another round!

Another round of birthday cupcakes for school. This time, for my big 6 year old!

Wait... where did my babies go?

wishes.

2 birthdays rolled into 1!

This weekend brought cake, ice cream, gifts, and smiles!

On my to-do list:

Birthday cupcakes round 2!

birthday cupcakes.

Somebody has a birthday coming up...

.

time to make treats for the class!

7 is the magic number! Can you believe I have a 7 year old?

Happy Birthday!

beautiful macaroni.

Somehow,

a little paint-a little string- and a little creativity make plain ol' macaroni into something beautiful.

pesto, my new part time lover.

Ever since I saw Tyler Florence make these on food network, I've had a mini obsession.

Pesto and mozzarella grilled cheese sandwiches. Who thought that grilled cheese could get any better! Making homemade pesto is easier than you think! (Now, I do it at least once a week!)

I made these baguette size for a party I threw last week and they were a hit. Be careful though, they are highly addictive!

What's not to love? Stringy mozzarella sandwiched between two pieces of crisp-tender bread and a dollop of fragrant pesto!

Mozzarella pesto grilled cheese

4 slices of thick cut sourdough bread

1 ball of fresh mozzarella

1 cup of fresh basil pesto (recipe follows)

salt and pepper

extra virgin olive oil

(basil pesto)

1/2 C pine nuts

2 C fresh basil leaves

1 C fresh Italian parsley leaves

1/2 fresh Parmesan cheese

2 garlic cloves

1/4 t salt

1/2 C extra virgin olive oil

Combine pesto ingredients in a food processor and pulse until well combined, but still rough textured. Set a large skillet over medium heat. Assemble sandwiches by smearing insides of bread slices with pesto. Arrange a layer of sliced mozzarella and then place another piece of bread with the pesto side down on top. Drizzle olive oil over the skillets surface and place the sandwiches on the hot skillet. Place another heavy skillet on top of the bread slices to squish them down and form a "press". Turn after 2 or 3 minutes. The sandwich is ready with it is golden brown and the mozzarella has melted around the edges.

crazy lady and her cleaning confessions.

I have a favor!

I've entered a contest and I need your votes!

It's a contest for Kenmore-- with a video about cleaning confessions.

Here's mine...

Can you please vote for me! I'm one of the finalists!

http://www.youtube.com/kenmore

Look for the video titled:

crazy lady and her cleaning confessions.

(The link looks like this.)

The list is on the right--- You might have to click the arrow to see all 15 videos and find it.

That's mine!

Thank you SO much!

PS... you can go back every day for the next three weeks! (I'm not begging... just a thought!)

up in the tree house.

Taking my kids to the park is the ultimate treat around here.

But, I was sick of the same old parks around our neck of the woods. So... I decided to do a little googleing!

I googled "best playground in Dallas" and up popped Kid Country in Coppell.

We packed a giant picnic and hopped in the car for the 30 minute ride over.

Google was right! This place was amazing. Like a giant, sprawling tree house with castles, slides, secret passage ways, mirrors, tunnels, and bridges.

We spent most of the day exploring, jumping, crawling, running, swinging, and laughing.

A perfect spot for my monkeys.

it never hurts to ask.

If I learned one thing growing up, it was that it never hurts to ask-- and, that most prices are a bit flexible. My dad is a master at bargaining. I remember being embarrassed as a teenager when he would go haggle prices, trying to duck behind racks and isles in the process.

.

This came to my mind when I spotted a pair of shoes on clearance for $10 (normally, $60!) at the shoe shop a few weeks ago. They were adorable yellow 40's style peep toe high heels with red cherries on them. I instantly fell in love-- until I saw the size. Size 6! Sadly, I set them back on the shelf-- knowing that I would never squeeze these step-sister gunboats of mine into a Cinderella sized opening. As I glumly made my way down-down-down the isle to the 10's (my size) I watched the shoe racks like a flip-book. The boxes gradually grew bigger and bigger, as did the shoes... becoming more clown-like in the process. I almost gave up as an all too familiar scene rattled around in my brain. Shoes look cuter in the smaller sizes... all too many times I have fallen in love with a shoe only to find that the extra materials needed to make it Sasquatch sized have ruined the whole look and design of it. Not only that, but I have been cursed with narrow arches, which makes the extra fabric and straps fall deflated and lifeless on my skinny foot.

.

But then, I spotted them! The exact same style of shoe, in a vintage floral print. Same peep toe, same snappy bows, same cork heels but a size 9 and a half!--- but the clearance price tag read $30.

This is exactly when I conjured up memories of childhood. I gathered up the two boxes and marched right up to the front of the store to resolve this shoe issue once and for all!

.

The teenage sales associate looked at me funny as I presented my offer. All I wanted was the $10 price that was tagged on the other shoe. They were the same style, the only difference was the color. Without saying a word, the cashier picked up both boxes and started scanning, typing, and snapping his gum. "We're trying to get rid of these shoes." He paused, "So, since you are asking, I will give them to you for $5."

.

VICTORY!

.

But, I stayed calm... game face, game face. "Can I still use my 20% off coupon?" I rummaged around in my purse.

.

"Sure..."

.

The total came out to $4 and change.

They hurt like heck, but for $4, I'll suffer through the pain.

mathmatic robot and powdered sugar moustaches.

Could math homework be bad for your health? I speak from experience.

I have been spending way too much time on math homework. My brain feels like a calculator. My body feels like a robot. I almost feel like I will-- at some point-- loose movement in my elbows and knees and start walking like a robot and speak only in numbers and calculations.

..

I came up with a theory today that one hour of math homework cancels out one hour of craft handy-work. According to this theory, I am way behind on my cooking and crafts. I can only take rigid rules and regulations for so long before I am craving free thinking craft freedom.

..

Today I threw down my calculator (after I had finished my math homework, of course.) and made my way into the kitchen. I could practically feel my apron smiling at me as I wrapped it's laces around my waist like a hug from an old friend. I rummaged around my Old Mother Hubbard cupboards and dug out a box of phyllo dough and a bag of this summers picking bounty-- blackberries.

My goal was to make a guiltless pie-- or tart-- with a fat free crust.

I love you PHYLLO!

I cut squares of the paper thin phyllo and placed them into my mini muffin tin. Then I topped each one with my berries (and a little magic--sugar and cinnamon!).

Just 15 minutes in the oven at 325, and presto!

A dusting of powdered sugar is a must.

A truly sinful tasting dessert, with NO fat, and only a sprinkle of sugar. These are delicious for breakfast, I speak from experience.

Just make sure you wipe your lips before going to pick up your children from school. I speak from experience.

tired eyes.

I'm tired...............................

I've been working, crafting, cooking, and my newest time user--- homework!

Yes, that's right. I'm back in school.

I've started slow, but next semester I plan to march ahead to full time.

It's weird to get use to class again. I kind of feel like an old lady.

I'm still in my 20's! ( if even for only 2 more months..)

My mantra now is a toss up between 3 different things:

"I think I can, I think I can..."

"Slow and steady wins the race..."

-and-

"I can do hard things."

Because, I know I can-- (I have done hard things!)

and I believe I can.

And, I will.