Just Because...

I was reading about healthy ways to cook quinoa and found this in the comment section:

Comment #1: I make a pot of it at the beginning of the week and eat it for breakfast throughout the week...topped with almond milk, unsweetened shredded coconut, and raisins, zap in the microwave...it's AMAZING!

#2 microwaving food kills the enzymes in the food [FYI]

#3 urban myth. Studies prove otherwise.

#4 There are actually studies to prove that microwaving food is detrimental.

#5 i have read a study that states studies may or may not be beneficial. just sayin...

#6 I read a study that one day we are all going to die.

I don't know why I think this is so funny, except that the last comment really brings the whole discussion to a close. "just sayin'"...

Happy Birthday Gramms!

Chex Caramel Crunch

"At the end of the day it's nice to know..." that when you add brown sugar to butter and corn syrup you get caramely goodness that you can pour over popcorn or Chex mix or probably many other things.  What's better than that?

And, because I can't seem to find the yummalicious recipe that has been given to me on several occasions, here's what I've got so far...

8 cups Chex mix (I used 3Corn/3Rice/2HoneyNut)
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup brown sugar
6 TBLS butter
3 TBLS corn syrup
1/4 tsp baking soda

1. Mix up the cereal and the coconut in a big bowl.
2. Put the brown sugar, butter and corn syrup in a 2 cup measuring cup.  (Don't use a 1 cup one because then it will all spluge out on your microwave floor.  I know.)
3. Melt it for a minute, stir.
4. Melt if for another minute, stir it up.
5. Add the baking soda and stir it up quick.
6. Pour it over the cereal mix.
7. Put it out on some wax paper to cool.

I know there are supposed to be some other ingredients in this like craisins and probably some nuts, but I'm not sure what they are and I don't want to ruin the caramely goodness by adding the wrong stuff.  If you know, do tell.

How to Eat an Ice Cream Cone

-by PT
 

"Yes!" My Favorite Christmas Present

One frustrating evening I told my kids, "You know what I really want for Christmas?  I want you kids to just be agreeable.  Just once a day I want you to tell me 'yes' when I ask you to do something.  Give me a bag of 365 'yes's' for me to use throughout the year."  And you know who did it?  Tasha.  She wrote a page up, copied them, cut them up, stuck them in baggies, and put them in my stocking. 

Individual Ornament Boxes

Every year we have the same argument as the girls set out to decorate the Christmas tree.  Even if I sit there doling out the ornaments, there is a heated discussion on whose ornament is whose and who gave what to who in what year.  It is seriously my worst Christmas nightmare.  I'm pretty sure that's why we didn't put up a tree one year.

Payton and Snoopy's butt
 

This year I vowed that would not happen again.  Somehow I banished the kids from the room, set out 3 boxes and divvied up the ornaments into the boxes.  I handed them each their box and it was sheer bliss.  No harsh words.  No pulling on ornaments.  No crying.   


At one point Bill was trying to get Payton to place the many Pooh bear ornaments on different branches instead of all on one.  He also wanted the ones with faces to, well, face out.  How silly is that?  Wouldn't the snowmen and Snoopy want to see the tree?  I assured Bill that I would fix things once the kids went to bed.  Then I didn't.  It was cute and made me giggle.

 

Well, I don't imagine that things will go that smoothly 2 years in a row.  It only made sense to pack those ornaments up in the boxes according to who should put them up.  The thing is, I don't typically do what I want to do and the tree stays up into the new year and I'm so frustrated that I don't care any more.  This year however, thanks to IKEA, things were completed.  I'm in love with their clear SAMLA boxes.  I'm also in love with pretty colorful tissue paper.  Here's what I came up with:

Happy decorating next year!  Hoo-rah!

Carols by Candlelight at Clark Park

Inspired by an Australian Christmas tradition I found via Pinterest and this Australian mom's blog site, I bring to you...

Carols by Candlelight at Clark Park
This Sunday, December 23rd @ 7pm

Come one, come all and join us in song as we gather to sing Christmas Carols at Clark Park.  Dress warm, bring blankets or chairs, and have a candle, flashlight, or the glow of your cell phone to illuminate our park with joy.  Neighbors, their friends and family are all welcome!