Monday, November 28, 2011

Stupid me!!

So I'm just going to be mad at my self for a min....

On our family's first trip to Walt Disney World, not only did I lose my most precious baby item, my peanut shell, I have now lost my pictures on Disney's photo pass, i made a photo book that i was waiting on one stinking picture before I ordered it, obviously it was not a photo taken by Disney on the photo pass, and now it has expired and is totally gone FOREVER!! Here's why I'm mad, my dumbass totally forgot that the photo pass pictures taken by disney are EXTRA! (DUH DERZ! Me of all people knowing as much as I do about disney loving their corporate side(I call it the Pirate side) and the Magical side of disney UGH!) So all the pictures of us in front of Cinderella's caste, with a few characters, at Hollywood studio's and epcot are GONE and I of course did not always remember my camera or didn't give it to the photopass guy to take 2 shots, which you can do and I plan on doing when we go again in June. It just totally sucks bc I really wanted to have a book of our first visit to disney, yes the kids won't remember it, but I will and I really wanted a photo album to show it off in, especially since i didn't have a lot of the pictures that where in it. Well hubs will be happy nonetheless, said book cost $70 bucks or for $150 you can buy a cd of the photos or buy pictures individually for $15....Like I said Pirate's...but Diseny will always be close to my heart in the core of my soul, right below God & Jesus. One day....one day...I will be a "cast member"

Monday, November 21, 2011

So I finally got my Pink & Brown tutu finished for LK and i made it shorter this time and she seems to love this one more, Prob bc she still half crawling and can actually get around in this one lol. Well today at nap time I started my pink demi tutu but am only half way through because I ran out of tulle; but i will be hitting up the hobby lobby before the gym tomorrow :~) WIN!

While I was cutting tulle today I had about 10 ideas on tutu's man I cant wait to do them. I'm really excited about making Disney princess inspired tutu's one idea I have it all tulle & ribbon and the other idea is with tulle and fabric and will require sowing {screeches in fear} but I do I have my grandmothers singer sowing desk so I'm hoping I will be able to pull it off, but def gonna start with a pillow first!
My Tutu Princess


My latest finished tutu
Pink & Brown Demi Tutu~Top View


Front View
Pink & Brown Demi Tutu

Friday, November 18, 2011

TuTu MaDnEsS!

So of course, probably like most women, I love tutu's for myself, for my babies, for all little girls everywhere. When we where in Walt Disney World I saw these 3 20's something ladies and they had over their shorts these awesome, Belle, Cinderella & Sleeping Beauty Tutus!! I freaking loved it! I would so so wear one of those (and yes I will be dressing up my kids one day when their older on a trip to WDW) Well whenever I've seen them in the store they run between $25-50, I just cant spend that on a tutu, for the first time ever I spent that much on a bra {blog for another day} So I talked to my MIL who can sow and she told me tutu's are extremely easy to make, with a sowing machine & without. So I googled it and...


VOILA!!!


Neon Pink & Neon Green Bi-Color Tutu


Neon Green & Purple w Pink Bow

Brown & Neon Pink

brown & neon pink single
I can now make these totally awesome tutu's that I am loving every min of making, kinda like my love for cooking. Lets see where this goes, I usually don't last long with "hobbies". We shall see :~)

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Peach Cake

Peace Cake
425 Degrees
25-30 Min

So my local farm stand Buppart’s Farm, had their last of the season peaches so I bought 3 quart thing of peaches (about 4 peaches each) at the counter they had a recipe for peach cake, It is in the oven as we speak and I thought I’d share this crazy simple recipe with everyone. 

Peace Cake:       425 Degrees       25-30 Min
1 C. flour (I used whole grain flour of course)
1/2 C. Sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
½  tsp. salt
½ C. Milk (I used rice milk this time)
1 egg
1 T. Salad Oil (I used coconut oil)
6-7 Peaches (I only ended up using 5 and looked like way too much)
1/2C Sugar
¼ tsp cinnamon

Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl, set aside.
Combine milk, eggs & oil in separate bowl, once combined add to dry ingredients.
Grease and Flour 8” pan (I ended up using a 9” round cake pan bc I didn’t have n 8)
Mix ½ C Sugar (I used brown sugar) & cinnamon together, set aside
Put cake mixture into pan, slice peaches and layer on top.
Sprinkle cinnamon & sugar mixture over peaches (I also sprinkled a little bit between each layer of peaches)
Dat with butter (I totally forgot to do this) Bake at 425 for 25-30 min

Well there’s about 15 min left on the oven, will let you know how yummy it is :~) Happy eating my friends!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well it's just delish! But I think next time I will layer a few layers of peaches in the pan first, then add the cake batter and more on top, the bottom of the cake ended up more like a muffin than cake.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

This is the Year of I did's and not I'm gonna's!!!

Trying my damnedest to do at least a few of the thousand things I've always said I wanna do. So far I've been doing fairly well with my work outs and getting healthy and having my bff join the gym with me has defiantly helped too!!

I have always wanted to be a runner, I feel like running would just be so great for me. The other day I attempted to run on a treadmill, something I haven't done in YEARS!! And I did fairly well, only could stand a few min at speed 5; the treadmill then went to 5 and I only did about 30 seconds before i had to jump off. But thanks to freecycle we will be getting a treadmill tomorrow and the plan is to walk/jog/run on the treadmill everyday. All I keep thinking about is Michale on biggest loser and him running a 5K on the treadmill just to push himself and when he did it he just kept going and everyday after that he ran at least 5 miles. That's what I want, and it kinda started happening to me the other day doing as well as I did.

Well every year I talk about doing 5K or Half Marathons and how one day I'd love to do the marine corp marathon so I've decided to compile a list of the "races" I want to do starting with the one I know i will be doing in the coming year.

~Race for Hope - DC- 5K ~ May 6, 2012 http://www.braintumorcommunity.org/site/PageServer?pagename=RFH_DC_Homepage

~ Zombie Run ~ 5K ~ http://runforyourlives.com/

~Leukemia & Lymphoma Socitey Century Rides

~Marine Corps Marathon ~ 26.2 Mile ~ http://www.marinemarathon.com/

~Tough Mudder ~ 12 Miles ~ http://toughmudder.com/

Monday, September 5, 2011

ASL was right again!! Than again she usually is...


Oh what a weekend! First I got sick, then Lil Dude, then the hubs! Thanks God LK didn’t get sick! {I say that’s all because she is still breastfed, thank god for that!} Well since we were sick and felt like crap I wanted an easy sunday dinner so I made chicken, rice and veggie soup. First I took a frozen organic free range chicken and set the over for 350. I seasoned and put the frozen chicken in a pampered chef stone wear Dutch oven and cooked it for an hr at 350; after that I put the oven on 400. Chicken was done in about 3 hrs. After that I took the juices from the ducth oven and put it in another dutch over for the stove top added sliced carrots, celery, onions and potatoes in the juices. While the veggies where cooking I cut up the chicken; I took the breast, legs and wings and put those in the fridge for chicken salad; picked the rest of the meet off the chicken carcass and put that in the soup, was just the perfect amount of chicken but if you’d like more you could always cut up the breast and add it. To that I added 3 ½ cups of water {since I was out of stock} and ¾ cup of rice brought it to a boil and then put the lid on and let it simmer for about 20-30 min. What a delicious wonderful dinner, especially after the horrible night & day of “tummy troubles”.
Well after that was all said and done {hubs let me get a nap while the chicken was cooking so I felt 50% better} I decided not to let the chicken carcass go to waste and I started chicken stock. Now ASL {amazing or awesome sister in law} tells me constantly how easy it is to make and how good it is for you but I never take the time to make it and always buy it {she pointed out other day that all boxed stocks are is colored water, look at the ingredients, its true!! Says it right there, they don’t even hide it!} So I decided to make chicken stock, I used the Nourishing Traditions {NT} recipe {I highly recommend this cook book to EVERYONE! Its 15 bucks; BUY IT!!!}  It was so easy, I just added the ingredients and set it on the back of the stove and cook it for 24 hrs.  Now that it’s done, I called the ASL to ask her a few questions and we got to talking about stock and I told her how I was gonna freeze it, she suggested I do what she does which is take 1 quart freeze bag and put 2 cups in it and freeze it. I don’t think I can stress enough how freaking easy it is and so much better for you than anything you’d buy in the store!  So happy I took the time to make it!
I always save and freeze my scrap veggies because I know I wanted to make stock so it’s just something I’ve gotten in the habit of it, and with it being so much easier the second time around I’m gonna ride this train and make beef and vegetable stock tomorrow. I got a freezer full of soup bones and veggie scraps no point in letting them go to waste.
Till Next time :~)

Monday, August 22, 2011

Comic Con

I finally went to my first Comic con and it was SO effin awesome!! I loved it! We only went sunday and had a totally great time. My two besties where there and like i said it was rad. Unfortunately we got there late so I didn't see the Stan Lee q & a but it was still awesome to finally check it out. Got 4 pieces from Billy Tucci and he SIGNED THEM!! :~D Super excited about that. They are going to be in our basement once it's finished gonna frame them and everything they are sooo beautiful! I totally love them!

totally have to admit to having a nerd moment, There where two zombies from resident evil and I saw them a little part of me was like holy crap what if the bite me lol i mean they where that good. It was so awesome!!! Their eyes where whited out and they where just really good zombies lol I didn't even ask them for a picture in case on some off chance they where actually zombies lol Hopefully next year i can dress up like Poison Ivy {always been one of my goals for halloween too}

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Getting healthy; Chapter 702

It has been a very long time since I was “happy” with my body, and I don’t know how many times I’ve done a blog about that I’m trying to get healthy and work out and all that jazz. But again its come a time where I just want to feel good and live a healthy and happy life.
Before I got pregnant with Lil Dude I was seeing a person trainer Joe {Fitness Optimist; laurel MD www.fitnessoptimist.com} and I felt great and I lost 10 lbs seeing him. Well since then it has been a battle with myself to get healthy. The summer after I had Lil dude I did Joe’s boot camp and again lost weight and was fluctuating between 175 & 180 which usually my weight does. Well after Mama was diagnosed with Gilablastoma multiforme brain tumor on Oct 22 2009 I pretty much stopped everything to do whatever I could for her; which I loved doing and miss horribly. I used to chase lil dude around her house and run her stairs to get cardio in lol Since her passing on Jan 19 2011 I haven’t done too much with my weight lost bedsides work out really well for a week to a month and then totally fall off the wagon. Which is just horrible!?! I just started going to spin class a few weeks ago and was LOVING it and then we had a bunch of things planned and unplanned and lots of thing keeping me from the gym,  We’re now down to almost 6 weeks till Disney and I haven’t lost the 10 lbs I’d like to.
Hopefully the “plan in my head” will work. I’m gonna start working out every day at least 20 min and hopefully not eat a lot of sweets or food in general, I tend to eat A LOT of food, I just love food I really do. Joe used to always tell me to keep a food journal. So defiantly portion control. Food journal. Strengthen Training. Cardio. Abs. Is that too much, especially with two kids under 3?? Who am I kidding probably but I’m gonna give it a shot and keep at it until it is a regular in my every day to day life.

~This is coming for the chick who has always wanted to run and can bleary power walk! Here we go!~
Mama & I ~ FL 2000
Would LOVE LOVE LOVE to be this fit again!!

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Yay for Home made baby food!!

So I've been making my own baby food since lil dude was ready to eat solids and I love it. {only issue is I purchase food mills and processors that don't seem to quite stand the test of time but  I digress} Well tonight I made couscous for dinner and lil karen is going crazy wanting some couscous so I got to get her some and remember that I pureed a peach last night and put too much liquid in it so it was runnier that I would have liked so I pour half of it over LK's couscous and she LOVED it, I mean i can never really feed her fast enough and tonight was no different.

So I guess the long and the short of it is Mama 1 - Factory made baby food 0 lol! #winning!!

Side note: Thinking of getting the baby bullet; anyone know if it does what it says it does? Thanks!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Thank God for KitchenAid Mixers!

So since my ASL showed me how freaking easy it is to make bread, with a KitchenAid mixer,  I have been making our own bread, I absolutely love it; I don’t see myself going back to store bought. The whole reason I started to make my own bread was because of Lil Karen dairy allergy. Since she was about one month old I cut out dairy from my diet because it was making her sick. Since I cut dairy she has been doing wonderfully, no more epic throw ups!! Yay! So finding bread that didn’t have dairy was necessary hard there are about 3 brand names that don’t use milk but nevertheless it was a pain. And since it was so easy and I'm a huge supporter of home made everything :)  here is her recipe. Enjoy!!
My first ever attempt at bread making :) not bad!

3 ¼ hours | 30 min prep
Serves 24, 2 Loaves
2 ¾ Cups hot water
1/3 cup olive oil, any oil is fine, I use coconut oil a lot
1 tablespoon salt, sea salt is best
7 ½ cups of 100% whole grain wheat flour
2 tablespoons dry active yeast

1.       Place first four ingredients in bowl and mix.
2.       Add 2 cups of flour (to cool the water so you end up with warm dough)
3.       Add 2 tbs of dry active yeast
4.       Add 4 cups of flour
5.       Mix until consistency is somewhat even. Then continue to slowly add flour ½ cup at a time till dough quits sticking to the bowl. It should be tacky to the touch. The trick is to have enough consistency to stand up with the least amount of flour; this makes it fluffy. It will mostly likely take about 6 ½ cups but never the less do not exceed 7 ½ cups. Do not over mix, this will make the bread tough.
6.       When dough is finished leave in mixer and cover with a towel and let it rise for 30-40 min. Dough will be larger but doesn’t need to double.
7.       Grease two   bread pans; I use coconut oil for that too.
8.       Mix the dough to knock it back down close to its original size
9.       Drop the dough onto a floured surface so you can work and shape the dough. Shape dough intp a ball getting enough flour so its no longer sticky.
10.   Divide dough in half and shape into 2 loaves. Shape loaves but turning the dough under its self over and over again, this gives you a oblong shaped loaf with smooth sides and top.
11.   Drop the loaves in bread pans and let them rise until they are almost doubled. Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 36 minutes.
12.   When finished turn the bread out of the pans onto a cooling rack.  


You can eat right away. I LOVE warm fresh bread! Wait until bread is completely cool before wrapping. I usually store mine in a gallon size zip lock bag. Do not store in the fridge it will turn your bread into a brick. Another thing I have done is make one loaf and use the other half of the dough for pepperoni rolls; dinner rolls, ect so let your imagination move you!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Eight Weeks To Go!!

Eight weeks to go!

So one of my girlfriends started her blog today so I figured I should finally start writing in mine lol. I’m going to try to be completely honest and not hold anything back with my blogs lol nothing really new there.  So here goes!!
We have eight weeks till out big vaca and I’m super excited and absolutely terrified. I’m also starting to stress about my work outs (or lack thereof is probably better) the fact that I haven’t lost the 10lbs yet and I’m already freaking about packing lol. {Yup def a mom}
It’s obvious why I’m super excited; I mean it is Disney world for pete sake!! Second time my hubby will be going and first for the kiddies (my ninth I think). I’m really excited to see the kids there especially Lil Dude; I have been molding him into a Disney nut like I since before he was born (as with Lil Karen).
So I’m sure your asking why I’m terrified, well the fact is, I’ve NEVER EVER EVER been to Disney without my mother, The whole reason I planned this trip was in memory of her and now the idea of her not being there is really starting to get to me. I’m sure it doesn’t help that I haven’t really grieved yet either.  I just keep pushing it away hoping and praying that one day the pain will just be gone or I’ll finally wake up from this nightmare and it will all have been just another bad dream. Now I’m not delusional I know that will never happen, at least not until I see those pearly gates and meet her again in heaven standing there with all my loved ones who have gone before me.  All of my memories of Disney are with my mother; if I wasn’t there with her I was there with my Grandparents but I don’t have any memories of that, just pictures. I guess what I’m really terrified about is I’m gonna get to Disney and not be able to stop crying, I have pretty much refused to cry since her death; a little bit will squeeze out from time to time and I just suck all back down deep inside, which I think is finally getting harder and harder to do. Starting to read my bible more, I know God will guide me out of this black hole…

Mama

I just want to walk in the back door of her office & go to lunch;
I just want to have girl days & shopping trips;
I just want her to show off her grandbabies to anyone and everyone who will listen;
I just want to go to Rehoboth walking the boardwalk and eating at cassapolas;
I just want to go see The Phanotom one last time;
I just want my therete buddy;
I just want her to be us at Disney world;
I just want to be able to go all the places we said we would;
I just want her to hold me & tell me she loves me & that everything will be ok;
I just want her to lead me out of this black hole;
I just want her to fix everything like she always did;
I just wanna hear "Hello my daughter" & "I love you my daughter"
I just want my mama back!
I will never understand why God takes the best so soon but I guess if I where God I'd wanna be surroded by the best too;
I can't believe it's been 6 months my heart breaks a little more each day. I don't know how I'm suppose to do this with out her; I miss & love you soo much mama!! Always and Forever!