Fresh Raspberry Pie

Have you been watching "So you think you can dance"?  I'm totally in to it.  I'm vying for Melanie or Sacha for the girls and maybe Tad for the boys.  How about you?

The show airs on Wednesday night and on Thursday I still hadn't watched it yet.  As luck would have it, I got a call from a friend bribing me with Fresh Raspberry Pie if I let her crash my place to watch with me.  And she even provided hamburgers for all of us.  I took the deal.

Both our kids played, we watched, we ate, we talked dance,  and she left some awesome pie for me.  I'm in love with pie.
I know my Father-in-law will love me forever if I get this recipe for him.  He gags at all fruit but raspberries (weird to gag at fruit, but it's true).  This will get his attention!

On my doorstep today

The kids always get excited when someone knocks on the door.  And thankfully wait for me before swinging it open to whatever unsuspecting person is on the other side.

Today I opened it to some Marionberry Pie in the most quaint jar.  I had never even seen pie in a jar before and this was so perfectly beautiful.  It pays to have awesome neighbors.  I'd eat dinner at Carrie's house every night!

I did have to open the lid right on my doorstep.  Seriously.  Look at the work that went into this sweet morsel!

The crust was awesome.  Flaky yet doughy and the tartness/sweetness of the berries matched perfect with it. I am one lucky girl.

Have you seen Aubrey and Lindsay?

I think I might have found one of the coolest blogs out there.  Seriously, you have to check out Aubrey + Lindsay's Blog.

These are my favorite things I've found so far.

You know how I am enjoying my own silhouettes, so these are right up my alley.  I love how she represented herself and husband as very formal characters with their own names under.  Posh.
office 3

I want this bed, I want this dresser, I want the clean fresh look.  I love it.  Seriously though, this bedside dresser used to be a plain ikea dresser.  Now it's gorgeous.
rast

How cool to decorate with Monopoly cards?!
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And especially for those who feel like they have a non-sewing ability, this you can do.  Isn't felt amazing.



And I am totally getting one of these from her etsy shop for my Miss A.  She will love it.  The ABCD song is her all-time favorite.  

8x10 Alphabet Print, 7 colour choices
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8x10 Alphabet Print, 7 colour choices8x10 Alphabet Print, 7 colour choices8x10 Alphabet Print, 7 colour choices8x10 Alphabet Print, 7 colour choices
































Okay, I could go on.  I think I just might be feeling inspired right now.  Hope you are too!

Fava Beans

A friend just gave me a bunch of fava beans...umm, what are they?  So I found this recipe that looks promising from 101 Cookbooks.  Does anyone have a fava bean recipe that they like?

P.S. Carrie, I'm bringing you some of these when I make something.
Grilled Fava Beans
picture from 101 cookbooks

Valance to Apron

This is all about repurposing your window treatments!  

A while ago I made this kitchen valance.  Then I decided that I didn't like the color palette (remember how I'm doing blue and white now...).  I took it down and the received several comments from people asking where it went.
One of my good friends had really liked it.  So I decided to give her two choices 1) have the valance or 2) I would turn it into a half apron for her.

Apron it was...and is.

I could have added pom-poms to the bottom, or a ruffle, or pockets, or etc, etc, etc.  But I decided that it was cute how it was.  I cut off a section of the valance, hemmed that side, and attached some ribbon ties.  Done and done.  She loves it and I'm happy that is made someone's day.
Speaking of repurposing window treatments, remember how I used a panel to make a crib skirt?  Seriously, so many possibilities.  

Miracle Unstuffed Bell Peppers

In my perusing for new recipes (thanks to Sparks in the new Google+!), I've found some great foodie blogs. Here's a recipe from Heat Oven to 350.  They have some really yummy stuff over there.  

Best of all, is when I find a new recipe to try and have ALL of the ingredients on hand.  This is one of them.    Rather than stuffing the peppers, you slice them and throw them into the rice mixture at the end of cooking.  Anything with color is way more exciting to eat.

The Hubs just kept saying "wow" and "what is this miracle?" when he was eating.  I think that was a thumbs up.  (score!)

It has a great flavor between the bay leaf, parmesan, brown sugar, bacon, and crushed red pepper.  It goes all over the place and pleases your whole pallet.  

Here's the last ingredients waiting for the rice.  Crumbled bacon, seasoned chicken (my favorite seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and oregano...delish!), and colored peppers.

Blue and White, Minus the Nautical Vibe

I finally have a color palette for our downstairs.  (Everyone cheer please!)  I have always loved blues and should have just known, but now it's decided.  I love a navy blue with crisp white.  It's clean, it's classic, and it's so pretty.  Yea!!

I picked up this coffee table at a garage sale.  (Along with the $3 sander!)  And put the kids to work.  Really though, they were so excited to sand.  

After a couple paint coats, wa-lah, I have a fabulous blue coffee table.

Question for you: The top seems a little sticky.  Has anyone had this problem and remedied it somehow?  Is there a solution to coat the paint with that seals it more, so it isn't sticky?

BEFORE

AFTER

This pillow is my inspiration.  I LOVE it.  I found it at Target several months ago and had to buy it.  Now, I can't find it anywhere.  I would love fabric like this for my kitchen valance.  Has anyone seen this for purchase somewhere?  

And I love how it's blue and white but not nautical.  I'm thinking navy and white chevron would make for good pillows too.  Really, I just want to find all the blue and white fabric possibilities out there.  So please send me your favorites if you find any!

Parmesan Garlic Rolls

These melt in your mouth.  I promise.  Add a little butter, fat, and cheese to anything and it's bound to be delicious.

A friend brought these to us after Little S was born.  We devoured them.  The tray below was eaten in less than 1/2 hour at our house.  I'm dead serious, they are that good.

These are Melinda's signature rolls she takes to new moms, so I had to promise NOT to copy her.  Pinky promise.  Thank you thank you thank you for sharing your recipe on this one!
Parmesan Garlic Rolls
From Melinda

1 dozen frozen Rhodes Rolls
2 Tbsp Butter
1/4 cup Mayonnaise
1/3 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
Garlic Salt
Dried Parsley

Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray.  Melt butter in a bowl.  Prepare mayo and parmesan also in separate bowls.  Dip each frozen roll (just the top 1/2) in 1st - the butter, 2nd - the mayo, and 3rd - the parmesan. Lay out the dipped rolls on your baking sheet.  After they are all dipped, sprinkle with garlic salt and dried parsley.  Let rise about 4 hours, until doubled.  Preheat oven to 350.  Bake 15-20 minutes until lightly golden.


I'm not certain if you've caught it yet...but I love my carbs.  All things bread are wonderful.  Wheat Thins are the best cracker alive.  So if you have a good bready recipe that I need to try, please send it my way!

P.S. Speaking of carbs, do you let your kids eat crackers/granola bars/anything in the car?  Mine make a complete mess.  Yesterday I started a new game...whoever makes the least amount of crumbs while eating wins.  SUCCESS!  I don't know why I didn't think of this one before.  If you say anything in a happy and competitive tone, they totally buy into it.  My car is quite clean.

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PhotobucketHookingupwithHoH

Yogurt Pie

Yogurt in a pie?  No way.  That sounds weird and kinda gross...but then I tried it.

Hands down.  My favorite pie.  End of story.

This past month when the grandparents were in town, Tyler's mom whipped this up for us to try.  It can be eaten without toppings.  Or you can mix it up with fresh fruit or little chocolate chips.  I'm not sure you could make it wrong.
Yogurt Pie
From Deanna

1 pkg crushed graham crackers
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup chopped pecans and/or walnuts (if you omit these, only do 1/3 cup butter)
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg yolk
1 cup powdered sugar
dash of salt
1 Tbsp milk, as needed
16 oz yogurt (I used raspberry)
1 small cool whip
fruit, fresh or frozen, chopped
fresh fruit or chocolate chips (optional toppings)

First make your graham cracker crust.  Preheat your oven to 350.  Mix your crushed graham crackers and chopped nuts with the butter.  Press into 2 pie tins.  Cook for 10 minutes.  Let cool completely before filling.

Second, mix together the vanilla, egg yolk, powdered sugar, and salt.  If it's too thick, add some milk.  If it's too thin, add more powdered sugar.  Divide in half and spread on the bottom of your pie crusts.

Last, mix together the yogurt, cool whip, and fruit.  Spread over the top of your pies.  Let set for several hours or overnight.  This allows the cool whip to firm the yogurt, preventing gooshing when the pie is sliced.  

Eat with or without toppings.
The first powdered sugar layer.  Spread thin and wide.

Also, thanks to people leaving their garbage by the dumpster, we scored a Little Tykes Town Playhouse and Slide!  I dragged it from the dumpster down the street.  The kids thought we were pretty cool.  I was happy for the $450 still in my pocket.

For the record, does anyone else have better navigation skills than their husband?  I'm pretty sure I wear the pants on that one.  :)

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monogram

Taco Cones

Last week we ate the same thing for dinner about 4 nights in a row.  Lame.  I love the costco unbaked tortillas with sliced chicken patties and veggies, but it feels so un-creative.

I've stepped it up for this week.  

You might remember these from an earlier post (with recipe).  They are SO much better with the unbaked tortillas (baked before eating...of course).  I was feeding a crowd, so I added taco beef as well to the mix.  

Par-tay in your mouth.  

And in case you didn't know, one of my favorite things is a full bottle of Shout Spray-n-wash.  It's a funny thing to be gleeful about, but I can't help myself.

Another random thought - today we were at the park and I was glad it wasn't my kid who took of their pants and decided to run around naked.  That can't make going down the slide any easier.  :)

Marshmallow Lollipops

I didn't think I'd like these.  I mean for real, this looks like kid heaven (peeps are gross).  Wrong!  Sure you can eat them right after you dip them, the chocolate still warm, fondue like.  However, I let these set up and the crunch of the chocolate on the marshmallows was perfect.  

So if you're in the mood for smores without the mess...you have to try the ones rolled in crushed graham crackers.  The kids loved them all.  I found the idea from Whimsical Creations.

*Quote from my 5-year-old: "Mom, I love chocolate.  If I see chocolate, I just have to eat it."  I know exactly how he feels. 


Chair Facelift

I scored a great chair in my craigslist perusing (I'm an addict) and had my friend Lisa work her magic.  Who doesn't love a distressed black chair!?

As for the chair cushion, I was thinking a black and white chevron would look great.  Then I thought frugally and went to my fabric stash.  I had to have something that would work, right?  Yes I did.

Using a leftover yard from some fabric wall art, probably at least 3 years ago, I had the perfect patterned canvas.  Thank you ikea fabrics.

Welcome new computer desk chair.  Low arms, great lines, perfect find.

Before

 After

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I WILL own this light

Words cannot describe...

In June's edition of Elle Decor, they highlighted Keri Russell's home and I love everything about it.  I'm sure her light cost more than a couple pennies, but isn't it beautiful?
This is what I'll be getting instead.  It just might be a happy birthday present to myself...when that day eventually rolls around again.
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photo courtesy overstock.com

Cilantro Lime Ranch

If you haven't made ranch from scratch, now is the time.  I don't mean the hidden valley ranch packets mixed with mayo.  I mean the buttermilk, mayo, spice cupboard type; along with a hint of lime.

After some friends invited us to dinner, and they put on quite the impressive spread, I couldn't resist asking for her secret.  I think I love dinner parties so much because I am intrigued by new recipes and ideas.  So if you invite me or bring something yummy to me, expect me to bug you for the recipes. 

A potato salad recipe is coming to mind.

I digress.
Cilantro Lime Ranch
1/2 pint buttermilk
1/2 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream (or mayo if you're not a sour cream lover)
1/2 tsp dill
1/2 tsp parsley
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
bunch of cilantro, chopped
1 lime, juiced

Mix all ingredients together using beaters.  Adjust seasonings to taste.  If it's too thin, add more mayo, too thick, add more buttermilk.
I can't decide if I'm eating salad to be healthy or to eat more dressing.  I think it might be the latter.  I'm pretty sure I'm a sauce person.

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Girly Hooter Hider

I love a good girly hooter hider, especially when the mom is having a boy.  It should be all about mom's personality and feeling pretty, she's the one wearing it!

I loved making this hooter hider *yes I know they are also called nursing covers...but that's not a very fun name*.  Little man K's preschool teacher is expecting boy #2 and I couldn't resist this last gift when school ended. 

For those looking to make one, they are easy and make fun gifts.  It takes less than a yard of material and some boning.  Next one I make I'll have to do a tutorial.  Cheers to the pregos out there!
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