Archive for March, 2008

“Happys”

March 30, 2008

I got myself a “happy” today. I needed it. Well, I didn’t really need it, but it was fun to find and purchase. And, I look forward to using it.

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What is a “happy” you ask?

It’s something you don’t always really need, but it’s fun and it brightens your day. Many times you purchase “happys” for a good friend or someone you love dearly. The “happy” is not necessarily something that will be of great use, but it is pretty or cute or fun to look at; and many times thoughtful and significant in some way. And when you give “happys” away, it not only brightens the other persons day, but it makes you happy too, knowing that you’ve made someone else’s day happier.

Where did I learn about “happys”?

My sweet, dear southern friend and her momma. That’s who! I love them both a ton.My first ever happy was given to me by my sweet, dear, southern friend’s, momma. It was my freshman year at that private college on the mountain, I was adjusting to sleeping with others in our college dorm room. In this adjusting period, I had a hard time with lights being on when I went to bed. So, with the lights on and me trying to sleep, I would bury my head under the covers, making sure to tuck every bit of blanket underneath. This way, I thought, it would be dark and the light wouldn’t bother me. Well, my sweet, dear, southern friends momma came in one weekend when she was visiting, saw me buried under my covers and came back the next day with a “happy”. The “happy” was a navy blue, silk sleeping mask (so that I could sleep without having to suffocate myself underneath the covers). It was a “happy” and I remember thinking how thoughtful and kind that was!

Since our freshman year, my sweet southern friend and I have exchanged many “happys”, many of which are sitting in our little apartment today. I love them. I think of her and, well, to not overuse the word too much,… it makes me happy.

So, today I bought myself a “happy”. And, now that I sit here typing, I’m thinking that maybe I should have bought it instead for my sweet, southern friend. Maybe I will get her one after I write this.

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It’s a cute notebook! See, not a total necessity, but pretty and fun to have. It’s designed by Amy Butler and distributed by Chronicle Books, but I bought it at our neighborhood Blick Art Store. I love that store,… it’s wonderful.

And that cup on top of the notebook was purchased at Target. That was my “happy” yesterday,… I seem to be buying lots of “happys” lately. But, they were fun and only $1.99 a cup! And, our cups are starting to get old and nasty. See?! So, it was a rational decision after all!!

The notebook is even extremely cute inside. It comes with fun designs on every page.

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Love it. Pretty.

So, I say you make the day of one of your good friends and buy them a “happy”. Or, buy yourself one. It’s ok every once in a while ;).

The Cutest Princess Invitations Ever!!!!!! and… Boo Hoo! Colds

March 27, 2008

I’ve been trying to work all week, I really have. But, this cold that I’ve caught has not been very nice to me. I’m tired, my body aches, and I can’t seem to motivate myself. We have some family coming into town this weekend, which I’m very excited about, but hope I can pull myself together and that J doesn’t catch this miserable sickness, on top of our family that’s visiting.

Grrrrr… to colds. Boo hoo.

But, I shall leave you with a teaser… I like teasers.

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Can you guess what these are?!

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The most incredibly cute princess invitations ever!! Ever. That’s what!!

Be checking back soon for a full, detailed recap of the cutest princess invitations ever. Ever. I promise.

Until then, please make sure to pop Vitamin C’s nonstop and drink lots of fluids, so you don’t catch what I’ve got!

Lime Meltaways!

March 25, 2008

At this point in my cooking life, I’ve noticed that I have two regular go-to’s when looking for a great recipe. Martha Stewart and Pioneer Woman.

Pioneer Woman, because her blog is so easy to maneuver through and find a delicious recipe for almost any occasion. Whatever I make from her site usually turns out amazing!

And, Martha Stewart,… cause hey! She’s Martha. What else do you need?! My specific favorite is her Everyday Food Magazine… easy, simple, and always good.

I feel like all my posts these days have to do with Pioneer Woman and Martha Stewart recipes, though. I’m starting to bug myself. I need to branch out. I read so many other food blogs,…I need to start trying their recipes instead of always going to whats most comfortable.

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However, all that to say, here’s a great recipe I found through Slashfood’s site!! And, guess what?! It’s a Martha Stewart recipe!! (But, is it ever delicious!!)

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Lime Meltaways (not to be confused with her Lemon Sandwich Cookies)! Filled with butter, powdered sugar, and lime, these cookies truly melt in your mouth. I don’t usually make this style of cookie, so it was a fun change to the regular chocolate chip cookie. Made with tons of butter, but no eggs, you mix together the dough, wrap it up into a log, refrigerate it for about an hour, then cut into 1/4 inch slices and bake. After it’s done baking, you toss the warmed cookie in powdered sugar and enjoy! YUM!

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Martha promoted her new book a couple weeks ago, Martha Stewart’s Cookies, on her show. I totally want to get it (Not that I really need another cookbook!). The cool thing is, I didn’t even realize this until after I made the cookies, but you can watch Martha make her Lime Meltaway’s on her website. So, if you’re thinking about making her cookies, check out her website and watch the video.

Lime Meltaways (taken from Slashfood.com via Martha Stewart.com)

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup confectioners’ sugar
Finely grated zest of 2 limes
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 ¾ cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
¼ teaspoon coarse salt

Put butter and 1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, and mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add lime zest and juice and vanilla, and mix until fluffy.

Whisk together flour, cornstarch, and salt in a bowl. Add to butter mixture, and mix on low speed until just combined.

Divide dough in half. Place each half on an 8-by-12-inch sheet of parchment paper. Roll in parchment to form a log 1 ¼ inches in diameter, pressing a ruler along edge of parchment at each turn to narrow log. Refrigerate logs until cold and firm, at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove parchment from logs; cut into ¼-inch-thick rounds. Space rounds 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake cookies until barely golden, about 13 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool slightly, 8 to 10 minutes. While still warm, toss cookies with remaining 2/3 cup sugar in a resealable plastic bag. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 weeks.

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Hope you enjoy it! Make sure to share with tons of friends!

The Youngest Rock Band Member

March 20, 2008

I do believe I’ve found the youngest Rock Band rocker the entire gaming world has thus seen. The favorite toy at our house of this cutie, little girl is our Pink XBox controller. No lie, need I say more?!

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I would like to introduce you to Karis (who has just woken up from a nap, hence the crazy hair). Not to be confused with my sweet and precious Karis, who is my niece. This other sweet, little cutie is my good friends baby. She’s about to turn a year, which I cannot believe, she’s getting so big!

**Be looking for a future post on her incredibly, adorable 1 year princess birthday invitations! Oh my! So Cute!**

I must confess that I am a bit obsessed with her. Every time I see her I want to SQUEEZE HER! and PINCH HER CHEEKS! and EAT HER ALL UP!!! (I don’t sound psychotic at all, do I? Good. Thanks. Glad that’s decided.)

So, as you all know, my husband is just a wee bit obsessed with this new phenomenon they call, “Rock Band”.

Just a little,… you know, not that much, just enough to say that he “practices” his drum playing skills every night, sweats like a banshee when he plays (What is a banshee? Does anyone know why we say that?), and gets down on his knees, begging and pleading and asking me to “sing just one song!! And then after the “one song” has finished, “just a couple more!!” and then after a couple more, “just a ten song set list!”. But, I love him and so I do it,… most of the time, that is. Except when I’m tired and can’t take it any longer. Then I just go hide away in our bedroom and write blog posts.

But, as you can see, I’ve been busy playing Rock Band, therefore I haven’t been writing as many regular posts. Boo hoo…this endless cycle!

But, back to sweet Karis, daughter of my sweet friend.

J is also a teeny, weeny bit obsessed with Karis. He loves her, but not as much as I do. No, no, no… no he doesn’t! Although he may argue that,.. he loves her a lot. Enough to beg me to make a baby as cute as her, which I’m afraid may not be possible. She’s pretty stinkin’ cute, is all I’m sayin’.

So, the other night we had her mommy and daddy over for some homemade pizzas on the grill (sorry no pictures of the food this time!) and some Rock Band playing.

J thought he’d teach little, cutie Karis how to play the drums.

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See Karis watching intently, learning how to read the different colored notes as they glide across the screen? I think I see her even beginning to hit a beat with those elite, Rock Band drumsticks.

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“Hey Mom, I think his pitch is a little off.” -Karis

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“Why is his right eyeball so incredibly black?” -Karis wonders,… because Lydia doesn’t really know how to properly use Photoshop yet,….that’s why.

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“So Karis, that’s how you play Rock Band.” -James “Wow James! I think I’m ready to start playing on the real drums!”-Karis

So as I go, I will leave you with her favorite toy,…the pink, XBox controller….

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!

March 17, 2008

Due to my sad, unfestiveness today, I don’t have much to show for the Irish holiday. I did wear a green shirt, but that’s as far as I got in celebration of St. Patty’s.

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But, I can recommend a fun idea I saw on Food Blogga’s site today. It made me so happy! Homemade Shamrock Shakes!!

Remember how they used to have them at McDonalds?! I’m not sure if they still sell the shakes, but they made me so happy! I LOVED them! I think I may make these for dessert tonight. You’ve gotta celebrate a little, right?

And, I think I’m going to add my own spin on things and mix in a few crumbled, Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies! YUM!