Mimi's Room

one of those Cooking Families....

2010-10-01T21:20:00.000-07:00

This is my Dad:

He loves to cook.

Dad has long been retired, but during my growing up years, Dad was a fireman with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. It was standard procedure for all the guys at the fire station to take turns cooking, but he enjoyed cooking so much that he always ended up taking all the turns and doing all the cooking. My (ex)Father-in-law was also a fireman and used to tell stories about how a lot of the guys would try to transfer to whichever station Dad was working at the time, not just because his cooking was legendary, but because then they wouldn't ever have to cook!

And, for the last 20 or so years, my parents have cooked regularly at their church for all kinds of groups, big and small, sometimes for as many as 200 people. They are the first ones asked when someone needs food prepared for their gathering.

Yes,we are one those "Cooking Families".

You know what I mean....one of those families that are all about food: cooking and eating and recipes, and everything that goes along with it.....

Here are a few examples of what I'm talking about:

1. Youngest Son is an Executive Chef (see here)

2. Oldest Son is not a chef, but would happily be one if his current career quit working out (see here)

3. Daughter and I are always looking for a reason to plan a menu or try a bunch of new recipes (see here)

4. We have an annual Family Chili Cook-off (see here)

5.We have a Family Cookbook that has had 3 updates over the years (see here)

6. Even all the Grandkids love to spend time in the kitchen (see here, here, and here)

(Dad teaching a cooking class at church a long, long time ago!)

Dad recently shared this recipe with me:

It had all the qualities I look for lately with my current healthy eating plan so I gave it a try, making these minor changes:

I used sugar-free maple syrup

I used Lawry's seasoned pepper and garlic powder since I didn't have Montreal Seasoning.

I added 1/4 of a small onion and put the onion and apple in the food processor so it would be finely minced

TA-DA! Yummy Sausage patties....and healthy, too! I made the first one off the grill pan into a burger on an Oroweat Sandwich Thin, with honey mustard and sugar-free apricot jam.
DELICIOUS!! You were right Dad...this one's a keeper! I've already added it to the current cookbook update.

The other night, Daughter-in-Law was looking through the Family Cookbook for something quick and easy to make for dinner and chose one of Dad's recipes that we hadn't tried before.

TEXAS TWO-STEP CHICKEN PICANTE

4 Boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 1/2 cups Pace Picante sauce (12 oz)

3 Tbsp. packed brown sugar

1 Tbsp. dijon mustard (she use honey mustard)

3 cups hot cooked rice

Place chicken in 2 qt. shallow baking dish. Mix picante, sugar and mustard and pour over chicken. bake at 400* for 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Serve over rice.

Wow Dad! What a great dish! I loved it! Your recipe is from the original edition of our cookbook from about 12 years ago and I can't believe I'd never tried it before! This one is going into the regular rotation at our house from now on.......

Thanks Dad! .....and keep all those good recipes coming!!!

Would you like a snack?

2010-09-06T09:50:00.000-07:00

Have you tried these yet?

This HUGE bag is less than $5.00 at Costco and Sam's Club and they are FABULOUS!!

If, like me, you could live on snacks alone, these are from heaven! And as snacks go, these are relatively healthy: a serving is only 130 calories for 38 straws....look how many that is!

I've been sharing them everywhere and everyone loves them.....my office, Granddaughter's 15th birthday party, vacation....I just might be their biggest fan. I'm telling you, this company should hire me to do a commercial for them!

Try this dip with them..it's healthy too.

HEALTHY ONION DIP

1 cup plain, non-fat Greek Yogurt ("Fage" brand is best)

1/4 vidalia onion, grated

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp olive oil

1/2 tsp white wine vinegar

2 tsp fresh herbs, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Mix well and refrigerate at least 4 hours or overnight

GO GET SOME RIGHT NOW!!

You'll thank me.....I promise!

Food?....or not?

2010-08-30T19:30:00.000-07:00

Oldest Granddaughter is having her 15th birthday this week.

Since macaroni and cheese from a box is one of the main staples of her diet, this is one of the gifts I gave her:

No.....I did not just make her a batch and plop some on waxed paper........

....THAT IS A BAR OF SOAP!!!!

Isn't that the funniest thing ever? Don't you just love it? I bought it on ETSY from AJ SWEETSOAP

Anyone who knows me well, knows I have a weird thing about fake food in any form.....I'm a sucker for anything that looks like food but really isn't food.

Which is why I bought this soap, too.......of course I had to have it..... just because.....I mean, could you pass it up? Just look at how amazing this rocky road brownie looks....AND IT'S A BAR OF SOAP!!!#$%&*!!

It will be the perfect gift for someone eventually.....

please go on over to AJ sweetSoap and look at all the yummy looking soap she makes (check out the deviled eggs!)....I dare you to resist buying something! (or maybe it's just me and my weird fake food fetish?

a new favorite....for now

2010-08-29T01:18:00.001-07:00

I have never been one of those people who say " I don't want that for dinner, I already had it for lunch!" If it's something I really enjoy I don't mind having it again. In fact, when I come across an item or a dish that is really appealing to me for the time being, I'll make it a lot until I get tired of it and then put the recipe aside for a while.

This is what I've eaten 3 times this week already and I made a new batch this morning:

I tore the recipe out of the latest issue of Martha's EVERY DAY FOOD magazine and decided to just use the basic idea and change it to fit my new healthier style of eating.

Simple, basic ingredients that I already had on hand

bake at 350* for 35-40 minutes until set........

SOOOO DELICIOUS!!!

Martha's version says to serve warm but they are just as good cold! I took them to work in my lunch last week and along with a piece of fruit, it was the perfect healthy lunch!

Martha used corn and parmesan in her version....I'm sure it would be good with any combo of vegetable and cheese.....broccoli and cheddar? salsa and pepperjack? carmelized onions and swiss?

hmmmm......I do have plenty more tomatoes.......

Apron Therapy

2010-08-20T21:01:00.001-07:00

If I had to guess, I would estimate that I've probably made at least 300 aprons in the last 3 years........

During the summer of 2007 a friend asked me to come up with an apron for his daughter's 14th birthday. During the making of that apron I felt a surge of creativity that really excited me and my little apron business was born.

Since I was struggling with the recent end of a 3 yr. relationship it was exactly what I needed to keep me busy and to help me to not think about all those things I was trying not to dwell on......I have come to think of that time as "Apron Therapy"!

Well........with all the stressful days I've been having at work these last 5 months, I have once again turned to "Apron Therapy" for some relief from the insane asylum that my workplace has become!!!

Such irony! I took a brief hiatus from sewing for the exact same reason that I now find sewing to be the perfect therapy! The sewing studio in Mimi's Room has become a busy place once again......

First, I made something for myself, which I rarely do. I love this fabric so much that I'd been holding on to it for quite a while since I couldn't bear to part with it....Well, DUH!! Why don't I just make an apron for myself?? I actually made 2: one for me and one for the ETSY shop.

A sparkly rock-star apron for a 6 yr. old friend

A thank you gift for my cousin and his wife who recently hosted a family reunion at their beautiful horse farm in Northern California

A golf-themed BBQ apron for my new Boss. I figured a nice gesture amidst all the insanity couldn't hurt, right? (he was very pleased!)

....and a few random pretties for the ETSY shop

AND.... I plan to spend the weekend working on a line of little girl's aprons using a bunch of really cute girly fabrics and trims that have been calling out to me from the corner studio.

Once again,"Apron Therapy" has come to my rescue and my mental state is slowly but surely getting back to normal (normal? hmmm...) Even my insomnia is almost gone!

Well, the isomnia getting better is also partly because of a new product I've discovered....Let me introduce you to my new BEST FRIEND!

It's not drugs, it's just melatonin and taking one 10 minutes before I want to go to sleep is MAGIC! I get just sleepy enough to fall asleep like a normal person and the quality of my sleep is so much better than it's been in years. AND NO HANGOVER!! (I hate that!) I got it at Wal-Mart, over the counter.

So, between Apron sewing and a magic little pill maybe my life really WILL get back to normal someday soon.....or at least I'll be well rested....insane, but well rested!

it's time for school already?

2010-08-09T20:24:00.000-07:00

Since 1st grade starts on Wednesday, Granddaughter #4 ( 6 1/2) decided to whip up a little skirt for herself.........

She picked out her own fabrics and had a design in mind. My job, as assistant, was to do the measuring and cutting and to supervise to make sure it came out the way SHE visualized it! (oh, the pressure!)

She was SO pleased and proud of herself!

She even used a fancy flower stitch to pretty-up the bottom edge......

I'll bet she'll be the only 1st grader in her class who makes her own clothes!!!

(Assistant Mimi cut the panels a little too wide, making the skirt too long for my taste, so the sewing fairies just might make a few adjustments to shorten it after she goes to sleep tonight.....)

I sure do love passing on the sewing torch to future generations. Seeing kids get excited about fabric and projects and sewing machines/gadgets is one of the best things ever!

another Birthday...OR...another reason to feel old!

2010-07-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Today is Oldest Son's 35th Birthday (oh, no! my SECOND child is now 35!! Yikes!!)

So what does a mother give to her son, born in 1975? Star Wars pancake molds, of course!

(ignore the ridiculous face... he's been making that face just for photos since he was 9 years old....obviously some things NEVER change!)

Son has been teaching 5 yr. old Grandson all about Star Wars for the past year, watching the original movies together and collecting new action figures and vehicles, so the pancakes were a big hit....

Grandson said they taste better than "regular" pancakes!

I also made Oldest Son a new apron from a cigar-themed fabric that he thought was really cool.

We went to Sunday Brunch at his favorite mexican restaurant that he hadn't been to for several years. He actually was a waiter there back his college days about 18 years ago, so he had lots of memories to talk about.......

Oldest Son & his kids

Oldest Son & Me

I sure do wish my kids would quit having birthdays already!!! It sure would help ME to stop feeling so old........

more Corporate fun

2010-05-26T21:10:00.000-07:00

Look at this! Look at what those CORPORATE PEOPLE are making me wear!

I can't believe it! I now work at the kind of place where you have to wear an I.D. badge!

They can't fool me! I know what's going on! I've seen that movie, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers".....Those Corporate Pod People are trying to turn me into one of them!

OH, THE HORROR!!!

Corporate Hell

2010-05-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

Hello? Blog? Are you still there?
It's me.
Remember Me?

What? Forget about you? Of course not! I haven't forgotten about you at all!
I've missed you!
I've just been lost in CORPORATE HELL and have been hanging on by my fingernails just to get from one day to the next......

Blog, I know that in this economy, I'm one of the lucky ones that still has a job, and a comfortable one at that, and I really should not be complaining, but I'm going to vent anyway.....

You see.......I've worked for a small Avocado company for 26 years. After that many years I could almost do my job in my sleep. I had a very nice, comfortable schedule which worked out perfectly for someone like me, who likes routine and greatly dislikes change. I worked 4 ten hour days with Wednesdays and weekends off. I have worked with the same 6 people for 20+ years. We know each others spouses, have watched each others children grow up from elementary school-age to adulthood and met each others new grandchildren. We have become "family". We cover for each other when necessary, help each other out with a multitude of things, both business and personal, and work well as a team......because that's what "families" do.

But things have changed.......

On April 1, 2010, our company was bought by a large, well known corporation. I'm not going to name any names here, but though they're not known for Avocados (not yet) they're very well known for a certain yellow fruit and when I get home at night there are lots of little oval blue stickers covering the bottoms of my shoes......

.....and let me tell you, everything negative you've ever heard about "corporate this" or "corporate that".....all I have to say about it is I'TS TRUE!! EVERY WORD OF IT IS TRUE!

I am now working 5 days a week, 9-10 hours a day and taking work home at night and on the weekends! I've gone from my comfortable, little, "family" job to feeling like I'm working in an insane asylum run by the patients! There are crowds of people flying in from their offices all over the country to "look at our facility". HA! Funny how a little avocado packing house turns in to a "facility" as soon as it's owned by a CORPORATION! I've heard directly from one of the "horses mouths" that there are so many employees and so many bosses that no-one really knows exactly whats going on from one department to another, and in fact, they are NOT ALLOWED TO KNOW WHAT OTHER DEPARTMENTS ARE DOING IN THEIR OWN COMPANY!!!

WELL, so much for teamwork and "family" and helping each other out! At this point in time, I'm just hanging on for dear life and hoping I will continue to still have a job (which looks good for the time being since none of these new people has any clue how things work around here!) The new CORP is contractually unable to change anything at all for a year so at least I have until next April 1 to worry about unemployment.

So, Blog, as soon as the dust settles in CORPORATE HELL, which they assure me will happen very soon (although I'm not sure I should believe anything coming from these CORPORATE PEOPLE) I'll be back, hopefully with more uplifiting things to share....

So, in the meantime please be patient with me and I hope you'll forgive me for being so neglectful. I promise I'll make up to you real soon.

I need to go now.....it's Saturday afternoon and I have A LOT OF PAPERWORK TO DO BEFORE MONDAY MORNING!! AAACK!!

.....oh yes I did!

2010-04-20T15:58:00.000-07:00

Guess what I did last Saturday.....?

I pushed a Fire Truck 50 feet....up a hill....

OH YES I DID!!!

Well....it wasn't exactly a hill....more like an incline....BUT IT FELT LIKE A HILL!

And I didn't exactly do it myself....4 other ladies from my Orange Team helped ......

BUT HEY! When's the last time YOU pushed a fire truck 50 feet?

For the Valley's Biggest Loser challenge on Saturday we were divided into groups of 5 to see which color team could push that thing the farthest. My Orange team didn't win but BOY WAS THAT EXHILIRATING!!#%&!

(that's me in the white headband)

GO, GO, GO,.........

YIKES!!! (look away please...)

WAY TO GO ORANGE!!

So, if you have a Fire Truck that needs to be moved, just let me know and I'll come push it for you....because I can do that!

Tasty Treats

2010-04-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

I Made ice cream sandwiches with the Grandkids last night........

#1) First we made cake mix cookies:

1 box cake mix, any flavor

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

Blend well. Scoop (or use teaspoons) onto parchment covered cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool completely.

#2) choose a co-ordinating ice cream and let it get a little bit soft:

#3) Scoop ice cream onto cookies and spread to cover:

#4) Top with a second cookie, place in a zip lock baggie, and freeze til firm.

#5) EAT!

When you're 5, what's better than eating an ice cream sandwich that's as big as your head?!!

There was much conversation about different cake and ice cream combinations for next time.....

apparently I'll be going to the store today for lemon cake mix and rainbow sherbet!

Audio books in general and a review

2010-03-24T16:13:00.001-07:00

I have a love/hate relationship with audio books.

THE LOVE PART:

All the years I spent driving the 6 hours to and from Modesto to visit Daughter and family every 3-4 months, audio books were the best things since sliced bread. The hours would go by so quickly that I would pull into the driveway almost without knowing how I got there.

In the week before each trip I would visit the library and hopefully find something that sounded like it was worth listening to. I have 3 libraries nearby so it was a pretty safe bet that I could come up with something that met my criteria: not more than 12-13 hours so I could complete it during my trip and preferably something shallow but entertaining, like Danielle Steele. And no abridgements! I always worried that they were cutting out something important, that I was missing some good part of the story.

I made that trip many, many times over the years and listened to many, many books. What a great way to pass the time and the perfect opportunity to ingest more books!

THE HATE PART:

Because I am a visual person, I rarely ever retained what I had heard! More than once I started to read a new book and a few pages in, realized I had listened to it on CD, but could hardly remember the details. And at least once I put in a CD at the beginning of a trip and realized I had heard it before, but the written description didn't ring any bells....I need to see things in writing or watch them being done in order for them to really register in my brain. If I write something down on paper, even if I never look at it again, I'll probably remember it, but if I try to remember something that I hear.... forget it!! Any book that is important or that I really want to read, I need to actually read with my eyes.

Well, it's been 3+ years since Daughter & Family moved to town and I haven't given audio books a single thought in all this time.....until recently.......

I've always been a voracious reader. As a child I would often spend an entire Saturday reading a new book from start to finish. As a young Stay-at-Home-Mom I read 2-3 books a week. But the last few years, with Grandkids, Netflix, DVR, Internet, Blogging, etc, I just don't seem to read like I used to. Don't get me wrong! I still have a constant, ongoing list of books I want to read. I still check out stacks of books from the library and usually return them unread 2 weeks later. I still buy used books by the sackful and they sit here unread, silently taunting me on my shelf.

Even when I budget some reading time into my day, I just can't seem to concentrate like I used to (gee, THANKS! peri-menopause).......which brings me to the point of this post in the first place:

I had been wanting to read this book for quite a while:

The Help

by Kathryn Stockett

I was on my library's website, putting a hold on it so I could take it home and not read it, when I noticed they had it in the audio version and I suddenly heard the DING! of the lightbulb going off over my head!

"HELLO!! You commute an hour each way to work! That's 8-10 hours of wasted time every week! Why haven't you though of this before?!!"

So I put a hold on it, and after an 8 week wait I finally popped the CD into my car stereo one morning and BOY WAS IT WORTH THE WAIT!! The production of this audio book is the best I've ever heard! Instead of just listening to one person read the story, this production has a different actress reading each part, which was absolutely necessary for this story. It takes place in Mississippi in the early 60's during the Civil Rights Movement and the main characters are the Black maids who are raising the White children of their employers. Hearing each characters different voice made such a difference and 3 months later I've definitely retained what I heard. I looked forward (if that's possible) to my commute instead of dreading it, knowing I'd be in the company of these characters who grew to feel like people I knew personally. I think that for the first time I prefered an audio book to a hard copy, especially since the book is written in the southern vernacular of the era and I have such a hard time reading words written like that. Reading misspelled words is like fingernails-on-a-chalkboard to me, and any time I've tried to read something written in a certain vernacular, exactly the way it's meant to be spoken, my brain just freezes up and I can't do it!! (WRONG SPELLING! WRONG SPELLING! CAN'T COMPUTE!)

This audio book was an absolute pleasure for me and I can't recommend it enough.

AND...I hear that Steven Spielberg is going to make it into a movie, so it must be good right? Movies are rarely as good as the book, of course, but if it's anything like the job he did with "The Color Purple" (another book my brain couldn't process but LOVE the movie!) I eagerly await this one.

rain, sewing, and the Oscars

2010-03-07T11:02:00.000-08:00

It's not often that I spend the day in my P.J.'s, but that's what I'm doing today. I did take a shower and put on a clean pair, but if all goes as planned, I wont be putting on real clothes today for 3 VERY good reasons:

1. It's a rainy, cloudy day, perfect for doing nothing much in particular.

2. I have an injured knee that is requiring ice and immobility, thanks to yesterdays BIGGEST LOSER CHALLENGE. (HA! Can you believe that I actually have a sports injury?!)

3. The Academy Awards and all the hoopla that goes along with it are on all day long!

Years ago, I was part of a group of friends who really took the Academy Awards seriously. We always had a viewing party of some kind. One year we all dressed up in our best "Red Carpet" attire. We would fill out ballots at the start of the evening and I won $200.00 one year for a perfect score! The friend who was always the instigator of all the fun had an uncle in the movie industry who was a member of the Academy. All members receive copies of the Best Picture nominees ahead of time and my friend would bring these to the party. We topped off the evening with a showing of the winning movie. Sadly, this friend passed away several years ago and that was the end of the parties. We tried the next year, but it was just too depressing.

So now I watch the show all alone in my room in front of my sewing machine. The last few years I made myself several kind of appetizers to eat while watching, and since I have no friends or family members that enjoy this watching/eating ritual with me I mostly finished off the goodies by myself (60 lbs. overweight? hmmm...wonder how that could have happened) But this year, thanks the the VALLEY'S BIGGEST LOSER, I'll be having a big healthy salad instead, which doesn't sound like near as much fun!

Hopefully I'll get several of these projects done today while lounging around in my P.J.'s trying to keep ice on the sore knee:

1. 2 flannel baby blankets for my long-distance Friend. His sixth Granddaughter will be born next week.

2. a bunch of Little Girl Aprons for the ETSY shop. I've had several requests lately for these so it seems like the perfect day to stock up on the Etsy inventory.

Well, I'd better finish this post because I see that there's Red Carpet activity starting already at only 11:30 a.m. for a 5:30 show!

I'ts going to be a full Oscar-Show-watching day!

progress!

2010-02-24T14:25:00.000-08:00

Three and a half weeks into this Biggest Loser Challenge, I've already lost 12 lbs. and with all the excercise I'm doing, I can definitely feel the difference in the way my clothes fit. But with 60+ pounds to lose, I wouldn't expect anyone else to notice any difference yet.

This morning at breakfast, I noticed 6 yr.old Granddaughter staring intently at my stomach as I sat there sort of hunched over (not a good pose for someone with too much tummy) and I thought "Uh oh...what's coming...?"

"MIMI!! You are getting un-fatter!!"

I LOVE THAT GIRL!! She could tell I was "un-fatter" after only 12 lbs.!

WOO! HOO!.......progress and validation already, with 11 1/2 more weeks still to go!

I CAN DO THIS!!!

What does a swamp taste like?

2010-02-20T16:44:00.000-08:00

I'm not really sure when it happened, but somehow I've become the official Birthday Cake Maker for all the Grandkids Birthdays. It's not because I have any special talent in this area, as you'll see in a minute, I just have no fear of making a cake that might end up looking ridiculous! I alway do my best to make each child EXACTLY the cake they were envisioning, and so far every 3-4-5-6 year old has been very pleased with the results. I'm pretty sure their age has something to do with it, though, since the 2 biggest girls now ask for things like Caramel Apple Cheesecake.....no possibility of a cake decorating embarassement there!

Here, I'll show you what I mean.......and before any of you mention Cake Wrecks, it's already one of my favorite blogs, and besides, the cakes on there are all professional cakes so mine don't qualify (thank goodness)

3 yr. old Grandson asked for a scary dinosaur.....

What? You don't think a light blue dino with pink candy corn teeth is scary? Well, Grandson LOVED it! It was obviously what his little 3 yr.old self had in mind.....

When he turned 4...... Monkey Cupcakes. He loved those,too, even though I decorated them while they were still in the muffin pan and they didn't look quite so "good" when we tried to take them out without destroying them.

I think these Flip-Flop cakes were for a 7 yr.old. I remember she was very impressed with my "decorating skills"! (?)

No, this is not a Kangaroo face, it's a pony.......

A flock of Butterfly Cakes

This one actually came out looking like a kitty!

And now for what prompted this post in the first place: Grandson turned 5 this past week. Together we came up with the idea of a swamp cake! And what's better than helping with the decorating of your own Birthday Cake!

I'll give you a tour of our "Swamp"....... chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting, covered with oreo crumb "dirt". The green frosting swamp is surrounded with chocolate "rocks" and has gummi frogs swimming near green fruit leather "swamp grass". There are gummi worms, snails, slugs, and caterpillars crawling in the dirt.

Our Masterpiece!

Just what a 5 yr. old boy wanted! A creepy, swampy (and delicious!) cake!

Happy Birthday!!

Ethan

Bethan

Wheat Thin
Ethie-boy

...Love, Mimi

Dear Gram.....

2010-02-13T21:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Gram: (from Grace)

Why are you such a nice Great-Grandma? I really like that you give us all such good gift cards for presents. I forgot about the one you gave me for Christmas for the craft store, but Mimi remembered, so today she took me to Joann's.

They have such good stuff at that store! It was really hard to decide. You know how much I love crafts!

Mimi had some good coupons so I got to pick three things. I picked some princess magnets to paint and a Barbie paint-with-water book.

AND, they have really pretty colored poster board with different colors on each side. I don't know what I'm going to do with it but I know I'll think of something!

Thank you Gram for helping me be a crafty girl..............Love, Grace

Kudos to all you Fireman

2010-02-11T09:14:00.000-08:00

I think Fireman are amazing for all the obvious reasons.

And my Dad was a Fireman, so I grew up around Fireman and their families, Fire Stations, and Fire Department activities, so I guess I'm a little biased anyway........

After our workout at the fire station last night (see previous post) I am now not only amazed, but absolutely in awe of what these guys do to stay in shape!

They had us running while dragging fire hoses, carrying heavy jugs of water, and stacking and unstacking coils of hose, among many other "activities".

Parts of my body that I thought had abandoned me long ago are screaming at me this morning! If I didn't have an important meeting at work today I would have stayed home "sick" and moaned all day.

All I have to say to all of you FIREMAN out there who do a much harder version of all this on a regular basis is: YOU ROCK!!!

am I a Big Loser?

2010-02-10T16:10:00.001-08:00

I am not a joiner.

I often read about groups or activities that make me think "That sounds like fun! I think maybe I'd like to be part of that."....but I never do anything about it.....Partly because I am not very social with people I don't already know. I'm just not comfortable getting to know new people, especially in a group.....but mostly because I HATE having a commitment to being somewhere on a weekly basis! And it's not about what the commitment is for, either. For instance, I really enjoy Women's Bible Study, but I DO NOT enjoy the commitment of having to be somewhere every Wed. night at 6:30. I have a full time job, 4/10 hour days a week, and that is enough regular commitment for me.

Soooo....how is it, then, that I have found myself being a part of THIS?:

THE VALLEY'S BIGGEST LOSER

My new Doctor, who, by the way, has turned out to be the best decision I've made in a long time, strongly suggested that I participate, "that I was a perfect candidate".

So I now find myself, against every fiber of my being, committed to something 4 TIMES A WEEK for the next 15 weeks!! .....with 200 STRANGERS!! divided in to 4 teams. AND I'M SUPPOSED TO GET TO KNOW MY TEAMMATES REALLY, REALLY WELL so we can support each other during this huge endeavor.

Well, I'm certainly giving this all my best effort and attitude. The ultimate goal, besides weight loss, is a lifestyle change, a healthy lifestyle. I am 52 years old and overweight by 60+ pounds that are starting to cause several health problems, so I don't have time anymore to wait around for a magic solution. There is no more room in my life for procrastination on this issue!! (how's that for effort and attitude?)

Monday nights are Nutrition/Life Coaching seminars.

Wednesday nights and Saturday mornings are fitness workouts, often with team challenges. If you've ever seen the T.V. show, the coaches are taking notes from the show to use for our workouts. Last Saturday we met at the Mall and the coaches made a competition of which team could speed walk the most laps around the Mall in 30 minutes. Tonight we are meeting at a fire station where the Firemen are going to put us through their "recruit conditioning"! AAACK! (I am very afraid...)

And every Saturday morning is an official weigh-in.....oh happy day! Absolute torture for someone who avoids the scale at all costs!...But I'm happy to report that after the first week I'm already down 6 pounds! YAY! Nothing like positive reinforcement to keep the momentum going! Only 13 1/2 more weeks to go!

I can't say that I've made any new friends yet, but I've made it to 6 meetings in the last week and a half!

I don't believe in the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks", so I'm going to do my darndest to get over my fear of socializing with new people and my hatred of weekly commitments..........

GO TEAM ORANGE!!!

Bloggers block?

2010-01-29T20:56:00.000-08:00

I read somewhere a while back that the average life of a blog is about a year. I don't remember where I read it or the reasons they gave but I'm finding there must be some truth to it.....I can't think of anything to blog about anymore. And I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.

There are 12 blogs that I read every day. And there are about 20 more blogs that I read at least once a week. All of these blogs have new posts almost every day....or at least they did...until recently. Suddenly, quite a few are posting less and less often, AND I DON'T LIKE IT ONE BIT!!

I want to tap each one of these Bloggers on the shoulder and say "Uh, excuse me, but could you please get back to writing a new post every day again. Don't you realize how much I look forward to seeing what you have to say every single day? Don't you realize the pleasure I get from reading your witty opinion on even the simplest of subjects? Don't you know that I count on your latest completed project or recipe for creative inspiration? WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? Get busy with your blog already! Just because I can't think of anything to blog about anymore doesn't mean that all of you can quit writing about your stuff!"

I used to have so many ideas that I had to make a list and ration them out.....Now I got nothin'.

Is this writers block?

Can you even have writers block when your not officially a writer? How about Bloggers block?

My life is the same as it was back in the good old blogging-every-day days. I'm still doing the same things with the same people in the same places. Oh, wait...is that the problem? Is my life boring? Am I too routine? Am I in a rut?

Well, even that's the case, it didn't stop me from having things to blog about before, so what's the deal now?

If anyone out there knows what's going on here please let me in on it!

Soup du Jour #9

2010-01-20T22:15:00.000-08:00

Today is Wednesday, otherwise known at our house as "American Idol Night!!"

Daughter and family will come over for dinner after all homework is done and then we'll all watch AMERICAN IDOL together.

It's been raining for 3 days now, which is HUGE for us down here in Southern CA...

So....what will I be making for dinner?....why, SOUP OF COURSE! It's finally the perfect soup weather.....

Daughter's family loves the soup at Olive Garden, so tonight I'm making Pasta e Fagioli for the first time: (my version uses ground chicken)

Served with Garlic bread and homemade Pesto Dinner Rolls

And for dessert, ice cream and "Brownie Pudding", (which is what you call a new recipe that didn't bake up firm enough to cut into squares but is delicious scooped onto your plate and eaten with a spoon!)

Gotta Go! I think I hear IDOL starting!

Sensory Overload

2010-01-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

Have I ever shown you my favorite t-shirt?

I got it over at Craftster.org. I've started wearing it every time I go fabric shopping, especially if I'm looking for something in particular. It's sort of my "lucky fabric-shopping shirt".

I was wearing it yesterday when I finally made the hour drive to M & L Fabrics in Anaheim.
My Mom has been telling me about this place for quite some time now and Daughter & I have been trying to find time to go together for the last 6 months or so but the hour drive kept making it seem like a big ordeal.

Anyway, yesterday, Daughter had out-of-town company and couldn't get away but I really needed to find some San Diego Padres fabric for a custom apron order and had exhausted all other possibilities, so off I went, alone, in my lucky shirt.

I stepped inside the door and...WOW! Total sensory overload! I've never seen a store quite like this before:

Bolts and bolts and bolts of fabric, with about half of it priced at $2.98 a yard.

Shelves and shelves and shelves of flat fold fabric....not the easiest way to look at fabric, but at only $1.98 a yard you can work with it!

(I found this picture on flickr.)

There are 10 aisles like this one!

(I found this picture on Flickr)

"Secret" back rooms, each with its own category of fabrics......all so beautifully organized it took my breath away! If only the women who worked there could spend an afternoon at my local library fixing the children's section, which is always such an unorganized mess that I can hardly stand it. I'm sure they could whip it into shape in no time!

M & L Fabrics has a great selection of oilcloths, which I hadn't been able to find anywhere but online. There were hundreds of flannels, too. (I have a weakness for cute flannels for kids lap blankets)

At first I truly was having touble with sensory overload. With all those colors and categories and styles to look at, I couldn't think straight or focus on any one thing or really even look for what I wanted for at least 30 minutes. I just wandered up and down the rows, taking it all in, until my eyes and brain settled down and I could actually concentrate on what I was seeing.

My lucky shirt didn't work this time since I didn't find the Padres fabric I needed (I've since discovered it's out of print) but I didn't come away empty handed. I did only spend $23.00 dollars, but when Daughter and I return together it could be a different story!

I bought a few new (to me) fabrics with aprons in mind, including a piece with an unusual cigar-theme for a cigar afficionado I know......

and some pretty flannel to make a pair of new pillow cases for myself and some polka-dot oilcloth to make into some zipper pouches and maybe a new lunch tote.

I had planned to close up the "sewing studio" for the month of January and take a little hiatus but now I'm not so sure......

You know, its a good thing this store is an hour away or I think I would be in real trouble! It's a fabri-holics dream! (or maybe nightmare, depending on how you look at it....)

Soup Heaven

2009-12-31T15:22:00.000-08:00

Here's a suggestion for your next party or family get-together: A soup and sandwich bar.....

This was a HUGE hit last Sunday, 2 days after Christmas. We had an extended-family-after-Christmas-party at Daughters house. We always potluck our family get-togethers in some way or another and this time the menu was " bring a pot of your favorite soup to share and any sandwich fixings you have on hand for our sandwich grills"....oh, and dessert, too: "bring any leftover Christmas goodies you want to get rid of"....

We had 8 different pots of soup!

Each person filled out a name card label as they brought in their pots of yummy goodness!

We used styrofoam cups for serving so that everyone could taste each one without getting too full of any one kind. As you can guess, this was SOUP HEAVEN for me since I'd be happy to eat soup every single day! I just started on the left and worked my way down the row....and then started over again! I think the Sausage Chard Potato was my favorite (great recipe Aunt Paula!)

We had 4 sandwich grills set up for a make-your-own-creation sandwich bar.

There were a good variety of breads and cheeses.

There was leftover Christmas ham, tuna salad, rotiserrie chicken, and deli meats.

I made a fabulous grilled cheese out of pesto sauce, fresh tomato slices, and mozzarella on crusty sourdough.

The handsdown favorite soup was Son's Prime Rib Dinner Soup...talk about making good use of Christmas Dinner leftovers! He pureed roasted vegetables and scalloped potatoes, added beef broth to thin it down, and then cubed up the last few slices of prime rib and simmered it for a little while...WOW! Who would have thought that would make one of the best soups we'd all ever tasted!

We had lots of dessert to choose from, too: leftover Christmas cookies, candies, and cake.

What a great way to use up all your Holiday leftovers by potlucking it all together with those you love!

(note to Rissers: we sure missed you guys.....we're doing this Soup Party again for sure the next time you come down for a visit, even if it's the middle of summer!)

ChefKids

2009-12-19T08:38:00.000-08:00

I know that all kids love to spend time in the kitchen and my Grandkids are no exception. Grandson (4 1/2) has told me on several occasions that he wants to be a "Chef guy" just like his Uncle Jordy. AND he wants to be just like Chef Julian. Do you know Chef Julian? I don't know who this kid or his parents are, or how we happen to come accross his videos, but

go here and take a look at this kid in the kitchen.

Recently Grandson and I were home alone and he was helping me make 3 batches of Sugar-free quick bread for 3 of my friends, all diabetics.

We had earlier watched some of Chef Julian's videos so it was fresh on his mind. As he measured and stirred, it was "Chef Julian" this, and "Chef Julian" that, and "Chef Julian cracks eggs just like this".......

When we started on batch #3, he suddenly sighed, looked me in the eye and said "Mimi....this is just too much cooking...." and wandered off to watch SpongeBob.... Too much cooking? One hour and three batches of quick bread?

I didn't have the heart to tell him about Uncle Jordy's 14 hour days, all spent entirely on his feet in a hot kitchen. I figured I could at least wait until he's in Kindergarten to break his little wanna-be Chef's heart.

And speaking of Chef Kids.....a co-worker asked me to make a "real" chef's apron (personalized) and chef's hat for her grandson's birthday. It turned out so well that I made a pair for the two youngest Grandkids and took orders at a Holiday craft fair.

I only got one order, which was fine with me only 8 days before Christmas! I'll be posting these on Etsy after the first of the year.

"ChefKids"

personalized chef apron and chef hat

23.00

oh, I almost forgot....here is Grandson's favorite recipe to cook, mostly by himself:

Ethan's Italian Eggs

Get basil from the garden and wash it really good. Stack up the leaves, roll them up and slice them with a knife and then chop them up.

Crack 3 eggs in a bowl. Put in the basil, some parmesan cheese, garlic powder and salt. Then add a spoonful of cottage cheese and stir it up.

Get a little frying pan and get it hot. Put a little bit of butter in it and let it get melty. Pour in the egg stuff. Stir it around until it's all cooked. (be careful because the pan is really hot!). Put it on 2 plates, one for you and one for someone else. Make toast.

Christmas Candy 2009

2009-12-17T23:06:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year already.....time for my 29th annual candy-making-marathon (last years post is here)

Ready.....begin

Peanut Butter Bonbons

Black & White Coconut Bonbons

White Apricot Fudge

English Toffee

Sweet & Spicy Pecans

Peppermint Chip Meringues

Butter Toffee Pretzel Nuggets

Butterscotch Tumbleweeds

15 plates of Christmas goodies ready to deliver to Friends, Family, Neighbors, and Co-workers

Merry Christmas everyone!

a Double Soup du Jour Day

2009-12-11T17:23:00.000-08:00

Soup du Jour #7: Split Pea with Ham

Split peas, chicken broth, carrot/celery/onion/garlic in the processor, herbs from the garden, and a piece of leftover ham from the freezer.

Cooked until soft and pureed with a stick blender.

served with fabulous Potato Rosemary bread from Costco (still warm when I bought it!)

This tasted extra good this time, for some reason. Even the 6 yr. old loved it and she is not an adventurous eater! She says it should be called "Swamp Soup" because it looks like something Shrek would like to eat.

"Soup" du Jour #8

Also got some Turkey Chili ready for the crock-pot, with 5 kinds of beans. Not exactly soup but close enough!

2 kinds of soup ready for several dinners during the week.

We'll be having a holiday family get-together on the 27th where everyone brings a pot of soup to share....I can't wait to see how many kinds of soup we'll be having!

In case I haven't mentioned it before....I LOVE SOUP!

Grasshopper

2009-12-10T20:51:00.000-08:00

Grasshoppers.......AAACK!!!

I've mentioned my intense fear of them here before.

SOOO...... look at the new ornament I just got from Daughter's family!

Isn't he great?

(and he only scares me a little bit.....)

Nativity

2009-12-10T10:15:00.000-08:00

Leave it to a 4 and 6 yr old to point out things you hadn't noticed....

As we were decorating the house for the Holidays last week with our combined decorations (Daughter-in-Law's and mine) the two little ones are at that age where every single thing, down to the last minute detail is just so interesting. They want to hear every story behind every ornament, especially if they belonged to their Dad "when he was little"....."who made this one?"... "is that made out of a real nut?"...."why is this reindeer made out of pretzels?" Since about 3/4 of my stuff is handmade, either by someone in the family or from a craft fair, I have a lot to tell about most of these things.

As we were arranging everything, Grandson said" Mimi, you sure have a lot of Nativities!"

Do I? I hadn't realized.....so we took a little inventory and and sure enough, without even realizing it, I have a nice little collection:

I've never had a traditional set, but my Mother gave me this the first Christmas I was married, 35 years ago

Mary and Joseph lost their halos to small toddler fingers years ago, but this tiny wooden set is still my favorite. It's so small, I can't believe it wasn't lost long ago!

And this was my very "first married Christmas" ornament

Bought at a craft fair, I love this wooden Nativity Family

(9" tall)

I made this family myself many years ago from felt, fabric, and embroidery thread.

I always intended to make the rest of the set, but, well, you know how that goes.....

(5"tall)

And this is my all time favorite, sculpted by My Sister out of clay. Each Christmas she would give me the next piece to add to the set. (I think there was an angel, too, until my wiener dog got hold of it one year....)

(2" tall)

The same Sister quilted this 12x12 wall hanging that I carefully iron and hang every year.

Somewhere around here I have a complete set, including animals and a stable, in felt soft sculpture that I can't seem to find this year. I'm pretty sure it was so popular last year that I left it out after the holidays and it got absorbed into the everyday toys.

And of course we have the wonderful Fisher Price Little People Nativity that plays "Away in a Manager". Who doesn't love this set?

Last year Fisher Price came out with a matching ornament which I had to have, of course...too cute!

Here's a Nativity-themed post I wrote last year

Now that I realize I have a collection, I'm going to see what I can find to add to it. I think I even have time to MAYBE make something handmade for this season. ...

I wonder if I could convince My Sister to make me a new angel after all these years...

A Legacy

2009-12-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

When my kids were growing up in the late 70's/early 80's,they spent a lot of time with my parents, who lived only 5 miles away. My kids were the first grandchildren for Gram and Grandfather.....yes, I said "Grandfather". I don't recall how that title came about 35 years ago, but everyone in the family, and even friends of grandchildren just know him as Grandfather.

One of my Dad's biggest hobbies has alway been woodworking. Starting with me, the oldest, he has made hope chests for all his Daughters & Grandaughters. Over the years he has made me countless pieces of furniture and hung shelves in every apartment and home I've ever lived in.

a bookshelf for a Grandson going off to college

He and my Mom have made hundreds of decorative wood items over the years for church fairs: he cuts the wood, she paints.

My two sons spent a HUGE amount of time with Grandfather in his garage workshop over those early years, starting with small, age appropriate projects and working up to bigger and better things. Not all of these items have survived the last 25 years, but look at all this I pulled out of storage yesterday to show MY Grandkids. They were very impressed! And Son enjoyed reliving all the memories, too.

Lots of vehicles, of every variety

and look at this customized Star Wars case, all wood and decoupauge (remember decoupauge?)

Over the years, our family has become heavily populated by females: 15/6

Grandfather's family head count:

3 Daughters, 1 Son

8 Granddaughters, 4 Grandsons

4 Great-Grandaughters, 1 Great-Grandson

The time span between the last Grandson (19 yrs.) and Great-Grandson (4 1/2 yrs) is 15 years, so it was time for Grandfather to remember what it's like to have a small boy in the workshop once again!

A few days ago, Grandson & I drove 90 miles to spent the morning in Grandfather's Garage.

There were safety instructions first

and then he got to use the drill press.

There was painting to do

and hammering

and when the morning was over, a very happy boy had made several Christmas gifts. For Sister, a desktop holder for new markers

For his Dad and his Pop-Pop in Ohio, dinosaur key holders (the pattern for that dino was drawn by his own Dad 25 years ago at age 8 for one of his own projects)

What a good day!

and Grandfather's Legacy will live on in yet another generation.....

Poncho Snuggie? Woobie Poncho? un-Snuggie?

2009-11-28T15:32:00.000-08:00

We're trying to come up with a name for my newest creation: my version of the "Snuggie".

With the Holiday Weekend sale at JOANN and a 20% off coupon I got this fleece for only $2.00 a yard! Each "snuggie" only took me 20 minutes to make, with minimal sewing, and I suppose you could leave all the edges unfinished if you wanted to, since fleece is easy like that.

Granddaughter is exactly 1 yard tall from the shoulder to the floor and Grandson only 1 inch shorter so these were super easy. Also, they were 1 yard from wrist to wrist, so each snuggie is 2 yards long by 1 yard wide (minus 2 inches for Grandson).I have a nice piece leftover (2 yds x 21 inches) for a couple of scarves or some doll blankets, or a fleece beannie.

I cut a 5 inch wide hole for the neck, cutting an opening a few inches down the front. I folded under the edge and zig-zagged all around. I made a fastener with a doubled piece of ribbon and a piece of velcro.

Starting at the bottom, I sewed up the sides, leaving plenty of opening for a roomy armhole. I also folded under the edge of the armhole and zigzagged around it.

I left the hem unfinished ......VOILA!! 20 minutes and $4.00 for a yet-to-be-named cuddly garment that has been worn all day so far! First this morning, like a robe, over p.j.'s and then all the rest of the day over their clothes since it's a chilly, rainy day here FINALLY in So. Cal!

Name suggestions? Anyone? ........

Soup du Jour #6

2009-11-17T07:30:00.000-08:00

You know how when you wash your car and then it rains and you know you made it rain because of the car washing? Well, I think all my cold-weather-wishful-thinking-soup-making is keeping the weather nice here. The days are still nice and sunny. Sunday was absolutely beautiful! But the nights are getting pretty chilly. I almost shut my bedroom window last night and I never shut my window unless I can actually see my breath inside my room! I love sleeping in a cold room with my flannel sheets and flannel comforter on the bed and.... (ahem)... you know... no PJ's?

shhhhh....just don't tell my family....I'm sure they don't want to know that about me. Are Grandmas/Mimis allowed to sleep in the...I mean, without PJ's? I'm probably supposed to be wearing a high-necked, long-sleeved nightgown or something like that, but hey! I have a lock on my door and really....have you ever slept between flannel sheets and a flannel comforter with no PJ's?! Try it and you'll never want to buy new PJ's again!

Well anyway...I was just going tell you that I made Posole for soup #6 on Sunday.

I am not a fan of traditional Posole, which is a Mexican pork and hominy stew. It always seems too greasy to me. I like bacon and ham but most other pork I can live without. Since I really LOVE hominy, I long ago came up with my own low-fat version using chicken and leaving out the usual chili powder.

Here's my recipe for Chicken Posole:

(note: this time I didn't use the raw chicken breasts. I used my new best-friend, Mr. Costco Chicken! because as I've mentioned before: Costco Chicken = delicious, and the easiest thing ever)

4 large chicken breasts, cubed

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

5 cups chicken broth

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed

1/2 tsp. cumin

2- 14oz cans hominy, drained

1- 4oz can chopped ortega chiles

1 Tbsp. oil

shredded cabbage

choppped cilantro

lime wedges

In a large pot or dutch oven, brown chicken and onions in oil. Add garlic and cook 2 minutes. Add broth, oregano, and cumin. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer 30 minutes. Stir in hominy and chiles. Simmer 10 more minutes.

Ladle into bowls and serve with shredded cabbage,cilantro,lime wedges, and hot sauce.

This is delicious served with jack cheese quesadillas on the side.......ENJOY!!

guest blogger, beginning sewer

2009-11-14T21:22:00.000-08:00

Today's post will be written by a guest blogger: Granddaughter #4, age 6 (with some help from Mimi, of course)

Hi, my name is Grace. I have been waiting a long time to be six because Mimi told me she would teach me to sew when I turned six years old. All my bigger cousins already learned and I really wanted to learn, too. Last week was my birthday and I got my ears pierced and I didn't even cry, but my eyes got real watery.

And I got to help decorate my own cat cake that Mimi made for me.

I reminded Mimi that I'm six now so when can I start sewing? Today just Mimi and I were home by ourselves so today was our sewing day. First I learned all the important parts of the sewing machine. I was really nervous because Mimi told us a story before about my Gram when she was 4 yrs. old. Little Carmelita didn't listen to her Mother and put her fingers in the sewing machine while it was sewing and it sewed through her fingernails. I really like to hear that story but then it made me nervous when I had to work the sewing machine by myself. But Mimi promised that if I just mind all the rules, I wouldn't hurt myself.

First I practiced really slow on some paper with lines on it. It was really fun! After the first line I didn't even want Mimi to help me anymore!

I did 2 pages and then Mimi said it was time to try it on fabric and I got a little nervous again. I was afraid I might make a mistake. I have a new baby cousin that's getting born next month. I am making a blanket for her. Cousins are kind of confusing, but I think I get it now. Even though the new baby will be my cousin, Mimi won't be her Grandma because the baby is from my Mom's family instead of my Dad's, so my Nana will be her Grandma instead of Mimi. I have lots of cousins and Grandmas and stuff but mostly I get the point.

Sewing the fabric was really easy! I told Mimi she could go in the other room and I would call her when I got to the corners. She said I was doing really great!

Then I had to iron it and that iron really scared me! Mimi told me the same thing, that if I just minded the rules I wouldn't hurt myself and she stayed right next to me just in case. I was very careful because I could tell it was really hot and it made some noise that I didn't like but I did really good with the iron, too!

Then I had to sew all around the edge of the blanket with pretty blue thread. I wanted to use some fancy stitches that look like little flowers. That took a really long time and actually it was kind of boring.

Mimi said next time we'll just use straight stitch since it's faster and it's more fun for me anyways. It sure did look nice when it was finished, though!

SEE!!! Look what I made! It's all finished!

I hope Baby Hayden will like her new cupcake blanket! I'm going to give it to her when I get to go see her after she's born.

I LOVE SEWING! I'm really a sewing girl now, just like my cousins and Mimi and Shan!!

I love that sewing machine so much I wanted to use it some more, so Mimi cut me some scraps and while she was making dinner she let me use it all by myself while she was in the other room. I only had to ask her 2 questions!

Look what I made by myself! Some scarves for my dolls!

You know why else I love that sewing machine so much? Look what it's called.....

GRACE!! Just like me!

Next time Mimi goes to the fabric store I'm going to go,too, so I can make blankets for all my dolls, because I'm a sewing girl now!

Katy No-Pocket apron

2009-11-12T12:47:00.000-08:00

Do you know the children's book "Katy No-Pocket"? My mother often checked it out at the library to read to me when I was little.

It was written in 1944 and has the same illustrator as the Curious George books.

It's about a mother kangaroo who for some reason has no pocket and is desperate to find a way to carry her baby. By the end of the book she is wearing an apron covered in so many pockets that she is carrying around all the baby animals in the jungle!

My co-worker has a daughter who is turning 2 this week. This little girl is rather.....quirky? Oh, the stories I hear! She really is unusually one-of-a-kind already at age 2!

Well...among all her little quirks and oddities, she really, really loves pockets. If she isn't wearing pockets herself, she'll put something in your pocket.

For her Birthday, along with a copy of the book, I designed her a Katy No-Pocket Apron, just her size, with 6 pockets across the front.

I can't wait to hear what kinds of things she finds for her funny little self to put in all her very own pockets.....

Soup du Jour #5

2009-11-11T22:37:00.000-08:00

Our weather still isn't really soup-worthy yet, but I had the day off and was determined to make a pot of something....

I've really been craving Chinese Food lately and my favorite is Broccoli Beef, SO... I invented:

BROCCOLI BEEF NOODLE SOUP:

to a pot of beef broth (about 5 cups) add 2 tsp. fresh grated ginger, 2 pressed garlic cloves, 1 or 2 sliced green onions, a handful of grated carrot, the seasoning packet from a pkg. of Beef Ramen and a 1/2 tsp. sesame oil. Simmer while preparing the beef and broccoli.

Cut a pound of thinly sliced beef into bite sized pieces. (I used meat intended for carne asada). Stir fry quickly in a little oil until browned and slightly carmelized. Add to simmering broth. Add a few Tablespoons of water to frying pan to loosen the browned bits from the pan and then add to soup. Add 1-2 cups broccoli flowerets and the pkg. of ramen noodles, broken up a little, to soup. Simmer 10 minutes, stirring to loosen noodles.

This really hit the spot! I'll definitely be making this again.

Exactly what I was aiming for.... Broccoli Beef AND soup all-in-one!

my "dull and boring" life.....

2009-11-10T19:46:00.000-08:00

Every so often on a Monday morning, when I'm asked how my weekend went and I reply with the usual "sewing, cooking and Grandkids", I get the response: "That's all? Again?....Don't you ever want to have more of a social life and get out and do things with people? (translation: have a date?)

Are you kidding me? Where would I squeeze in time for anything (or anyone) else? As a longtime single Mimi to 5 busy Grandkids, 2 that live in the same house with me and 3 that are only 2 miles away, when would I find the time? I may once have suffered an empty nest a long time ago (my "baby" turns 29 this month!), but does this nest sound empty to you?......

#1 runs Cross-Country with the Freshman team at the High School

#2 has taken dance lessons for 7 years and is currently taking Contemporary and Hip-Hop at a nearby Dance Studio. Her hip-hop team just performed for the opening of the new Michael Jackson movie at our local movie theater.

#3 is playing soccer

#4 just started Gymnastics and is crazy about it! Her Mother has to drag her out of there when her session is over!

#5 is playing his first year of T-ball

With games and meets and performances and helping to drive to practices when some of these things overlap, I barely have time to sew aprons or make soup!

Some of these activities are finishing up this week but I'm sure new ones will be starting up any day now......

Empty Nest? HA!!.....(and I wouldn't have it any other way)

still trying to get in the mood.....

2009-10-31T10:43:00.000-07:00

I mentioned a few posts ago that I was feeling apron-y again after a lengthy down period...WELL,...false alarm, I guess. I don't know whether it's just the weather or hormones or burn-out or all of the above, but I AM TIRED OF FEELING BLAH! I keep coming up with ideas, thought, for Christmas gifts and such. My list is getting longer than I will ever have enough time for, so I'm trying to (to quote an old friend of mine) "Act better than you feel".......

To make matters worse, I'm sharing a table with Daughter at a Craft Fair next weekend and I don't feel like I'm going to be ready....AAACKK!! ....act better than you feel....act better than you feel....

So I am attempting to complete the following this weekend, NO MATTER WHAT!

*4 adult Christmas aprons

*4 child Christmas aprons

*print new apron brochures & business cards

*make apron inventory list for craft fair

*complete a simple fabric covered basket that will be filled with 5 small purchased stuffed dogs for Granddaughter #4's 6th birthday this week

OK...enough stalling here....I'm going to get busy right now!

I'll leave you with a show-and-tell of the few items I managed to get done since mid-Sept:

2 new sewing machine covers

2 flannel lap blankets for a wedding gift

3 grocery tote bags made from kitchen towels from the Dollar Store

2 no-sew totes made from bandanas

Composition notebooks bought on sale at the beginning of school and a few fat quarters = fabric covered notebooks/journals

and a requested Puppet Theater......(really just a curtain on a spring-loaded rod to fit in a doorway, but it works perfectly!

Hopefully there'll be much more to follow soon!

Soup Du Jour #3 & #4

2009-10-20T05:21:00.001-07:00

Soup #3

The fact that the weather was back to 92 degrees this weekend did not deter me from my Soup-making frenzy!

The family was away for the weekend, leaving me with the house to myself, so on Friday I decided to make some "What's-in-the-Cupboard?" Soup The rule is, no going to the grocery store, just use what you have on hand. A good way to clean out the fridge and pantry....

In the fridge:

half a COSTCO CHICKEN

side note: Seriously, is there anything better than a Costco Chicken? I mean, for the price and convenience you can't beat it! And those are good size birds, too! My Chef Son gets annoyed with me when I buy them instead of making them myself ("Mom,it's just so easy to do it yourself"), but I've tried, and I honestly can't get as good a result. I can get at least 3 meals out of one chicken and half the time I use the carcass for making stock, so I really get my money's worth, so there, Son! KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK COSTCO!

from the pantry:

from the crisper and herb garden:

Boy this was tasty, even in the 90plus degree weather! (I remain hopeful that winter will really get here!) And it was even better the next day for breakfast.

There was still plenty left for the Fam when they got home, too.

Soup #4

While I was looking for ingredients for Soup #3, I found a ham bone in the freezer. "Bone" is not really true, there was a lot of meat on there, too. With some herbs from the garden and a little more help from the pantry and crisper I had a pot of Navy Bean soup ready when the Family got home on Sunday.

even the little ones ate this one (no visible vegetables!)

A little dessert from the pantry, too....cake mix cookies.

I wonder just how many meals I could come up with without going to the grocery store? Hmmmmmmm........a worthy and frugal goal, I think. We'll just see........

feeling apron-y again

2009-10-17T22:04:00.000-07:00

The last few months or so I've been struggling with a little apron burn-out. After 2 years of concentrating most of my sewing time on them, I just didn't feel the apron spark like I used to. I even gave about 50 % of my fabric stash to Daughter to use for her newfound obsession with quilting and tote-bag-making.

Then, in the last 2 weeks I could feel the old familiar creative stirrings acting up and found myself happily making aprons again......AND THEN I MADE MY 50th ETSY SALE!! WOW!! I couldn't believe it! I hadn't really paid attention to that little number on the sidebar of my ETSY shop and then suddenly I noticed that it hit 50! That really lit a fire under me and my sewing machine....very encouraging!

I wish I had kept track of the total number of aprons I've made in the last 2 years, all the gifts, donations, and give aways.....Daughter pointed out that I take pictures of each one and why don't I just go back and count them all up?...well.....maybe someday when I'm feeling ambitious.....that will require a good chunk of time that could be better spent making more aprons!! (see, I told you I was in the mood again)

This is 2 weeks worth of sewing:

reversible leopard/tiger for a frend's 9 year old Granddaughter

A custom ETSY order: wasabi-green sushi

3 Autumn/Thanksgiving/Holiday for the ETSY shop:

for the shop, just because I like the fabric:

and wedding gifts for a 25 yr. old cousin and her new composer husband:

Today I'm working on a line of 7 Mens aprons for an upcoming Craft Fair. I can really put these together quickly, since for men it's all about the fabric. No fancy embellishments or trims, just your basic apron with pocket.

It sure is good to be feeling apron-y again!......feeling guilty about my fabric stash just sitting there unused was giving me a headache!

Here's to aiming for 100 ETSY sales!....I mean, why not? I never dreamed I'd even hit 50!

Soup du Jour #2

2009-10-13T14:57:00.000-07:00

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup

3 lbs. plum tomatoes, halved

1/4 cup olive oil, plus 2 Tbsp.

1 Tbsp. kosher salt

1 1/2 tsp. black pepper, freshly ground

2 cups chopped onions

6 cloves garlic, pressed

2 Tbsp. butter

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

1 28 oz. can plum tomatoes with juice

2 cups fresh basil leaves

1 tsp fresh thyme

1 quart chicken stock

preheat oven to 400*.

Toss tomato halves with 1/4 cup oil, salt and pepper. Spread in single layer, cut side down, on baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

In 8-qt. stockpot over medium heat, saute onions, garlic, and red pepper flakes in 2 Tbsp. olive oil and butter for 10 minutes until onions just start to brown. Add canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add oven-roasted tomatoes, including liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered 40 minutes. Puree. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot with parmesan cheese or cold with sour cream.

This recipe is from the Barefoot Contessa and I've made it once before and loved it!

Today, halfway through cooking it I realized I forgot the can of tomatoes and didn't have time to run to the store, so I just added another 1/2 lb. of plum tomatoes to the oven and hoped that it would work out. WELL IT DIDN'T! This batch tasted exactly like Spaghetti-O's, which I think is the most EVIL food on the planet...so if you try this recipe DO NOT LEAVE OUT THE CAN OF TOMATOES!

Well, the family thought it was good, but after all, they are fans of those evil canned Spaghetti-O's. And the garlic cheese bread that Granddaughter #4 made to go with it was delicious!

Next soup coming up....either French Onion or Chicken Posole...I can't make up my mind right now so I'll surprise you...

more benefits of a two family household

2009-10-11T14:06:00.000-07:00

Living with Son & family in our 3 generation household has certain benefits. Some of them are obvious, like the financial ones, and getting to be part of the Grandkids daily lives, and not having to do much yard work (hee, hee...I HATE yardwork!) But some of the benefits are a little more subtle, like having access to food that I wouldn't ordinarily fix for myself......

Today my Sunday is going exactly as I like it.....nothing is expected of me today from anyone else so I have plenty of time to catch up on my sewing projects and watch a stack of movies that I've been wanting to see....MEANWHILE....downstairs, Son & Family have a house full of friends over to watch football and eat snacks!

Now, I don't care anything at all about football, but I do care about football FOOD! Son has been in the kitchen all morning stirring up all kinds of fabulous smelling things (the smell seems to collect at the top of the stairs right outside my room) and I know his friends always bring snacks to share, too.

Let's just take a little stroll down there and see what's going on, shall we?

AH HA!! Just as I suspected....lots and lots of deliciousness...

we have Velveeta Cheeseburger dip and Cream Cheese w/Salsa

Little Smokies in grape jelly sauce

two kinds of wings: BBQ and Buffalo

and Cupcakes with sprinkles

....and what do we have here? A cooler in the family room? What could be in here?

of course, football beverages!

And apparently, football watching has changed since I was a child....now with Fantasy Football Leagues all over the place you have to bring your laptop with you so you can monitor things as the game progresses...football seems too complicated to me anyway, and now this!!

Well...that's about all the football stuff I can take. My snacks and I are going back upstairs to the "Studio".....

AHHHH.....the perfect Sunday afternoon.....my sewing machine, several movies to watch, and a plate of yummy snacks....

LIFE IS GOOD!!

a book review

2009-10-09T20:04:00.000-07:00

I love books (see here)

I love food (uh..yeah...no kidding...we can tell)

I love and admire good writing

SO......I want to tell you about my new favorite non-fiction book. I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a very long time.......

A Homemade Life

by Molly Wizenberg

I first became aware of Molly Wizenberg in Bon Appetit magazine, where she writes a column. I came across a wonderful story about her Father's rice pudding that really touched me. The next month there was a story about eating her way around France with her Mother.

Her writing style hooked me and I followed her over to her blog, Orangette.

I started reading her short essays about food, recipes and simple meals intertwined with memories of her childhood and college days. On the sidebar of her blog she modestly mentioned that she had just had a book published and after spending just 15 minutes reading through her archives I knew I had to own her book.

Now....I very rarely buy brand new books. I check them out from the library first, and then if I decide I need to own it, I buy a used copy from Amazon or my local used book store. And then I often end up passing them on to someone else anyway, since I love to share books that really speak to me in some way....BUT NOT THIS BOOK! I didn't even hesitate to order it immediately and I have not been disappointed! Even though is not really a cookbook, there are plenty of fantastic sounding recipes included.

Just wait until you read her story entirely about pancakes and how she and her parents would get together in the kitchen at midnight for a pancake feast. All of her memories revolve around eating or preparing food, from growing up as an only child, the death of her beloved Father, and how she met her cute musician husband through her blog.

Molly Wizenberg is one lucky girl! How many people actually end up getting to do what they love and make a living at it? According to the book jacket, she "has degrees in human biology, French, and cultural anthropology, but in 2005, she left the world of academia to write full-time".....and she gets to write about food!! She has my dream job.....and she just kind of fell into it!...Lucky girl!!

I won't be passing this book on. I'm selfishly keeping this one for myself, although I will lend it to Daughter since I know she'll enjoy it as much as I did.

For all you Foodies out there, especially if you enjoy good writing along with your food obsession, do yourself a favor and at the very least, get this book from your Library. I promise you, you won't be disappointed.

Soup Du Jour (Oct.5)

2009-10-06T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've officially made my first pot of soup and bread for the Fall......LET THE SOUP SEASON BEGIN!

RED POTATO, HAM, AND ROASTED CORN CHOWDER topped with parmesan cheese

(no recipe, just made it up...)

served with Homemade Butterflake Biscuit Sticks

Son took some to work in his lunch today and I took what was left to Daughter's house for their dinner tonight since everyone is feeling under the weather

Everyone loved it so I'd better write down this recipe right now before I forget how I made it!
( I feel a Family Soup Cookbook trying to form itself in my brain.....)

It's here! It's here! Finally.....

2009-10-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

WOO HOO! I think FALL is really, finally here!!!

It was 49 degrees this morning at 6:30 a.m. while I was driving to work wearing a sweater coat and a scarf with the windshield defroster on full blast!!!!!

I am totally ignoring the fact that right now, 4 hours later at 10:00 a.m., I am in my office wearing a sleeveless shirt, drinking iced coffee, and running the A/C on full blast.....MINOR DETAIL!! I am stopping at the store on my way home this afternoon to get ingredients for SOUP!

HMMMM.....what kind should I make? I've been craving some sort of Potato Soup, but maybe something else.....Chicken Fajita? French Onion? Sausage & Kale? Italian Wedding? Asian Shrimp & Noodle? Roasted Tomato Basil?.....I CAN'T DECIDE!!!....This little taste of cold weather has me all worked up!

....And BREAD! I'm getting out my bread maker, too.....O.K.,that's it....I'm making a list....I'm making soup at least twice a week! Every kind I can think of...with bread to match....cheese bread, honey oat, english muffin loaf, yeasted corn bread, raisin-cinnamon, sourdough.

And CHILI!... I can't forget about Chili and cornbread...I can't wait to fire up the crock-pot with some spicy beans...And BEEF STEW!... with biscuits... I have the worlds best Beef Stew recipe...

WOW! is my stomach growling.......I sure hope this is going to be a long winter. I have new recipes to try and old favorites just waiting to be enjoyed while wearing my favorite sweaters and thick, fuzzy socks....BRING ON THE WINTER!

Get ready family, friends, and co-workers....I'M MAKING SOUP!!!!

enough already with the hot weather!

2009-10-04T18:48:00.000-07:00

Here it is October and we've still been having having 90 degree days here in So. Calif. What kind of Fall weather is that!! I'm ready for sweaters and rain and morning frost and hot soups!!

So.....to try and get into an Autumn kind of mood, and with a LOT of wishful thinking....look what I made this morning from the newest Food Network Magazine:

homemade CIDER DOUGHNUTS!

I made the dough last night so it could chill overnight in the fridge and then cut them out and fried them this morning

I dipped them in a cider glaze and then in cinnamon-sugar.

OH MY GOSH.... these were extra delicious!

Well my plan obviously worked....just look at this photo taken a little later in the day.....notice anything?

JACKETS! We all had to wear sweaters & jackets today because it was sunny and windy and 66 degrees!!

Please, please, please, let the weather stay this way because I'm getting out my soup pot tomorrow.......

Who's ready for Potato Ham Chowder and homemade Cheese Bread? Anyone?

it's too late now......

2009-09-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you completely change the decor of a room, and then when it's finished, you think it might have been a mistake?

A year ago, in April '08, I blogged about the simple makeover I did to the living space that's mine in the home I share with Son & Family (see here). I'm really not very good with change at all. I don't usually even like re-arranging furniture! But two things have happened since then to make me decide to change things up once again.....

1.) I was given a newer sofa, a brown sofa, that didn't match the rest of my decor and I have been unable to find anywhere, online or anywhere else, the right color and style slipcover!

2.) I travelled to Martha's Vineyard (see here) and fell in love with the East Coast/Cape Cod/ Hamptons/beachy-style look, with lots of white and aqua, sea grass and stones and driftwood.

I was working with a very limited budget so I mostly re-purposed, re-covered, and re-painted what I already had....This is how I transformed jewel-toned watercolors and black wrought iron bed frame and room accents into my version of the Martha's Vineyard beach cottage look:

Colors: Aqua, brown, white

decor: beach stones, bamboo, sea grass, shells, etc.

Walls were already the right color, "Spaqua", from the last makeover

I spent a lot of time looking for exactly the right king-size flat sheets so I could sew a duvet for my existing comforter. I was so excited to find EXACTLY what I was looking for: these are Martha Stewart sheets, regular $70.00 each!.....and I got them on clearance for...(drumroll, please)....$11.99!!! ...SCORE!! talk about a bargain!

I whipped up the duvet and covered all my existing pillows with new fabrics:

before

after

Bed frame and lamp were painted white

before

after

All the frames on my picture wall went from black to white

(not really sure I like this as much....the black seemed to show off the photos better. Ideally I'd like to have all the frames be light wood, sort of drift-woodish....maybe when I win the lottery?)

before

after

Took down the white lace curtains and white blinds; sewed new white gauze curtains and put up bamboo roll-up blinds. (The lighting in my room is difficult to work with this time of year. Everything, especially the colors, look much better than these photos would suggest)

before

after

Accent pillows for the sofa and "seagrass" on the nightstand

It feels very cool and calm and peaceful in here. It's exactly the look I was going for, but I sort of miss all my watercolors....I'm sure I'll adjust to it....but what if I don't? What do I do then? Has anyone out there ever experienced anything like this? Decorators remorse? If I had unlimited funds it would be no problem, of course, but now what?

Kid Food

2009-09-15T13:04:00.000-07:00

Some of the Grandkids came over on Saturday for a sleepover. Instead of the usual Tostadas, I thought I'd try out some new food ideas on them.

I saw this idea somewhere on the internet and it sounded very kid-friendly, but I had no idea how BIG these would go over!!

CORN DOG MUFFINS......

To your favorite cornbread recipe, add about 1 cup shredded cheese (we used cheddar) and 2-3 finely chopped hot dogs. Bake in a mini muffin tin and serve with your favorite Corn Dog toppings for dipping.

OH MY GOSH! I cannot tell you how much they LOVED these silly little things! Everyone had their own favorite dipping sauce or created their own......equal parts yellow mustard and honey seemed to be the favorite.

...served with cold glasses of milk and watermelon wedges........."Mimi! This is the best dinner ever!!"

For dessert we had homemade Root Beer Float Popsicles made in my new freezer pop molds:

I gently stirred some melted vanilla ice cream into a can of root beer and it sort of separated itself into yummy layers

Another big hit! Everyone voted for keeping these recipes and having them again very soon.

For breakfast the next morning they happily finished off the rest of the muffins and watermelon.

You know, as miserable as dinnertime can be when serving kids something they don't want to eat, the opposite is so true when you discover a new favorite! Such enthusiasm!

Ok, so it wasn't the healthiest of dinners, but I say let their parents feed them healthy at home....

SCORE!! MORE BROWNIE POINTS FOR MIMI!!

Project Runway, Junior Edition

2009-09-10T13:32:00.000-07:00

I took each Grandchild school shopping again this year, one on one, except for #3 & #4 who like to go together. Because they like to have matching outfits I call them the "twin cousins". This year the girls couldn't find any matching outfits that they could agree on so they decided to design their own! They were thinking skirts and tops so we headed for the fabric department. They both instantly agreed on sparkly pink stars and butterflies and pink tank tops to match! Then it was up to seamstress MiMi to follow their instructions EXACTLY:

Skirts with sparkly stars on top and bottom and butterflies in the middle

They each chose a butterfly to be appliqued on their tank top

VOILA!! Twin Cousins once again....

and now that #4 is starting Kindergarten, they will be at the same school and are hoping to run into each other during the day, especially if they are both wearing their new Twin Cousin outfits!!

While we were looking at fabric, #3 spotted some fabric she absolutely had to have (I think she inherited that Fabri-holic gene that her Mother and I have!) so she designed herself another outfit.....

Stripes on the top and bottom and peace signs in the middle

Appliqued peace signs on a black t-shirt

She was VERY pleased with how it turned out

Look out Project Runway! It looks like we may have a budding designer in our family......

cheese and "crackers": OR another desperate attempt to keep eating the things I love

2009-09-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned here before my struggle to lose weight and the fact that I have such a terrible salty/fat tooth. Not a good combination when I live in a house full of snacks! When you live with other adults that don't feel the need to watch their weight, you either give in to the snacks calling to you from the pantry (I know those voices well!) or you get creative.

Oldest son is, I'm sorry to say, a cheese-a-holic and will often on the weekends make a meal out of an assortment of cheeses, crackers, and meats with a variety of mustards: ham, braunschweiger, salami, etc. Unfortunately for me, I could live on this kind of food! And I'm not talking ordinary cheese here either, people. At any given time in our refrigerator there are at least 8-10 different kinds of cheese....here, let me show you what's in the fridge right this minute:

Danish Blue Cheese.....Bruschetta Jack....Applewood-Smoked White Cheddar.....Feta....Tillamook Cheddar.....Tillamook Jack......Habanero Colby-Jack....Mozzarella....Parmesan Wedge......Pecorino Romano Wedge.....American (for the kids)

And don't even get me started on the crackers!! I have a serious cracker addiction....actually our inventory is pretty low right now. This is all we have today. Rather ordinary for this house!

And when we end up with a lot of odds and ends of cheese, Oldest Son whips up a batch of his fantastic macaroni and cheese to use it all up, usually 4-5 different kinds of cheese, and tops it off with some sort of salty, snacky crumbs....crushed crackers or chips or whatever needs using up.....it's absolute torture, it's so good! I can gain weight just looking at it!

Anyway, since I'm trying to avoid all that snacky goodness I came up with this idea...

Try it, it's really good:

Get some Mission Multi-Grain tortillas. I keep them in the freezer and just take out one at a time.

Cut into "cracker" size pieces with kitchen shears. Lay on a paper towel and micro for one minute.

Turn them over onto a fresh paper towel, (the first one will be very damp from the moisture in the tortilla) and micro about 30 more seconds until starting to brown.

Let cool for a few minutes and VOILA! ...multigrain crackers!
Now get some yummy Lite Laughing Cow cheese wedges

Spread on your "crackers", sprinkle with some freshly ground black pepper, and you have a delicious, low fat snack!

It's not Gorgonzola spread with ham or Bruschetta Jack on Wheat Thins, but it's really good and satisfying!

Now if I could just figure out a decent alternative to chocolate chip cookies!

Wiener Dog Memories

2009-09-03T18:35:00.001-07:00

I used to have a Dachshund. His name was Howie. He's been on my mind a lot lately.

This is my story of Howie the wiener dog........

I am not a dog person.

I am not a PET person, period, and yet I spent 18 years married to a man who was the proverbial "little-boy-who-had-animals-follow-him-home". Our life was a constantly revolving door of dogs, cats, racing pigeons, chickens, pheasants, tarantulas, mice, snakes, lizards, fish....well, you get the general idea. (see: chicken story and snake story)

While I tolerated all this (what else could I do?), I was never really an active participant in much of it. Oddly enough, my 3 kids weren't much interested, either. I guess they didn't inherit whatever gene that was that Husband seemed to get an extra helping of.

In 1992, our family went from 5 people in the house down to 2 in the short span of 6 months. Daughter got married and moved away. Oldest son went off to college, and Husband left in search of greener pastures. 12 yr.old Son and I, like deer caught in the headlights, were left to figure out a new kind of life together, just the two of us.

Somewhere during all of that adjustment, Youngest Son caught me in a weak, shell-shocked moment and asked if we could get not one, but TWO dachshund puppies and for some reason that still puzzles me, I said yes. That is how Howie and Oscar came into our lives.

We accidentally stumbled across a group of Dachshund owners that met twice a year in Balboa Park in San Diego for a 'Wiener Dog Picnic" and we attended several times. Each time the group seemed to have doubled! Trust me, you haven't lived until you've seen over 100 wiener dogs all in one place, especially at Halloween when most of them are in costumes! That was really a lot of fun, even for a non-dog person like me!

Sadly, when the wieners were about a year and a half old, we lost Oscar to the busy street in front of our house. That clever dog had figured out how to climb a low, twisted tree in the backyard and jump over the 4 ft. fence! (I know what you're thinking, but really, I saw it with my own eyes!)

A few years later the three of us, Youngest Son, Howie, and I, moved out of our house and into an apartment. I became one of those people that I never thought I'd be in million years....someone who has to get home to "walk the dog". Someone who stands on the sidewalk holding one end of a leash with a pooping dog on the other end. Someone who has to carry a bag of poop while making a mad dash to the nearest trash can.

And then, horror of horrors, it happened!! Youngest Son, at 19, went off to start his own life and left me with the dog! Howie and I lived in that small apt.complex (20 units) for 7 years. Many new neighbors would come and go and often before I got the chance to meet them they somehow already knew Howie (neighbor kids would occasionally walk him for me ). One friendly little 6 year old neighbor never could remember my name but always cheerfully greeted me with "Hi, Howie's Owner!" GREAT!! Not only did I have to carry the wiener dog's poop, but he was more well know than me, too! The ultimate indignity!!!

My kids thought the whole thing was quite funny! Just me and The Dog. Daughter was living 400 miles away and Howie would ride shotgun on all of our trips back and forth to Modesto. Ha! Ha! Mom actually travels with a dog! Ha! Ha! Mom is actually really attached to a DOG!

Ok! Ok! So I'll admit it.....Howie helped get me through my empty nest trauma and he was a good dog.....we had some good times together.....

Then, 5 years ago, I bought this house with Son, Daughter-in-Law,and (then) 3 month Granddaughter. Howie was 12 and feeling his age. He had some aches and pains in his hips and was somewhat cranky. By the time Granddaughter started crawling, it was obvious that we had a problem. She was a very aggressive baby and just wanted to "play" with Howie and he did his best to stay out of her way. Then came the day when she managed to sneak up on him and "pat" him on his aging sore back. He of course instinctively nipped at her, his tooth hit her face and there was a little blood.........one of them had to go and it seemed best to keep the baby since her parents were rather attached to her, and after all, I'm not really a dog person.....but where would I find a suitable home for a cranky, aching 12 yr.old Dachshund? I didn't know what to do....

The following week, while leaving Howie at a doggie hotel for the weekend, I mentioned that I was looking for a new home for him. When I returned to pick him up a few days later, an 18 yr. old employee was waiting to tell me that her family had 2 wiener dogs and would love to give Howie a new home! HALLELUJAH!! I packed up all of his things and took him to his new home the next day. They were such great people and loved Howie right from the start. Much to my surprise, I cried all the way home. Yes, me, the non-dog person who never wanted a dog in the first place, cried all the way home.

Two months later when Daughter and family came to visit, I had to break the news to (then) 6 yr.old Granddaughter, who was especially attached to him. She was so crushed that she hadn't gotten to say good-bye that I called the new family and asked to visit. When Granddaughter and I walked in the door Howie was overjoyed to see us!! We had a nice visit and heard all about how everyone in the family loved him, a Vet in the family was helping with his hip problem, and how he would come running when he heard the freezer door open because he knew he would get an ice cream sandwich! Granddaughter looked at me and said "Wow Mimi! You never gave him ice cream sandwiches! They must really love him here!" We left there with a clear conscience, knowing he was in the best place for him.....but I had to choke back tears once again as he ran to the front door expectantly when he heard my keys jingling.......

Earlier this year, Daughter's family got a Dachshund of their own, which is quite amazing since Daughter is even less of a dog-person than I am!

This is Dennis

Except for his color, Dennis looks very much like Howie. The same face, the same expressions, the same bark. I'm always startled when I think I hear Howie barking...Deja-vu

Dennis has made me think of Howie a lot lately. My family has suggested that I call his family and ask about him, but I know it's highly unlikely that he is still around at age 17, crankier and more achy than ever. I just prefer to remember him being carried around everywhere and being fed ice cream sandwiches.....

Wherever you are Howie, know that I think of you often and thank you for making me a little more of a dog-person than I ever thought possible

Brunch

2009-08-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

The best part of Brunch?

homemade Bloody Mary's.......I LOVE these!!!

My version has plain tomato juice, worcherstershire, lemon pepper, celery salt, tabasco,and some green olive juice. My garnish of choice is a pickled asparagus spear or green bean, but green olives are good, too, if that's all you have. (I once had one at a high-end place that was garnished with a whole shrimp! FANCY!)

The first one with vodka....the second (and third?) without....

I don't have these very often (the sodium count is insane!) but when I do, I don't even even need other food. They are a Brunch in themselves.......

Boy, is my mouth happy today!!!

Ashes to Ashes

2009-08-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

I have two co-workers, 60ish brothers, who tell the most wonderful, twisted tales from their very unusual, eccentric growing up years. They are two of five brothers who apparently had one crazy adventure after another while growing up including their college years. Their Mother must have had the patience of a Saint! They weren't bad boys, just very mischievous in very clever and witty ways. I have known these two guys and their wives for 20+ years and the wives say that even now, in their early 60's, every Christmas is just hysterical with each brother trying to outdo the others with the funniest/cleverest/wittiest gifts. I wish someone in the family would write a book....I'd be the first one in line to buy it!

Sadly, one of the Brothers passed away about 2 years ago. His ashes have now been divided up among the other Four, and I'm now hearing tales of what each one is planning to do with "Brother", and how it will be done.....for instance, "Brother" loved the movie "The Great Escape"....do you remember it? Remember what the prisoners did with the dirt they removed from the tunnel???....Yep! that's right! (it had to do with a few spoonfuls at a time in the cuffs of their pants...) I'm quite sure "Brother" would be both pleased and proud of all the plans presently being made on his behalf. Talk about carrying on family traditions!

Anyway, all of this has gotten me thinking about what I would like my family to do with "me" someday when the time comes. Why not put my blog to good use and put my final wishes in writing for my kids? At least they can't say they didn't know what I wanted....you'll all be my witnesses!

Dear 3 Children Of Mine:
I know I've sort of mentioned a version of this before, but I've seen the eye rolling and weird faces so I know you haven't taken me seriously (as usual!). Therefore, please take notice of what I'm about to tell you here and I really and truly mean it, so pay attention!!

1. Cremation, please

2. NO FUNERAL!! A fun and happy party/memorial with lots of food where you can make fun of me all you want since I won't be there to hear it, would be just fine. And if you use any photos, just make sure you use pictures that make me look thin, OK? (I hear photoshop is really good...)

3. Divide up my ashes between you 3 and all the Grandkids. And since I hope to be around for at LEAST 30 more years, I could possibly have teenage GREAT-Grandkids by then, so I'm thinking those little snack-size ziplocks should probably be just about right.

4. Each person should pick out some kind of tree to plant in their yard and sprinkle my ashes in the hole before planting it. Then everyone will have a "MIMI" tree to remember me by. My preference would be some kind of fruit tree, maybe apricot or nectarine, or something that blooms with flowers, but I guess I'll leave that up to each one of you.

....And that's it! See, that wasn't so bad was it? (quit laughing Josh)

And if any of you 3 are really laughing at me I promise you I'll drop all my leaves as often as possible so you'll have lots of raking to remember me by!!#*&$#!

Proud Mom

2009-08-12T10:17:00.000-07:00

My kids continue to amaze me.......

They've all been adults for quite some time now (my baby is turning 29!) and even though I try not to boast (I know how annoying that can be) sometimes I just can't help it!

You know how when they're tiny every little thing they do is just amazing? Then as they get older they'll say something that's just so profound you can't believe that your child just said that? Or in high school or college they'll write something that just blows your socks off and you think "That's MY kid!!" Or they make career/life choices and you think to yourself "Well, thank goodness, I must have done something right!"

Daughter and I did NOT have an easy time during her growing up years. I would often go to bed at night weeping, wondering how on earth we were ever going live through her teenage years and what would become of us and our relationship......

Well.....Daughter is 35 now, and amazingly (to me) we got through those tough times by the time she was 18 (a miracle!) and have been very close ever since. Today I think she would agree that we are best friends. For many years now she has often amazed me with her wisdom in so many situations (I'm sure being a mom to 3 girls of her own has plenty to do with that!) I have often thought (weirdly) that I wish she could have been the Mom first instead of me....I could have learned so much from her. She is a much better Mother than I was........shoot.....she's a much better person than I ever was!

Anyway.....please go over to her blog and read this post........

"That's MY kid!!"

recycling at "Cousin Craft Camp"

2009-07-31T16:11:00.000-07:00

My Sister and her 2 youngest girls came from Seattle for a visit last week. The girls are the same age as my Granddaughters and these cousins love to spend time together. They only get to see each other once a year ( twice, if they're lucky!) and are pen-pals between visits. The Seattle cousins and their Mother got tired of feeling left out of all the fun stuff going on with the So. California cousins so the 3 of them spent a week at Daughter's house, picking up another cousin on the way. It was a fun-filled, week-long slumber party, with Sister and Daughter and 6 girls ages 8-13. Two younger cousins, 4 & 5 yrs. old occasionally joined the fun, too. (Luckily for Son-in-Law, he was working out of town for the week!)

The girls came up with a name for their special week: "Cousins Craft Camp"......

*There was a Sewing Day: all the girls made flannel blankets.

*There were several Craft Days: one day for making multitudes of bookmarks and another for recycled notepads and journals.

*There was a Beach Day...after all, we do live in So. California!

*There was plenty of time spent in the kitchen whipping up snacks, treats, and "gourmet" meals.

*There was lots of wet Trampoline jumping with water balloons and a hose.

This was my contribution to the festivities: Have you ever seen one of these?

If you work in a large office or a school you've probably used one for binding things.....

We had saved lots of fun packaging and everyone found their favorites....

Hmmmmm........lined paper or plain? Binding across the top for a notebook or on the side for a journal? So many choices and so many great results!

On the last day of the "camp" we went to my other Sister's house for a Swim Party/BBQ with lots more family members. We took along the Spiral Binder and supplies and made custom notebooks on the spot for Uncles, Aunts, and Great-Grandparents... "Do you have Wheat Thins? I love Wheat Thins!"..."What kind of cereal do you have?" ......"Chocolate! I need something with chocolate!".

Our little spiral binder was a huge hit with everyone....and as Daughter pointed out..we'll never need to buy another spiral notebook ever again!!

If you have a crafty kind of family or are looking for something to do with a group of kids I highly recommend this idea. Just think of all the possibilities!......

Now that we're done using it for a while, I packed up the whole kit and kaboodle and lent it to a co-worker who has 3 teenage Granddaughters visiting this week. It's been just as big a hit at his house as it was at ours......

That last day of "Cousin Craft Camp" was just as fun as the first day.....no one wanted it to end and there are already plans for next year.....maybe in Seattle this time around! We're already counting the weeks.......

the cobblers children have no shoes.......

2009-07-22T09:58:00.000-07:00

I walked into Daughter's kitchen the other day to find #3 Granddaughter (8 3/4 yrs.) making cookies in her suddenly little, teeny, tiny horse apron that I think I made for her in kindergarten!

I said to her "Abbey! What on earth has happened to your apron?! Did it shrink? (HA! wishful thinking, Mimi!) I think it's time to make you a new apron!"

She happily dug through my stash and picked out (of course) puppies and kittens.

A few days later....

TA DA!!......much better!

I have made so many aprons in the last few years (well over a hundred I'm sure) I don't know how I've managed to neglect some of those people that are right under my nose every day......

Oh, wait!.....I feel an opportunity coming.....after all, there are plenty of rapidly growing Grandkids around here.....I think it's time for me to take an apron inventory....so I can GO FABRIC SHOPPING!!.....and MAKE MORE APRONS!!!

to each his own.....

2009-07-18T19:51:00.000-07:00

In my never ending quest for thin-ness, (or I guess I should say thinner-ness since I long ago came to terms with the fact I'll never actually be thin), the thing I struggle with the most is my constant craving for salty snacks.

It's not that I don't love dessert and sweets because I do...especially anything chocolatey. It's just that when I'm really craving something, it's usually crackers or chips or fries or anything salty and fried. I guess you could say I have a salty/fat tooth instead of a sweet tooth.

In this hot summer heat wave we're having I'm constantly eating plenty of fruits, veggies and salads, so that's no problem. But today my salty/fat tooth was really acting up so I came up with a new "creation".

I happen to love brussels sprouts, but if you are one of those people who are horrified by the mere thought of them, consider yourself warned!

I separated a pound of them into leaves......

Misted them well with olive oil spray, sprinkled with kosher salt and fresh ground pepper....

Roasted them at 350* for 15ish minutes (stirring a few times) until they were browned and mostly crispy.

33 yr. old Son declared them "DISGUSTING!!"

I thought they were DELICIOUS! Crispy and cruncy and salty and delicious!

I ate the whole batch....because you're allowed to eat the whole batch of "chips" when the chips are 99.99% brussel sprouts!

Now what else can I make "chips" out of around here?........

ponytails, bobbins, and a bargain

2009-07-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

I came across these "bobbin wraps" on the Clotilde website (sewing notions).

Aren't those just those little stretchy ponytail thingies? What a great idea to keep your bobbin threads from unwinding! But maybe not such a great idea to spend $2.49 (plus shipping, of course) on a bag of 24......

So I went to Wal-mart, and guess what I found in the hair accessories aisle for $2.00! A pack of 42 stretchy ponytail thingies.....and no shipping charge!

VOILA!!

A handy-dandy great idea AND a bargain! Two of my favorite things wrapped into one......

Long Distance Aprons

2009-07-10T20:26:00.000-07:00

I have a long-distance friend, a single Grandpa, who spends a lot of one-on-one time with each of his 5 grandkids, ages 3-9. When he told me recently that the older kids are liking to spend time in the kitchen with him I had one thought.....THOSE KIDS NEED APRONS!! (Grandpa already has 3 of my aprons)

Here are my latest apron creations that I'll be mailing off to Northern Calif. first thing on Monday. One for the girls and one for the boys, for the next time Grandpa has a little helper in the kitchen.....

FOR THE GIRLS:

reversible ZEBRA & PINK LEOPARD

FOR THE BOYS:

reversible SKULLS, FLAMES & PIRATES

My two youngest Grandkids spotted these and just had to try them on.... "LOOK! it's just the right size for me!"..."I LOVE this apron, Mimi! It's just the kind that I like!!".....

So I guess I know what I'll be sewing this weekend........

I used to be good at this.....

2009-07-02T08:21:00.000-07:00

I've done the empty nest thing: Daughter and family lived 400 miles away, Oldest Son was nearby but newly married and starting a family, and Youngest Son went off to start his own life.

Youngest Son and I had been on our own together for 7 years, so that first year of empty nest was NOT EASY, but I had my own apartment and got used to being on my own.....no problem!

Fast forward 6 years: Oldest Son and I bought this house together and it's been 5 years of busy Grandkids, lots of noise and activity, and plenty of company. Daughter lives 2 miles away and there is almost daily visits, quick impromptu runs to Target together, and last minute sleepovers with the Grandaughters.

NO MORE EMPTY NEST FOR ME!

And now.....EVERYONE HAS GONE ON A LONG VACATION AT THE SAME TIME AND LEFT ME AT HOME IN THIS BIG OLD EMPTY HOUSE BY MYSELF! How Rude! It's just too darn quiet around here!

I mean, I'm just fine with alone time....I really need a lot of alone time.....but 2 WEEKS?!

Enough already! I can't take being away from those pesky Grandkids for so long. What has happened to me? I used to be good at this alone thing.......

Those darn kids have me left me no choice...I am going to hunt them down!

I'm off this morning to meet Oldest Son and family at the Colorado River for 4 days of their 2 week vacation. It will be a shorter version of last years trip. They are forcing me to spend some time relaxing with a giant glass of iced tea, my ipod, and a book. And I suppose they'll make me go out on the boat, too. And of course I'll have to spend some time playing with those 2 little ones that are always underfoot. What's a Mimi to do?.....

Oh, the things we're willing to do for our kids.......

New math?

2009-07-01T21:37:00.001-07:00

It's time to buy a new sewing machine.......

I've been using my trusty workhorse Kenmore that I got for my 18th birthday in 1975....that's 34 years, people!! Even though it still works great most of the time, it's starting to get a little tired and occasionally temperamental, always at the worst time, of course.

Also, Daughter uses a Kenmore that she got for her 18th birthday 17 years ago and now that she is obsessed with quilting, she's finding it impossible to get the right quilting foot for her out-of-date machine.

AND...with all the granddaughters learning to sew....well, that's enough justification for me!

Moore's was having an anniversary sale on a lot of their machines so I ran right on over there.

Check this out.......(pay attention to the numbers)

This Babylock Grace was on sale for $899.00

(Babylock is the same as Brother)

and this Babylock Serger was $599.00 (I've dreamed of owning a serger for a long time)

OR.....you could buy them both together for.......(drumroll).......$699.00 ????? HUH???

You don't need to be a bookkeeper (which I am, by the way....) to know that this equation doesn't compute! What is this, some kind of new math? Even if I never even open the box on the Serger I'll be saving $200.00 on the regular machine!!

Well I'm no idiot....I'LL TAKE IT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

......stay tuned for lots and lots of completed quilts and all sorts of serging craziness between our two households!

(now if I can just conquer threading the serger.... I know, I'll make one of the Granddaughters figure it out...aren't kids always geniuses at figuring stuff out better than us older folks?)

late to the party

2009-06-24T21:04:00.000-07:00

OK....so I know I'm one of the last ones to finally know this but let me put my two cents in....

OH...MY....GOSH!!!.....GREEK YOGURT IS FANTASTIC!!

I've been reading/hearing about it for ages but never really paid any attention. I mean, how much different could it be from Yoplait or whatever?.....well...WOW! If this is real yogurt, then those other ordinary ones should have to change their name to something else!

I've been using the plain, non-fat from Trader Joes:

Put some in a bowl, drizzle with a little honey, add some cut up fresh fruit and a sprinkle of granola or raw oatmeal and VOILA!! The best thing my mouth has tasted in a long time. I'm pretty sure this is what they'll be serving for breakfast in Heaven.....

this is also fabulous: mash some fresh fruit into some Greek Yogurt (bananas are the best), add a drizzle of honey and a pinch of cinnamon and serve on a toasted sprouted wheat english muffin.

If you haven't ever tried it, don't be late to the party like me......please go get some. It can be a little hard to find and of course costs a little more than those others, but it's so totally worth it!!!

And if fat-free/sugar-free is not an issue for you, then I recommend trying the Honey flavor Greek Yogurt....taste this and I promise you you'll hear Angels singing.......

His & Hers

2009-06-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

HIS:

I have a good friend at work who is also the-guy-who-fixes-everything-that-needs-fixing. He walked into my office the other day with this on his arm

I said "HEY! Where did you get that? I need some of those for my sewing pins!"

A few hours later I found these on my desk

($1.99 each at Harbor Freight)

HERS:

Look what I did with them! I prettied them up.......

What a bargain! $1.99 plus a few scraps. These will be perfect for Christmas gifts.....or maybe even the ETSY shop?...(hmmmm....the wheels are turning....)

One for me and 3 for Christmas gifts.

I just love making Christmas gifts in June!!

new family heirloom

2009-06-20T13:26:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of May, my sister in Seattle and her two young daughters decided to try making a quilt for the first time. They wrote about it on their blog here.

When Daughter read what her Aunt and Cousins had made, she decided she had to try making a quilt, too. In less than a week she had whipped up this masterpiece! Then a few days later she made this one!

The last few years she has been very supportive and appreciative of all the sewing projects I've made but none of it inspired her to dig out her long-buried sewing machine.....UNTIL NOW!!....THAT GIRL IS ON FIRE!! Boy has she been bitten by the sewing bug big time! By the end of May, only 4 weeks after her first one, she had completed 2 quilts (except for the free-motion quilting, due to being unable to find the right foot for her ancient machine...more on that later), cut out all the pieces for 3 more, and unbeknownst to me....MADE THIS FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!

Now keep in mind, this was completed only 5 weeks after she decided to "try" making her first quilt!

The theme of this quilt is "Martha's Vineyard", commemorating the trip we took together in April to visit Son/Brother. She used photos from our trip

She found fabric with shells & stones just like the ones we collected on our travels.

She found some with the shellfish that are so plentiful on Cape Cod

And even found this toile, which has actual scenes and places from Martha's Vineyard itself

The back of the quilt is special, too.

This beautiful work of art is now hanging on my bedroom wall where I can look at it every day and be reminded of our wonderful trip together and of what a lovely Daughter I have!

Isn't this going to be the best family heirloom ever?

Rindercella

2009-06-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

I had heard that you can find absolutely anything on the internet these days. I now know it's true.....I have proof:

Do you remember "the Gong Show" from the '70's? For those of you too young to remember this HUGELY popular show I'll explain:

The Gong Show was a VERY popular game show/amateur talent show. There were game-show-celebrity judges and if they liked your act they let you finish and then gave you a score of 1-10. If they hated you they would bang a gong and you were done....you'd been "gonged!". The person with the highest score won a prize of $516.32 and a golden gong trophy.

Wellllll.......32 years ago in 1977, my (then) brother-in-law performed a funny act on the show and actually won the prize! He recited a poem in an unusual way. Recently something reminded me about this... I wonder if it would still be funny today in 2009? Hmmmmm.....I wonder if there's any way that clip could be on the internet? .....I sat down at the computer.....I wonder if I could find something about his act. How can I research this? I remember the name of the poem was "Rindercella"......I decided to just try Google first and typed in the words "Gong Show Rindercella"....and BAM!! Guess what was the first thing that popped up from YouTube?!! Yep!! There he was doing his act......time elapsed: 5 SECONDS!!

and WHY? WHY? is this 32 year old Gong Show clip of 2.42 minutes on YouTube? Who put it there? Are all the hundreds of clips from that show on the internet? or just some of them? and why this one? What the heck!!!.....WHY IS THIS CLIP ON THE INTERNET?!!! Oh, wait...I know the answer to that question...

BECAUSE APPARENTLY EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE UNIVERSE IS ON THE INTERNET! that obviously can be the only explanation......

now go here and watch my brother-in-law doing his act (and yes, it's still funny)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhRdD1OU_nE

For all those manly men.....

2009-06-09T12:26:00.000-07:00

Father's Day is almost here. Is the man in your life one of those guys that are really hard to buy a gift for ? Well, let me help you out this year.........I think your Dad/ Husband/ Brother/ Son needs an apron! All men like to BBQ don't they? It brings out that manly, macho thing when they have meat and flames and BBQ tools to take care of.....And if your man just happens to like being in the kitchen, then even better! I'm pretty sure I have something for everyone here:

Does your guy ride a Harley...or wish he did?

Does he have a hobby? fishing or golf?

Does he consider himself a wine connoisseur?

Is he a soldier, currently or in the past?

a baseball fan?

How about Nascar? Dale Earnhardt?

I've got sushi

and even just good old fiery flames.

Trust me, your man needs an apron!

They're all in the ETSY SHOP....

OH NO! I'm an internet addict!

2009-06-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

WOOHOO! I have my computer back and all is well with the world again......

If you had asked me a week ago about my computer/internet habits I would have told you that yes, I am often on the computer but not all that much and no, it doesn't get in the way of anything important in my life....of course not!! Not me!...That sounds like one of those people with an internet addiction.....nope, not me!

AND THEN....I got one of those stupid spyware thingys that wouldn't let me do anything at all....no internet, no blogs, no e-mail, NOTHING! I had to make the call and surrender the laptop for a few days.....AAAAAGGGHHH!!!! The Computer Guy had to practically pry it from my hands....

I was out of commission for 5 days and I barely made it! Even though there are two other computers in my household they belong to other people who have their own internet needs so that didn't really help much. I do have internet access at the office but not enough free time there to read all the blogs I absolutely need to read every day. I couldn't stand not knowing what was going on in the lives of all those people whose blogs I read every day even though I've never met them....I felt so out of the loop! Who knew I had a problem! I was desperate for a fix... I can't even count how many times I started to sit at my desk to log on and ended up just sitting there staring at the BIG EMPTY SPACE where a laptop should have been. I actually felt a silly few minutes of mild anxiety a few times: "what if he can't fix it?" "what if the whole thing crashed and I lose everything (even though I have a current back-up)?"
I used up two whole pages in my mini-spiral notebook writing down things I wanted to research/read/search/blog the minute things were back to "normal"........

Well, I've had my laptop back long enough to get caught up on all those blog-lives and cross everything off my spiral notebook list and I'm finally able to be here blog-posting......life is good again!

The silver lining?: I had a lot more time for sewing. I made seven aprons, finished off my mending pile, and cut out several other projects. I also read all the magazines that had piled up on my nightstand and finished two books I'd been trying to find the time to finish....(Noooo, I don't spend too much of my time on the computer...absolutely not!)

It certainly looks like I'll be figuring out some time management priorities around here.....as soon as I'm done here on my computer of course!

By the way, if you live in the Murrieta/Temecula area and are in need of some computer help or repair, I highly recommend Kyle's Computer Repair. Kyle Wilson is a college student studying computer programming and has a computer business on the side. He even picks up and delivers! And his rates are reasonable, too. He only had my laptop for 2 days and it now runs better than it has in a very long time.......THANK YOU KYLE FOR GETTING MY LIFE BACK ON TRACK...

Birthday x 3

2009-05-25T20:53:00.000-07:00

In my previous post I might have made a brief mention of how much I was NOT looking forward to having a birthday this week (OK, OK,... so it wasn't just a mention, it was a full-on RANT, but hey!, it was a brief rant...)

Since I share a birthday with my Mother (see last year's post) I've never been allowed to just let the day go by un-noticed, no matter how much I might want to. And #2 Granddaughter was almost born on our birthday, too, but at the last minute she decided she wanted her own special day, so she came the next day instead. We have since forgiven her for that, however, and try to have a triple birthday any year we can work it out.

This year we had a triple-birthday-swimming-party at my sister's house. Cousins that only get to see each other once a year (twice if we're lucky) spent the whole day in the pool together.

We cooked a spaghetti dinner for 24 people.

There was Caramel Apple Cheesecake and Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes for dessert.

and another triple birthday is over for another year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEGAN!

(and happy birthday to me......)

***************************************************************************************************

STRAWBERRY LEMONADE CAKE

1 box lemon cake mix

1 3 oz. box strawberry jello

4 eggs

3/4 cup oil

3/4 cup water

GLAZE:

2 cups powdered sugar

3/4 cup lemon juice

GLAZE: (make glaze first so sugar can be dissolving) stir together lemon juice and powdered sugar. Set aside while preparing cake.

Add dry jello to dry cake mix in large bowl. Prepare and bake cake according to directions on box using eggs, oil, and water.

While cake is still warm, poke holes over the whole cake with a fork. Pour glaze over cake. Serve with cool whip or vanilla ice cream. (I think this cake tastes best stored in the refrigerator)

variations: use lemon jello for Lemonade cake

use lime jello for lemon-lime cake (makes a neon-green cake that kids love!)

it's my birthday...again?!!

2009-05-21T13:50:00.000-07:00

Okay. Now wait a minute....how could it possibly be my birthday next week already?!! Didn't I just have a birthday?!! I'm not even finished being traumatized by turning 50 and now I'm already going to be 52?!! What is going on here? With all the technology these days can't someone figure out a way to stop this? I was just 30 for heaven's sake! I still feel 30(ish).....(but I guess that would be weird since my kids are 35,33 and 28......don't know how that would work). I keep repeating to myself "you're only as old as you feel, you're only as old as you feel", which was working until I recently started having......HOT FLASHES!! What the heck! I mean, my Grandma had hot flashes and she was OLD! How could this be happening to me? I know I have 5 grandkids, but I also was a mother at 16, so once again....WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON HERE?

I actually never really feel my age and always think of myself as 50 years YOUNG, until something rudely comes along to remind me, like a birthday, or needing to carry around a battery-powered fan in my purse!

Some other recent rude age reminders:

** Oldest Grandaughter is starting HIGH SCHOOL in September.....AAAUGHHH!!
** Daughter recently refered to 70's music as "oldies" (?????)
** Son observed the fact that in less than 2 years all of my children will be in their 30's (WHAT?!)
** I'm getting junk mail about cemetery plots, hearing aids, and incontinence supplies!!!
** I found a box of LP records that my kids used to listen to and when I asked the grandkids if they wanted to listen to a record with me, the answer was "what's a record?"
** I was reading a book to 4 yr. old grandson and he asked me to "press pause" while he went to the bathroom.

on a positive note.....

on a recent visit to the grocery store with 4 yr. old grandson, the Checker thought I was his mother!....YESSS!! That woman has no idea how much she made my day! ......but now that I think about it, she was about my age, so she probably recognized how I was feeling and was just being kind.....whatever.....I"LL TAKE THAT COMPLIMENT ANYWAY!!

THANK YOU GROCERY STORE WOMAN....I FEEL BETTER NOW!
BRING ON THE BIRTHDAY......

It's National Wear Your Apron Day!

2009-05-11T22:15:00.001-07:00

"National Wear Your Apron Day" is always the day after Mother's Day.

I actually got brave today and decided what the heck, it's only an apron....so I wore an apron all day today at the office:

I even wore it to the Dentist! I got several compliments and even handed out a few ETSY business cards that just happened to be in my pocket.....

This wasn't even one of my own aprons! I decided to wear my new favorite apron made for me for the Hot Mama's Fiesta Apron Swap by Kellie Cotton. It's so colorful and I knew it would attract some attention, which is weird since I NEVER want to draw attention to myself! I guess I just feel different in an apron, sort of a "Domestic Diva SuperWoman!"

Hmmmm.....maybe I could wear an apron every day, a different one to match every outfit?

On second thought,I know some people who would start questioning my sanity...... so never mind!

new shoes

2009-05-10T21:34:00.000-07:00

4 yr. old Grandson is a very sweet boy. He's very complimentary, always notices things, and tries very hard not to hurt feelings. For a 4 yr. old he's quite tactful.

Apparantly, he doesn't think my new Land's End sandals are feminine enough......

E: "Mimi....WHY are you wearing those shoes?!"

Me: "They're new. I just got them today. Don't you like them?"

E: "Well...they're um...they're um.....well, they're not very pretty!"

Me: "Oh No! Really? Are they ugly?"

E: (making a yucky face) "Well, I think Uncle Chad has some just like that...."

feeling crafty........

2009-05-09T21:55:00.000-07:00

For Mother's Day tomorrow, we're having a family Wiffle Ball Tournament at the nearby Dog Park and then coming back to our house for BBQ hamburgers and all the fixings. There will be at least six MOM's here and I wanted to make a little something for them:

I dug through my photo archives and with a little help from Daughter and her scrapbooking and photo expertise, I turned these notebooks from the 99cent store

into these special journals for each person.

I found just the right photos for my Mother, Sister, Daughter, Daughter-in-Law and her Mother.

I'm really pleased with how these turned out! Just a few little notebooks, photos, pretty paper, and spray adhesive! I'm already thinking of future possiblities for these simple little gifts (co-workers, grandkids teachers?).....Crafty... simple and crafty, don't you think?

And speaking of crafts, I've created my own version of a craft/sewing apron. I know there are many, many versions already out there, but all the ones I've seen are half-aprons that tie around the waist, and that is not comfortable OR flattering on me! I like full aprons, so I made a shorter version of my usual pattern and added several specific pockets. I designed it just the way I'd like it and then made a few more for the ETSY shop.

There's a small pocket up high for my Ipod:

And 3 different sized pockets across the bottom: one sized for a cell phone, one I use for my tape measure and thread snips, and another for whatever else you might like to have close at hand.

So, if you been wishing for a craft apron that doesn't tie around the waist, I'll be posting these in my ETSY shop in the next few days (and I could make YOU one out of any type of fabric you choose...)