And what I did today....

Zucchini Bread... I put crushed sugared almonds on top...mmm.....(the zucchini bread came from the zucchini fairy - or as we like to call her, Stacy)
Apple Crumble. I had some apples that were just a little too soft for the boys.

And a white cake mix I added concord grape juice (I got the grapes at the market last week and was too lazy to make jelly).

... so far! I'm feeling energized I guess. That happens to me in the fall. This is my season. Tomorrow is a Chicken Chili day! I browned the chicken in the oven this afternoon so that I'm all ready for the morning.

I know what I did yesterday!

A "before" shot. This was a picture I took when we were looking to buy the house. The wallpaper should have been a deterrent. All-in-all it's a nice kitchen but those cabinets hanging over the counter had to go. I've banged my head on it one too many times! I also thought that it would create a more uniform space; I'm no interior decorator and I was a little scared to see if I was about to make a HUGE mistake...
A "during" picture! We took off the back of the cupboards and this is what was there -pieces missing and everything! I think A. had a great time ripping it all apart but he won't admit it!

Another "during" picture. They're down and we're feeling pretty good about what we found. Phew, it could have been so much worse. But what exactly is going on with that side of the cupboard??? Yah, we still don't know.

The finished product. It opened up the space and made the fireplace room and the kitchen feel like all one unit. We added corkboards and a keyring holder to cover up the big mess that was there. A big improvement and a lot better than spending 10 grand on new cupboards, I think... Next up, removing that wallpaper and painting!!! Oh so fun.

The New Six Pack.

Went to Trader Joe's this week... and look what I found! A magical bag to hold your wine. Six bottles nestled in gorgeous maroon fabric - *sigh*. Being green was never closer to my heart than it is right now. Thank you to the smart people at Trader Joe's. And the truly fabulous part about this bag/container/magic contraption, it's only 99 cents. Go figure. They're practically giving them away. Wouldn't they make great Christmas presents, Hostess gifts, "I love you 'cause you smiled at me" gifts? Oh, the possibilities are endless.

If you haven't purchased yours yet, what are you waiting for? Someone else is going to snap them up (Me?) and there won't be anymore OR some non-wine drinker is going to buy them and use them to put water or juice in or some other type of bottle OR Trader Joe's is going to figure out they've made a grave mistake and priced them too low and before you know it they'll be $2.99. Could happen - of course, Trader Joe's isn't Wal-mart so maybe not (oh, little jab).

I'm hoping that once again I've been living under a rock (we've already established that this has happened to me on more than one occasion) and that great stores across North America are carrying these bags (I'm thinking Sunflower Market in Colorado has to have something like this). Getting my wine put in 11 different paper bags or a brown cardboard box just irks me - oh, but wait, that's not going to happen anymore because I've got this handy dandy little bag. Unfortunately, I only got one for myself (I did get one for some of my friends as well). I plan on getting a second - after all, you get that 10% discount when you buy a case! Mmmm... a thrifty wine drinker - we're a rare breed!

Oh, did you happen to notice that when I bought the bag I had to fill it? I'm missing a bottle in the picture but trust me the bag was full... I'll let you know how the wine drinking goes - we tried the Purple Moon Merlot already and I quite liked it. It's great with stews and soups but not so great with plain chicken. Ick. Oh, and the Torres was good too - also good with soups and tomato based dishes. A. wasn't overly fond of it but he drank it anyway (he's picky like that). Be forewarned, It's got a little plastic bull on the top so be sure to buy as many as you have kids (they fight over the bull - darn kids). It's a tough life being a parent but someone has to do it. Enjoy your wine drinking folks and please, be responsible, do it environmentally!

Dinner.

Looks like quite a production doesn't it? It's just a bit of prep work - quite easy, don't be scared!

Oh, so pretty! Eggplant, bits of cheese, and yummy tomato sauce. It's Fall in a slow cooker. *sigh*

Last night I made Eggplant Parmesan for my family. They all ate it - all of them! This rarely happens in my house - unless it's cheese and crackers and a cut up apple. But to have them all eat a vegetable smothered in more vegetables is just a miracle. Wait, I should admit to you that my children do eat veggies on a regular basis. It's not unheard of; however, Eggplant is a whole different matter. I don't get it - it's actually pretty when you see it growing in a garden!

Just in case you'd like to make this for your family, you can find the basic recipe in the Miserly Mom book. I made my own sauce (for which I have no recipe - I throw stuff in a blender, simmer it on the stove and voila, sauce) and I didn't egg the eggplant (oh, so many things to say here...). I browned the eggplant slices in a skillet on the oven - no oil - and then placed them in the slow cooker. I did sprinkle them with bread crumbs but about 1/4 cup per layer. Oh, and I didn't have mozzerella cheese so I just use the bits in my fridge (everything from goats cheese to Kraft cheese cubes). It's all a little vague - sorry about that. Anyway, it's friday and I think you have to excuse me my craziness on friday, it's a rule somewhere...

A special thank you to my neighbours for all the tomatoes and the eggplant!

Blech.

No, the cupboard isn't removed yet. No, the dresser isn't done yet. No, the chair is not done; nor is the desk. Did I tell you our neighbour gave us a piano? It needs to be oiled and tuned and well, put together. Not done. The hole in the ceiling where the plumber 'fixed' our shower? Not sealed yet.

So what have I been doing? I scrubbed the toilets today. I scraped miles of dried soap off the 3 bathroom sinks. I did the dishes - lots and lots of dishes - and now you can't tell because we ate one meal and the sink is full! I worked in the garden. I played hockey. I went and bought cleaning supplies and new sheets from Target.

A whole day has passed - a whole week has passed - a whole summer has passed - and not one of the things on my list is done. I'm irritated. Can you tell????

What do you do when everyone else is asleep?

This picture was taken somewhere near Fargo, North Dakota. I'd be more specific but if you ever take the road from Fargo to Winnipeg, Manitoba you'd understand how I just can't be.

It is 2:33am. For some reason I can't sleep. I woke up quite unexpectedly. No noises woke me. No alarm was set only to go off when it shouldn't have. No child wandered out of bed and stood staring at me in the dark. The dog didn't even start itching yet. And yet, I'm awake when I should be sleeping.

This is a constant battle with me. It never used to be. I used to be one of those people that could sleep for 12 hours straight and not even have to get up at some point to go pee (yes, I know 12 hours to a twenty-something isn't a long period of time but trust me it was long for me - I maybe a little hyper - go figure). Now, I'm lucky if I can get 4 or 5 hours straight without waking up for 2-3 hours in between. Sometimes when I wake up it's because I get all 'crazy' about something - finances, the house, whether or not I made the phone call I was supposed to make or remembering there's a load of laundry in the washer that needs to be put in the drier NOW. Tonight wasn't like that. I was sleeping quite heavily. I went to bed at 9:30. I was exhausted - I'm still exhausted. Tonight I just woke up. I have no reason. Nothing pressing on my mind. How I wish I had something pressing on my mind that I could do and just get back to sleep.

Now that I'm up I'd like to have ice cream and watch a bad movie (I'm sure that's all that's on TV at this time anyway). Unfortunately I have no ice cream and I'm pretty sure Graeters and Dairy Queen are closed and I'm sooo not going through McDonald's (are they even open) at this hour. I've read everyones' blogs (so nice to be able to catch up). You should all update them so I have something to read at 2 o'clock in the morning! Just saying. I'll probably have to have a nap tomorrow. Then the viscous cycle will continue. Ah, Darn it.

Movies Anyone?

I was wondering around on the internet (oh, surprise) and happened upon the Apple site. Well, doncha know they have a listings of movies that are out in September, October and November. Some of them I haven't even heard of (oh, bigger surprise). I made a list, 'cause I'm good like that. I love lists - this too you might know - and I've got them for everything (this is a whole other blog). I digress....

Here's what I came up with. Keep in mind I really like funny movies. I really dislike scary/thriller movies - I find life already too scary (have you picked up a newspaper lately??). Also, there are some big name movies out there that might be worth checking out (like Fame) and I haven't listed those since you've probably been bombarded with them already. You'll notice a few on mine (The Invention of Lying) but honestly, I only listed them because I hadn't yet heard of them. I might live under a rock.

1. No Impact Man - there's a blog too. It's a little heavy. It's hard being green!

2. All about Steve

3. Paris

4. Coco before Chanel

5. Bright Star

6. The Damned United

7. Couples Retreat

8. An Education

9. The Invention of Lying

10. Youth in Revolt

11. The Men Who Stare at Goats

'Cause you asked.

Grammar isn't my thing can you tell?

Anyway, yesterday I made some "Tracy Knock-off" pretzels - knock offs because I just can't ever seem to follow a recipe (control issues?) and I don't measure anything exactly (again, control issues?) and sometimes I see a recipe for something while I'm making something else and then they just sort of meld together (easily distracted - A.D.D.?). This recipe is a mix of the pretzel recipe off the Pillsbury Unbleached All Purpose Flour bag and a recipe for Herb Focaccia from the GE Breadmaker guide. I don't use the breadmaker anymore (now that I've got the handy dandy Kitchen Aid mixer) but I can never get rid of that guide - they have the best pizza dough recipe in there!

Here's the Recipe for my pretzels. Change it if you will - I won't be offended but I think I should put a clause in here that if you make them then you have to share them. Not with me necessarily (though that would be appreciated) but with a neighbour or a friend. Enjoy and Happy Baking!

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups water (warm)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon granulated sugar
3 1/3 cups of flour
2-3 teaspoons of dried rosemary (or any good herb - I try to cover my bases here and use an all purpose Italian herb mix)
2 1/4 teaspoon yeast
1 tablespoon olive oil
6 cups of water
1/4 cup baking soda
1 tablespoon melted butter and some sea salt for later

Combine water, sugar and yeast - let sit until your yeast starts to work. In a different bowl, combine flour, salt, and herbs. Add your yeast concoction and olive oil to your dry ingredients and mix until combined - kneed when you get to the end until dough is smooth and elastic.

Cover and allow dough to rise in a warm place until double in size (about an hour). Spray 2 cookie sheets with non-stick spray. Punch down dough and divide into 12 pieces for large pretzels or 24 pieces for smaller pretzels. Roll into ropes and shape into pretzels. Place on racks, cover and allow to rise again for another 20 minutes.

Place oven rack at top position and heat to 400F. Combine 6 cups of water and baking soda in a shallow saucepan. Bring to a gentle boil and slowly place pretzels into the water (one at a time for large ones or 3 at a time for smaller but be sure to keep the gentle boil - adding too many too fast will cause the temperature of the water to decrease and your dough to get all icky). Cook for 15-20 seconds per side. Remove with slotted spoon and return to cookie sheet. Sprinkle with salt and bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven. Brush lightly with butter and return to oven for an additional 3 minutes or until lightly browned.

When they come out you can brush them with butter again but you really don't have to (I didn't and they still tasted pretty good). Serve these warm for the best effects and of course, with mustard!

A little so long.

Is there any woman over 30 that didn't want to be Baby? If you say "No" you're lying. The way that man moved his hips was enough to make anyone go weak in the knees. And what about throwing some clay? Yah, you know you wanted to do that too. I thought we were supposed to be afraid of Ghosts. *sigh*

Good-bye Mr. Swayze. Save a dance for me.

Somethings you might like:

Others you might not. Check out some of the other blogs/sites I've found on the Internet. It's just a wealth of knowledge! So exciting. So fun.

A Contest? Why, sure! It's in Oregon - I know someone out there will love this. You have to make your own video however... *sigh* that sounds like work...

101 Cookbooks. It's got healthy stuff so this is really more of a blog about nutritional crap. The recipes look good just the same but I'm sure there's nothing fake in them. Darn, I so like fake stuff. The marathon cookies look good...

A blog on Canadian Baking! Oh, say it isn't so - but yet, it is! Hurray. Not too much in there that seems Canadian however, just the baker. There is a recipe called Pink Sin that sounds divine. Mmm, pink sin. "Ferb, I know what we're doing today!"

How about a recipe for Oreo Cookie Cheesecake with whole Oreos for a crust? Oh, yes, that does sound divine doesn't it? Then you need to check out Bake or Break - more my style. I think she's a little behind - something about a job taking up her time. What's that all about and really, why would you do that to yourself?

And Nigella Lawson. She's lovely, a seemingly great cook and seductive all in one swoop. It's just amazing. She's British so watch out she does use "fat" ingredients and butter but sometimes you just can't do without.

Possibly the best Peanut Sauce EVER! So yummy - probably even better if Amy cooked it for me and did my dishes, wiped the counters, fed the dog, put the kids to bed... I suppose that's asking a little too much from a blogger I've never even met (maybe borders on a little stalkerish).

I may have mentioned this site before: http://www.miserlymoms.com/index.html - not only good for recipes of varying degrees but also great for the budget conscious! You'll find great tips for being frugal on other things besides just food (that's only half the battle isn't it)?


I hope you enjoy. I know, I know, I know - I spend way too much time on the Internet and not enough time cleaning my house, cooking, doing laundry and all of the other stuff I'm supposed to be doing but I don't mind so neither should you! Life's too short to do chores everyday.

Want one?

Putty and his new family (photo copied from Columbus Cocker Rescue site)

Did I say how much I love having Putty with us? He's just a doll. He listens. He's housebroken and he sleeps in his little bed without any problems at all. He loves all of us - well, he's warming to the kids - they're loud, I get his apprehension. It's also nice to have something to snuggle with that doesn't wiggle about. I forgot how much I liked having a pet around. And so I feel that all of you deserve a pet of some sort of your very own. I'm pushy.

Just please, don't go to a pet store (unless they have pets from the shelter - ie. PetSmart) and DO NOT go to a puppy mill (please, oh please don't do that). I understand the draw of a puppy - they're cute. Keep in mind they will grow up and they won't stay a puppy forever! And in case you choose to go the puppy route, remember that the chewing, peeing in your house, and whining will eventually (hopefully) stop. Be patient. However, if you're going to get a puppy look online at a shelter or a rescue group in your area or even a reputable breeder. It's amazing how many little creatures out there don't have homes. And don't limit yourself to a dog (though I'm obviously biased). Check out the lizards, bunnies, rodents and other such animals available! Yep, the sky's the limit!

I am the Queen.

Exhibit A.

Exhibit B.

I believe I've used this title before. I think it was for something different. This time I'm calling myself 'The Queen of Unfinished Projects'. It's true. I'm not ashamed - remember the desk? Not done. The dresser? Not done. The chair? The other chair? Yah, you don't know about the chairs because I haven't mentioned them. The newest project is the cupboards above my counter. I hate them. Let me rephrase that, I HATE THEM! I know, Hate is such a strong word but really, they're just awful. I hit my darn head on them at least once a day. Just irks that crap out of me - and I usually swear. Not that I'm a good swearer but I could be if I really tried.

Anyhoo. I think I can do it. It's not going to be pretty but it needs to happen. It needs to happen soon. If my whole kitchen falls apart when I take them down I'll let you know. Oh, I hope that doesn't happen. That would be bad. A little funny maybe...

*Giggle, Snort, Giggle*

(photo courtesy of some place on the Internet where you can buy posters)

It could have been the cold/allergies. It could have been the Hot Toddy (mmmm...). It could have been that Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott are just freaking funny! A. and I watched "Role Models" last night - be aware that this is NOT intended for children. I haven't laughed that hard at a movie in ages! I was literally doubled over in laughter. And I think it was for no other reason than the movie had great comedic actors; even the children make you laugh, which is saying something 'cause I'm not always a big fan of child actors (that's a whole other topic). It doesn't have a huge plot - it's not cinematic genius but if you're just looking for something to watch on a Saturday night then this is a sure hit. I was delightfully surprised.

A few places I'd like to escape to.

I'm dreaming again. Must be the time of year?! Nothing like back-to-school and leaves falling from the trees to snap you into reality and out of summer bliss. So I started googling places I'd like to stay if I was going to escape (I do this often - this is not my first post on this). Here's a few of those listings. Let me know if you go (and take me with you)!

http://www.onelifeescapes.co.uk/index.php - because a seaside escape in England would be bliss.

http://www.equestrian-escapes.com/ - riding a horse through a forgein country - did you see '10'? Bo Derek had a great time in that movie...

http://www.golfaroundscotland.com/ - what better to do in Scotland than golf? Oh, and drink Scotch - http://www.iknow-scotland.co.uk/tourist_information/all_scotland/all_scotland/scotland_whisky_tours.htm

And if we're being honest with ourselves (which we're not) a vacation dream wouldn't be a vacation dream without Rio - http://www.responsibletravel.com/trip/Trip900926.htm

So where ever you are today (in your head or in reality) hope you're having fun! It's Friday. Phew, made it to another one. That's a relief in itself.

Introducing:

Putty. Silly Putty. Putt-Putt. Sir Putnam. Or just plain, "puppy". The newest addition to our family.

We met across a very crowded parking lot and fell in love after the dog we really wanted was already spoken for. That's pretty much how everything in our life happens and most times the second choice works out much better than the first one would have anyway. The 1st dog was a puppy, not house broken and a little crazy. Phew, looking back I'm soooo glad we didn't get the puppy! Putty is 3, house broken and very, very lazy. He's practically perfect for our family.

We've only had him since yesterday so he's not completely used to us yet and perhaps once he is life will change dramatically. Hopefully not 'cause we really like him just the way he is.