Favorite Things Friday

Hello again from the UP!  We decided to stay another day because we wanted wait out any other bad weather.  That means I am able to write about one of my favorite things - used books!  Right here in Houghton, Michigan is an amazing bookstore called The Bookworm that is a treasure chest of amazing hidden gems!  The last time I was home I went to The Bookworm in search of used Christmas children's books to create a fun countdown to Christmas (thanks Pinterest) and it did not disappoint!  I found an amazing selection of books ranging from $1.00 to $2.50!  Fabulous!

So, this trip I was on a mission to find some Classic Winnie the Pooh books for a birthday gift, as well as Erma Bombeck books, which is kind of a specific search.  But - The Bookworm came through again!  And besides finding the books I was searching for I found so many other great books too!  In fact, here they are: 

 

Now, I actually found a few of those books at another consignment store in town, but still!  AMAZING!  I can't tell you how much I love The Bookworm in Houghton!  I guess it's true about the sweatshirt I was wearing in a photo I posted on Facebook - lead me not into temptation - especially bookstores! 

 

 

Tasty Treats Tuesday

Greetings from the UP!  It is a crazy blizzard here and everything is covered with mounds of snow!  When I'm at home I like to bake on snowy days, so today we baked a favorite cookie recipe that I found on Pinterest and shared before on Facebook:  Pistachio-Cranberry Cookies!  These are so delicious and so easy to make.  They are perfect for Christmas (since they are festive colors), but yummy anytime!  Actually, since they are green, they could be fun for St. Patrick's Day!

 

Ingredients:

-Sugar Cookie Mix

-Box of Pistachio Pudding

-1/4 cup flour

 

-1/2 cup melted butter

-2 eggs

 

-dried cranberries (or craisins)

-shelled pistachios (whole or chopped)

 

Mix the dry ingredients together.  Then add the wet ingredients.  Fold in the cranberries and pistachios (as much or as little as you want - about a 1/2 cup of each is good.)

Bake for 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

 

(My helpers)

 

Eat and enjoy!

 

 

 

I'm also excited to share my Favorite things post this week, although I may have to post it early, since I'll be driving back to Fond du Lac on Friday.  And I'll try to post pictures of this crazy snow storm!  It's nuts!  Until next time...  

 

 

Favorite Things Friday

Hello there!  I've been meaning to post all week, but alas, I haven't.  So today will be a combined post of favorite things and a recap of Valentine's Day.  On Tuesday the girls and I made Red Velvet - White Chocolate Chip Cookies.  These cookies look very festive and are super easy to make!

 

Here's how you make them:

 

1 box of Red Velvet Cake Mix

2 eggs

1/3 cup oil

 

Mix together in a large bowl.  Then add about a half a bag of white chocolate chips and stir.  Bake for about 8 - 10 minutes in a pre-heated 350 degree oven.  The cookies will seem a bit underdone when you take them out, but will continue to firm while they cool.  I love cookies made from cake mixes!  One of these days I'll post my Snickerdoodle recipe - amazing and so easy!

 

We had nice Valentine's Day complete with lots of lovely cards and a delicious dinner at home.  I wanted a nice picture of my little Valentines in their Valentine's jammies, but they weren't excatly in the mood (both we're feeling that well.)  Here's the best one:

 

 

Oh my little loves! 

 

Hope you all had a wonderful day too!

 

Musical Monday

Last weekend my sister and I sang at my Grandma Marge's funeral.  I also played the piano for the service.  While it was emotionally challenging, I felt it was something I could do, something I could contribute that would bring comfort to those attending the service and that would have meant a lot to my Grandma.  For me, playing the piano and singing are ways that I can express my feelings when there is no other way.  I can praise, pray, cry, grieve, and celebrate through music.  I thought I'd share the music with you.  Andy recorded these on his phone, so they aren't the best quality sound/movie clips, but you can at least hear the music.  I wanted to share this with you in case you're in need of some comfort too.

"His Eyes are on the Sparrow"
http://youtu.be/rkHM4l730sw

"It Is Well / Be Still My Soul"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B86VPUCUMgg

Give a Little Bit...I'll Give a Little Bit of My Love to You

 

Sending the love...

 

And here's the song to set the mood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgYdPgtSRO0


Now, with the soundtrack running, let's talk about Valentines!  I love making Valentine's Day cards for family and friends!  This year I had little tiny wallet photos from Lucy's 3rd birthday photo shoot that I decided to use as my inspiration.  I tried to come up with clever phrases that incorporated the number three such as "On this Valentine's Day I just wanted to wish you 3 special words:  I Miss You!"  Or "3 of my favorite things are 1.  Playing dress up 2.  Playing doctor 3.  Being friends with you!" 

 

 

And my own love gave me these beautiful pink roses to enjoy all week!  So sweet! 

 

 

So, now it's your turn to give a little of bit of your love to someone.  Why wait until tomorrow (or Valentine's Day for that matter) to tell someone you love them when you can tell them today?  This is something I'm trying to work on myself.  If you love someone, tell them.  If you want to thank someone, do it right away.  It only takes moment, but it can make such a difference. 

 

Favorite Things Friday

Hello!

It's Friday!  As one of my ideas, I'm going to designate Friday as Favorite Things day where I share a favorite product, recipe, moment, etc.  Today is one from the archives, meaning, I've been thinking of this idea for awhile.  Today I'm sharing one of my favorite salads:  Avocado and Tomatoes.  So simple and yet so delicious.   But there are a couple of tricks to make this dish spectacular:  Fresh ingredients (which is tricky because tomatoes are not in season at the same time as avocado), aged balsamic vinegar, good olive oil, coarse salt, and fresh cracked pepper.  That's all.  And yet, I can eat enough of it!  Even Lucy loves snagging a few bites from my plate when I make it.

Avocado and Tomato Salad:
-1 avocado, sliced
-half a container of grape tomatoes (I like using the Cherub brand)
-aged balsamic vinegar (which is thick and syrup like)
-good olive oil (I like mine with a bit of a fruity taste)
-coarse sea salt
-fresh cracked pepper

Slice the tomatoes and the avocado.  Drizzle balsamic vinegar and olive oil over the tomatoes and avocado.  Sprinkle coarse salt and grind black pepper over and enjoy!

Blog Re-Boot!

Hello All!

It's been way too long - in fact, over a year since I've started this blog and I think it's time for a re-boot.  I have been contemplating this for awhile now and I think I'm going to seriously try to blog on a much more consistent basis.  I have a few different ideas on how I want to use this blog too:  1.  Family and life updates, although I use Facebook quite often for quick pictures of the kiddos.  2.  Writing opportunities - I'm always looking for new places to submit work and I love sharing those opportunities with others.  I also love connecting authors with authors and artists.  3.  My favorite things:  This could include recipes (I have a few up my sleeve already that I want to post), products, and small delights.  4.  Thoughts - I need to write more and having a forum to write essays might perhaps inspire me to actually put words on the paper (or screen.) 

Ok.  I think that's all for now.  But I hope to be back soon! 

Oh - and can someone help me?  I'd like to make different tabs at the top of the blog that are labeled the different categories that I mentioned.  Anyone know how to do that?  I'm not so technically savvy, which is one of the excuses I've made for myself in keeping up with this blog.  Thanks!