It's not perfect, but it's done

Hadley's other hairbow holder could not hold all the ones I've made for her. I decided a back up hairbow holder was in order. (Don't judge me, I've waited for a girl for a long time!) She has a lot of mini bows that won't work until she grows some more hair! This will hold those until we put them back into the rotation.

I've been trying to challenge my creativity by only using things that I have around the house instead of buying new stuff. Other than the frame I got at a church yard sale for only 50 cents, I used fabric, ribbon, & paint that I had on hand. I probably wouldn't have picked all this if I went out and bought supplies for this project, but it made for a cheap project using leftovers. The pink paint matches the pink ribbon much better in person.

This was really easy to make. I painted the frame with a few coats of craft paint. I was out of spray sealer, so I just put a coat of modge podge on top to give it a slight shine. I wrapped the cardboard backing with fabric & ribbon and hot glued it in place on the back only. Then stuck it back in the frame, and got rid of the glass.

Hadley has a crooked wall behind her door. I thought this would be a great place to hang this, out of the way. I completely under-estimated the amount of space that was on the wall, and there is no way this will fit! So it's not perfect, but it's done! I'm thinking of attaching it to the inside of her closet door instead.

Ghiradelli Souffles

I made these for our dessert on Christmas Eve. They were excellent! This is a total diet buster, but may be an indulgence you want to try on Valentine's Day. I found two recipes on the Ghiradelli site, and combined to make this one. If you don't have ramekins, which are available Walmart, you can use a muffin pan with liners. Not as pretty, but still dang good.

Image from www.Ghiradelli.com

Ghiradelli Souffles

5 oz. Ghiradelli Gourmet 58 percent Cacao Semi Sweet Chocolate *

6 oz milk chocolate chips*

1/4 tsp. cream of tartar **

6 egg whites

4 egg yolks

2 Tbsp flour

1/2 cup milk

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

2/3 cup sugar

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

ten 6 oz. ramekins (or eight 7 oz)

Optional: Powdered sugar, Lightly sweetened whipped cream, Ice cream, raspberries or strawberries

*Note: you will only use about half a bag of each chocolate chips.

**Cream of tartar is best, if you don't have that use 1/4 tsp of lemon juice instead.

Directions:

- You have to work quick working with melted chocolate. Make sure to have everything measured out before starting.

- Preheat oven to 375 with a rack in the lower 3rd

- Butter and sugar the ramekins.

- Separate egg whites from egg yolks in two separate containers. Add vanilla in the yolks container. (No need to stir vanilla in.)

- Measure out sugar and milk & set aside in separate containers.

- In a large heavy saucepan, whisk butter and flour over medium heat until the butter melts and sizzles for about 1 minute. (You want a smoother texture, if butter & flour clump together, discard and start again) Whisk in the milk Turn off the heat, keep pan on burner, add chocolate chips & stir until melted. Stir in yolks & vanilla. Set aside off of heat.

- Beat egg whites with cream of tartar on high speed until they hold a soft shape. Add sugar gradually, beating until stiff and glossy. Scoop out 1/4 of the egg whites mixture and fold into the pan of melted chocolate. Then fold the chocolate from the pan into the bowl of remaining egg whites. Divide batter among the ramekins, filling each about 3/4 full. Cook immediately, or cover and refrigerate up to two days before cooking.

Bake souffles on a cookie sheet until they rise and crack and a toothpick comes out with thick gooey crumbs, about 15-20 minutes. Previously refrigerated souffles may need to cook 3-5 minutes more. Sieve powdered sugar over souffles and serve immediately. Top with desired toppings.

Andrea's Tortilla Soup

My good friend, Andrea, shared this recipe with me a few years back. It's a lot of cans, but it's so easy. You can substitute rotisserie chicken to make it even faster.

Andrea's Tortilla Soup:
1 can cream of chicken
1 can cream of mushroom
1 can rotel (drained)
1 can of ranch style beans with onion (or 1 can reg. ranch style beans & 1/2 chopped onion)
2 cans of chicken broth (or reserve 3 1/2 - 4 cups of broth from cooking chicken)
2 large chicken breasts
Tortilla chips
Shredded cheese
Optional:
Sour Cream
sliced avocado

Directions:
1. Boil chicken, reserve broth.
2. Add cream soups & chicken broth & whisk into smooth
3. Add beans & rotel. Simmer for 10-15 minutes
4. Cut cooked chicken into bite sized pieces & add desired amount to soup.
5. Pour soup over tortilla chips & top with cheese.

*I use mild rotel & drain it because otherwise it would be too spicy for the kids. You can leave the juices in if you like it a little spicier.

New Year's Resolutions

Jared & I have been starting the new year off right with eating better & exercising.

I joined a group of friends in a 100 days weight loss challenge that started on January 1.

Jared has started shopping for a new speedo for his swims. Can you believe this one is on sale?!

That's the one downfall to the triathlons we did pre-Hadley. It gave Jared the courage to sport a speedo. Awkward.

Hoping to adopt

Our friends, Daniel & Laura, are trying to adopt a baby. (They want everyone to know that they are not teenagers.) They aren't as young as they look. They have both completed college, love to travel, and spend time with family. You can tell by looking at them that they truly adore each other as husband and wife. For a long time, Laura has dreamed of being a mother. Daniel & Laura have struggled with infertility. Despite this she has prepared a nursery & baby supplies for her future baby. She's ready! We know one day, she will get her wish and be an amazing mom to her sweet baby.

If you know of anyone considering adoption, please pass on their information. Their profile can be found (click)here.

That just about sums it up

I heard a real gem while at Walmart this morning. I know that you must think I am crazy going to the super center the day after Christmas. I ventured out because we absolutely had to restock on the necessities in our house, Dr. Pepper and toilet paper.

While I was there I noticed a frazzled mom who had enough of her 7 year old daughter's grumbling about wanting more toys, the day after Christmas, while on their grocery trip in the store. Finally, she loudly proclaims, "If you're not happy with what you got for Christmas, I can take all your crap back." (Except she didn't say crap) I know I should have been more disappointed at her cursing at her 1st grader, but I couldn't help but secretly applaud her. I assure you, it was awesome.

Family Resemblance?

I've gotten a lot of comments on my parenting skills this week. The 5 year old we reside with is sick and tired of not getting enough candy or presents with every shopping trip and has had it up to his red head about our vegetable policy. I didn't realize his resentment would spill over to wish for new parents.

Today, Adam had a play date with his 4 year old friend, Troy. For entertainment, Adam was showing off one special photo Christmas card to his friend. It is the one of our friends Dylan & Paige (pictured above.)

Troy asked, "Who are they"

Adam responded proudly, "That's my mom and dad"

Troy looked puzzled. Even he could tell there was something not quite right about that statement.

As I dispelled the truth that the card was not of us, he said, "oh, well that guy has the same sweater as my dad."

There you have it. Apparently if you start to dress like us, you gain custody of our child.

Oh, and Dylan & Paige how about visitation every other weekend and 1 month in the summer? I figured we could just split Adam's college tuition.