Sweet Nothings

Today was the Valentine party at Brianna's preschool. Since Matt is still home with his back (Yes! Another week!), he and Bella went with us. You get 17 four-year-olds, their teachers, parents, and younger siblings in one room full of cupcakes/cookies/candy, and it turns into a madhouse! She had fun, and came home with a big bag of Valentines and goodies.

(In this photo, she is showing me that she chomped the head off of her cute teddy bear ring-pop!)



Yesterday, I received a large box via UPS from ProFlowers.com. That has become my husband's favorite place to order my flowers from. They really do send nice, fresh flowers. I am glad he steered away from roses, and instead gave me a huge bouquet of tulips and iris. The buds were closed tight, but by this morning, they were looking really nice!




Being a sock-monkey enthusiast, I HAD to get this card for him when I saw it at Target the other night. It plays music when you open... somewhat seductive music, I might add. ☺

Tonight, I went and bought a fresh salmon fillet, cut it into steaks, and marinated it in my *special* sauce. I just wing it, mixing together honey, orange juice, fresh grated ginger, minced garlic, and any array of Asian sauces I might have on hand. While the fish is out grilling, I strain the marinade, and bring it to a boil; then, I thicken it with a little cornstarch. It makes a really good sauce for the fish! I have to say, tonight's version was the best one to date. Not a flake was left ☺

Heart in my hand

Does anyone want a quick Valentines Day handmade project? I saw the link to this free pattern on the Plush You blog last night and I decided to give it a go while watching tv, and I finished it up this morning. You've still got time yet!

As I rifled through my yarn stash, I decided to use this super-vintage, salmony-red yarn. It has almost a white frosty sheen to it, which I had to use the flash to try to pick up in the photo. I found it entertaining to be using yarn as old as me! This is part of the stash from my husband's crafty 90-year old aunt.

Here is how she turned out! Super-cute and chubby. That frosty, glittery-ness really suits this heart. This pattern reminds me strongly of a sweet friend's recent projects.

♥♥♥

Lime Melt-Aways

There are tons of nice, ripe avacados at the store right now, just begging to be made into guacamole. I caved and made some (YUM!), and had a couple of limes leftover. I decided to make Martha's lime melt-away cookies , and they were a huge hit among the family.

You can make these with lemons or oranges, if you prefer. They are super-simple. The dough has to be rolled into parchment "logs", refrigerated, then sliced. (I suggest you watch the video, because it is always easier for me to see something being done). I make mine a little bit bigger around than they suggest in the recipe, otherwise they are way tiny!

After they cool a little bit, you roll them around in powdered sugar. Mmmm...they are really flaky and really do "melt" on your tongue. If you are a citrus kind of person, give them a try!

If I had $2800...

...and an agreeable husband, this is what I would buy:

(FYI: It is a pygmy marmoset, the tiniest monkey in the world!)

Isn't she precious? I know she would rather be sitting on my shoulder!

I hope everyone is finishing up a fantastic weekend. As for me, I have a date with David Sedaris right now...

The party's over, kids!

Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes regarding my recent bout of "under the weather"-ness! Today I am feeling much better ☺

After a week of cleaning, shopping, and then cooking, my party almost came to a grinding halt. I received a call at 1:30 on Super Bowl Sunday telling me that my nephews had to play in a basketball tournament. I couldn't believe they were having grade school basketball games DURING the SuperBowl! That is just crazy-talk.

Happily, they were all able to stop by before having to leave town for the games. In total, there were 14 adults and 9 kids here. For food, I made cream cheese pinwheels, meat/cheese tray, veggies, cheese dip, cheese soup, lots of chips, and sandwich fixings. Plus, I made a big batch of homemade carmel corn, and my mom brought cupcakes. I was really glad that we didn't have a ton of leftovers...I HATE eating leftovers.

☺☺☺

Since this was a "Velveeta Game Day"House Party, I decided to make a big pot of cheese soup. I got this recipe from a co-worker a long time ago, and it tastes much like the famous secret-recipe soup from Quincy's "Kelly's Pub."

Cheese Soup with California Veggies and Penne Pasta

6 cups water

6 chicken bouillion cubes

2 1/2 cups diced potatoes

1 cup diced celery

1/2 onion, chopped

2 cans cream of chicken soup

1 bag California blend veggies

1 can sliced mushrooms

4 oz. penne pasta, cooked

2 lb. block of Velveeta

In a large soup pot, combine water, bouillion cubes, potatoes, celery, and onion. Bring to boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Add the California blend veggies and cook until tender. Then, add the cream of chicken soup, mushrooms, cooked pasta, and cubed Velveeta. Cook and stir until Velveeta is completely melted. Season to taste, and serve!

Bob is famous!

I just got a convo through Etsy from a new website called My Shopping Connection who has featured my little Bob, the baby penguin, in their Indie Spotting section . I thought that was pretty neat, indeed ☺

My sinuses are still bothering me, and I have tried to sleep most of the day away. Hubby goes back to work tomorrow, and I wanted to try to get feeling a bit better before I am home-alone again! Ugh. Dance class tonight, and a friend is having a Mary Kay party. Neither sound very good to me, right now.

Stuffed

Ugh. I am sick. After trying to deny the swollen throat I began to feel yesterday evening, I relent. Luckily, I think it is just a sinus thing and not the dreaded strep that is supposed to be making it's rounds. I am still in my pj's at 6:30 pm...I suppose I should put on some clean ones, huh?

Last night I was able to make a quick trip into Joann Fabric, and this lovely magazine jumped out at me from the shelf. I just want to go sip my tea, watch "The Biggest Loser", and rifled through it.

It seems that quite a few of the featured softie artists are fellow Etsians, which is super-awesome. I was happy to see a favorite, Annie Oakleaves, was included. This is the first issue of "Stuffed," and cheap-skate me wasn't sure about the $14.99 price tag for a magazine. BUT, I was intrigued and also was able to use my 40% off coupon towards it ☺ A quarterly mag, it is very well put together, like a soft cover craft book. There aren't many patterns in it, which is fine with me. I am enjoying the interviews and photos. After all of this CPSIA junk, I need a little positive inspiration to get me back on the sewing machine. I would highly encourage you to check this unique periodical out!

Okay, off to the couch.

I promise more later (Super Bowl party, Etsy purchases, mysterious eBay purchase, and all the other loose ends).