A New Frost-itude

Isn't "A New Attitude" a slogan for some weight-loss thing?  Anyhoo...

Have you ever frosted cupcakes like this????

Oh my goodness!  I am hooked.  This is one way the book Hello, Cupcake! suggested readers to frost their cupcakes.  Baking is really not my thing....so this totally simplified it for me. 

Empty your canned frosting into a glass measuring cup, and microwave 10 seconds at a time until the frosting is the consistency of Elmer's glue.  Dip and voila!

As you can see in the picture, you do get a bit of a peak on your cupcakes...but I don't care!  Especially if you are going to decorate them further.

These cupcakes I decorated as baseballs for Evander's baseball team.  Eh...someone got into them and dumped them all on the floor while I was in the other room.  Nice.  Eh...and the game ended up being a rain out.  Maybe next time the cupcakes will actually make it to the team.

Preschool Graduate

Aw, time just doesn't slow down. 

Evander graduated from preschool tonight!  He seemed so very proud of himself and had a super fun time at his graduation.

Pledge of Allegiance

There was a space theme to the night, so the kids sang songs and recited poems about the planets and stars.  Funniest line went something like this "...and Pluto's not one [a planet] at all.  Now we've sung our planet song in our graduation hall."  Funny because the last time Evander and I talked about the planets, he was pretty stubborn on Pluto being one.  Even after Uncle Will explained to him that astonomers have been able to see further into the outer part of our Solar System, and know that there are other bodies similar in size to Pluto that would have to be considered a planet by the old criteria.Here's a good article on this: Pluto

Anyhoo...it was pretty stinkin' cute tonight. 



So proud.



Evander and his classmates

And then the evening turned into an all-out preschool dance party!



Right foot, stomp!  Left foot, stomp!  Everybody clap your hands!


Both Emory and Marin really loved to take part in the dancing.

Of course some of the little girls in Evander's class loved on the baby!

And I cannot get rid of this dress.  I had it in my mind to cut it up and do something crafty with it...but then I tried it on and now I want to keep it a dress.  Some of you might recognize it from another graduation ceremony...:-P



Exhausted.  Probably b/c it was exhausting to keep Emory & Marin happy.




Evander with his teacher, Ms. Julie




The many faces of Emory

 It was a fun night of celebrating for the kids as they get ready for.....kindergarten!  Ahhhh!

A Sickie, a Train Ride and a Birthday!

I haven't blogged in....ten days, I think.  That's a record.  I wondered when I started this if I'd ever get to feeling "eh" about it.  Blogger was down for a few days at the end of last week, and so I just started to think about and do other things.  I liked my breathing time, but I do also like planning things for the blog. 

One thing I was concentrating on in the mean time was exercising.  Since Nick said we could take a vacation soon...that was all I needed to start hitting it!  Elliptical, circut training, weights, walks, Just Dance on the Wii...I've tried to do at least something everyday.  So far...no weight loss.  I'll just say that my muscles have gotten bigger.  :-)  I'm sure the Dairy Queen ice cream cake we had for dinner didn't help very much, either. 

Today was the annual Day Out with Thomas in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.  This is something the kids look forward to every year and that we enjoy with Bumpa and Barbie. But, poor Evander didn't get to go with us this year because he was ill.  He also missed his first baseball game so that he could stay home and rest.  :-(  

I hate making judgment calls about my children's health.  Children tend to be, dare I say...a little overdramatic when it comes to this stuff?  Thankfully, the Lord alligned everything with Evander that he felt extreme pain when he woke from a nap as soon as Daddy got home, and we were able to get him into his doctor as soon as Nick and Evander left in the car, get a blood test, get the blood test results within an hour and get antibiotics within the next hour.

Anyhoo...Thomas.  That cheeky little train. 

Emory had a fun day, but definitely was a little reserved without having his brother around.  I get a kick out of the dynamics of having the children in different combinations.

Everyone's favorite tank engine (except Amy Harwedel)



He ran through this obstacle bounce house like he was in it to win it!




Marin loved being on the train.



"This is fun!"

After we returned home, sickly Evander met us at the door.  He was able to get off the couch and play in the yard a little with Daddy.  They found a toad and built a toad house for it.  He was proud of that.  Bumpa and Barbie stuck around for the evening and that was nice.

Did I mention it was my birthday?!?!?!????  I am blessed to have spent my birthday in this way.



24 + 3 + 1 + 1

 


Tried It, Don't Like It

So, I saw this ad in a magazine and was super excited. 



I'm lazy and didn't scan this, but ripped it off some other site.


I have never ever been good at putting make up on, so something that spells it all out for me is perfect!  Definition, color and highlight all in one sweep???  I had to try this!  I want eyes like this:

With a super-d-duper applicator brush designed to fit the contours of the eye, how could you go wrong?

And....and.....and....after TWO sweeps...

Can you tell that anything is even on my eyelids?  Naw, I really can't either.  It's safe to say that I am not impressed with this product.  What a cool idea, but really....it doesn't go on dark enough with one sweep, and I always thought the dark color was *supposed* to be in the crease of your eye.  

Disappointed! 

Elephantz

You know when something is spelled with a "z" that it's really cool.

So, the elephants are back at our zoo!  It was a gorgeous day to enjoy all of the animals with the kids and Grammie.  Oh my goodness was it crowded, though! 

Our elephants have been gone for three or four years while the zoo quadrupled their living space with African Elephant Crossing.  And, I guess it's called a crossing because the elephants literally cross in front of you when they move from the one yard to the next.  We "crossed" through the gate while people stood around not knowing what was going on and missed the elephants up close.  Oh well.

The elephants are so cool, they even have their own web site: http://www.africanelephantcrossing.com/



The star of the zoo



Blue water



Push-button feeding to see the elephants up close.



No exhibit is complete without animal statuary

I want to see those birds!!!

I want out of this thing.  If Daddy were here, he'd let me out.

Capri Sun Lunch Bag Tutorial

I am so thrilled when I can actually use something I've been collecting for a while.  I always say about those items or potential throw aways, "I could do something with that!"...but you know how that goes.  :-P  Sooooooo....I broke out my grocery bag full of Capri Sun pouches. 

Before you do anything with the juice pouches, wash them first.  I puff up the empty bag in my hand and cut a slit in the bottom of the bag with an exacto knife.  A good rinse and a little soap does just fine.  Keep them puffed up and stand them up to dry.  Flatten them out to store or use for sewing when they are devoid of moisture.

Here's what to do to make a lunch bag:

1) Select 14 juice pouches for your bag.  Keep in mind, four will be on the front, four on the back, two on each side and two on the bottom.  Group them this way.  I try to avoid putting two pouches of the same flavor by each other.

2) Turn over two pouches you will be using for the front.  Using the line on the side of the pouches, place one bag just slightly over the other and secure with a piece of tape (you can remove the tape after you stitch if you'd like).

3) Turn the pouches over so that you are sewing on the front of the bag.  Select your zig-zag stitch and sew all the way down.

4) Repeat for the other two pouches to be used on the front.

5) Turn both pairs of sewn pouches over, and place them slightly on top of each other and secure with tape. 

6) Turn to the front side and sew together so that you now have four bags sewn together for your front.

7) Repeat steps 2-6 for the back side of your lunch bag.

8) For the sides, sew two pouches on top of each other in the same manner as you sewed the pouches above.  Do the same with your two bottom pouches.

9) Turn your bottom piece and line up its seam with the center seam of the front of your lunch bag.  Stitch to attach.

10) Add the back piece to your bag so now your lunch bag looks like this:

11) Turn the lunch bag over, and fold up the bottom piece that sticks over the edge.  Place a side piece standing up on your work space, and flush against that flap.  Secure with tape.  Turn over and sew to attach.  Do the same thing for the other side.

12) Now your lunch bag looks like this:

13) Add a velcro hook and velcro loop strip to the front of the bag.  This is so your lunch bag will fold down.

13) Add another piece of velcro on the back of the top piece of velcro that is on the front of your bag and on the inside of the back side of your lunch bag.  Make sense?  This is so your lunch bag will close.

14)  Pinch an edge of the front piece with the edge of a side piece together and sew together like you'd sew two pieces of fabric.  I still like to use the zig-zag stitch as it completes the look.  Repeat with the remaining edges.

15) Done!

I'm thinking this lunch bag will go to one of my Pay It Forward girls.  I really had it in my heart to make this person something else...not sure what...but, she did say she wouldn't mind having one of these a long time ago.  :-)

An Ode to Peanut Butter and Jelly

Peanut butter and jelly
Peanut butter and jelly
Oh how you fill my dear children's bellies
Creamy and cool
Evander will take you to school
And have a lunch that is swelly

Okay...so I'm not a poet. 

Peanut butter and jelly has been Emory's breakfast choice of late...but there are other (sweet!) ways we enjoy our PB&J! 

The first recipe is MY favorite muffin recipe..the kids love 'em, too.  It's from one of those "sneak vegetables into your food so that your children will eat them books."  I'm really not a fan of those cookbooks (thinking of one by Jessica Seinfeld and another by Missy Chase Lapine).  I just think it's a lot of work for minimal vegetable inclusion (in one or both, you need to puree a whole ton of stuff ahead of time).  You can see this recipe has 1/2 c carrot puree...divide that by 12 muffins and you see how very  little vegetable you are actually getting per muffin.

Anyhoo...here's the favorite muffin recipe!  I figured 180 calories per muffin.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY MUFFINS
from Decptively Delicious

1/2 c creamy peanut butter
1/2 c carrot puree (one baby food container works perfectly!)
1/2 c firmly packed brown sugar
2 T soft margarine
1/2 c plain yogurt
1 large egg white
1 c all-purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
jelly

Coat muffin pan with spray. 

Beat peanut butter, carrot, sugar and margarine with wooden spoon.  Stir in yogurt and egg white.  Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Stir just until combined--do not over mix. 

Divide batter among muffin cups.  Drop spoonful of jelly on each (press down slightly so it does not run off the muffin during baking). 

Bake 20-25 minutes in 350° oven.  Turn out onto rack to cool.  Store in airtight container at room temperature for two days or wrap individually and freeze for up to one month. 



All sorts of yummy goodness.


And a favorite peanut butter and jelly cookie:

PEANUT BUTTER & JELLY COOKIES

1 Butter Flavor Crisco stick or 1 c butter flavor Crisco all-vegetable shortening (I've only ever used 1 stick of margarine and they turn out fine)
1 c creamy peanut butter
1 t vanilla
2/3 c firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 c granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 c all-purpose flour
1 c strawberry preserves

Heat oven to 350°.  Combine shortening, peanut butter and vanilla in food processor fitted with metal blade.  Process until well blended and smooth (I've never done this!  Ha).  Add sugars; process until incorporated completely.  Add eggs; beat just until blended.  Add flour; pulse until dough begins to form a ball.  Do not overprocess.

Place dough in a medium bowl.  Shape 1/2 tablespoon of dough into a ball for each cookie.  Place 1 1/2 inches apart on ungreased cooked sheet.  Press thumb into center of each ball to create deep well.  Fill each well with about 1/2 teaspoon preserves.

Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned and firm.  Cool on cookie sheets 4 minutes; transfer to cooling racks.  Leave on racks about 30 minutes or until completely cool.
 


Caught your hand in the cookie jar!


The only bummer about these muffins and cookies is that the jelly is wayyyyyyyy to hot and burny to eat right out of the oven.  Patience is a virtue...a fruit of the Spirit, actually.

Here's what we'll be doing for our next "breakfast for dinner" night:  PB&J Stuffed French Toast

After all of this jelly talk, I must confess that we use JAM on our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!!!  Silly---I don't have time to stand around breaking apart clumps of jelly on a piece of bread!  Just look at that jam spread!