The Pioneer Woman Cooks

I have been sick for so long that I have not gotten to the grocery store in ages!

In case your wondering, I am still sick.  This is by far the worst cold/sinus infection/migraine I've ever had.

Anyway, I haven't been cooking or baking much, since, well you know...

My best friend gave me a gift card for my birthday, so with it, I FINALLY bought........

The Pioneer Woman Cooks cookbook!  I have been wanting it for a while.

I even told Ree herself, I would be buying it.

Who does that?  Who goes up to someone and promises they will buy their product?

Me. 

Just to make myself not look like such a dork, my best friend, who was with me that day, told Ree....

"I saw you on Twin Cities Live!"

ha ha, sorry Rach, were both dorks.

So tonight I am making Pioneer Woman's

Comfort Meatballs

and

mashed potatoes.

And in the oven right now is a triple layer from scratch chocolate cake.

It will be frosted with homemade chocolate frosting.

I found that recipe in Better Homes and Gardens magazine.

I will be sharing these recipes and photo's this Friday for Food Friday!

I don't know why food makes me so giddy! 

It's making it all from scratch, I think.  It seems almost healthy or healthier...

I think well, thank goodness it's not a mix from a box that's full of chemicals.

Do you feel that way?

I better go listen for the oven timer, my head is so congested, I can't hear a thing.

Don't forget about Friday!!



Home Staging

As you know our farm is for sale and......not one nibble. 

But that doesn't worry me, all in God's timing.

So, I have been watching HGTV's Get It Sold and I've learned some good tips!

 I have been painting. I hate painting.

 I was a fun mom and let my boys choose their own room colors when we added on to the house.  They each got a new bedroom and a new bathroom. 

Josh chose BRIGHT green.

Nic chose macaroni and cheese orange and BRIGHT green.

Isn't that awful??

It was all I could do to look at those colors, I can't imagine what people have thought at our open houses!

So I painted them, Gentle Cream from Benjamin Moore.

Then I thought, well people may not like the waves in Portia and Sophie's room either, so I painted their room the same color.

My dilema with the girls room is their ceiling is the same green as the top of the walls. 

I HATE painting ceilings.

So I left it green.

We also added neutral light fixtures in the girls rooms and the entry way.

And I have taken down a lot of my decorations around the house.

Neutral, that's what they say!

You will have to stay tuned for after pictures, I am not done "staging".

Food Friday~Kitchen Boss

So I know I said no food friday today, but I'm laying on the couch and I was watching Kitchen Boss, you know Cake Boss?  I love that show.  And he just had a really yummy looking meal on there!
I have never made a meal from a cooking show, but I am going to try it!
It was broccoli and pasta and homemade fish sticks with halibut.
Go to http://www.tlc.com/ and find the recipes under Kitchen Boss.
And tonight DC Cupcakes is on!

Food Friday~ not today:(

I am sick sick sick.  Last Saturday on my birthday I had a migraine and then it turned into the sickness my babies STILL have, headache, sore throat, ear ache, sinus infection, fever, cough.  And then today I woke up with another migraine!
Lord let this misery end!  I have to many chores piling up around me.
Today is the only day I will ever say this..... sure hope we don't get a showing!
Have a good weekend!

Lollibag's are at.......The Mad Cow in Spokane

The Mad Cow

GRAND OPENING

is Thursday Feb. 24 from 5-9pm.

10619 E. Trent

Spokane Valley, WA 99209

Go check it out and support Heidi (owner) and her new store!!

And snatch up a Lollibag, she only has 10!

I wish I could go, but it is to far.  Hopefully I will make it up there again someday soon.

I am so sick, and I am sick of being sick. I am tired of my babies being sick.

And I have so much to do, but I can't cuz I am just so tired and sick.

So I am going to go watch old movies....

Yesterday I watched Murphy's Romance with James Garner and Sally Field.

And then I took a nap.

Please let me know if you attended The Mad Cow open house, let all your friends know!



Parenthood

Remember that movie?  From 1989 with Steve Martin.

I LOVE that movie.

I was up late last night, and it was on TV. 

I was laughing out loud all by myself.

One of my favorite scenes is when they are at a Chuck E Cheese type place and Kevin, their oldest son, he's 9, gets bullied off of a ride and gets his money stolen.  Kevin goes to his parents and starts whining.  The grandpa says, you can take him, your bigger than he is, go get your money back!

Gil, says to his dad, STOP, be quiet!  Then in the midst of the arguing, Kevin starts screaming....

He has lost his retainer.  Kevin's parents rush to quiet him, you can tell they are embarassed.

Grandpa takes the kids home and the next scene is Gil and Karen searching the trash behind Chuck E Cheese for the $200 retainer... they are discussing their high strung boy who is obsessive...

As Gil is washing his hands obsessively under the water faucet outside, he asks Karen where Kevin would get that behavior from.....

It is absolutely hilarious.  Haven't we all been there?

That is why this movie is so funny, because it mirrors real life.

I also love Grandma's story of the roller coaster.  Gil and Karen's life is crazy... Gil has just quit his job, Karen has an unexpected pregnancy, their son is in therapy, life is a roller coaster.

Grandma tells how she went on a roller coaster at 19, and it was so scary, thrilling, made her sick and exciting all at the same time and she wanted to go again.

Much better than a boring merry go round where you just go in circles...she says.

In the end of course, things just work out.

Well.......... birthday's over!

Now just back on to regular life........

SIGH!

I had a nice day, besides everyone else getting  Sophie's sickness.

My oldest son works at a grocery store that is "organic and expensive".

He brought me home a birthday cake from there, REALLY YUMMY!

My hubby surprised me and brought home PF Changs for dinner.

I love having all my children at the dinner table, which rarely happens anymore.  So I was happy!

Even if the boys did wrestle at the dinner table....

This photo just CRACKED ME UP!  It looks like the boys are practicing a tango routine!

Almost like they are looking at each other with such love in their eyes, saying....

ready for the twirl?? 

HA HA!!  I posted this on faceboook, and I was laughing so hard, tears were streaming down my face :)

And then when hubby and I are watching TV later that night, I starting cracking up again, thinking about it!!

Yep, I have my old green sweatpants on!  We are just feeling under the weather.

I love, love, love, love, love my kids!

Even if they make me want to run away sometimes.

I hope everyone has a great Sunday and Monday, no school!!



Birthday wishes to all of you!

Today is my birthday, but I want everyone to do something special too!

Have a piece of cake.

Buy your favorite candy bar.

Get a Starbucks.

Paint your toenails.

Read a book.

Whatever makes you happy, do a little something for yourself.
Then come back here and tell me what you did.

Wouldn't you love to have this fabulous cake waiting for you on your birthday?

This is something I truly wish I could master.  To make a cake like this one.

I would love to surprise someone with it!

Maybe I will!

Have a happy, happy day!

Oh and I'm 39, but it's my first 39, really.

Food Friday~My favorite breakfast

I love eggs.

I love egg salad (only if I make it), sorry don't invite me over and make egg salad.

Same with tuna, I love a tuna sandwich but only if I make it.

So essentially my favorite breakfast is an egg mcmuffin.

But McDonalds is gross.  I don't eat there......maybe once a year.

Well when my dad visits if we are driving around, we get a fries and a coke....

I have to, it is fun to do.

But I don't get a coke, I get ice tea, oh and their ice tea even taste like a sorry stand in for real tea made at home.

So this is what I make almost every day for Me, Nic, Lauren and Portia, for breakfast before school.

And I love making it as much as I love eating it.

So I put the english muffins in the toaster, then I throw some butter in the frying pan.

Butter is good for you, don't let anyone tell you it's not!

Same with eggs, don't toss out the yolks folks.

God didn't do an oopsy and accidentally throw to much cholesterol in there!

I fry up the eggs.

Then I butter the english muffin and put some shredded cheese on one half.

Put on the fried egg and that's it!

And I stay quite full for a long time after eating this.

And sometimes it just feels like there is to much "bun", so I eat only the bottom english muffin.

Do you have a little girl who likes to fix her own hair? 

And then she thinks it is absolutely beautiful and won't let you touch it?

I do and you know what, it is absolutely beautiful!

Of course I tell her what a good job she did!

What is your favorite breakfast?  Please tell me you eat breakfast and don't skip?!!



Life is such a roller coaster..

I have been a HORRIBLE blogger, but these days are flying by and I can hardly believe how fast!

And I am on this roller coaster ride and part of me is excited to see what's around the bend...

but the bend never seems to get here.

So I'm a little tired of waiting for the bend.

And there are lots of hills and valleys.................so it's quite exhausting.

I actually have put a time frame on what I want God to do.

I know, ridiculous.

I keep reminding him, God!  Time is running out for MY plan!

And to add a cherry on top, Sophie is sick AGAIN!

Another sore throat, cough, headache, fever, stomache ache.

She had strep on Jan. 4

She had a headache/sore throat/fever on Jan. 19.

And now this.

I want an adult only tropical vacation, please.....oh and God, please try and stick to my time frame.

New Where Women Create Magazine....Get it!

So I was at Costco today and I saw my favorite magazine there!! 

How CONVENIENT is that??

I got home and put all my cold stuff  away and then opened it up to quick browse through.

I turned the first few pages open and saw photo's from The Creative Connection Event 2010.

And Lo and Behold....wait... is it?.... no .........wait, yes it is!

There it is~

A Lollibag!

Then I turned the page and ANOTHER picture of a Lollibag!

This has just made my day!

What are you waiting for?  Go to Costco and buy your copy!!



Food Friday~I love donuts...I won a giveaway!!

Well I do not have a recipe today, but thought we could chat about donuts and bakery's.

Hmmm?

There is nothing I love more than a donut.

I love chocolate eclairs.

I love apple fritters.

I love old fashioned glazed.

I love cake donuts.

I love jelly filled with powdered sugar.

I love a donut with hot coffee.

I love a donut with iced coffee.

I love starbucks mini birthday cake donuts.

I treat myself to a donut about 3 times a year.

Why only 3 times a year?  Because I cannot control myself around donuts.

I turn into a crazy lady who hunkers over the donut box and can't shovel them in fast enough.

I have always wanted my own bakery.

To have commercial size mixers.

To make donuts and cakes and pies.

To get up and start baking at 3am, when no one else is awake, to have a cup of coffee in my hand, to drive to MY bakery in the dark...

To start crafting baked goods, all by myself!

What's your favorite donut?

Do you treat yourself to that donut?

I ordered these earrings...

I fell in love the minute I saw them.

They are different.

I wore them last night on date night.  I adore them!

They are from here .

I also entered the giveaway on her blog and won this necklace!

I can't wait for it to arrive in my mailbox!

Something else I love, packages in the mail.

Thanks Patricia!

Will trade Lollibag's for Louboutin's

Do you think he would go for it?



Lolli's for You

I've been sewing again.

Here are some new Lollibag's I've just listed in my etsy shop.

Flower and Ruffles are in Amy Butler ~Love~ fabric.

More Amy Butler ~Love~ and a polka dot flower.

One of my new vintage buttons.

A Little Lolli.

With a big flower.

Have a happy day!



XOXO

It is almost Valentine's Day!

We had an open house last Wednesday and I had to take Sophie and be gone all day.

Sophie and I meandered through an antique shop and found these.

There were two X's and one O.  I wish there had been two of each. 

I just bought the X and O and a bag of blue vintage buttons.

They are perfectly distressed.

I love the colors peeking through.

Have a great Monday!

XOXO



Food Friday~Taco Spaghetti

OK, well I said earlier in the week I wanted to share coconut bread today.

YUCK!

I tried it and it didn't turn out or I screwed it up somehow.

So I am sharing what I made for dinner last night, which didn't sound very good to me, but it was

DELICIOUS.

BUT...... I don't have any pictures, and I know some of you are like me, you won't try anything without a photo. 

Well take heart lovely, no worries, this is good.

Taco Spaghetti

5oz. packaged spaghetti (I used rotini pasta)

1 pound ground beef

1 large onion, chopped

3/4 C water

1/2 of a 1.25 oz envelope taco seasoning mix (oops I misread that and threw the whole thing in!)

1 11oz. can whole kernel corn, drained (I used half the can, I don't like corn)

1 C sliced, pitted olives (yuck, not for me)

1 C shredded cheese

1/2 C salsa

1 4oz. can diced green chile peppers, drained

6 C shredded lettuce

1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped

Tortilla chips (optional, ya right, a must!)

Dairy sour cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Cook pasta according to package directions; drain.  Set aside.

In a large skillet, cook beef and onion over medium heat until meat is brown.  Drain off fat.  Stir in water and taco seasoning.  Bring to boiling; reduce heat.  Simmer, uncovered, for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Stir in cooked pasta, drained corn, olives, half of the shredded cheese, the salsa, and drained chile peppers.

Transfer mixture to a lightly greased 2 quart casserole dish.  Cover and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until heated through.  Sprinkle with remaining shredded cheese.

Serve with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato, and, if desired tortilla chips and sour cream.

Makes 6 servings.

Ok now I must tell you I really veered off this recipe.  I must have had more ground beef than one pound and I used a bit more pasta, I used more cheese.  So with all that "more" I used a bigger baking dish too.

As I was making this I thought it was not going to be good, but I was so suprised when I took that first bite!

Also I did not have any sour cream or shredded lettuce in the house, so imagine how much better it would be with those items!!

I always say let me know if you try it, I mean it let me know!

Stay tuned for more info on the shop that is carrying Lollibag's up in Spokane, Washington!

I hope all my friends here who live up there will go support this wonderful lady!

New Lollibag's

HELLOOOOO Friends...

Here are some photo's of the Lollibag's I've been working on, they will be going to Spokane.

In a few days I'll be giving you the name and address of the shop they will be in!

The owner of the shop ordered several of the diagonal ruffles in Amy Butler fabric with a flower in the corner.

This is my absolute favorite one, I love the polka dot flower with the vintage blue button.

Actually I really like the flower on this one too.

And she ordered several flower Lollibag's.  I had a couple in stock, so you've seen those as some point, I won't show those again.

I love this one too, I had never made a flower Lolli out of this fabric and now that I see it, I am going to sew a few more of these.

Stay tuned for more info!!!

Have a great Thursday, I'm off to sew.



I have a wholesale order!

Yippee!

I have been sewing and sewing for the last week and I just have a couple days left and I'll be done with the order.

I don't have pictures for you today, but I am going to take some when the Lollibag's are done.

They are going to a shop in Spokane, I'll tell you more about it when I post pictures.

I also found a new recipe for bread made with coconut flour, I am hoping to have time to make that this week to share with you on Food Friday.

It just seems like time is running away from me and I am being ripped into 100 directions.

Not to complain..... well ok I'll complain a little..

Is anyone else feeling like an unappreciated wife and mom?

You do do do do do and do

and there is no thanks, no smile, no hug, no pat on the back.

And then the 3 year old, who is so darn cute, but is always at my feet.  Today I literally tripped over her, she was sitting at my feet behind me and I went to walk away and I tripped.

And it's....

mom, play with me

mom, can you open dis

mom gotta go potty

want a treat

want a smoovie

can I have cookie? peeeeeeeeezzzzz?

wanna watch wittle bear

where's dawd

when's dawd comin home

I hungy

where's bunny

I love that little girl, but there is no break, I can't even go to the bathroom by myself.

My husband wonders why I take so long in the shower every night, I only take 30 minutes, but I treasure those 30 minutes, I am alone.

And then you go to bed and do it again the next day!

I need a break,

I need a spa weekend, a weekend with girlfriends.

We can pretend, who wants to go with me and where are we going???