Reply

I think it's great that you can just throw stuff together and make a dinner. I on the other hand need a recipe. I definitely am not brave enough to make from scratch. I will add things here and there if I have made it before but yeah no off the top of my head meals here. So good for you!
Last night we were supposed to have Bunco but 4 girls canceled. We decided to have a sock exchange and play the game Celebrity. Have you ever played? It is pretty fun. You are in teams of 2 and each person writes down 3 names (they can be from books, movies, tv, politicians...) All the names go in a bowl and you have 1 minute to name as many as you can. The first round you can say anything other than "sounds like". The second round you can only say 2 words and anything like umm or a mutter counts. The third round you have to act it out. When it is your turn you take one out of the bowl then your partner does and you switch like that. You should try it with your friends.
This morning I went to boot camp with one of the girls from Bunco. Oh my, I don't think I will be picking up Little One tomorrow hahaha It kicked my butt, but felt so good! I love finishing a work out, it is just the starting that does me in.
My craft today is fun hair bows :) Too bad my daughter won't leave them in her hair! I love making them and they are so darn easy! Since my little one does not have a lot of hair I took a nylon stocking, cut it, and made it into a headband so that it was nice and soft on her little head.

Love you lots!

Inbox

Well it is snowing again.  It is that wet, heavy snow that is just beautiful to watch.  But it is also ICY and cold.  That is not so fun.  I do not look forward to getting up tomorrow and having to deal with snow, ice and getting the kids to school and me to work on time.  Ugh.

And because I am already thinking about how yucky my morning is going to be I am not in a fun recipe blogging kind of mood.  I know snap out of it. I tried to make dinner using things that were just sitting around.  It's called being resourceful.  So I decided to make a chili mac & cheese.   I had 2 cups of elbow noodles (perfect amount), a can of nacho cheese soup, and 4 cans of chili with beans.  I thought throw it all in a pot and call it a day.  I cooked the noodles and then put the soups with the cooked noodles and heated through.  Umm.... well my resourcefulness didn't really pan out.  Lou ate every bite (but then again he usually does), Quinnie poo took 3 bites because that is how old she is (or so she says), and Buffalo sat and rolled his eyes at me and told me he wasn't hungry.  I didn't think it was terrible.  Best thing I have ever made... well not really but hey come one I didn't have to buy anything and I used things that have been sitting in my pantry (a.k.a the box in the computer room).

I guess I'll have to think ahead a little better tomorrow.  Oh and guess what I signed up for our department cookie exchange at work and guess how many cookies I have to make over the weekend.... 9 dozen.  Yeah that's right 108 cookies.  OH MY GOSH.  I think I know what I am going to make.  I'll take lots of pictures so you can see the chaos.

Oh and by the way I think your medallion is cute, mirror or no mirror.  And back off on Little One.  It took Quinnie FOREVER to stop having accidents.  I think she enjoyed having accidents because then  she got to pick out a new outfit :).  It will happen just give it time.

Reply

Those wings are so good! Thanks for the recipe and I'll take a picture of beautiful snow any day! I do miss looking out my window and seeing a white blanket of snow all over. There is nothing like playing in the snow, ice skating, making igloos, and hot chocolate. We need to take Little One to the mountains this year so she can experience it. It is sad to think she doesn't even know what she is missing.Speaking of my Little One, potty training is still happening but still not many successes. She doesn't even seem to care that she has accidents. That is a bad sign right:? Shouldn't they be upset that they peed all over themselves as well as their mom? I mean hello, that is so not nice. I thought she was going to be so easy, I was wrong. Okay okay I know it has only been 3 days and technically she is sick (bad cold) so that is probably playing a factor, but hello 3 days are supposedly enough time. Who writes this stuff and why do I choose to listen?
On a new note, I had this great idea for my craft and it didn't really turn out. I am not a fan of days when my crafts don't work :( Mr.I was so sweet and brought me home a medallion (that you put on the ceiling above a chandelier) because he thought I would like it on the wall and could do something fun. He knows me so well! Alright, my idea was to get a small mirror for the middle whole and antique it to make it super cute. I got the mirror, put on the paint stripper, waited, nothing, put on more paint stripper, waited, nothing, more stripper, waited, NOTHING! UGH! what in the world! Alas, I have not finished it, the medallion is on the wall but it taunts me because it isn't complete! I am thinking I could put fabric in the middle if the mirror doesn't work. I just don't want a normal mirror, ya know? It is the worst to have something in your mind and you can't get it to turn out. Maybe it will surprise me and in the morning I can scrape the paint and it will work. Who knows. 
LOVE YOU my crafty sister!

Inbox

Can I just say.. jealous!  I know that Miss S is going to LOVE LOVE LOVE the afghan.  I have got to start knitting.  I have asked Santa for knitting needles in my stocking and I have been a very good girl so I have hope that I will start knitting soon.

I just love the ornaments!  They are so cute and totally handmade which makes them all the more precious.  I love the holidays!  I also love "theme" ornaments it takes me back to all those times putting up the tree at Alphabet Soup.  Oh how I loved that little store.  Maybe someday we can open up a boutique of our own.  That would be so fun... oh alas I get distracted.

So the other night I did something that I usually never do.  I made dinner for C.  I know I am spoiled but the man likes to cook so I let him.  We were watching football and what better thing to eat while watching the game than wings.  Oh man they were good.  My pictures didn't turn out (sorry) but use your imagination.  They are so good.

Mom's Chicken Wings
2 lbs wings
(Mom always doubles the spices.. I do too)
2 tsp seasoned salt (when you don't have any and you have already started thawing the chicken you can substitute Red Robin seasoning.. it seemed to work out quite nicely for me)
1 tsp garlic powder
3/4 tsp lemon pepper
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp paprika

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line pan with foil.  Combine seasoning, mix well.  Arrange wings in single layer on pan.  Sprinkle with half the seasoning mixture.  Bake 30 min.  Turn over.  Sprinkle with remaining mix and bake another 20-30 minutes, until golden brown.

SO DELICIOUS!  Oh man... it has warmed up considerable since this morning we are at 9 degrees outside.  BRR... but that is a whole lot better than 0.  We should be getting more snow on Thursday, I can't wait!  I love the snow.  I don't know how you live where you don't get snow in the winter time.  Just because I know you have to miss it here is a picture of the back yard from the kitchen window.

Enjoy the view!  Love you.  Stay warm!  Enjoy potty training.  

Reply

Okay seriously Kiki, you are so crafty! That is the cutest ornament and I am so making it! Adorable!!
So today I have officially started potty training Little One. We only had one successful potty and many accidents but she was having fun. Mr.C needs to call me and tell me how he did it! As for me, I am still in my pajamas from last night. The "theory" I read is 3 day training and you are supposed to not leave your house at all on the first day. Well, I thought why get dressed when she is probably going to make a mess on me anyways. Total stay at home mom today, no make up, no shower, yeah Mr.I was so excited to see me when he got home ;)
All that to say I had high hopes for a super cute craft today, but I still have to buy part of it and that didn't happen. I am going to show you a knitting project in the works. I remember snuggling up in Grandma H's afghans growing up and just thinking I can't believe she made this! Miss S had mentioned that she would love a warm blanket for her sweetheart's bed and that made me think. Miss S has given me a love for quilting and she has a TON of quilts but I want to show her a love of knitting. I am making her sweetheart an afghan for her bed! This may be on going for a LONG time! haha who knows how long it will take but I am excited to make it. I will be so sad to give it away but at least it is going to someone I know will use it!

I found the pattern here
LOVE YOU SISTER

Inbox

Well it was a productive day at our house.  I can  cross off ornaments on my list.  I saw a melted snowman ornament and it got my creative juices flowing.  I know you are the crafty one but I figured it seemed so easy surely I could handle making an ornament out of hot glue.  So I did it today while Nena had Quinnie Lou and the boys were outside playing in their igloo.  I think I did pretty good if I dare say so.  I totally think Little One needs one too.

Inspiration:

Source: flexibledreams.com via Katie on Pinterest

While the hot glue was still hot....

 I used everything I had at the house so I could really call this one free!  Which of course made C happy. I used peppercorn for the eyes and mouth, orange ribbon for the nose, and twigs from an inside plant, and of course I sprinkled a little white glitter to give them a little something extra.  So easy peasy.   And just so you don't think I got away with this too easy, Lou came in right while I was sprinkling glitter and of course wanted to help.  Oh sure why not.  BIG MISTAKE he dumped the entire container on his snowman... Fortunately I was able to blow off the extra but that meant QUITE a mess on the kitchen table.  At least it was pretty and it cleaned up fairly easy with the help of a really good suctioning vacuum.

Finished product on the tree

Hope you enjoy!  Don't worry I will share a recipe with you on Tuesday.  It's a C pleaser so I am sure Mr.I will enjoy as well.  Hope you had a great relaxing weekend after your busy craft/cookie exchange night out with the girls!

XOXO

Reply

Kiki,
I am so sorry, I keep dropping the ball! First off, that sunset looked amazing! Second, the craft night was a success. I got home late last night because Miss S hosted and I stayed after to help clean. Sadly, I did not win a prize for my awesome cookies :( Other than that the night was very fun. Christmas music, treats, and crafts, what more could you ask for?
We made pine cone garland, frames, and ornaments. I have to say I am not a fan of my ornament. It's cute but I feel I did not make it as cute as I know I could. boo to that. But the frame and garland turned out. I got home and made Mr.I put the garland up right away. The garland I found on pinterest, of course. The other crafts Miss S and I thought of on our own(yes, sometimes I actually do have ideas). I also made spiced hot chocolate. A favorite of mine! I know you are the recipe girl but this is just too good not to post.

Spiced Hot Chocolate: (this is doubled)
2/3 C semi-sweet chocolate chips
8C milk
2/3C sugar
1/2tsp nutmeg
1tsp cinnamon
Melt sugar, chips, and 1C milk until they melt and just comes to a boil. Then stir in the rest of milk and spices. Heat through but do not boil. Transfer to crock pot and there you go! Yummy drink for the night :)

Here are the pictures of my crafts. The frame we bought at Micheal's for $1, spray painted them, and the yarn bow I made is the easiest thing possible. You just wrap yarn around 3 fingers until it is as thick as you want. Take it off, cinch in the middle and tie yarn around the middle and you have a bow. Add a button and its done :) I am going to make a little Christmas quote to go on the inside of it.

 

LOVE YOU and give those monsters kisses from Tia! I miss them so much. I had a sobfest on Wednesday and Mr.I said do you need a hug? He knows me so well. It does get harder each time, especially now that the kids are older and can  play together. Ugh, okay I am going to go now and cry some more.