by Alexis -

Baking Mania

A friend let me borrow her measuring cups (because we don’t have any yet- moving adventures) and I’ve been wanting to do some fall baking. So I’m taking today and tomorrow to bake my heart out and freeze as much as I can. I’m making 2 loaves of banana bread, tons of cookies, cinnamon rolls and muffins.

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Here’s my families banana bread. I did not taint it by putting in nuts. I don’t like nuts in my baked goods- it’s a personal thing.

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Next I made the cookies. Well, still in progress, Emma is watching ‘Barney Goes to the Zoo’ while I take pictures and blog. Man he’s annoying…

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My mom has a secret recipe that I will never give away. I had to promise her my first child if I gave it away. Now that I think about it she would be just fine getting Emma…too bad mom- she’s mine. 🙂

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I’m going to make the muffins tonight and cinnamon rolls Saturday morning. Bye peeps!

by Alexis -

Women’s group

I went to a women’s group at my church, and it felt good to be with the women I had grown to love last year while I was apart of it. Familiar faces and awkward ‘Get to know eachother’ games…it’s all apart of the experience. 🙂

Anyhoo, I wanted to write quickly about something we talked about. In the beginning of the book of James, he challenges us to consider it pure joy to go through trials of many kinds. James is my favorite book and has been for my whole life. I have read that before but didn’t know how to make it applicable to my life today. While it sounds simple, it’s hard to live out!

We talked about when we go through hard trials/times/seasons we have many choices. To be angry is a popular choice, and so is chosing to close down to the world around you. However, James tells us that a choice we should be making is JOY. We should choose to be joyful in the hard seasons of our lives to develop the character necessary to show Gods love to others.

There is always the other side of the coin and one could say that someone could choose joy too much and be disillusioned to the realities surrounding them. There are always two sides to everything and keeping it all in tension is the struggle called humanity…yes we/I will be closer to one side and the other another day, but what I think is most important is choosing to make the choice to take JOY and trudge through whatever season God has you/me in.

by Alexis -

Textures

I’ve been slowely noticing all the different textures around me in our home. I love it and it’s getting the creative juices flowing again. In the summer time the creative side to me always goes dormant. Before it’s been squelched by the sun rays and any time it tries to peek it’s little head out it gets sun stroke. I don’t really like summer.

Yes, I wrote that and you can pray for me if you like, but it’s how I feel. Fall has always been my favorite season and now that it’s upon us (officially!) my eyes have been noticing different things in our home. The prickly-ness of our aloe plant, the smoothness of our couch and many other things.

Here are some pictures of some textures that stand out to me.

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Lastly, I like the texture but also the print of a dress I’m wearing today.

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by Alexis -

First day of Fall

A friend took me out to lunch today and I had my first taste of pumpkin pie.

It was spicy, smooth and wonderful.

I’ve missed you pumpkin pie, but I’m glad we’re getting reacquainted.

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HAPPY FIRST DAY OF AUTUMN!!!!!!!!!

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by Alexis -

Crispy Yogurt Chicken

A group of us has decided to do Pioneer Woman’s Recipes every Monday. Recipes from her book/web site. I’m looking forward to seeing all the different kinds of ways people do the same recipe. This was chosen by Melissa over at Purple and Pink. 🙂

Here’s the link! I didn’t have all the ingredients like…the main ones. I substituted the plain yogurt for light mayo and panko for bread crumbs. I really wish I had the panko cause I love all things crispy. But still, it was very tasty and Emma ate tons. 🙂 Great pick Melissa!

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by Alexis -

Pink lady

I always said that if God ever gave me a girl I wouldn’t be one of those mothers that dresed them up in pink everyday as though they were a walking advertisement for Pepto Bismol.

I think I failed.

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Shoes: Krakow, Poland

Pants: Walmart

Skirt: Hand me down from friends

Shirt: Oma

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And the winner of the earrings is JOYCE!!!! 🙂 Congratulations!

by Alexis -

Simple Elegant Emeralds

No, this giveaway does not involve REAL emeralds- some day when I’m rich, promise. But util then you will have to be ok with emerald colored crystals. While I was in Europe last year, Krakow, Poland, I noticed many women wearing earrings that were long, simple and also feminine. I like sparkly things too, so I combined both. I also like things that swoosh.

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I know they could be more complex and intricate but my life is complex enough. Don’t know about you, but a pair of simple earrings is not only easy to wear with more things, but it somehow offsets the ‘complex’ areas of my life. Rereading that, how weird that sounds! But I guess it’s true. Anyhoo, I am giving theses to one of you. All you have to do is comment on this blog. Easy Shmeezy.

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Rules: Just comment on this blog. Winner will be chosen by Random.com. You have until tomorrow to comment and tell your friends. Or if you don’t want them winning don’t tell them.

Compleeeeetly different subject- I found this blog and like it. Check it out.

by Alexis -

Apple Crisp

I’ve been thinking about putting Emma in a cooking class a local Community Center offers. But the more I thought about it, I was like, ” Psh! Whatever! I cook and bake and I’ll just do it myself!” So today was day one. She did great, I wasn’t afraid of any messes she would make (it’s how you learn right?) and we had a great time together- which was the ultimate point.

I must say that it turned out pretty good. I like a crispier ‘Crisp’ but I think only picky Crisp people would have an opinion about it. I’m going to serve it for dessert tonight with whipped cream. It will be amazing.

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Ingredients. I also added vanilla extract and a t. of butter in the filling.

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I had the best helper. This is her ‘cheese’ smile. Not bad compared to mine when I was her age. I would smile so big and strained. It’s cute now, but in middle school I was less than excited to see those pictures of me resurface.

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I followed their recipe. It was easy and simple, perfect for a two year old helper. They cut the apples into little tiny piees. I didn’t do that, I like them big and chunky. It reminds me of the chunky sweaters and scarfs I like to wear in the winter time. And Emma’s chunky cheeks. I like to rub my nose on her cheeks. She giggles and probably thinks I’m weird. That’s probably true.

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The finished product. Beautiful huh. It kinda looks like peaches to me, which I wouldn’t mind a peach crisp, but it IS Fall season and apples are just right for this time of year. Yes, it was as good as it looks. I took it out still bubbling and felt that giddy, excited bubbly feeling when you make something and it turns out like you were hoping.

I was really looking forward to taking pictures. I’m trying a new twist on my food picture taking and we’ll see how they turn out. All in all, make this recipe when you’re feeling like you want to snuggle in a blanket and surf the internet for hours. Don’t deny it, we all have that craving. This is perfect for those evenings. Oh and don’t worry about always having it hot, eat it cold, it then tastes like the inside of an apple pie. Mmmmm.

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Warning: This is a dessert that has the possibility to become a ‘Comfort Food’. You know, one of those foods that you are happy to get out of bed in the mornings to eat. Still in your pj’s. Crazy hair. Smiling. (you know what I’ll be having for breakfast tomorrow) OK, you have been warned.

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Check back tomorrow for your own benefit. Yes, I am giving something away possibly to you! Oh and you want it- trust me.

by Alexis -

Meal Plan

Ah the lovely and boring task of writing the 2 week menu plan. I swear by it and tell anyone who complains that they NEED to do it if they want to save money and sanity. I hate that time of day when you’re like  ‘Oh great (not), I need to make food. Let me pull myself away from the internet to see what I have in my kitchen that’s not spoiled or past expiration date.”

I go shopping every 2 weeks and that day was today. So, lucky reader, you get to see what we will be eating for the next 2 weeks. Not because I think it’s incredibly interesting and you HAVE to know, but because if I don’t make this list and post it, I’ll forget what I wanted to make, totally screw up the menus and thus will have nothing to eat by the beginning of my second week.

And I will complain. That I need noodles from The Olive Garden- it’s never ending pasta season right now. Or the Cheesy Biscuits from Red Lobster. I’ve once eaten 12, just for a lunch. Don’t judge me- you can walk in, order them only and it costs $4. Yeah. That’s why I did it. Oh and they crumble in my mouth and make me happy.

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Thursday: Homemade Pizza-BBQ style, Rosemary Bread Sticks

Friday: Dinner @ Friends house (Bless them, we’re getting out! lol)

Saturday: Left over night-Yay for me!

Sunday: Potato Bar w/ Salad

Monday: Chicken Cordon Bleu w/ Zucchini, Rice

Tuesday: Breakfast night 🙂

Wednesday: BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, watermelon,

Thursday: Mom’s Chicken Casserole,

Friday: Garlic Chicken Pesto, Euro Veggie Salad,

Saturday: Left over night- Yay for me!

Sunday: Hamburgers, French Fries, Apple/Cherry Applesauce

Monday: Chicken Broccoli Alfredo,

Tuesday: Black Bean Mess

(beans, corn, shredded chicken, tomatoes, lettuce lightly mixed with favorite dressing-mine is Caesar or Ranch for this. Pile on crisp Tostada. Serve with Mojitos (one of Trav’s favorites), close eyes and imagine you’re in Mexico)

Wednesday: Cheesy Chili with Cornbread

Thursday: Fancy Shmancy Tuna Melts

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I make my husbands lunch. I don’t want to get into it- or at least in this post. Let’s just say that it means a lot to him and so I do it. So every two weeks or so I make treats/sides to put in his lunches and bribe Emma to go potty in the toilet. (If anyone has good ideas on the last one I’m all ears) So below is a list of the treats I’ll make in the next two weeks.

(*Have I mentioned I like to be in the kitchen?!)

Chocolate Chip Cookies

Apple Cobbler

Plum Muffins

Bannana Splits

Death by Chocolate Brownies w/ Toffee chips on top-(gag me, but the fam. likes them- hey, it’s their calories choices right? lol )

Peach Tarts

Banana Bread

Homemade Cranberry Granola

Chocolate covered Pretzels

Fondue w/ Bananas (an ultimate favorite of mine)

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I should get going. Since the beginning of this post Emma has woken up and she’s stuffing (in a very ladylike way) Chocolate chips, Cheez-its and Peppermint tea. Should probably do something about that. Like go for a walk…just after we go to Safeway. Darn you diapers!!!