Monday Meanderings {and link up}

  

Ahhh.  Today, I found normalcy.  It was pretty much awesome.   I still have a lot of things to do on my to-do list, but I am pretty sure that will never go away.  So, here's what I have been reading and thinking.  

Today was the first day of pre-k with Weston.  It's a bittersweet day, because it's the last First Day that I will be homeschooling this little guy (AKA next year. . . both kids in school!!!). On another note, Ethan is loving first grade and his new teacher.  If you haven't ready about why we choose public schools read this. 

I've been posting Ethan's lunches to instagram.  Each day is different from the others and super simple.  Nothing fancy.  Nothing too crazy and nothing that takes longer than 5 minutes.  Have you made any fun lunches lately?

For my teacher friends. . . this post is one of my favorites.ever! 

My mommy friends, this is encouraging.  Save it for a day, when your kids are driving you nuts and you need to lock yourself in the bathroom and have a moment of silence.  Don't let Satan win.  

I started Daniel last week with She Reads Truth.  I am loving it!  I might even be loving it more because last week, they debuted He Reads Truth, which is also going through Daniel.  So, the hubby and I about it at night.  I love that men are getting an opportunity to be encouraged and get into the Bible daily.  

This is one of my favorite dinners.  I almost forgot about it.  My taste buds are so happy I made it again!

And now, it has taken me an hour to type this post.  All because Netflix added Girl Meets World.  Yep.  Major distraction, but so wonderful.  If you haven't watched it. .. Check it out.  I am reliving my high school years of Cory and Topanga! 

Good Night. 

I think it's time for a recipe

It's insane around here.  We started the week off with the first day of school and a sick kid.  Thankfully, the sick kid wasn't the one that had to start school yesterday!  Wouldn't that stink!  I accomplished close to nothing yesterday except cuddle with a sleeping little.  It was awesome! 
Today, I am exhausted, but attempting to get things done.  I have a bottle of cold brew just waiting to be open and made into an iced latte.  That might just have to happen. Soon. 

oOne of the best parts of living in the Central Valley is the fresh produce, especially summer produce.  It's a nice exchange for the heat.  We have so many farmer's Markets it's awesome.  But, the coolest part is CSU Fresno is quite literally down the street and they are BIG on Agriculture (it is the Central Valley, of course!).  One thing that they have mastered is their corn.  People wait in LONG lines when it first makes its debut at the farm store.  I have stocked up throughout the summer and have froze several bags full.  I kind of feel like a squirrel saving acorns for winter.  I managed to get some ears on Thursday before they were gone for good.  I was so excited.  So, today, I cooked them up and got them ready to freeze.

And, I made corn salsa.  So, I thought I would share my recipe, which really isn't a precise recipe. . . we aren't baking it.  There's no chemistry involved. . . only your taste buds. So, if you like it hot, or even hot, hot, add more.  If you don't like it spicy at all. . . use fewer (or no) Jalapenos.  This recipe is really close to the Chipotle one. . . so if you aren't  in the mood to go spend all your money on lunch, make this.  There are ton's of recipes all over Pinterest. . . this is how I do mine.  If you want to do more, just make the proportions appropriate to your taste buds and your hunger. 

Small Batch Corn Salsa
note:  I do not measure when I make this, so I am estimating it here.  It really is all about taste and making it just how you like it. 

Ingredients:
1 - 2 cups of corn, cooked
1/4 cup chopped red onion
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
1/2 Jalapeno, seeded and diced
salt, to taste
lime juice, to taste

Directions:
Put all ingredients in a bowl and toss together.   Try not to eat it all.  Chill covered until ready to serve with tortilla chips or your family's taco night. 

Monday Meanderings and Link Up

 

 I can't believe we are down to the final week of summer.  Our summer has come and gone so quickly.  I might be in denial that one week from today, my oldest will start first grade and I will be homeschooling Weston in pre-K. Soccer and Bible Study will also start soon.   I have a feeling that this year is going to be VERY busy!  

This summer has been full of adventure, excitement, home improvement, and relaxation.  This week has gotten incredibly busy as my to-do list is really, really long.  But, I sewed a blanket for an upcoming baby gift, because I could.  It was so good to sit and sew into the night.  I hadn't done that in awhile.  

I have also been working reading through the O'Malley series by Dee Henderson.  This is the third time I've read the series and it never gets old.  I'm about to start the last book (#6).  I also just discovered she has a new book. . . it's now in my amazon wish list for when I finish the rest of the books on my list.  

I need to start baking soon.  But, seriously, everything on Pinterest looks so tasty.  I'm not sure what we'll start out with, but I think it will involve marshmallows. . . whatever it is.  Oh, and definitely some granola bars.  

This video with Jen Hatmaker.  I feel like she's in my head.  

I read this the other day and it is sooo true.  And funny.  Really, Really funny.  

I started listening to this podcast this summer.  It's a little less distracting than binge watching tv shows and cheesy chick flicks.  It's like listening in on two friends chatting at a coffee shop and so many times I want to interrupt with my two cents!

I went and bought my Bible study book for the fall study at our church.  It even has recipes in it.  A Bible study with recipes.  AWESOMEness!  If you are local, come join me.  

I want this for dessert.  Tonight.  Maybe the ingredients will just appear at my door?  Pretty sure that's some serious wishful thinking. 

I am thinking I should pre-order this book.  I've heard great things about it over here. 

I am working on organizing our family room desk to get it all ready for homeschooling and to also mimimalize the clutter in the office/craft room.  Before yesterday, it was just a place to store old magazines and junk we weren't sure what to do with.  I found some great ideas over here. 

Well, that's all for now.  I hope you have a great start to your week! 

I need your help. . . .

Hello fellow readers.

 I am working hard trying to get this blog updated and ready for some new blog posts, but I need your help.  I am working on an "About Me" page that you can get to know me.  Feel free to leave a comment at the bottom or on my Facebook page of a question that you want to know about me or are curious about.   I look forward to answering them!  

Thanks! 

It's Been Awhile

Whew!  July has been so busy and full of adventure!  Things are starting to slow down around here and I think we can finally find our routine just in time for school to start in a few weeks!  I have a lot of fun blog posts that I've been meaning to blog all summer, but my brain was definitely in vacation mode!  Right now, I am working on giving my little space a little update.  Bear with me while I get things going.

I've been posting a ton to instagram. . . feel free to follow me and see what I've been up to. . . It has been a BUSY summer!

Happy end of July!

Flashback Friday: My favorite Dessert wins!

I have a nice cold iced coffee and I am sitting here blogging.  I mean power blogging.  Why don;t you go grab your favorite drink. . . I'll wait.  That way it will be like you and I are having coffee together.  It's one of my favorite things to do. 

Did you get your drink?  Oh, good.  I hope it's a good one. 

This week has been a strange week.  I had things planned to do with my boys this week: the movies, patriotic crafts, possibly some water play (but we are in a drought and it's so stinking hot and muggy here it's just more fun to  never leave the house!).  Unfortunately the kids have been sick with a nasty cold/fever bug.  The TV has been on non-stop.  Never have I been more thankful for Netflix!  I think my oldest has watched an entire season of Mighty Med.  But between TV, random naps, cough medicine, and saline spray, I think we ill be back to the land of the living in time for our vacation next week.

Anyways, late last week the hubby forwarded an email about a dessert competition for their annual symposium.  This year the theme was a hobbit themed and I had all these grand ideas of getting fondant and fudge striped cookies and making doors or even making  a blackberry pie, but I seriously forgot about it until Monday night when I was reminded about it.  Yep, with our anniversary and Weston getting sick, it just got forgotten.  I felt so bad.  So, Monday night I ran to Target to get supplies for my eclair torte. . . My husband loves it and it always goes over well. 

He even made this really cool sign for it.  He was pretty proud.  In fact, he did most of the work himself, which was so nice!  I love easy desserts that make it seem like you put sooo much time and effort in them.  That afternoon, he texted me saying that it won!  And, seriously, this recipe has been my go-to recipe since before Jon and I had even met (we just celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary!). It just does not lose it's popularity. 

So, click on over here to the original post (from 2010) to get the recipe! 

And hey, tomorrow's the 4th of July. . . this would be super yummy for your BBQ! 

Magazines are cool and so is Chocolate!

I like magazines.  I like them a lot.  My favorite ones are centered around food and crafts.  I am sure that isn't surprising.  However, sometimes they get stacked up until I have time to read them.  This week, I have started tackling that stack. . . and boy does it feel good to sit, relax, and read.  This week, my kids are fighting a nasty cold and so in between cuddling and taking temperatures I am getting some reading done, and this obviously leads to baking. . . despite the fact that it is incredibly hot here!

I blame my bff for this recipe. . . it's her fault for subscribing it to me.  But seriously, I love my gift, and I think my family does too, because the cookies are getting rave reviews from all my test tasters.  

But, despite the heat, chocolate sounded so good and this recipe looked yummy!  And so, while my kiddos were taking a nap this morning, I whipped these up really quick.  They hit the spot, especially when my littlest sickling was whining at exponential proportions.  I mean, these things are sooo good.  I think that you should make some.  soon.  in fact, today, maybe.
 

 Triple Chocolate Cookies
adapted from allrecipes magazine, feb/mar 2014

Ingredients
8 oz. chopped semi sweet chocolate, metled
1 cup flour
1/4 cup flour
1/4 cup dutch cocoa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
5  TBS butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Melt chocolate chunks in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.  Set aside.  In your mixing bowl cream together butter and sugars until nice and creamy.  Add eggs and vanilla. Stir in melted chocolate and then add dry ingredients.  Mix in chocolate chips.  Let sit for about 30 minutes. . . if you can. 

Using your medium cookie scoop, scoop balls onto silpat lined baking sheet and gently press down balls with your palm.  (I find that you are more likely to get the crinkly, perfectly round look rather than a pile of chocolate that closely resembles a pile of poop. . . and please tell me that I am not the only one who thinks that/!?!) 

Bake for 10 minutes and then let sit for another 10 minutes . . . if you can keep away for that long, that is! 

Then eat. . . and maybe save some for a friend.