Wednesday, March 30
Oh no... not again!
Pig Cake, Ya'll
This is goodness...
Pig Cake. Just the name is mysterious - and has a certain southern ring to it that draws me in. Plus, I found it on the Pioneer Woman website - which ensures that it will be divine. Divine goodness. What are you waiting on?
Here is what you need:
FOR THE CAKE:
1 box (18.25 Oz. Box) Yellow Cake Mix
1 stick Margarine (softened)
1 can (14 Oz. Can) Mandarin Oranges, Drained, 1/2 Cup Juice Reserved
4 whole Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
FOR THE TOPPING:
1 package (4 Oz. Box) Vanilla Instant Pudding Mix
1 can (20 Oz. Can) Crushed Pineapple, Juice Reserved
½ cups Powdered Sugar
4 ounces, fluid Frozen Whipped Topping (such As Cool Whip)
Extra Mandarin Orange Slices, For Garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Drain the mandarin oranges and reserve 1/2 cup of the juice...
Combine cake mix, margarine, 1/2 cup juice from the mandarin oranges, eggs, and vanilla. Beat for four minutes on medium-high.
Add drained oranges...
And beat again until pieces are broken up and small.
Pour batter into greased and floured 9 x 13 inch baking pan...
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and set....
Remove from oven and cool completely. If desired, turn out cake onto a large platter.
Once cake is cool, blend juice from drained pineapples with the vanilla pudding mix. Add powdered sugar and mix, then mix in whipped topping. Stir in drained pineapple...
Yummm...
Spread on cooled cake and refrigerate several hours. See the golden-luscious cake peeking out the side?
Still peeking...
It is begging to be eaten!
World Wrestling Entertainment has abducted my 8 year old!
We've been designing a new bedroom for Owen. We've been collecting Packers and other sports memorabilia for years and finally we can put it all together in Owen's room. Then along came WWE. It was instantaneous, it was sneaky and it has taken over my child.
First, here is the quilt that will arrive tomorrow - a solid month of waiting on the backorder.
And the corkboard that I refuse to pay $89.99 for from Pottery Barn Kids, because we can make it ourselves. I'm not against slicing two perfectly good baseball bats in half if I can save $50!
As you can see, I have a plan forming in my head - and all of that was shredded this morning when Owen informs me that he wants a WWE room and will be hanging WWE stuff all over this sports room we've been planning because "this is my room, mom..." Greaaaaaat...........................!
Hoping to make Owen understand, we quickly explained we cannot change his room like he changes tshirts. If we had, we would have had a Wiggles room, a Spiderman room, a Batman room, Sponge-Bob room, Superman room, Transformers room, Bakugan room, Star Wars room, Football room, Milwaukee Brewers room and as of today, a WWE wrestling room.
Meet John Cena, my child's current hero...
And his buddy, Randy Orton...
The Miz... some of you might remember Mike Mizanin from MTV's The Real World and later from The Real World/Road Rules Challenge. Well, he finally became a real entertainment wrestler - and here he is...
And Edge...
These guys are all Owen talks about lately - and with that comes an aspiring little wrestler watcher in my little Miles. Will the fabulous sports room become a WWE Wrestling Ring? Saga to be continued.....
First, here is the quilt that will arrive tomorrow - a solid month of waiting on the backorder.
And the corkboard that I refuse to pay $89.99 for from Pottery Barn Kids, because we can make it ourselves. I'm not against slicing two perfectly good baseball bats in half if I can save $50!
As you can see, I have a plan forming in my head - and all of that was shredded this morning when Owen informs me that he wants a WWE room and will be hanging WWE stuff all over this sports room we've been planning because "this is my room, mom..." Greaaaaaat...........................!
Hoping to make Owen understand, we quickly explained we cannot change his room like he changes tshirts. If we had, we would have had a Wiggles room, a Spiderman room, a Batman room, Sponge-Bob room, Superman room, Transformers room, Bakugan room, Star Wars room, Football room, Milwaukee Brewers room and as of today, a WWE wrestling room.
Meet John Cena, my child's current hero...
And his buddy, Randy Orton...
The Miz... some of you might remember Mike Mizanin from MTV's The Real World and later from The Real World/Road Rules Challenge. Well, he finally became a real entertainment wrestler - and here he is...
These guys are all Owen talks about lately - and with that comes an aspiring little wrestler watcher in my little Miles. Will the fabulous sports room become a WWE Wrestling Ring? Saga to be continued.....
Saturday, March 26
Found: Chore List for All Ages!
My new favorite site - freshly discovered today, http://www.totallytogetherjournal.com/, provided me with this glorious and uproarious list of chores that OUR children (that means yours too) can handle! Please note that I did not take the time to edit the list (refer to phrase "bed clothes" listed below) as my contact lenses have now been glued to my eyes for 36 hours. In a fun, but unfortunate lapse in judgement last night (3 margaritas too many) I couldn't find my eyes, much less pry my dry-as-corn-flakes contact lenses out of my eyes. Enough said! Here's our list:
One to Two Years of Age
Babies and young children enjoy being “big helpers,” and can begin to participate in the following household chores with adult supervision, help, and guidance:
- sort laundry
- empty wastebaskets
- bring in the mail/newspaper
- match socks
- pull up bed clothes
- empty spoons and plasticware from the dishwasher caddy
- put toys away in appropriate containers
- “dust and clean” with a baby wipe
Three to Six Years of Age
Preschool-age children can continue to help with all of the chores listed above, along with the following added responsibilities:
- make their own beds
- load and unload the dishwasher with assistance
- help younger siblings clean up strewn toys
- feed and water pets
- pull weeds
- water plants
- use a whisk broom to clean up crumbs under the dinner table
- use a handheld vacuum cleaner to spot-clean, or to vacuum the stairs
- put away their own laundry
- set the table for meals
Seven to Ten Years of Age
School-age children are capable of fulfilling all of the tasks listed above, as well as these new additions:
- complete an entire load of wash
- help younger siblings put away laundry
- vacuum their own rooms
- maintain order in their bedrooms
– sweep the kitchen
- load and unload the dishwasher independently
- walk the dog
- clear the table after meals
Pre-teen through Teenage Years
Although teenagers would rather lie around and talk on the phone (or text, whatever) all day, they are fully able to help their parents out with most of the housekeeping duties, inside and out, including these new ones listed below:
- vacuum the house
- sweep the house
- clean the refrigerator
- wipe down the bathrooms
- wipe down the kitchen countertops
- help younger siblings as needed
- perform more strenuous work in the garden
One to Two Years of Age
Babies and young children enjoy being “big helpers,” and can begin to participate in the following household chores with adult supervision, help, and guidance:
- sort laundry
- empty wastebaskets
- bring in the mail/newspaper
- match socks
- pull up bed clothes
- empty spoons and plasticware from the dishwasher caddy
- put toys away in appropriate containers
- “dust and clean” with a baby wipe
Three to Six Years of Age
Preschool-age children can continue to help with all of the chores listed above, along with the following added responsibilities:
- make their own beds
- load and unload the dishwasher with assistance
- help younger siblings clean up strewn toys
- feed and water pets
- pull weeds
- water plants
- use a whisk broom to clean up crumbs under the dinner table
- use a handheld vacuum cleaner to spot-clean, or to vacuum the stairs
- put away their own laundry
- set the table for meals
Seven to Ten Years of Age
School-age children are capable of fulfilling all of the tasks listed above, as well as these new additions:
- complete an entire load of wash
- help younger siblings put away laundry
- vacuum their own rooms
- maintain order in their bedrooms
– sweep the kitchen
- load and unload the dishwasher independently
- walk the dog
- clear the table after meals
Pre-teen through Teenage Years
Although teenagers would rather lie around and talk on the phone (or text, whatever) all day, they are fully able to help their parents out with most of the housekeeping duties, inside and out, including these new ones listed below:
- vacuum the house
- sweep the house
- clean the refrigerator
- wipe down the bathrooms
- wipe down the kitchen countertops
- help younger siblings as needed
- perform more strenuous work in the garden
Hold Everything! This is good stuff!
Click on this link below for instant ideas on how to tackle your house, your life, everything and anything. Good Stuff!
http://totallytogetherjournal.com/the-daily-7-for-a-highly-successful-household/
It's All About the Guac!
Hi there, I'm Candace Gomez - glad to meet ya! (Gomez should be my authentic last name because I am part Mexican, there is no question.) Ok, really I'm not part Mexican - I think I am 100% Mexican, but its only a dream of mine. Really, my life is based largely on raising hyenas (little boys) while stepping to the the beat of the marital drum with mid-westerner (he calls himself a Yankee, isn't that funny?!) and buying avocados to make GUACAMOLE!!!
See this goodness?
So, if you are a newbie to making Guac (love the GUAC!) I will help you - because I do not want you to go without.
Here is what you need (avocados, salsa, jarred jalapenos, lime, salt & pepper and a bit of sour cream):
2 ripe avocados (this means they are mostly brownish with maybe a little green still showing - press them - they should give a teeny bit - this is perfect.)
Lime - just a couple of squeezes (save the rest for limeades or margaritas)
10 slices of jalapenos (the kind in the jar)
2 TBSP of jalapeno jar juice - just do what I say
1 TBSP of salsa
Salt & Pepper
1 Tsp of sour cream - if you wanna be really naughty
Method:
Mash the avocados in a small bowl, add in lime juice and jalapeno juice. Chop jalapenos and toss in, add in the salsa and mix and stir. Now taste for that fresh, light & savoriness - make sure you have enough salt & pepper.
If you want to be exceptional and naughty simultaneously, add in 1 tsp of sour cream and then ...
Because this is sin in a bowl, baby!
Grab some Cheez-Its and dig in - or if you are one of those "vanilla" type people, get a bag of tortilla chips and dig in. (Give the Cheez-Its a try - being normal is no fun!)
See this goodness?
So, if you are a newbie to making Guac (love the GUAC!) I will help you - because I do not want you to go without.
Here is what you need (avocados, salsa, jarred jalapenos, lime, salt & pepper and a bit of sour cream):
2 ripe avocados (this means they are mostly brownish with maybe a little green still showing - press them - they should give a teeny bit - this is perfect.)
Lime - just a couple of squeezes (save the rest for limeades or margaritas)
10 slices of jalapenos (the kind in the jar)
2 TBSP of jalapeno jar juice - just do what I say
1 TBSP of salsa
Salt & Pepper
1 Tsp of sour cream - if you wanna be really naughty
Method:
Mash the avocados in a small bowl, add in lime juice and jalapeno juice. Chop jalapenos and toss in, add in the salsa and mix and stir. Now taste for that fresh, light & savoriness - make sure you have enough salt & pepper.
If you want to be exceptional and naughty simultaneously, add in 1 tsp of sour cream and then ...
Because this is sin in a bowl, baby!
Grab some Cheez-Its and dig in - or if you are one of those "vanilla" type people, get a bag of tortilla chips and dig in. (Give the Cheez-Its a try - being normal is no fun!)
Skinny Cobbler - only 4 points for 1/4 of the pan!
Yes, you read that right, I said Skinny and directly behind the word Cobbler. It could happen.
Cast of Characters:
1 package frozen blueberries, thawed
1 can ginger ale
1 box Jiffy Yellow Cake mix
Spray the bottom and sides of a 8x8 pan with Pam. Add the thawed blueberries, spreading to cover the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle the entire box of cake mix over the blueberries and spread evenly.
Now comes the fun part. Grab the can of ginger ale...
This is not a joke. Keep going - you have to trust me! Now bake in the oven for 30 minutes or until golden and dreamy...
Easy peasy and sooo good.... add a bit of Lite Cool Whip for more goodness...
Does this look low cal?
Hate when this happens...
Saturday, March 19
Mushy fruit?
As you can see it is quite late at night - or early in the morning, however you might look at the clock. I just got home from that dreaded and unmentionable store that I loathe with a multitude of fresh fruit and vegetables. First, the most important of them all - the queen of the highest court, her ladyship - the avocado (or avocados, plural, if you are me.) Second in line are the bananas in a fabulous shade of yellow! Next, red grapes because they are high in fiber and my mom eats them - and she is much more healthy than me, so I eat them too. They are quite portable, you know. Next, the limes, because they go in my guacamole (ahhhh, guacamole - it is ALL ABOUT THE GUAC!) Then comes the kiwi crew, high in fiber, you know! Finally, we have lemons - those go into my water - every day, period. So, we have quite a gathering of fruit to deal with (is avocado a vegetable or a fruit? Hmmm....) Anyway, back to the fruit - we don't want it to go bad and get mushy before we can eat it, right? So here I am, now very late in the middle of the night, and I google how to keep kiwi fresh and happen upon a lovely little website...
http://www.stilltasty.com/
And now we all know where to store what and how! Handy dandy!
zzzzzzzzzzz............................
Good night!
http://www.stilltasty.com/
And now we all know where to store what and how! Handy dandy!
zzzzzzzzzzz............................
Good night!
Friday, March 11
Hang Time
Miles says, "Look mom, all net - I am a professional!"
Right now, Miles is all about some "hang time" and so I introduced my youngest child to a legend...
Loved some Michael Jordan - still do... teach your kids about a legend today. Rock on!
The Help - movie release on August 12th
Calling all southern girls - have you read this?
No? Where HAVE you been? This book will crack wide open the prejudices you grew up listening to from your "old school" family members. Smile to yourself - our generation will stop it in its tracks! None of it will be passed on to our children - Praise God!
Read the book fast - the movie comes out on August 12th!
Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives -- and a small Mississippi town -- upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen (Davis), Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper, is the first to open up -- to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter's life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories -- and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly -- and unwillingly -- caught up in the changing times.
No? Where HAVE you been? This book will crack wide open the prejudices you grew up listening to from your "old school" family members. Smile to yourself - our generation will stop it in its tracks! None of it will be passed on to our children - Praise God!
Read the book fast - the movie comes out on August 12th!
Set in Mississippi during the 1960s, Skeeter (Stone) is a southern society girl who returns from college determined to become a writer, but turns her friends' lives -- and a small Mississippi town -- upside down when she decides to interview the black women who have spent their lives taking care of prominent southern families. Aibileen (Davis), Skeeter's best friend's housekeeper, is the first to open up -- to the dismay of her friends in the tight-knit black community. Despite Skeeter's life-long friendships hanging in the balance, she and Aibileen continue their collaboration and soon more women come forward to tell their stories -- and as it turns out, they have a lot to say. Along the way, unlikely friendships are forged and a new sisterhood emerges, but not before everyone in town has a thing or two to say themselves when they become unwittingly -- and unwillingly -- caught up in the changing times.
Welcoming the Easter Bunny
Front porch idea? The Dollar Tree has great spring flowers for a buck! Just find a basket and blow the insides out of some eggs and dye. Easy!
Co-Worker Birthday Gift Idea
We have loads (LOADS) of birthdays to buy for between our two families (and step-families) - then there are close friends and on top of that, co-worker birthday bashes too. I sometimes feel guilty that I cannot do more, but when you have loads of people in your life - you have to cut back somewhere. Sometimes the "less" can be more if you really give it some thought.
Enter the Nordicware Bundt Pan - around $11 at Wal-mart. It comes in red, yellow, green and blue. Of course the colors are stacked together and it is hard to buy just one - and which color? I bought the red for my boss, Crystal, and wrapped it up cute and tucked a recipe card for "Quickie Cake." Cute!
Enter the Nordicware Bundt Pan - around $11 at Wal-mart. It comes in red, yellow, green and blue. Of course the colors are stacked together and it is hard to buy just one - and which color? I bought the red for my boss, Crystal, and wrapped it up cute and tucked a recipe card for "Quickie Cake." Cute!
Easy Peasy Spring Centerpiece
I saw this in a magazine while I was at the orthodontist with Owen. I have taken to the habit of snapping pictures of magazine ideas - what better way to remember?
All you need are several bottles that are similar in height, some twine and some leggy flowers - love this!
All you need are several bottles that are similar in height, some twine and some leggy flowers - love this!
Wednesday, March 9
Owen's Lego Binder
My house is riddled with legos. We have bins for them, we have Lego cases, we even have several brand new, stackable plastic boxes with very cool tops that could easily house these little spiny, plastic creatures. None of this happens of course because as everyone knows, Legos are best played with when they are in plain sight on my coffee table. The very presence of them spread across a flat surface must instigate all kinds of creative brain activity. Legos live on the coffee table for weeks on end sometimes, until I've finally had enough and I have a mini anxiety attack and all of the boys in the house (including Jim) start cleaning up - fast. I think I scare them. This is good.
Legos come with flimsy, twice-stapled instructional booklets. Twice-stapled. The geniuses at Lego must not realize that anything twice-stapled will not hold up to a child, much less children.
Enter the lego binder.
As you can see, big stuff is going on up here in Effingham County! Watch out world!
Legos come with flimsy, twice-stapled instructional booklets. Twice-stapled. The geniuses at Lego must not realize that anything twice-stapled will not hold up to a child, much less children.
Enter the lego binder.
Look at what my little smartie-pants came up with. This child is brilliant, I tell ya! Look at that cover - straight to the point, no hemming and hawing about what this binder contains. Functional, concise - brilliant! On the inside, insert the flimsy, twice-stapled books into clear page protectors and BAM - contained!
BAM!
As you can see, big stuff is going on up here in Effingham County! Watch out world!
"Chicken Fried"
We all know that "Chicken Fried" is a song - one that is still pretty high up on my most favorite songs' list. In case you have been under a rock and haven't heard it... sung by my common-law husband, Zac Brown (and his band of lovely lumberjack men), here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ujS1er1r0
(By the way, where is this rock that you live under? Perhaps you should invite me over for some tea?)
"Chicken Fried" has also become a handy-dandy adjective that I use several times a day. Chicken Fried could mean that something is country - which could be adorable, or it could mean that something or someone is a little bit on the redneck side of things, but this isn't by any means an insult. Chicken Fried is a term of endearment, very close to my heart, and I love Chicken Fried. It could mean the lovely Ralph Lauren pants that I am obsessed with...
And of course, Chicken Fried could mean this ...
(Oh dear, oh me, oh my, there he is! Yes, I am well aware that I have issues - and Jim loves me just the way I am.)
So, if you happen to be around and hear me say "that's Chicken Fried" - I want you to know how to use it in a sentence, because it grows on you - and I don't want you to use it in the wrong way. See how much I care?
So off you go - with a brand new adjective under your belt - use it as many times today as you can!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ujS1er1r0
(By the way, where is this rock that you live under? Perhaps you should invite me over for some tea?)
"Chicken Fried" has also become a handy-dandy adjective that I use several times a day. Chicken Fried could mean that something is country - which could be adorable, or it could mean that something or someone is a little bit on the redneck side of things, but this isn't by any means an insult. Chicken Fried is a term of endearment, very close to my heart, and I love Chicken Fried. It could mean the lovely Ralph Lauren pants that I am obsessed with...
And of course, Chicken Fried could mean this ...
So, if you happen to be around and hear me say "that's Chicken Fried" - I want you to know how to use it in a sentence, because it grows on you - and I don't want you to use it in the wrong way. See how much I care?
So off you go - with a brand new adjective under your belt - use it as many times today as you can!
Tuesday, March 8
Get ready home group....
This is what I am going to bring on Suuuundaaaaay....
Excited?
And because I love you - here is the link to the recipe!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/pig-cake/
And because I love you - here is the link to the recipe!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/pig-cake/
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