Love the people God gave you because someday He'll need them back

My last kid's birthday party! Can I celebrate or no?

My baby just turned 16 about a month ago - and tonight I threw her a surprise party.  Of course the game system that I was planning on using for entertainment wouldn't work.  We finally got the flatscreen TV mounted last night and the Wii WOULD NOT WORK!  We even bought a new Just Dance - Summer Edition - just for this occasion.  That is how my life is.  Anyway, they had fun being together.  Oh, to be 16 again!

My best side

Four months later....we are perfetaping, priming, and getting ready to paint.  The problem is that because it has taken so long, I want to change SO many other things in my house.  If it had been fast (like 3 days), I wouldn't have had time to find cool houses while blogstalking.  So my house won't be done for a LONG time now.  It's hubby's fault.  Anyway, this chapter is getting closer to closing.

This is another area that has bugged me.  Originally, there were sliding doors to the backyard.  When we had french doors installed, they were smaller - so the solution to hiding the sheetrock extension was moulding.  But it forever bugged me - I considered many things - stenciling the space, some kind of art - but nothing hit me.  I think I figured it out.  It's not done yet, but this is the before:

Hopefully this won't take as long to complete as the rest of the projects.

Good times!

Although the weather wasn't the best, the company definitely was!  We had fun playing in the sand dunes, swimming, coloring Easter eggs and playing.  It was a little crowded.

But that's a small price to pay for this:

Have You Tried This Yet?  You Must!!!

This recipe has been all over Pinterest.  It is lots less time consuming than cinnamon rolls and is just as gooey and yummy.   I think I need to make another cake.  I've already made two this past week.  Here is the recipe.  It would be a delicious addition to an Easter brunch.

It's c.o.m.i.n.g. a.l.o.n.g....

Yes, there is progress.  The fireplace is boxed in, the tile in on the hearth (already has a chip in it), and the base cabinets are sort of attached.  We are heading on a road trip to southern Utah for the weekend to meet up with my daughter and adorable grandkids, so I'm REALLY hoping to paint this whole project next week.  I have it off due to spring break and it would be the PERFECT time.  (I'm hoping that the fireplace elves come and finish this project while we are gone)

On Saturday, we'll be celebrating the last of our March birthdays - with our oldest daughter, Anne.  OK - here goes:
March 2 - our anniversary
March 10 - Desi's birthday
March 16 - David's birthday
March 21 - hubby's birthday
March 28 - Amy's birthday
March 31 - Anne's birthday

Only two of us left for the rest of the year - me and our oldest son - Spencer.

Spring has sprung!

I LOVE forsythia.  They grow kind of wild and crazy like they have been stiffled all winter and are ready to show their stuff.  And the color is so vibrant!.  I just have to have some in my house, even though iit is gray, muddy and bits of snow on the ground outside. - Inside, it's spring! (also, my hubby's birthday - Happy Birthday hubby!)

I couldn't wait to cover the thrift store chair I bought last week and wanting to be frugal about it, I slip covered it in a fabric I already had.  I really like it and especially like having the option to change it when I find a good deal on a fabric I REALLY^ like.  I looks even better with a bright pink pillow on it, and after looking at this photo, I realized that I need to paint the legs black. 

I think maybe a fake fur would look fun?

Thrift Store find

My sister and I went antiquing and thrifting on Friday and we both scored!  I found this adorable chair for $15!- and I have plans...

My sister, who happens to be the creative mind behind the darling cookies at 
http://www.randommusingsfrommypov.com/
- nabbed a dresser - (I might have to steal it).  I have plans for that, too!

Do You Do Tofu?

Doesn't this look like the most delicious slab of protein you have ever seen?  I admit it can taste a little off at times - it needs to be crispy and have a delicious sauce surrounding it - then you would fall in love.  But some members of my family haven't caught the vision, so in order to keep peace (at least some SMALL element of peace) - I prepare some meals with tofu AND chicken.

Which side would you serve yourself from?

Remodeling at a snail's pace

Our minor remodel job in our family room is progressing at a s-l-o-w pace - but it is going in the right direction.  Hubby told me that I could get a new sofa - and he gave a a price limit.  I scoured the ads and didn't find anything I liked for the money.  I need to be able to seat at least sixish - and I have eclectic taste - so I don't do matching furniture (sets like sofa, love seat, matching end tables and lamps for $1000). So I searched our classifieds and found what I wanted.  I'm so happy with my purchase, however when I brought home this beauty  - I noticed something I failed to see when I looked at it in the seller's basement - red dye!  Apparently the red throw pillows they had on it previously had bled onto the white leather and now I am trying to remove this stain.  We've searched and tried several suggestions on the web - not much luck.  Any ideas??

A closer look:

I know!  How could I not have seen it?  I'll keep pillows there - but I DO want to remove this stain if at all possible.

Dessert Fit for a King

This weekend hubby was asked to provide dessert for 40 people.  This is what we chose - a recipe from my little sis.  Even though it isn't the most colorful presentation, it makes up for it in flavor.  They are so DELICIOUS!  English Toffee Torte - of course!

There is a double layer of meringue, with whipped cream mixed with crushed English toffee layered in between the meringue.  This is a great make ahead dessert, because it needs to sit at least 12 hours - to allow the meringue to soften and mesh with the cream.  It is pure heaven.

English Toffe Torte


Meringue:
6 egg whites
2 t. vanilla
1/2 t. cream of tartar
dash salt


Mix until soft peaks form, then gradually add 2 c. sugar.
On brown paper bag or brown craft paper, draw two dinner plate size circles.  Spread the mixture in circles and put in 275 degree oven for 60 minutes.  Then let sit in oven, unopened, for 2 hours.


Filling:
2 c. cream
1 t. vanilla
6 Heath bars crushed - or other english toffee pieces


Whip cream and vanilla til soft peaks form.  Fold in candy pieces.


To assemble, place one meringue disk on serving dish.  Spread half of the cream, then other disk and rest of the cream.  Refridgerate about 8 - 12 hours.  (I've even done this 2 days before).  Just cover with plastic wrap so the cream doesn't get weird.


Invite me over so I can make sure you did it correctly!

Thrift store skirt redo done!

If you can get past the messiness of the teenage girl's bedroom, you'll notice that the skirt is slightly big on me.

All that I really needed to do was take in the sides, HOWEVER, it is lined and the waist has small cording that makes it necessary to cut and resew in place.  I am happy with how it turned out.  I was going to make it for my 15 year old, but I couldn't get her to put it on so I could pin it to her size.  So I have ME a new skirt.
My girls think it's hilarious to have me pose and have them take a picture.  I get NO respect! So I tried taking the picture myself the first time using a mirror, but the flash necessitated me being mocked in order to have them take the photo.

                                                   Me - at peace

                                                    Me - being mocked

I'll be sure to show this to hubby - he needs to see that I can finish a project.

Thrift Store finds

You never know what will show up in thrift stores.  So often I go in and right back out.  Then occasionally there is something you just can't pass up.  Last week I saw these BRAND NEW, UNUSED sheets - top, bottom and two pillowcases for $6!  Also, I have wanted to make a pencil skirt and when I saw this Old Navy skirt - wrong size, but whatever..... I can size it down easily enough.  Those are my plans for this weekend, yep.

I have been trying since last night to download a picture for a new post but the "loading pictures" circle keeps going around and around and around.... Any ideas for me? I can't get it to load anything.

A Well-Kept Secret

These delicious creatures are cinnamon buns - made by students of the Jones Center.  The Jones Center is in the Granite School District and is a place where special ed. students learn skills - in crafts, computer, banquet preparation and food prep.  They make the most wonderful treats in their bakery.  The sugar cookies are yummy, but I have fallen in love with these buns.  If you live in the area and want to try some of the delicacies of the bakery at the Jones Center, give them a call!

Happy Birthday, Abe!!

“With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations.”

I just finished reading this facinating book.  What an amazing leader!

January projects

I don't know why - but every January we decide it's time to do a minor remodel project on some area in our house.  It does seem like the logical time to pull the house apart - right after Christmas and before the yard work in the spring.  However, hubby does taxes as a part-time gig.  So we get the house torn apart and then it sits for several weeks, until the rush of taxes is over.  Then the rush is on to get it done before spring.  We have done that for the past 4 years and probably will continue.  We just don't learn - and I will continue to complain about it.  Just saying.....

So this is where we are.....

It all began with purchasing a flat screen TV.  We couldn't just put it on a table or piece of furniture - we had to mount it to the wall.  And we couldn't just do that without adding shelving and cupboards next to it.  And we couldn't just do that without making over the brick fireplace and hearth. And we couldn't just do that without painting the room a different color.  I'm thinking new furniture, too.  Wow!  It's expensive to get a flat screened TV - and we got a heck of a good deal on it!

Angels among us

Look at this little angel.  Who would ever know that he knows the words to Justin Bieber songs, wears his sister's tutu to dance to J B, and spend hours with his daddy working on cars.  He also has a pretty good arm, especially when throwing the contents of his diaper at you!  But he is an angel and all that matters to him right now is his chocolate chip cookie!

Good Intentions

I had such good intentions of keeping up with blogging, but life has a way of getting in the way of goals.  Go figure!  Other than going back to my part-time job at the school, family drama, a new grandbaby, a trip, and many other excuses, I got off track with blogging.  So here is another attempt to give it a try.


Good things from last year:




Lenixx Jayde

                            
                                                                   



A little rest and relaxation


AND


Delicious pumpkin smoothies

This is so thick and creamy - I have one probably 3 - 4 times a week.  The recipe comes from Angela Liddon's blog "Oh She Glows"  Click here for the recipe.  Pure deliciousness!

What's for dinner, Wednesday?

Even my kids that don't particularly like veggies, like this - Cauliflower Au Gratin.  This is a most-requested recipe and one that you don't even mind eating for breakfast!

AND ONCE AGAIN - a BAD photo for such deliciousness!

Because I'm eating vegan 80% of the time, I veganized half of this recipe.  The right side is the original and the left is the vegan attempt - it didn't turn out too bad, actually!

Cauliflower Au Gratin - original recipe


Remove leaves from the base of the cauliflower and place it whole in a large saucepan with a small amount of water.  Steam, covered, for 10 - 15 minutes or til tender.  Place in a baking dish.


Toss 1/2 c. fresh bread crumbs with 1/4 c. melted butter.  Add 1/2 c. grated parmesan cheese and salt and pepper.  Spread over the cauliflower


Bake at 400 degrees for 10 - 15 minutes, or until golden brown.  Serve in wedges.




For the vegan version:


Same instructions but I used Earth Balance for the butter and approximately 2-3 T. nutritional yeast in place of the cheese.


Original recipe from "Always in Season" cookbook