64551
To view more photos from her 3 month photo session go to flickr.com/jag64551
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Chi-town
One of Jamie's favorite meals is Chicago style pizza. I had never attempted to make it before. I didn't think it could be duplicated in a home kitchen. Then, I received THE BEST COOKBOOK OF ALL TIME for Christmas. The people of Cooks Illustrated/America's Test Kitchen will never lead you astray. They know what they are doing. I was so excited when they had a recipe for Chicago style pizza. If they said you could do it at home I was willing to give it a try. I am sooooo glad I did. It was fabulous. This will certainly be made over and over again in my kitchen.
Mmmm...Perfection!
I think Evelyn enjoyed it.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
A new do
With each pregnancy my hair has gotten curlier. With this last birth it went nuts. I feel like I have someone Else's hair on my head. Having 3 kids 3 and under leaves be very little time to think about things like my own appearance. I am just too busy wiping butts and noses :)
So....yesterday I took it upon myself to create a style that I can do in under ten minutes. Is it my favorite look I've ever had? Probably not. Does it accomplish what I NEED in a hairstyle at this point in my life? Definitely. So, for now this is the new me.
So....yesterday I took it upon myself to create a style that I can do in under ten minutes. Is it my favorite look I've ever had? Probably not. Does it accomplish what I NEED in a hairstyle at this point in my life? Definitely. So, for now this is the new me.
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