Icky Banana

 

Yeah...Note to self: If you're going to stuff a banana in the diaper bag for a snack...give the child the banana, or throw it away before it turns black and squishy... Even in a ziplock bag- K's poor animal crackers that were also in the bag tasted like a banana!

Argh...

Ok, the 'F' might be a slight exaggeration, but not by much. I hate when I take a test, and the one question where I know I'm right, no if-and-or-buts about it- I KNOW the answer because I studied it, and that's it- so it's the only answer I don't double check-and- it is the ONLY one I miss!

Argh! I really need to train my brain not to be so confident! LOL!

Turkey & Rice Lettuce Cups

Turkey & Rice Lettuce Cups with Japanese Cucumber Salad

 

Yummy! - The Cucumber Salad is crazy good!

Ingredients:

1 pound ground turkey 

2  heads Boston lettuce, leaves separated

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger

1 large red bell pepper, finely diced

1/2 cup water

1/2 cup instant brown rice

2 teaspoons sesame oil

1 8-ounce can water chestnuts, rinsed and chopped

1/2 cup chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon Cummin

1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon

 1/2 teaspoon Cloves

1 large carrot, shredded with Vegetable Peeler

 Salt & Pepper to taste

1. Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice; reduce heat to low, cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add turkey and ginger; cook, crumbling with a wooden spoon, until the turkey is cooked through, about 6 minutes. Stir in the cooked rice, bell pepper, water chestnuts, broth, and spices; cook until heated through.
3. To serve, divide lettuce leaves among plates, spoon some of the turkey mixture into each leaf, top with carrot.

Japanese Cucumber Salad
From EatingWell.com

2 medium cucumbers, or 1 large English cucumber

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted 

 

Peel cucumbers to leave alternating green stripes. Slice the cucumbers in half lengthwise; scrape the seeds out with a spoon. Using a food processor or sharp knife, cut into very thin slices. Place in a double layer of paper towel and squeeze gently to remove any excess moisture.
Combine vinegar, sugar and salt in a medium bowl, stirring to dissolve. Add the cucumbers and sesame seeds; toss well to combine. Serve immediately.

(I served it on top!)

Mail-A-Hug

Katelyn loves to hug her Grandparents, but they live too far away to hug anytime she wants. So, with National Hug Someone Day, we made these cute little "Mail-A-Hug" presents to send the Grandparents, and now they can get a hug from Katelyn anytime they want one.

 

Here's what you need:

1. Large cereal box (or multiple smaller boxes); cut open.

2. Paint in your choice of color.

3. Paper Towel or Brush or Plate to dip the hand in the paint

4. Scissors

5. Ribbon

6. Tape (I used double sided)

 

 

 

You know me- I'm crazy on the recycle bit, so we searched the recycle bin and found several boxes we could use to put her prints on. I cut up the sides and laid them flat with the plain side up, and then dipped a folded paper towel in the paint and "brushed" it on to her hand.

 

 

Ha, I was only making one attempt at this picture!

 

 

Make the hand prints on the cardboard, and then let them dry. After they are dry, cut them out, and have your child hold one end of the ribbon and stretch their arms, so you can cut the ribbon at the length of their arm span. Tape the ribbon securely to the back of each hand, label with name and age, and mail!

Recent Read: Freezing

Description: "When a bundle of frozen body parts tumbles out the rear door of a van on a Los Angeles freeway, FBI agent Scott Houston knows just where to go for an off-the-record analysis: Agency 32/1, a non-profit missing persons identification resource center run by forensic anthropologists Jayne Hall and Steelie Lander. Jayne and Steelie quickly determine that the remains are human, though from several women. But Scott’s call has unintended consequences for the two women, putting their lives in jeopardy, as their unique skills uncover evidence leading directly to the killer . . ."

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Other than my obsession with the TV series BONES, I'm in no way, shape, or form- intelligent on anything forensic related, but Author Clea Koff made me feel like I was a sexy and brave forensic anthropologist know-it-all in hot pursuit of a killer with the first installment of her Jayne and Steelie Mysteries.

The Know-It-All intelligence comes from the narrator of the story, who lets us in on essential details, but never giving us more information than the characters know. Koff gives the reader a taste of what could be a great love affair to come throughout the story. Oh, the drama of two people who both want each other in the worst  kind of way, but hide their desires behind file folders and voice recorders while working together off-the-record to solve a haunting case from FBI agent Scott Houston's past.

Don't be so foolish, as to let me mislead you though. The love drama has little, if any true part of this tale. The story is in the Agency 32/1 who work hard to put people back in touch with missing loved ones- dead or alive, and the women who make these reunions happen. Enter: Jayne Hall and Steelie Lander. (Maybe I watch too much television, because I totally pictured Rizzoli & Isles playing these parts in my head.)

They've worked together combing through mass graves with the UN, and now with several body parts spilling off the Freeway, and the unofficial resources of the FBI (somewhat) at their disposal, can they help their agent friends find the killer and more body parts across the U.S. before he targets them? 

If you're looking for a good forensic mystery book- this one is worth picking up mi familia! (Bonus- my mum is a main character...well, her name at least. Jayne Hall.)

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Read an Excerpt on the author's website by CLICKING HERE!

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 I wrote this review earlier, but I wanted to add that I emailed the author letting her know how much I enjoyed the book, and while it may be automated (though it came several days later)- here is what she replied with:

Dear Lara,

I just wanted to say thank you very much for reading Freezing and letting me know your thoughts!  I'm taking your interest in the next book as encouragement, having just finished what I hope will be the final revision on that manuscript.  The book will be coming from a new publisher so we may all have a bit of a wait, but you are now on the list to be notified as soon as there's news.  

Many thanks, again.

Clea

 

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Me: "But I don't want to wait- I want it NOW!"

 

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Town Forum

Congressman Pete Visclosky held 21 Town Forums recently, and Victoria was brave kind enough to watch Katelyn while we attended one of the stops. It was interesting and exciting. We got confirmation on some of the topics that interest us, and learned his position on a couple of topics that we weren't aware of. I thought there would be more people in attendance. Chris and I most be crazy fools, because we read the mailer, circled the one we wanted to go to, and hand it hanging on the cork board in the kitchen for weeks. Aw well - We had a fun and educational time. =)

Play Date

 

Saturday Morning We headed off to South Bend for a play date with Evelyn, Grace, and Scarlett. We went to the Kids' Health Works Museum and then walked across street to the South Bend Chocolate Café for lunch.

 

Health Works was a really great place to spend a couple hours. I had just seen a Groupon for a $35 annual membership, and now I wish I would have bought it.

 

http://www.healthworkskids.org/

 

Movie Monday: Big Helper

This is a couple weeks ago. Hopefully Katelyn soaks up all of Daddy's knowledge for fixing things.

Daily Celebrations: 4

January 22 - Blonde Brownie Day! - A day to bake!
Southern Food
Martha Stewart
SuagrPiesFood

January 23 - Measure Your Feet Day!  - We'll be checking out how much Katelyn's feet have grown, and maybe do the foot print for Daddy's V-day gift!

January 24 - Compliment Day! - Lift someone's spirits today, and give them a compliment.

January 25 - Opposite Day!  -- Hmm....I'd hate to confuse Katelyn when we are trying to teach the right way to do things, so maybe we'll just take a spin around the house walking backwards instead of forwards. Suggestions?

January 26 - Spouse's Day!  - Ok, so Valentine's Day is right around the corner, but who doesn't love a little extra spoiling? I know the way to Chris's heart....milk duds. haha!

January 27 - Thomas Crapper Day! - I'm not joking, and I'm not suggesting we kiss our crappers...but while we sit on them today, let's be glad we're not sitting on a bucket.

January 28: Kazoo Day! - These little things are deafening, but a lot of fun. I'll be grabbing one from the store to teach Katelyn to play. She'll have a blast.

January 29: Puzzle Day! Guess we're putting a puzzle together today! Katelyn is really starting to understand where the pieces go on her animal shapes puzzle.


(Ok, I got a little carried away, and went an extra day...Sorry, I'm too lazy to fix it now.)

Easy Meatballs

 

Yum-Eeee-Oooo!

 

These super fabulous and easy meatballs are great! I actually got the recipe from one of those sample carts at the grocery while visiting Chris's family in Tennessee.

 

Ingredients:

1 Can Jellied Cranberry Sauce

1 Bottle Chili Sauce

2 lbs Frozen Meatballs

 

1) In a large saucepan, heat the sauces till smooth.

2) Add the meatballs, and cook covered on Medium heat for 15-20 minutes.

 

Did I say easy...because I meant to say Eeeee-Zzzzz!

 

(The recipe is actually on the back of the Heinz Chili Sauce too.)

 

I served ours over Rice Pilaf and with a Salad.

 

 

No Snow? No Problem!

 

Katelyn got her hands dirty and sticky last week. We decided to do a cheap and not-as-simple-as-I-thought  simple art project. Miss K is still a wee bit young for it, but she did a fantastic job assisting.

 

I asked her to pick one bottle of glue, and she first grabbed one, then two, and finally three.

 

She loves pulling toilet paper to shreds in the bathroom, so I knew she would love tearing the cotton balls into shreds as well. I helped her with the glue stick and once she learned she needed to put the cotton shreds on the glue---- she tried to take a short cut and put the glue stick in the cotton ball pile.

 

After we got all the cotton on, I drew a top hat on the snowman while Katelyn put the extra cotton balls back into the bag.

 I tried to get her to pose with the picture, but she was sticky and decided pulling the cotton off the paper was much more fun.

Wha-Lah! Our final portrait! He's looking a bit wobbly, haha!

What I'm Watching

I love when T.V. is hot and heavy with my favorite shows, and right now they are all kicking back into gear after a short Holiday hiatus.

I'm almost a little embarrassed to admit that I am locked on ABC's REVENGE. I know a lot of my friends like it as well, but it kind of feels like a guilty pleasure. It floats around between a show for adults and a show for teenagers. There is little action, little killing, little intense drama, but every week I turn it on. There really aren't any "sides" or "team" to be on (though I think they working on that this season.) It just is what it is- a girl using people to get revenge for what they did to her father...but it's worth watching if you are not already doing so. Sunday Nights.

Season 1:

Daddy the show-off

Daddy also got to go to Tumbling class with us on Saturday after swimming. A few of the basketballs came to our side of the gym, so Chris showed all the 'littles' what's up.

Swimming with Daddy

It worked better than expected to have swim lessons postponed last week, because the make up day was on Saturday, which gave Chris the opportunity to swim with Katelyn during the lesson.

Motorboat, motorboat go so slow...

Motorboat, motorboat go so fast,

 Motorboat, motorboat step on the gas!

Everything is a parade for Katelyn.

Waving as she goes by me.

I love their big smiles.

Movie Monday

This is at Grandma and Grandpa West's house. Katelyn playing (?) with Jersey girl.

Daily Celebrations Week 3

January 15: National Strawberry Ice Cream Day! - A delightful scoop of a yummy treat to follow dinner!

January 16: Fig Newton Day! - Mmm...I'll have to put these on this week's shopping list.

January 17: Kid Inventor Day! - Did you know Water Ski's were invented by a kid? Let's find other neat things invented by children today.

January 18: Winnie the Pooh Day! I'll be sure to read a Pooh adventure with Katelyn today.

January 19: Popcorn Day! We have the Air Popper handy. We'll munch and watch cartoons.

January 20: Penguin Awareness Day! Katelyn loves this show called Pingu, (See Below) but I think we'll rent a book about Penguins this week too.

January 21: Hugging Day! - This is going to be fun. We already hug give lots of hugs and kisses. Maybe we'll mail a hug to the grandparents this week.

We got paid...

...by a nice fella paying it forward.

Tonight we're at B-Dubs watching the Broncos/Ravens game, and the guy behind us asks if Katelyn can have some ice cream, and he orders her this huge Sundae with chocolate and a cherry. She wasn't being annoying or anything- just her typical smiley self. It was very nice, so now we'll have to take advantage of an opportunity to Pay-It-Forward another time.

Dinner Time!

Yummy! Yummy! Get in my Belly!

 

I made Zuppa Toscana just like Olive Garden this week! I love this soup, and went through a craze where I was obsessed with it, so every weekend we were paying $20+ bucks for soup and salad. I finally decided that was way too expensive, and have been making it at home for almost two years now. This recipe is good. I serve it with....but of course. salad and bread sticks.

 

(I know, the Kale is missing- but I kid-you-not the grocery was OUT of Kale for two days!)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 1½ tsp crushed red peppers
• 1 large diced white onion
• 4 Tbsp bacon pieces
• 2 tsp garlic puree
• 10 cups water
• 5 cubes of chicken bouillon
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 lb sliced Russet potatoes, or about 3 large potatoes
• ¼ of a bunch of kale

1.  Sauté Italian sausage and crushed red pepper in a large pot. Drain excess fat, refrigerate while you prepare other ingredients.

2. In the same pan, sauté bacon, onions and garlic over low-medium heat for approximately 15 mins. or until the onions are soft.

 

3. Add chicken bouillon and water to the pot and heat until it starts to boil.

4. Add the sliced potatoes and cook until soft, about half an hour.

5. Add the heavy cream and just cook until thoroughly heated.

6. Stir in the sausage and the kale, let all heat through and serve. Delicious!

 

For pictures and more great recipes, check out: Tuscan Recipes

 

 

Mess-Free Fingerpaint Day!

 

 

Katelyn and I have decided that we are going to do one craft project a week together. This past week I made the homemade finger paints again that I posted about in October from the Easie Peasie blog.


3TBS Sugar
1/2 TSP Salt
1/2 CUP Corn Starch
2 CUPS Water
**Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and worm till thickens. Let Cool. Scoop into containers and add food coloring.**

 I think entire process took about 20 minutes, including the cooling time.

I really wasn't feeling a whole messy day of wiping paint off the floor and walls, which is why I was super glad to have stumbled across a fun "Mess-Free" technique from The Hippie Housewife.  I think I was meant to find it this week, because she says she used Painters Tape which I normally don't keep, but since Chris is still painting the bedroom- I had some, and thought that's be better than regular Scotch tape since I couldn't find the roll of Masking Tape.

 

 

All I did was drop a couple spoonful's of the freshly made finger paint into regular sandwich baggies. Then I added several drops of food coloring. I made the first bag with just red, but it was boring, and had too much paint in it. 

 

The second bag Katelyn enjoyed a lot more. I put less paint mixture in the bag, and added blue to one side, and red on the other. Before sealing I tried to get as much air out as possible, and then just taped them to Katelyn's activity desk.  

 

She loved the squishy feeling, and really loved when I would pick her up and put her foot in it. Older children would probably have more fun with bigger bags, but these little bags were perfect for Katelyn at the moment.

Tumbleweed Time

The Winter swim session was supposed to start this past Tuesday. However, the pool had a mechanical problem, and needed to be drained. It was sort of a good thing, because I learned that tumbling class for the 'very littles' follows right after swim, and we were able to get registered for that as well.

The pool was closed, but tumbling was on. Katelyn was a little intimidated at first, but slowly started to tackle the obstacle course, and other activities. She really enjoyed the hula hoops. She cared one around with her for the last half of the class. We're off this morning for day two!

With her friends Evelyn and Grace.

My Beautiful Sleeping Baby

I woke up on Saturday feeling like a terrible mother. I had already gotten up with Katelyn once that night, and when the sound of her crying trickled through the baby monitor again in the middle of the night- I turned it off like I normally do before tossing my legs over the bed to go sit with her. Except this time I was just far too tired. I dreamt that I was up and in her room when I never actually left my bed. (You know, like those odd times when you totally believe you are getting ready for work when the alarm clock goes off again, and you realize all you did was hit the snooze.)

It was 8:30 when I finally rolled out of bed for real, and Chris was still sound asleep. I jumped from the bed in a panic thinking Katelyn was going to hate me. I peeked in her crib to find her just like this. Curled up with the very cool pillow that Thom, Heidi, Matthew, and Andrew had sent her for Christmas and the Atlanta monkey she got from Greg, Cindy, and Sean . (Never mind the fact that she took her diaper off and tossed it out of the crib at some point.) She woke as happy as she normally does.

What I'm Watching....

All Stars!

Every Thursday night like clockwork. Down to the final four, and I am so excited.  

 

Each new season inspires me to bust out the sewing machine. Thankfully, I've managed to keep it tucked (not so neatly) away in the basement this time around. With the bedroom construction Chris decided to do it just would have been far more stress than I needed. Our goal for this year is to finally get the basement cabinets in and the carpet down, so I can get my craft area set up, and Chris can get his canning area set up.

 

Back to the show... I was super bummed when Wendy Pepper went home. I really like her for some reason, but I wasn't all that sad to see Laura Kathleen go. I think I only really like one of her designs the entire season.

 

Katie Holmes was one of the guests last week, and I love, love, love her. (Bonus!)

 

 In case you were wondering- I'm rooting for Uli to take the cake.

The Daughter and Her Father *Poem*

 

Here is the first thing I was inspired to write this year. I know it's weird the picture is of Chris's brother and his daughter, but this was the moment of inspiration for this poem. I actually wrote it down before I fell asleep shortly after toasting the New Year.

 

The late night is shaken with the early morning dark.

At the stroke of midnight a whole year passes

for the daughter and her father.

 

Wind gently parades through the ripples of her dark locks.

Silent drops of rain from the minutes before

wet the ground around them.

Huddled for warmth

are the daughter and her father.

 

A sparkle in the sky explodes with arms of colors and a bang.

…Two…Three…Four…the display continues.

Cheers from neighbors now echo those

of the daughter and her father.

 

Together they toast the New Year.

Champagne flutes of sparkling cider clink together in the air.

A roar of giggling laughter escapes

from the daughter and her father.

 

Together they prepare to love each other throughout the New Year.

Movie Monday

Adorable Video: Katelyn eating the apple she got in her Stocking....(Yes, Santa always seems to put an apple and an orange in our stockings.) ....but...while she is eating it she even tells us it is an apple!

It was a Good Season

Way to go Colts! It may have been a short post-season playoff run, but it was a heck of a good season just the same. We were all dressed and ready to cheer in this house!

 As much as she needed it, poor little Katelyn just wasn't going to take that nap until the game was over.

Chris was hoping the Colts would win, so it would be Manning vs Luck next weekend. He had his ticket pulled up on the site and ready to purchase in case the Colts won. (Not that I would root against my team, but...Let's just say I'm relieved that he's not going to be spending $200 on a game ticket, $400 on a plane ticket, and $180 on a hotel room. There was no stopping him from being at that match-up if it happened.)

Watch out next year boys- Colts are going to take it all!

Daily Celebrations Week 2

January 8: Bubble Bath Day! Aw, Katelyn loves a bubble scrub, but today Momma's hoping to take one too!

January 9: Static Electricity Day! Katelyn is probably too young to understand it, but I'm going to have a blast using a balloon to let her see it.

January 10: Bittersweet Chocolate Day! Yum! Looks like we're going to be making a run to the grocery for some delicious bites.

January 11: Milk Day! Milk was delivered in bottles for the first time on January 11th in 1878. Katelyn can't keep cow's milk down, but maybe we can use some left over chocolate to make some chocolate soy milk.

January 12: Stick to Your New Year's Resolution Day! I know it was a good resolution if I've stuck to one for twelve whole days, but just in case- I'll check my list twice.

January 13: Rubber Ducky Day! Using her Rubber Ducks as props K and I will read "10 Rubber Ducks" together.

January 14: Organize your Home Day! Yes! I'm excited to have-to organize something! I'd love to get the basement done, but we'll stick something small ....like just the Tupperware cabinet.

Our Day in Gatlinburg

Traditional Family Photo at the Park entrance.

To get this shot, we had to wait 3 minutes for a Japanese guy to stop peeing. He was gross.

(We love the mountains. They are so beautiful.)

 

We also made our traditional stop to the Smoky Mountain Knife Works Shop. Katelyn loved the animal show.

 

 

Of Course, we went to the Ober Mall in Gatlinburg. It is a 2 mile tram ride.

 

Another traditional stop to the Taffy Making shop. We got samples of freshly made Peppermint Taffy, yum! Just like when I was younger!

Chris and K being silly in the hotel room.

 

You always find great sights in the mountains. We pulled over for this photo op.  

 

 

 

I love the Smoky Mountains. Everyone should visit there!