mime

This series was a fun try at something new for me, that started out as part of the SPC challenge theme, "Walls".




I finished it with a sense of satisfaction and challenge - I really enjoyed the mime persona, and might find new ways to use it in the future.

a Sunday morning walk

I love going for walks early on Sunday mornings - it is so quiet, so peaceful, so fresh.



this reminded me of the very best scene from Pride & Prejudice 2005 version

















these thorny trees fascinate me - they are such lovely trees yet have such enormously scary spikes...












It was a beautiful morning... next time, perhaps you'll join me?

Self Portrait Challenge { space 2 }

By Your Side by Lifehouse





All I want now is to be with you
Cause you know I've been everywhere else
Looking back at what you got me through
You knew me better than I knew myself

When I feel lost and I can't find my way
When words are at a loss I can hear you say
I'll be by your side, when all hope has died
I will still be around oh and I, I'm still on your side

When everything's wrong, I will still be around
By your side
Fighting my way back to where you are
The only place I ever felt at home
Stumbling backwards through the dark

I know how it feels to be alone
And where we go is where I wanna be
And in the silence I hear you say to me
I'll be by your side, when all hope has died

I will still be around, oh and I, I'm still on your side
When everything's wrong, I will still be around
I can't wait another day to show my space between
Your heart and mine, and you're all that I need

You say I
I'll be by your side, when all hope has died
I will still be around, oh and I, I'm still on your side

When everything's wrong, I will still be around
By your side, by your side, by your side, by your side, by your side




have a listen if you want...

Self Portrait Challenge { space }

There is space in my heart just for you...





Happy Valentine's Day!


for Self Portrait Challenge's February theme - Space.

cookies & cream

Every year when my girls' birthdays roll around, I remind them that I am not a cake decorator, so they better choose their cake based on flavor, not appearance. For instance, one year, one of them asked for a rainbow on their cake - I used rows of colored M&M's to create said rainbow atop her cake. That's as good as it gets here, people.

This year, Claire asked for Cookies & Cream Cake, with Cookies & Cream ice cream on the side. Be still my heart.





I love this cake! It is easy to make, tastes fantastic, and if I may say so, it is a showstopper - my best looking cake that I make. And here I am, sharing it with you, so that if you're a non-decorator like me, you can still WOW them!


Cookies & Cream Cake

1 pkg. Oreo cookies
1 pkg. white cake mix
1 c. water
1/2 c. oil
3 eggs
2 cups whipping cream OR 1 12oz. tub of Cool Whip

Reserve 16 Oreos in a bag or container where your kids won't get to them and eat them. Process the remaining cookies in the food processor to make medium/coarse crumbs.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Mix the cake mix, water, oil & eggs with an electric mixer for 30 seconds, scrape the bowl, then 2 min. on medium. Stir in ONE cup of the Oreo crumbs. Divide between 2 9-inch cake pans, bake for 28 to 32 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean). Cool 10 minutes, remove from pans, cool completely.

In a chilled bowl, beat the whipping cream for 2 1/2-3 minutes, until stiff peaks form. (Of course, skip this if you're using Cool Whip, move on to the next step). Gently fold in the rest of the Oreo crumbs, chill until the cake has cooled completely.

Fill & frost the cake with the whipped cream. Garnish with the 16 reserved cookies. Store this cake in the refrigerator.


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spinach garlic whole wheat pasta

I've been watching my calories for the last few weeks, using a great app (myfitnesspal) and paying attention to my eating habits. I've learned a LOT. I am feeling better, too.

I've had friends ask me why I'm doing this, "you look great, you don't need to lose weight, why?" The answer is that I just plain didn't feel good. I didn't feel hungry at mealtimes (nothing sounded good to me), and between meals I was constantly snacking.

My wonderful husband gave me a tablet for Christmas, and while perusing apps for it, I ran across the myfitnesspal app. I installed it on a whim. Turns out God leads us even in our whims. This has answered my prayer for Him to help me discover what was going on with me.


Sooooooo, here's what I had for dinner last night: Chicken Parmesan (made with a Tyson Chicken Tenderloin), and the following pasta dish that I created (total = 505 calories). This dish has all the things I was in the mood for last night! It's not spicy, so you may wish to add spices or extra salt & pepper. Kids & husband really liked it - bonus!





2 cups (dry) whole wheat rotini
3 Tbsp. olive oil
5-6 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)
1 thin slice of onion, finely chopped
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
toasted pine nuts (optional)

Bring water to boil in medium pot & cook rotini according to package directions.

While pasta is boiling, in a large skillet warm the olive oil on a low temperature with the garlic and onion. The point is to impart flavor into the oil, not to cook the garlic & onion quickly. About 2 minutes before the pasta will be finished, turn the heat up to medium, to turn the garlic & onion golden.

Drain the pasta, add the the olive oil, and toss in the spinach. Keep the heat on medium, and stir for 1-2 minutes until everything is mixed and warmed through.

Serve onto plates, add 1 teaspoon pine nuts on top of each serving.

Self Portrait Challenge { Flashback 1 }

It's "Flashback" time again at Self Portrait Challenge! This means we try to include at least 2 of the themes from the previous year in a new photo. Not always as easy as it sounds, but always fun!





themes from last year:

Literature -
Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.
- Stanley Horowitz

The Seven Dwarfs - Sleepy

Fears - As you can see, I am afraid of being chilled to the bone in the morning, as that would not be a good start to my day!


And finally, a quick "Wow - Thanks!" to my dear Aunt Cathy, who surprised me with this gorgeous lap quilt in colors that are perfectly me :)

Pink Giveaway!

Whose little girl would love a pink ruffle skirt?
**What about a FREE hair flower?**

I have a goal to make 6 skirts, to support my friend Stephanie's running in the Marathon for a Cure.

100% of the purchase price will go to Stephanie's fundraising for her run.



Over the rest of January, every purchase of the Pink For a Cure Ruffle Skirt will be entered into a **giveaway** for the hairflower seen on the model in the listing. Stephanie made it, and let me tell you, it's gorgeous!





The Pink For a Cure Ruffle Skirt is perfect for Valentine's Day, as well as this upcoming spring!





Thank you for your support!

hoping and waiting

Every year we hope to see snow, but we can never be certain
that it will make an appearance on our winter stage.

So we decided to take matters into our own hands and make our own.

Knowing snowflakes have 6 sides, I have always had a nagging issue in the back of my mind with the standard eight-sided folded snowflake. However, recently I found this pattern for creating 6-sided snowflakes in an old kid's arts & crafts book:





It takes practice (especially for the kids - lots of assistance was needed), but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you have created scientifically correct, six-sided flakes.





We filled up this window, as well as another the same size. There were tons of tiny paper clippings all over the table and floor when we were finished! Once we had it all cleaned up, this project took up a whole afternoon - yay!

Final tip: iron the opened up flakes on a low setting to flatten them out before hanging.

Have fun!

coe

meet my new nephew...




just love his tiny feet...





named for my mom's father - Douglas Coe T.

:: gingerbread trifle ::

I've had a string of cooking mistakes, flops and catastrophes lately! But here is one that turned out well in spite of a bad start.





I had made this gingerbread cake last Friday, ahead of time for a party, planning to serve it with lemon sauce. Except it did not turn out looking like it was fit for anything besides perhaps a demolition party...

I froze it, and vowed to figure out something - waste not, want not! And it hit me - we cut up cakes on purpose for trifles, so why not make one from a cake that fell apart? I brainstormed flavors that go well with gingerbread with my mom, and here is what I came up with...





Gingerbread Trifle

9" round Gingerbread Cake (find recipe here, or use a box mix from the store), cut up into 1" (or smaller) cubes
1 pkg. cheesecake pudding mix
1 1/2 c. milk
1 8 oz. container of cool whip (I made real whipped cream instead, because I had it on hand)
1 c. chopped pecans
1 small jar of caramel sauce, or melt down 1 14 oz. package of caramels with about 1/4 c. milk, in a small saucepan over low-med. heat stirring til smooth


Whisk the pudding and milk together, then fold in most of the cool whip (reserving 1/2 c. for garnish)

In a trifle dish or large serving bowl, layer as follows:
1/3 of the gingerbread cake (press down gently)
1/4 of the caramel sauce
1/4 of the pecans
1/3 of the pudding mixture

repeat this pattern 2x

Finish with the reserved cool whip, drizzle with remaining caramel, and sprinkle with the remaining pecans.

Chill. This is best when made at least 12 hours ahead of time, for the cake to soak up the moisture.







I've also used this for my Self Portrait Challenge photo this week, as December's theme is "Idioms"... my idiom of the week is, "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." Or a trifle. Either will work!

Self Portrait Challenge { tiny words 3 }

This week, I had two ideas for SPC along the same line, and decided to do both.







my mom makes comfy socks for me. one more reason I love my mom.

... faded memories ...

What a difference a week makes.

:: luscious ::

Another rose bush in my garden grows longstem pale peach roses that have a fantastic aroma, and they last a long time when cut.






I am loving this weather, I've been able to enjoy some gorgeous flowers again before it turns cold soon.

Self Portrait Challenge { tiny words }

for Self Portrait Challenge's monthly theme - Tiny Words