Project 52 [week 7]

[craving strawberries]

[craft time]

[I've never noticed the xoxo on the peanut butter lid. Maybe it's new?]

Thursday Ramblings

I'm stuck on the couch with the sniffles.

There are so many other things that I would rather be doing like hanging the cute curtains I bought for Bella's room from Bouclair or putting together the Smadal bookcase from Ikea to house her toys and books but I just don't have the energy. Instead I'm on my second cup of coffee and thinking about what kind of tea I should make next.

I better enjoy this moment without chaos because who knows when it will happen again! Here's my chance to catch up on all of your lovely blogs.

[Smadal Bookcase from Ikea]

[Akira Curtains from Bouclair]

Ballet Flats

Although the warm weather won't be here for a little bit longer, it's hard not to get lost in the frenzy of all the Spring fashion that's been popping up in the stores lately. I fed my temptation the other day and bought these cute ballet flats from Old Navy.


Just before Christmas, I found these fun zebra print flats on clearance for $10 at Payless but I have only been able to wear them inside.


I can't wait for the warm weather to arrive!

Project 52 [week 7]

I remember back in public school in 1988 when Calgary hosted the Winter Olympics. One of our school Olympic activities was to make the Olympic rings out of hula hoops wrapped in streamers. The teachers hung them throughout the school. It looked amazing! I also remember getting a taper candle with a red cup attached to it (from the gas station I think) -- a mini Olympic torch. It stayed in my memory box for many years. I wonder if it's still there? The rush of energy the Olympics brought back then was so strong. That same rush of energy is in the air today as Vancouver hosts the 2010 Winter Olympics, only this time it's golden!

Here are a few pictures I took of my TV during the first week of the Olympics...

[Team Canada at the opening ceremonies]

[Canada's first gold on Canadian soil]

I am...

polishing off a bag of BBQ chips. I should have had dinner but kids come first. Tonight was Karate! Off to find something a little healthier than grease-laden deep fried potatoes (but oh so good as my Homer Simpson tongue hangs out of my mouth drooling).

Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I had a few bananas hanging around and remembered this cookie recipe passed on by a friend. They are super delicious!

1 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
3 cups oats (quick cook)
3/4 cup shortening
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mashed banana (I used 3 bananas)
2 cups chocolate chips (I used about 1/2 a cup less)

Mix flour, salt, cinnamon, baking soda and oats in a bowl and set aside. Cream together the shortening, brown sugar and white sugar. Add the egg, vanilla and bananas until well mixed. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by spoonfuls (I used generous spoonfuls) onto a cookie sheet (not sure if it needs to be greased - I used a non-stick baking sheet mat) and bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes. Cool on cooling rack.

I am...

enjoying a mix of leftovers I found in the fridge for lunch -- leftover pasta from the other night, some grape tomatoes from a veggie platter, fresh garlic, basil, kosher salt and pepper all tossed together in a little olive oil and warmed on the stove. YUM!

What did you have for lunch today?

Project 52 [week 6]

I'm a few days late but better late than never.

This week is dedicated to the Superbowl. I'm not a football fan but I do enjoy getting together with friends and watching the halftime show. This year we had people over to our house which meant there was a bit of cleaning up to do...

[A little Superbowl betting]

[Lots of hungry fans]

[refilling the ice bucket]

[boys and their beer]

[time to turn on the dishwasher]

Misunderstood

Bella had a granola bar the other day and then wanted another so I let her. As I was giving her the second bar I told her, "This is the last one." A few days later when I asked her what she would like to eat she said, "I want a last one." I couldn't understand what she meant so I asked her to show me. As she pointed at the granola bar box, I remembered what I had said to her the last time she had one. She thought the granola bar was called "Last One".

Too Much Chocolate Cake

My friend Sheba had a friend make her son's cake for his first birthday. It was super yummy so I asked for the recipe. I tried it out for Steve's birthday cake and it was just as delicious as I remembered it! It's super easy to make too. Instead of adding all the oil, I added 3/4 cup of applesauce and 1/4 cup of oil as a healthier alternative. I also didn't add chocolate chips as you might have noticed in the picture. A tub and a half of Chocolate Duncan Hines Icing and some sprinkles finished the cake off perfectly!

Too Much Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package devil's food cake mix
• 1 (5.9 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding mix
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup warm water
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together the cake and pudding mixes, sour cream, oil, beaten eggs and water. Stir in the chocolate chips and pour batter into a well greased 12 cup bundt pan.
3. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes, or until top is springy to the touch and a wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool cake thoroughly in pan at least an hour and a half before inverting onto a plate If desired, dust the cake with powdered sugar.