17 month milestone

Sienna Jade is 17 months old today.

I can't believe that much time has gone by since she was born. I'm still traumatized over her pregnancy and labor. She just gets cuter by the day. She's still opting to keep most of her thoughts to herself, but we have gotten her to say a pretty decent "Uh-oh" and she attempts to make a "woofwoof" noise when she sees a dog. As a matter of fact, the other day in the car, I said the word "dog" and she emphatically proceeded to make "woofing" noises for about the next 3 minutes (an eternity in toddler time). She can also recognize and point out quite a few body parts including belly, belly button, hair, ears, eyes, nose, mouth/teeth, and toes.

Today, to celebrate her milestone, she:


1. Got in the kiddie pool WITH her clothes on. That, despite the fact the other day I couldn't even get her to go near it with her swimming suit on.

2. Filled her diaper with HAZMAT-quality material, not once, but TWICE.

3. Attempted to playfully stick a popsicle stick in her sister's face, but ended up shoving it way up Tatiana's nose causing her to shreak in pain and giving her a nosebleed. NICE.

4. Continued to steal all of our hearts and filled our home with joy and laughter.

About Me

This list is from one of my favorite scrapbooking forums. Thought I'd use it as a blog post so ya'll can learn a little more about me.

1. FIRST NAME? Rebecca
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Not that I know of
3. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY? Memorial Day weekend when I was taking Tatiana to the ER
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Yep
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Sara Lee Honey Smoked Turkey
6. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Duh!
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I would think so. I really try and be the kind of friend I would want to be friends with even if others don't reciprocate.
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? Does this blog count?
9. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? Not a lot, but occasionally yes. Usually just to be funny.
10. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? I don't think so
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Probably stronger personality than stronger physically.
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Fresh strawberry
16. SHOE SIZE? 8 to 8 1/2
17. RED OR PINK? pink
18. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? my weight
19. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? Justine
20. WHEN AND WHERE WERE YOU BORN? February 5, 1978 in Elgin, IL
21. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Black capris with bright pink flip-flops
22. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Dinner! Grilled thin cut steak with sauteed mushrooms and onions
23. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Tatiana dragging the chair across the kitchen floor
24 IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? Turquoise
25. FAVORITE SMELL? Good restaurant food
26. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED WITH ON THE PHONE? Jana!
27. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU MEET? I guess how they're dressed.
28. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?. Other than gourmet cooking, baking and scrapbooking?
29. FAVORITE DRINK? IBC Rootbeer
30. FAVORITE SPORT? To watch, Olympic gymnastics or figure skating. To play, volleyball.
31. HAIR COLOR? Light brown with blond highlights.
32. EYE COLOR? Green
33. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Ino
34. FAVORITE FOOD? Almost anything from Red Lobster. Love seafood!! Love chocolate though too..........
35. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Happy ending
36. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Watched part of Never Been Kissed the other day
37. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Lime green
38. SUMMER OR WINTER? winter
39. HUGS OR KISSES? hugs
40. FAVORITE DESSERT? Just one? Creme brulee with fresh berries. Tiramisu. Flourless chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream. Vanilla bean cheesecake with fresh strawberries.
41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? Just started Battle Cry for a Generation by Ron Luce
42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? Don't use a mouse with the laptop ;-)
43. FAVORITE SOUNDS? my wind chimes, the kids laughing really hard, the doorbell ringing (that means a visitor!)
44. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Guatemala
46. IF YOU COULD PICK ANY TWO PEOPLE TO HAVE DINNER WITH, WHO WOULD
THEY BE? Aargh. I really dislike this question. If I don't pick Jesus does that make me a bad Christian? I'm SURE to see Him someday, so any "dinner conversation" I have could wait. I guess I would pick my Great-Grandmother Presz (my mom's grandma) since I don't remember her & would love to have known what she was like and Martha Stewart just so we could talk about how she built her empire.

So the veil on Beck continues to be lifted..........

Happy Dad's Day!!

To all the really special guys in my life: happy dad's day! Do something you enjoy today. Kick back a little. Let ME serve YOU. Oh wait, I pretty much already do that. Well, relax a little more then. I made Rick a special little South Beach breakfast this morning, complete with sun-dried tomato chicken sausage and multi-grain sourdough bread from Trader Joe's. I mean, you didn't think a gourmand would be serving plain ole bacon & eggs, didya?Speaking of Trader Joe's, a made a run the other day to pick-up some goodies. I *love* that place!Here are some of the goodies I picked up:I served the Bruschetta at a party & it was all the rage. The entire jar was gobbled up before m very eyes. I picked up a couple extra jars just to keep on hand for the spur of the moment dinner party or for a little amuse-bouche for Rick & I. In addition to the finds above, I got a container of Lobster Bisque (kinda reminds me of the lobster fondue at Red Lobster), some IGF Maryland crab cakes, a package of heat-n-eat orange chicken (looks yum), some lobster ravioli (can you tell I'm in a seafood phase), a loaf of multi-grain sourdough bread and a wedge of aged super sharp white cheddar. We DID (past-tense emphasis here) have a bag of white cheddar Pirate Booty, but the kids ate half the bag while I browsed in the store & polished off the rest of it the following day. I guess the reason I get so much of their seafood stuff is because it's probably not something I would make at home. I'd make just about any chicken/beef/pork dish, but fresh seafood is kinda hard to come by. They have so many great frozen items to choose from. Anything from IGF salmon to little french appetizers to dim sum to italian desserts. Awesome stuff to keep on hand for when you're having company. I'll let you know how my treasures pan out.

As it relates to my previous post, I did end up ordering Battle Cry for a Generation by Ron Luce from Amazon the other day. Can't wait to read it.

Disturbing

Dear Blog~

I am disturbed. This is not really the type of post I want to share with you after an almost 2 week absence (yikes!), but it definitely is worthy. Normally I share about *warm and fuzzy* topics like my two adorable children, freshly baked comforting goodies, and household tips, with a little bit of "what I did over the weekend" thrown in. NOT TODAY. I had a dream about Teen Mania last night, which prompted me to take a little visit to their website. I looked around for a little bit, saw an unfamiliar term in their forums "Battle Cry", and didn't really give it a second thought. My blog-hungry brain decided to google "teen mania blog" and I really got more fodder than I bargained for. Opinions abounded regarding "Battle Cry" and I don't even know what to think of it. The way all the editorials read make me wonder whether Ron hasn't really gone off the deep end this time or if those writing these comments are purposely giving it a negative spin. Christian facism? Alikening teens at the battle cry rallies to Hitler youth? Ron declaring a blitzkreig? You can read one of the opinion pieces I'm referring to here. You can also visit Battle Cry's website here. It's funny that some of the responses seem to condemn Ron Luce for insisting that we *gasp* take the Bible literally. Ok, well, I believe that. Um, and yes, I do believe abortion is wrong AND homosexuality AND pre-marital sex. Oh wait, I think I see Ron going for the deep end.....wait for me!!

More on this topic later....

A Big Fat Thank You

I just wanted to check in and let everyone (as if very many people read this to begin with) know that yes, I am still alive. I really would like to say thank you to all those people that supported us during our appendectomy experience. It began like a little harmless tummyache and ended with us sitting in the surgical waiting room. It seems so much like a dream now. I appreciate everyone's cards, flowers, calls, thoughts, and prayers. The whole thing has given me renewed enjoyment of my life, from the little seemingly insignificant things to the really big things, like family and my children. I would come home from the hospital for some rest and to get a change of clothes and this house was just that--a house. It felt like a shell. It was so empty and eerie without the people I love living in it. I also realized how much of the LIFE in this house is directly related to my children. They bring so much energy, laughter, and happiness. Thank you God that You were there when we needed You. Thank you for bringing us through one of the hardest experiences in our lives thusfar. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Banana Crunch Muffins

This was my first time making this recipe for banana muffins & judging by the way they were received, it is the only recipe I'll ever need. My neighbor almost ate her husband's muffin and would've told him that I only sent over 3 instead of 4. My girlfriend Jessica's family nearly devoured them all without letting her have one. If it weren't for all their "oohs & aahs" coming from the kitchen, she might've never gotten to taste one. The recipe was created by one of my all time favorite chefs: Ina Garten a.k.a. the Barefoot Contessa. Even her story is inspirational. You can visit her here. I have several of her cookbooks, including the one with the recipe featured here, the Barefoot Contessa Cookbook.

Banana Crunch Muffins

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/2 pound (2 sticks) butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
3/4 c. whole milk
2 t. vanilla extract
1 c. mashed ripe bananas (about 2)
1 c. medium-diced bananas (1 banana)
1 c. small-diced walnuts
1 c. granola
1 c. sweetend shredded coconut

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 18 large muffin cups with paper liners. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the melted butter and blend. Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas, and add them to the flour-and-butter mixture. Scrape the bowl and blend well. Don't overmix. Fold the diced bananas, walnuts, granola, and coconut into the batter. Spoon the batter into the paper liners, filling each one to the top. Top each muffin with dried banana chips, granola, or coconut, if desired. Bake for 25 to 30 mintues, or until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly, remove from the pan, and serve.

Note: I used 1/2 white sugar and 1/2 brown sugar to give them a hint of caramel-y flavor. I used pecans instead of walnuts since that's what I'm partial to. Use what ever rocks your boat. For the granola, I used a cheap generic brand of granola cereal and picked out the raisins. I used a muffin scoop for easy portioning and made them in two batches since I only have one pan.

Madison in Review

The Rios Family had a wonderful weekend! Sienna went for a sleepover to Babcia's house, while Rick, Tatiana & I headed up to Madison, WI. It was gorgeous. I said, "let's move here". No wonder it's ranked one of the best places to live {and cycle~#1 by Bicycling magazine in March 2006}. The architecture was amazing. The city was so clean and lively, with a variety of shopping, restaurants, and activities to choose from. The weather was absolutely perfect. PERFECT. We checked in at our hotel at about 3:30 pm, then went downtown for some shopping. It was so neat to be driving towards the city, then have the Capitol building come into view. So COOL. I stopped in to a couple of neat shops and admired all the different buildings we passed. There were so many cute coffee shops, I wished I could've gone into them all! We ended at the Capitol building, where people were talking, relaxing, playing frisbee on the Capitol lawn. The three of us took some photos on the Capitol steps next to a bronze statue. Tatiana even managed to catch a great one of Rick & I being silly together. It was approaching dinnertime so we passed by a few restaurants before I settled on The Old-Fashioned. I knew I was in the right place when I saw that they were a member of the Slow Food movement. The menu was incredible, with so many local ingredients! They had several cheese platters to choose from so Rick & I indulged in one together. Rick ended up ordering a turkey sandwich and I got a burger. Awesome burger too, with melted cheddar, a handmade garlic spread, and hickory smoked bacon. This bacon was REAL meat. It was like 1/4" thick. SWEET! We both got side salads served with house brandy vinaigrette. Tatiana got macaroni and cheese~this was the real deal though with aged Wisconsin cheddar. YUM! Then we went back to the hotel for the long-awaited {at least by Tatiana} swim session. She couldn't wait! What a fish. After our swimming & hot-tubbing, we went back to our room and ordered Cheaper by the Dozen 2. It was such a cute movie. Tatiana enjoyed it so much & I even teared up at the ending. The next morning was the start of Rick's big day. The long awaited bicycle races. Tatiana and I went for breakfast at Panera Bread Co. and then met dad to watch his second 40 minute race. He ended up dropping out of his 9 am race 15 minutes in, but thanks to our cheering, managed to finished the entire second race. He finished towards the back, but definitely not dead last. It was so much fun to watch. Slight breeze. Lots of sunshine. It was such a great weekend. So nice to spend some special Tati-time, doing the things she likes to do & not having to cook or clean. I can't wait to do it again....

Cajun Seafood Pasta

I've had such a craving for seafood lately! I wish I lived on the East Coast so I could have fresh seafood whenever the mood struck. I've often thought of how the Midwest doesn't really have any great culinary traits like the other areas of the country. The coasts have seafood and the southwest has Tex-mex. Don't even get me started on the South. Those Southerners have cajun, creole, and an entire battery of culinary eccentricities to call their own. They are known for using local produce: think black-eyed peas, okra, collard greens and the like. I mean, even their Iced Tea is different. I'm so jealous. What does the Midwest have to be envious of? Beef? Corn? Wisconsin cheese? I guess we have to start somewhere. Anyway, here's a little ode to the South in the form of a Cajun Seafood recipe. Enjoy!

Cajun Seafood Pasta
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 T. fresh basil, chopped
1/2 T. fresh thyme
1 t. salt
1 t. ground black pepper
1 t. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 c. chopped green onions
1/2 c. chopped fresh parsley
1/4 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/4 pound raw scallops
1/4 c. grated swiss cheese
1/4 c. grated parmesan
1/2 pound dry fettuccine pasta

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Meanwhile, pour cream into large skillet. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until just about boiling. Reduce heat and add herbs, salt, peppers, onion and parsley. Simmer 7 to 8 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in seafood, cooking until shrimp is no longer transparent. Stir in cheeses, blending well. Serve over pasta. Makes three filling servings.

Note: This recipe was adapted from one over at Allrecipes. The sauce will thicken significantly upon adding the cheeses. This is so yummy; creamy with a little bite!

Homemade Mustard

Yep. I'm a freak. A food freak. In most people minds, I'm sure making my own mustard propels me from average-home-cook status to chefly diva status. {At least I hope it does.} It's not even as if making mustard from scratch even requires ANY culinary skills. Just wait 48 hours then push a button?? Does that sound diva-worthy? But I'm betting that making mustard is just not something the average-home-cook would attempt. Probably just sounds intimidating, like boiling a live lobster or frenching a rack of lamb. Now that the veil has been lifted from mustard-making, maybe it is something you would attempt yourself. The simplicity (and cost vs. value) is astonishing.

Mustard
1/2 c. yellow mustard seeds
3/4 c. malt vinegar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 t. salt
5 t. sugar plus additional to taste

Place mustard seeds and garlic in a non-reactive container with lid (like plastic or glass~I used gladware) and cover with malt vinegar. Let sit for 48 hours, adding more vinegar to barely cover the seeds, if needed. Scrape seed mixture into food processor. Add salt and sugar and process until it turns from liquid and seeds to a creamy mixture with seeds, about 3-4 minutes. Add additional vinegar as necessary to form a nice creamy mustard. It will thicken slightly upon standing and benefits from 2-3 weeks of aging.

Note: This recipe was adapted from the wonderful folks over at the That Home Site! Cooking forum. You might need to taste periodically while blending and add more sugar as needed. This is definitely a strong mustard taste and makes a lot!! You could substitute some brown mustard seeds for some of the yellow, but all my market carried was yellow. You could also use cider vinegar instead of malt vinegar, honey instead of sugar, a little added horseradish, and so on. Totally customizable!!

8 Things I Learned from Traffic School

Um, yep, that's right. I went to traffic school on Saturday. The worst part about getting my speeding ticket was the fact that I'm not perfect anymore. I know, it was hard for me to believe too. *Snicker, snicker* So, I figure I'll share some of my newfound knowledge with the masses.

1. Once you are going 50 mph, for every 10 mph of speed you add to that, you double your chances of being involved in a traffic related crash. 2. It is illegal for a driver under the age of 18 to use a cell phone while driving. 3. The most common causes of traffic crashes on I-90 are: following too closely, speeding, and improper lane usage. It is NOT: going the speed limit and getting run over or causing a crash as many of us would like to believe *wink, wink* 4. By the time you realize you are too tired to be driving, you've probably already fallen asleep 6-7 times. 5. Driving while using a cell phone is akin to drive while intoxicated, since you are not focused on the road. Your driving is actually impaired for up to 2 minutes AFTER you have ended your conversation. 6. You can receive a DUI even if your blood alcohol level is NOT above .o8. If you are pulled over due to suspected driving impairment, you can be charged with a DUI. Having a blood alcohol level above the limit of .08 is just one part of the charge. 7. According to this particular instructor, the most ridiculous law ever passed regarding driving is the "left-lane law". The law states that if you are driving the speed limit in the far left-lane and a car approaches you SPEEDING from behind, you are now breaking the law if you do not change lanes. Kinda crazy how a law-breaking driver can come up behind you, the safe driver, and now cause YOU to be breaking the law. CRAZY!! and number 8. I *love* being in school!!! Go ahead and laugh. Just being there reminded me how much I love being in class. Maybe I'll have to take one here soon......

And in case you were wondering, yes, I've been driving dear hubby nuts with all my latest info: "Pay attention to the road." "You're following too closely." "Careful!"

Pesto & Chicken Pesto Sandwich

Pesto

I just can't resist the pungent, fresh flavor of
basil. And now, I am totally turned on to pesto!
I grew several beautifully bountiful basil plants
(try saying that 3 times fast) about 2 summers
ago, but due to morning sickness, I was never
able to get around to making the pesto. I planted 2 basil bushes about two weeks ago, so
hopefully I will have better luck this time around.

2 c. basil
1/2 c. olive oil
2 T. pine nuts, toasted (or walnuts, if you prefer)
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 t. salt
1/2 c. freshly finely grated Parmesan (NOT THE STUFF IN THE GREEN CAN)

Toast the pine nuts in a dry saute pan until lighlty brown. Let cool. Place basil leaves, nuts, garlic and salt in bowl of food processor. Blend until finely chopped. With motor running, slowly pour olive oil through feed tube. Remove basil mixture from food processor and stir in parmesan. Refrigerate until ready to use. Makes about 1 cup. This will be enough to flavor about 1 pound of cooked pasta.

Possible uses: Toss with freshly boiled pasta, chopped tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and/or other vegetables of your choice for a yummy quick meal. Swirl in a tablespoon or two in tomato soup. Spread on chicken sandwiches (photo to follow). Add to mayonnaise for a flavorful sandwich spread.

To note: Pesto can be frozen in ice cube trays and wrapped individually once frozen. You can then use it whenever you need it!


Chicken Pesto Sandwich

Slices of sourdough bread
Slices of fresh tomato
Pesto
Grilled sliced chicken
Shredded italian cheese blend or mozzarella

I was planning on making these sandwiches pannini-style by lightly brushing olive oil on the slices of bread and toasting them on the grill. Of course, after planning this meal I remembered that the grill was out of gas. Lucky me! So I toasted the bread in the toaster, slathered on some pesto, then layered the other ingredients. I ended up with the cheese on top, then broiled them open-faced til the cheese was toasty. These were so yummy!! They were somewhat inspired by sandwiches Skyra & I shared once on a girls' day out. Enjoy!!

Tuesday To-do List

1. Make mustard
2. Make chai mix
3. Put away Sienna’s laundry
4. Go to Wal-Mart for diapers
5. Make sourdough in bread machine
6. Go to post office to mail package
7. Pick-up house
8. Plant Easter lily
9. Frame mother’s day picture
10. Finish Babcia’s album
11. Finish Tatiana’s dress

Yep, I'm making homemade mustard. I've always wanted to try it & I recently came across a mustard making thread on one of my favorite websites. Seems easy enough. Plus, I *love* mustard. The mustard seeds have to soak for 48 hours, so all I've done so far is just get them soaking. I picked up yellow mustard seeds at Woodman's. If I like how it turns out, I'll search for the brown seeds to use in the next batch. I just *love* Woodman's. I can get a whole cartful of groceries for a hundred bucks. The selection is just amazing. They carry pretty much everything, so it's not a matter of if something is there, but where. The only thing I don't like is them bagging my stuff in paper, but I guess it makes up for not having to unload the cart onto a conveyor belt. {The ends of the carts flip down and the cashier just pulls the stuff out and scans it.} I also will be making my trusty chai-mix recipe, substituting splenda for the sugar so it can be a little healthier. Plus I can share with hubby, mom & and any other sugar-free radicals. I am so proud that I finished Tatiana's dress. I think it turned out so cute. I've already purchased more fabric to start on the next one. I think I'll be making size 4 this time though as I had to make too many alterations to this one to make it smaller. The girl is so stinkin' skinny!! I can't wait to post pictures of the mother's day album I am making for my grandma. It's about 80% done. I think it's so cute. Those are my Tuesday to-do's. Now you know what I'm up to.

Felicidades....a little late

Felicidades Cinco de Mayo! Did you know that Cinco de Mayo is not actually the celebration of Mexican Independence as many believe. It's actually to commemorate the victory of a small Mexican militia against French invaders in 1862 at the battle of Puebla, which lifted moral and inspired unity in the Mexican people. Now that you've had a brief history lesson, let's move on to dessert. In this case it's my version of a Mexican dessert: Tres Leches Cake. It's only about a bizillion calories, but who's counting?

Tres Leches Cake
6 eggs, separated
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1/8 t. salt
2 t. baking powder
1/4 c. ice water
1 t. vanilla
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated milk
1 1/4 c. milk (whole or 2%)
3/4 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. rum, brandy, or frangelico (optional)

For the topping:
1 1/4 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. each vanilla & almond extracts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9x13" pan well with pam spray. In a bowl of an electric mixer, beat the egg whites on low speed until soft peaks form. Gradually add the sugar and beat on high until stiff peaks form. Add the egg yolks one at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix the flour, baking powder and salt together and add to the egg mixture. Mix in the ice water and vanilla. Pour batter into dish and bake for 25-30 minutes or until tester comes out clean. Let cool in dish on wire rack for 10 mintues. Meanwhile make the milk syrup: In large bowl mix together the sweetened condensed, evaporated, milk and heavy cream. Mix well. Stir in liquer if using. While cake is in baking dish, poke holes all over using toothpick or skewer and pour milk syrup over the top of the cake. Cool completely, then refrigerate for at least 3 hours before frosting. For the whipped cream topping: chill your beaters and bowl in freezer for 10-15 minutes. Pour heavy cream into a large mixing bowl. Beat until soft peaks form; gradually add the sugar, then the vanilla and almond extracts. Beat until stiff peaks form, being careful not to overbeat. Spread whipped cream evenly over the cake.

This is super yummy. Definitely different from the some dry american cakes you'll get at some birthday parties. Enjoy!!

Buttermilk Pancakes

I make this batch and freeze the leftovers for later (just let them completely cool first). The kids love 'em & there's no excuse not to have a hot breakfast any morning of the week. To reheat, I just pop one in the microwave for about 35 seconds. How easy is that?!

2 c. flour
2 1/2 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
3/4 t. salt
2 T. sugar
2 large eggs
2 c. buttermilk
1/4 c. vegetable oil

Combine first 5 ingredients; stir well. Combine eggs, buttermilk and oil in a bowl; add to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.

I think everyone knows how to make 'em from there. This make nice fluffy cakes.
from the Southern Living at Home Ultimate Cookbook

City Trappings

The city never seems to lose its lure. Maybe it's because I grew up as a suburban girl. I took the train on Saturday to help Ania with a big office project. The weather was perfect for spending the weekend indoors. Rainy and dreary. I stopped at the Red Hen before going to the office for my pre-work lunch. You know you're in the city when a sandwich costs $8. No value meal here folks! Didn't even get chips or a drink with that! Granted it was a tasty sandwich & I can't neglect the fact that it came with 1/4 of a dill pickle, but still. It was chicken with pesto, red onions, lettuce, tomato and provolone on country italian bread. Good, but not $8 good. We worked until about 7 pm, but not before the good Doc brought me a Venti Chai Frappuccino. I *heart* my Starbucks. We went home to dad's and he had fixed some Chicken Caccitore served over pasta with garlic bread and a fresh italian salad. He is such a great cook. I changed into the pajama pants I brought and what would be the odds that they were plaid, just like dad's. And we both had on green shirts to boot. How's that for the apple not falling far. It was actually kinda spooky. After a decent night's sleep, it was back to the office for more work. Piles of paperwork. I had some chinese for lunch that was awesome. The vegetable fried rice had HUGE chunks of fresh veggies: mushrooms, peppers, onions. And the sesame chicken was super. Lightly breaded and fried chunks of white meat chicken served in a sweet and slightly spicy red sauce. YUM! We also had some of Chicago's best buffalo wings from Yakzies just a couple of doors down. I caught the 4:30 pm train back home and got home with still a few hours left of kid time. The daughters were so happy to have mom back and so was the husband. The first words out of his mouth were, "Now I know why you're so happy to see me at the end of the day." He had a good taste of what my days are like, well, without the cooking and cleaning though. He now knows I'm not exaggerating when I tell him how many messes Sienna makes or how much she fusses. It was a good experience for both of us. Glad to be back home though. Home sweet home.

Not-so-Good Day

Yesterday was I day I'd rather not repeat. It started out uneventful. I dropped Tati off at her friend Isabel's house for a before school playdate. Tati just looooooooooovvves Isabel! She tells me this all the time. Then I took a detour to stop by Josh & Stephanie's house under construction. Great house guys! Looks nice from the outside. I get home and promptly locked Sienna in the car. With my keys in the ignition. And the spare key in my purse laying on the passenger seat. Yep, locked her in. At least she was safe, right? Lots of panicking on my part. Had to call the Boone County Sheriff to get her out. Of course they don't carry slim-jims any more due to legal hassles. They outsource the slim-jimming to someone else. What is with all the outsourcing these days? The Village of Capron outsources their permit issuing as well. Doesn't anyone actually do their own work anymore? Wish I could outsource my cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, laundry, etc.

Next part I don't want to repeat is the Battle of the Vegetables. For those who don't have toddlers/preschoolers, let me tell you, it can get ugly. There was gnashing of teeth on both ends. There was crying & complaining. I finally got Tati to put her one piece of carrot and one tiny piece of broccoli in her mouth and chew 'em up. But she couldn't swallow. She was grossing herself out. She gagged. Then she vomited her entire dinner onto herself and the floor. I was so mad. Mad. Mad. Mad. They're only vegetables. Not worms or bugs or anything truly gross. I took a breather outside. I will have to come up with a different vegetable eating tactic. I think we're going to try to focus on one vegetable at a time. We've got a lot to choose from too since the only vegetable she'll eat is corn. (French fries don't count!) Anywho, I came across a great blog for moms of young people. You must check it out. There are links at the top right to the different categories of posts as well as some other family links further down.

Any vegetable eating suggestions welcome. Leave me a comment. Oh, and just so you know, first thing I did after Sienna was released from the car was to put the spare key back in the junk drawer where it belongs.

Family Life

Since my internet was knocked out for the weekend, I've been unable to post anything. Then Sunday, I tried to post but I didn't think it worked--apparently it did. We have been spending A LOT of time outside. Sienna is the family dirtball: she goes straight for the rake and her little patch of soil. Tatiana never liked even the thought of getting all dirty, let alone to go and do it. I can't wait to start picking out some plants and making the yard look pretty. Well, it doesn't look too bad now, but it definitely could use some work. I just received a used patio bench, chair, and table, which I will be working on "updating" in the next few weeks. You know, spray paint, new chair pads, etc.

Here's a photo of the family from Easter: starting from the bottom left is my grandma with Tatiana, me with Sienna, my mom in the upper left, my brother Justin and my Aunt Gigi. It was a lovely day to get together. We ate so much though, both Rick & I had a stomache that night. We could hardly sleep!!

I have been doing some research online to start a homemaking notebook. I want to include things like copies of my grocery list, copies of important documents, cleaning lists, and the like. I have found some places with free downloadable forms which I'm planning on using. You can read about the notebook here and here. I also recently came across these websites about being a better homemaker. Check them out for yourself if you have time: choosing home and Christian homemaking. I can't wait to start including more homemaking goodies and links in my blog. Anyone have any homemaking sites they want to share? Leave me a comment!

this is only a test

testing 1, 2, 3...

Perfect Hard-boiled Eggs

As it turns out, perfectly hard-boiled eggs aren't even boiled at all!

Place eggs in pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir occasionally while heating to help yolks settle into the middle of the egg (for deviled eggs). When water comes to a rolling boil, turn heat off & cover. Let sit for 12 minutes. Drain and put in bowl of ice water, until cooled. Peel. Eggs will have brightly colored yellow yolks and should be perfectly cooked.

{priceless}

Tati: I made a picture of a hero. Wanna see it?
me: Yeah.
Tati: It's a picture of you.
me: *gulp*

Culinary Tip #3

The "Scoop"
Invest in several size muffin scoops, as they have many different uses. Using "scoops" will help your baked items have uniformity, meaning they will be done baking at the same time & will look prettier since they'll all be the same size. Buy a scoop with a sturdy mechanism for turning out your dough. I *love* the brand OXO. They make superb kitchen products. You can buy them at Target or Bed, Bath & Beyond. I'm sure a Linens 'N Things carry them as well. The small scoops can be used for little cookies, portioning mini-muffin batter, and making meatballs. I have a medium sized scoop that I use for cookies all the time. It makes a good sized cookie. I also use it for ice cream, portioning cupcakes & muffins, and for making uniform pancakes. I suppose you could also use it for scooping mashed potatoes or cole-slaw like some cafes do, although I've never tried it myself.

Domestic Diva Tip #1

Cleaning the Microwave
To prevent splatters in the first place, it's best to try and cover anything with the potential for messiness. The inevitable splatter, though, manages somehow to occur. I've spent years scrubbing, spraying Fantastik, using kitchen wipes, etc. NO MORE! I've heard this technique mentioned but never tried it. Put a half of a lemon cut side up in a bowl filled with a little bit of water (about half-way up the lemon) and microwave for 5 minutes. Most of the splatters will just wipe away with a paper towel. Yep, it's that simple. Or if you're like dear friend {M}, you could just buy a new microwave when it gets beyond cleaning!

{Living Mindfully}

If you believe Easter is all about the image at left, you are sadly mistaken. I was disappointed to listen to a friend of a friend talk all about her Easter plans. Coloring eggs. Filling baskets. Chocolate Bunnies. No mention of Jesus in there. I guess even if she had mentioned church, that really may not mean anything as many people are Easter/Christmas church-goers. I have tried to live mindfully this last week & really stay focused on what Easter is all about. Last night as I was putting Sienna to bed, after laying her in the crib, I stepped on and crushed a plastic egg. I was *instantly* struck with the thought that in the same way I crushed this egg beneath my foot, Jesus' body was broken for me. It was such a graphic and appropriate reminder! Then today while driving home from some family festivities, I thought of Him and Easter when listening to the lyrics of a song:

It's all about you, Jesus. And all this is for You, for Your glory and Your fame. It's not about me, as if You should do things my way. You alone are God and I surrender, to Your way. Jesus ~ Lover of my soul, all consuming fire is in Your gaze. Jesus ~ I want You to know, I will follow You for all my days. For no one else in history is like You and history itself belongs to You....

Isn't that really what Easter is all about? It's not about the Easter bunny. It's not about the basket. It's not about the fancy dresses or the big meal or even the church service. It's all about Jesus.
It's so much easier to just live a robotic life, not to think critically about what we watch, what we read, about our choices. So much easier not to live mindfully of the world around us. Easier, but not better. It was Robert Frost in a famous poem who said, "Two roads diverged in a wood and I, I took the one less traveled by." When we live conciously, we live a much better and fuller life. I hope that I can live everyday in light of Easter and the hope that He has given me.

Robert Frost (1874–1963). Mountain Interval. 1920.

1. The Road Not Taken

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

May you chose the road that leads to eternity, the one that is less traveled by. It really will make all the difference.

{Easter Basket}

So here's an Easter basket full of blogging goodies for those faithful readers out there. It's been awhile since I posted any layouts so here's a two-fer. This first one "Boobers" was one I had in my head for awhile & just stems from a desire to preserve Sienna's nickname. The journaling reads:

We named her Sienna Jade. I used to love calling her "bubbly, bubbly baby". Somehow it got shortened to "boobers". And the name just stuck.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but there's a frame of sewing machine stitching around the picture of Sienna. The little journaling circles are stitched as well. I just love this picture of Sienna. It's just so her. Classic Sienna face!

This layout, "Cousins", was made after a recent visit by the Sweigert girls. There is more machine stitching along the top of the patterned paper. The journaling reads:

I remember when Ashley was just a baby. I remember when Jessica took her first steps. And here they are now. Teenagers. With my children. Playing and laughing and holding and caring the same way I did with them. One minute I am buzzing Diana's apartment doorbell and I hear Ashley's feet running to greet me and the next minute I am altering her prom dress. Makes me want to hold Tatiana and Sienna tight. My girls. My 4 girls.

I had so much fun doing this one. It's so springy too. Just puts me in a good mood looking at it!! Last weekend the girls had some Spring activities with Grandpa Rich & Grandma Renee. We had a chilly egg hunt outside which the kids enjoyed, although I think the chocolate eating afterwards was probably more enjoyable. I did have a plan to color Easter eggs this year. I even bought the egg-dyeing kit and 2 dozen eggs. I just never got around to it. Ran out of energy. I think it's been Rick's work schedule taking a toll this last week. Just don't have the oomph to do all the things I wanted to do this week. Rick did have Friday off which was nice. We went to Noodles & Co. for dinner and then to Harvest in Crystal Lake for a Good Friday service. They showed clips of Passion of the Christ, which I've seen before, but yet I still almost threw-up watching it. It was a good reminder of what Christ went through for us.

Yesterday we were blessed to have a visit from Grandma Ania. We went to lunch at Panera & went for a short visit to Babcia's house. Tatiana loved having her Grandma here. Ania rode in the back seat next to her everywhere we went. Grandma also bought the girls some things at Target including a new Care Bear, a Dora rolling suitcase and a Little Tikes picnic table. Tatiana was happy with her new purchases. That was on top of all the goodies she got from her Babcia!! Thanks guys!!

More later.........

Blogger Challenge

Random Challenge of the day:
Let's name some celebrity crushes. Who did you like as a kid, who did you like as a teenager, who do you like now?

Um, I can't really say I had any celebrity crushes as a kid, but as a teenager, it was Jason Priestly {Brandon Walsh on Beverly Hills 90210}. I used to have a huge poster of him on the back of bedroom door. I'd plant a kiss or blow him one at least once a day. Yep, I'm embarrassed now. My face is feeling flushed. Anywho...which celebrity do I like now? I still like Tom Cruise despite all his bad publicity & am a huge Michael Vartan fan {Alias, Never Been Kissed}. I can't leave out Matt Damon or Matthew Fox either. So now a little bit more about me has been demystified.

Tati Talk

So many of the things Tatiana says are noteworthy {and chuckleworthy} for that matter, I thought I'd preserve them for posterity. And maybe I'll make a layout about them at some point.

1. She says "handy-downs" instead of "hand-me-downs". She got the term from Cheaper by the Dozen 2, although she doesn't know what it means. I keep telling her that we'll get her some at a garage sale. It's kinda the same thing, right??So if anyone out there has some summer clothes sized 5/6, this girl really wants handy-downs!!!

2. Not so much something she said, but something she did. So, I'm teaching her how to use my phone in case of emergencies & normally I have to bribe her to even talk on the phone. Well this morning, while I was indisposed, she called my Dad by arrowing down to my recent calls and hitting send. I think she thought she was calling her dad. When my dad answered, she used her good manners and said, "I'm sorry. I must have the wrong number." and hung up {I'm so proud!} So she tried again. My dad realized the situation at hand and told her who he was. She said, "OOOHH." and started up a conversation. I came into the room at the point where she announced, "Your dad called again." Nice try kid.

Hope you had a chuckle or two. Or three.

Garden Goodie

I purchased a bunch of garden goodies at Target the other day. Tatiana and I each got a pair of garden gloves and I bought an extra pair for my mom when she comes over to live vicariously through my yard--or for my grandma or mother-in-law or anyone one else who's got a green thumb and wants to lend a hand. Tatiana picked out her own: pink checked ones with a butterfly on each hand. I also got a three-prong hand claw thingy which is not pictured. Since today was just gorgeous, I spontaneously went to the Super WM and let Tati pick out a plant of her own. She also picked out her own flower pot and watering can. I thought it would be a good experience for her to take care of her own plant. It's called Kalanchoe, unfortunately it requires little water so hopefully she won't drown it to death. I am looking forward to picking out some annuals for the yard, but am waiting for some grandmotherly guidance before doing so. Aren't grandmas the best???? {well most of them are}

After having a home made waffle dinner, the girls and I went for a walk up and down our street--actually *I* was the only one who walked, Tatiana rode her bike and Sienna rode in the stroller. My Tatiana is just so stinkin' friendly. She always greets the other parents coming and going from preschool and is willing to speak to any stranger & will most likely end up inviting them over for a visit or a sleepover. The sad thing is how put off some people often feel by a friendly child wanting to make conversation. Can you not just take 30 seconds out of your day to enjoy some simple kindness from a sweet 4 year old?? Is that too much to ask? If you're reading this and a child approaches you someday at the park/grocery store/bank/Target, please, please, please just give them a minute or two of your attention. You'll make their day. Trust me.

P. S. To the old man who struck up a conversation with my girls while waiting at the Deli: Thank you. Thank you for your kindness.

Egg Bread

This is a very simple, yummy bread machine white bread. It makes great toast too. Enjoy!

Egg Bread
1 c. slightly warmed milk
1 egg
1 T. softened butter
3/4 t. salt
3 c. bread flour (or all-purpose if that's what you have on hand)
2 T. sugar
1 t. yeast

Place ingredients in bread machine in order listed. Select basic or white bread setting. I usually select "medium crust", if you have that option. I select 1 1/2 pound loaf. That's it. So simple.

Couch Bound

Sienna has had the stomach flu for the last two days, so I have been couch bound. I spent the entire day {well most of it} laying on the couch with Sienna, changing positions with her, trying to make her comfortable. I did manage to take Tatiana to preschool and get to WM for some Pedialyte. After much debate this evening Rick & I decided to take her to Immediate Care and then on the way there decided to just wait it out. Dontcha just love the complexities of parenting?? I am trying a week's work of menus from my link on the right at Menus4Moms. Tonights dish was awesome!! I did a tiny bit of tweaking, but it could definitely be considered restaurant quality food. More later.....

Blogger Challenge

Challenge: YOUR SCRAPBOOKING START.

Share how you got started in scrapbooking. I became more interested in scrapbooking after the birth of my first child. I thought it would be a great way to preserve all the memories. I never imagined it would take on a life of its own and become the therapeutic creative outlet that it has.

How long have you been doing it? I actually *started* after Rick & I got married, but more actively about 4 1/2 years ago.

Do you scrap differently now than when you first started? YES!! I didn't really use a lot of embellisments when I first started. Just paper. I also didn't know anything about the use of color and design. I wasn't that great of a photographer either. Everything has changed. Not only do I enjoy looking at all the memories I've preserved, but I also enjoy seeing how my creative process has evolved.

What's changed for you? Anything? I spend a lot more time (and money) scrapbooking now, than when I first started. I've learned so much about this craft and about myself. I plan on doing a Book of Me, something I probably never would've considered when I first started. I didn't ever imagine making money doing something I so enjoy doing. I couldn't have pictured having my very own scrap space (albeit humble). What else has changed? My style, my photography, my journaling--but not my purpose!

Share the circumstances, the people involved - in getting you hooked to this awesome creative outlet! A lady from church gave me a CM album as a bridal shower gift. I was thinking, "Gee. Thanks. What am I going to do with this thing?" Little did I know.....

{Preserved}

I went to my Babcia's house on Tuesday and preserved a little bit of history. I took the girls and Babcia outside for a photo shoot (whether they wanted to or not)! It was a beautiful sunny day & I just kept clicking away. Tatiana's favorite place to be is outside & one of Babcia's favorite things to do is work on her plants, so I thought it fitting. Tatiana walked Daisy around the driveway for awhile--actually I think she was the one that was walked. She also sat on her trike and let Daisy pull her around. What a
great dog! When Babcia was really sick last week, Daisy came into her bedroom (which she never does) and would not leave Babcia's side. Every time Babcia got up to go do something, Daisy would follow her to make sure nothing bad happened. I think that dog was worried. Again, what a great dog.

Here's another picture from our visit. Taken by my budding photographer daughter. Kinda touches me that she's interested in some of the things I'm interested in. She's taken several really great photos since the time she was 3 years old.

I've been realizing this last week how much work keeping up with a blog really is. Especially where the uploading/resizing of pictures is involved. I mean, does anybody even read this thing?? Hello out there? Anybody listening? Bueller...Bueller...Bueller.....

Blogger Challenge

Challenge: You find/win/are given/inherit $100,000. Make a list and itemize exactly what you would do with the money.

1. Remodel kitchen: new cabinets, new SS appliances, tile floor & backsplash, paint, beadboard ceiling, granite/natural stone countertops, accessories: $10,000

2. Purchase small SUV, slightly used: $15,000

3. Plan a 10-year anniversary trip to Europe. 2-week tour including Paris & Italy: $12,000

4. Pay down mortgage & then refinance: $40,000

5. Buy new furniture like living room set & dining room set: $4,000

6. Finish basement: $5,000

7. Open savings account: $10,000

8. Rick & I each get $2k to spend however we wish: $4,000

Grand total: $100,000
Some fun stuff, some practical stuff. I guess that would describe Rick & I as well....

Blogger Challenge

Use your blog to write about YOUR HOPES AND WISHES for YOU. No one else. Not your kids. Not your better half. Not friends and family. But your hopes and wishes for YOU and you alone.

What are they?
Do you have any?

What are YOUR hopes and wishes? YOUR dreams? Elaborate as you wish. Remember, this one is all about YOU.
You matter. How you feel counts. What your deepest dreams, passions are.
Write them down. Get specific. Imagine.

I have been thinking about the answer to this question all day. I can sum up my hopes and wishes for myself in three simple words: Live life fully.
Fully Christian. Fully mother. Fully wife. Fully woman.
Be my best at everything I do. My best--not the best. I want to really enjoy life. Enjoy the journey. I want to really pour myself into all the things that I've been called too. It's not enough for me just to be a stay-at-home mom. I want to have fun with my kids, give them opportunities for enjoyable experiences, really get to know them, their gifts/talents/love languages. It is not enough for me to be a homemaker. I want to be a domestic diva, to have a organized, welcoming, unchaotic, nicely decorated haven. I want to challenge myself with my faith--to understand what being a Christian is really all about and to fully experience the depth and breadth and life of being a child of God. I want to discover my passions. It's not enough for me just to scrapbook. I want to be a life artist, to develop my skills, and perfect my craft. Live life fully.

Don't get me wrong. There are lots of things I'd like to do, but they could still all be categorized as living life fully. I hope to visit Paris someday. If I never had the chance, I know I'd regret it. I would love to have my own successful business, most likely something food related, not just a business, but an experience. I wouldn't mind getting my bachelor's degree, but I realized a long time ago that an education as an end really isn't worth anything and that corporate-ladder climbing for ego's sake is extremely shallow.

What about you? Are you being your best at the things you've been called to? If not, what's stopping you? Life live fully.

Culinary Tip #2

Although it sounds very basic, this tip is crucial. Make sure you have all your ingredients for a recipe before starting your culinary endeavor. Be sure to double check those things that you're pretty sure you have on hand--it couldn't hurt. I learned this lesson the hard way about 1 week ago. Not fun.

Blogger Challenge

Women are powerful creatures. We all have powerful, inspiring women in our lives.
Here's the challenge:

What are some things that YOU have learned from other women/creative women in your life? Make your own list.
What have you learned from these women in your life? What have they taught you?

1. The world keeps on turning even when we're hurting. This is something my mom told me after a break-up with a high school boyfriend & I've carried it with me ever since. Although it seems cruel, life goes on. It just plain does.

2. There is great reward in gardening. Something I picked up from the world's most wonderful Babcia. If through our genes, she passed on even 1/4 of the green thumb she has, I will be grateful. Every time I touch the earth, I will think of her.

3. Mentors are priceless. My dear friend Linda has always had inspiring/compassionate/challenging words for every situation. We've had times of singing, times of weeping, times of laughing, times of silliness. I am eternally grateful for her.

4. Family is so comforting. Thank you Skyra for teaching me this. I really believe that blood made us family, but God made us friends. There is something so comforting having you around.

I really wish I had more highly creative women in my life. People who are inspired to be life artists as I am. Maybe I will have to just make some creative converts.

Culinary Tip #1

Know what a good flavor compliment to chocolate is? Coffee!! Mocha anyone? When making a chocolatey recipe, substitute any liquid called for with coffee, espresso or kahlua. Some local supermarkets carry instant espresso powder which you could add to your chocolate recipe for a boost of flavor. Today Tatiana and I baked brownies. We took a simple boxed brownie mixed from Aldi and substituted the water for instant espresso plus added a half bag of gourmet chocolate chips. An inexpensive way to go from cheap to gourmet!

F-U-N

This was a weekend full of F-U-N! Saturday we dropped off the kiddos so they could have sleepovers & so Rick and I could go on a date with Matt & Skyra. Before we met them, I spent some time with my old family at Noodles & Co. It was a good visit and nice to catch up with my old team. If you go to the Noodles website there is a little icon in the corner to sign up for a Noodlegram!! Just do it. If you've never eaten there or love to eat there, here's your chance for free food. What could be better than that. Right before meeting the Dudleys, Rick & I hung out at Border's where I picked up this:I am so enjoying reading it. It seems like a really worthwhile purchase. It's very informative and the layouts are amazing. If you're into scrapbooking, you should pick one up for yourself. After that We went to Plum Garden to meet Matt & Sky and had a very nice dinner (although I wish we would've ordered the Double Dragon too). We went back to their place for a game of cards. I have not laughed that much in a really really long time. It was great. I gave Skyra this: Just something girly to keep her little trinkets in. Thanks for the great night guys!!!! Sunday morning I painted Sienna's room. I *love, love, love* the color I picked, but unfortunately I did not do as good of a job as I would've liked. I guess that sometimes happens with lighter colors. I will basically have to do a second coat as soon as time allows. I had a nice long visit with Babcia too. I think she really enjoyed the company. Fast forward to today, Monday. Back to life. Back to reality. The house is a mess. I had to fall back into the school routine since spring break is over. Got some catching up to do & I'm so tired. The good news is that today is a *great* mail day. Not only did I get the pictures I ordered online at the Kodak Gallery, but I also got my order from Tie One On. Lookie see: Anywho, hope everyone had some fun this weekend too. And if you're married, please, set some time aside for just you and the hubby to have some fun by going out without the kids. You won't regret it.