Thursday, May 27, 2010

Love Thursday

Let me preface by saying it's been unseasonably HOT here for the past week. We went from highs in the 60s to highs in the upper 80s and 90s, which, honestly is fine with me. I like the heat....especially because our AC keeps the house from becoming unbearably hot.

A couple of days ago, the girls (and friends) beat the heat by setting up a "splash pad" in the front yard with a couple of sprinklers. Even Mark took his turn running through after he got home from work. While wearing his work clothes. Which the girls thought was absolutely hilarious!

And, really, what goes better with a hot day than watermelon?! (and lemonade, which the girls already had outside)

See what we found inside?


A 100% nature-made piece of love. (The heart was all God's doing too.)


Thursday, May 20, 2010

C is for cookies!

Julie’s Best Oatmeal Cookies

By: Julie Hasson from “Everyday Dish”

Ingredients:

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour (white wheat if you're wanting to healthify them)

1 tbs. baking powder

1-1/2 tsp baking soda

2 sticks Earth Balance, softened (you could also use butter or coconut oil)

2-1/4 cups packed brown sugar (you could probably also sub regular granulated sugar or sucanat + a little molasses, but I haven't tried this)

Egg Replacer for 2 eggs mixed with necessary water (or 2 eggs)

2 tsp vanilla

3 cups rolled oats

2 cups chocolate chips (any kind of chocolate is good)

1 cup dried cranberries or cherries

Rice milk, optional – add as needed if batter seems a bit too crumbly

Preheat oven to 350ºF.

In a small bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and soda.

In a large bowl, beat together margarine and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add mixed egg replacer and vanilla, beating until smooth. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, beating until just mixed. Add oats, beating until incorporated. Stir in chocolate chips and cranberries.

Scoop mixture onto greased or parchment-lined baking sheets. Press top of cookies with hand to flatten into a disk. Bake 14-15 minutes, or until puffed up and light golden brown, but still soft to the touch. Let cool on baking sheet completely before removing.

Recipe makes a bunch (I usually get at least 4 dozen.). Mark loves eating the cookie dough raw!

** To keep cookies soft, store in an airtight container with a marshmallow. The marshmallow keeps the cookies nice and soft. (In my opinion, marshmallows work even better than a piece of bread because sometimes bread makes the cookies soggy.) This trick also works with brown sugar.

Friday, May 7, 2010

In My Head...

If you can overcome your fears, you can do anything.



Angry Birds is way addicting!



Mommy and Daddy will always be here to lift you up, help you down, and catch you when you fall.


Thursday, May 6, 2010

Fun Mom Part II

Before I knew it, plans were in full swing. There were so many other things I should be doing-- school work or laundry, for example. So many things that had fallen by the wayside while Lily and I were at the hospital. Instead, I found myself offering to bake cupcakes and helped Elise clip flowers from the yard to put in her bouquet. That day, I was the fun mom.
The table was made ready.
Everyone must be appropriately attired in posh princess fashion.
There were Pretty Princess games to play.
Delicious Pineapple Right-Side-Up Cupcakes graced my china plates. Only the best for my little princesses!
And, really, what better way to celebrate Lily no longer needing oxygen, and Leah finally having clear lungs than with a princess party?!
Perfect!