Dear Little House:

I will miss you!
Today was a bittersweet day. I spent some time cleaning, de-kidding, and taking pictures of you. We are planning on selling or renting you this summer. I am really emotional about leaving you behind when we move to Cleveland for rotations. Today was sweet because I feel like I am bonding with you when I clean and polish and organize you. It was bitter because I know this relationship that we have can not continue growing with such a distance between us. You may be small and fragile and in need of a nip/tuck here and there but you were our first real home. I will always love you and remember you fondly. Andersen had his very first room to himself here. Hen was welcomed into this world by your warmth. So many memories... I will try to find you someone nice to live here.






If you are nice and interested in buying or renting my little house please contact me...

Getting ready for Valentine's Day!

I LOVE Valentine's Day! Maybe it is just because I feel like I have an excuse to throw pink, girly, love where ever I want to in this house full of boys. I have big plans for this Valentine's Day. They include heart cookies, cupcakes, decorations, jewlery (I am going to try to make) and a family date.

Here are a couple of books I got for the boys. Again, I feel like I can get a little bit girly for Valentine's Day. Every now and then a little book splurge, away from preschool book orders, is needed or maybe I should say "taken".

I got this for my little Henry. I keep reading it. I love the art and even the texture of the pages. If you haven't guessed, books are one of my weaknesses.
This is the book I scouted out for Andersen. How adorable!

bebecha = darling

This is my attempt at taking pictures of myself. Not bad, if I do say so myself.

One of Dan's best friends growing up lived right next door. His little sister IS bebecha! I love what she creates. It is so classy, girly and perfect! I really wish I could buy EVERYTHING! I have to limit myself though, not that they are priced too high(remember medical students and stay-at-home moms don't make much/any $) Anyway, this headband is a necessity! I get compliments on it all the time. It is really comfy too, I usually can't wear other headbands. I want to try the stretchy one too.
My wish list includes: these earrings...

this necklace...

AND this headband, for now.

Check out bebecha's etsy shop. I know you'll love everything too!

The Mint Brownie Recipe

My mom makes these mint brownies every year around Christmas. Over the last couple of years I have started the tradition in our little family as well. I feel like I can post this recipe because it has been in our family for so long and we have made adjustments. I think my mom originally got this recipe from my dad's mom who got it out of a newspaper in Texas before I was born.

Lets break this down into 3 steps, although cutting these brownies is another step which I find more difficult than making the brownies.
This is the recipe I use for my pan, which is 17 1/2" x 12 1/2". It is like a cookie sheet and a half. You can try to change recipe to fit your size of pan.
Bottom: 2 boxes of Betty Crocker Fudge Brownie mix.
Middle: 1 16oz tub of Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting
1 1/2 T peppermint extract
a drop or two of green food coloring
Top: 1 1/4 C semi sweet chocolate chips
8 T butter
2 T Karo syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla

Yes! I always have something go wrong - this time 2 drips of salsa fell onto the brownies! ERRR to having a small kitchen! From experience it is better than not having a kitchen though.
Step 1: Make brownies. I use Betty Crocker's fudge brownie mix. I'm sure you could make some by scratch but I am used to these and they are delicious. I would also recommend adding walnuts if you like them because it makes them even better. I let these cool completely and even chill sometimes before the next step.

Step 2: Frost brownies. I buy Duncan Hines cream cheese frosting and add peppermint extract and food coloring (just a bit to tint frosting). Mix together well and spread evenly onto brownies. Chill before adding chocolate top layer.

Step 3: Chocolate top: Melt chocolate chips and butter on med-low heat until melted and add Karo syrup and vanilla. Drizzle then spread evenly over chilled frosted brownies. I use a butter knife but I have always wanted to try one of those frosting knives. Chill before cutting.

Cutting tips: Chill!!! Use a sharp knife and try to glide it through, if that catches the top layer then I would try to lightly press to cut. Good Luck. Oh, I always cut off sides and eat them instead of serving them.

I made this twice on Sunday...

I made this to give away on Sunday. Then after dinner Andersen was so sad that we gave it away that we had to make another one. How much did he eat? One bite! Don't worry though, it didn't go to waste. Although it all went to my "waist". It has been my main diet for the past 2 days.

I would love to share the recipe but I do not know the rules of cookbook recipe sharing. SO...if you know if it is ok to post the full recipe out of my Mary Englebreit's cookbook then let me know and I will type it out. Otherwise, just shoot me an email and I will send it to you. You have to be able to share your recipes with friends, right? emline1@yahoo.com

p.s. Did I mention that it makes your whole house smell divine?

*Revised January 4, 2010
Here it is - tell me if I am not supposed to post recipes (please).

apple spice cake with caramel glaze

Apple Spice Cake
3 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp ground cinnamon
¼ tsp ground allspice
¼ tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 ½ C granulated sugar
½ C packed dark brown sugar
1 ½ C vegetable oil
3 eggs, at room temperature
2 tsp vanilla
3 C chopped Granny Smith apples (about 2 ½ apples)
2 C walnuts, chopped (I have never used these in this recipe)

Caramel Glaze
½ C packed dark brown sugar
¼ C unsalted butter
¼ C heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 325. Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl beat together the granulated and brown sugars and the oil until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down the bowl with a rubber spatula. Beat in the vanilla. On low speed, add the flour mixture in 3 additions. Using a large wooden spoon, stir in the apples and walnuts. Pou the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
4. Bake the cake for 65 to 70. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove the cake from the pan and let cool completely.
5. Make the caramel glaze. In a small heavy saucepan, combine the brown sugar, butter, and cream. Bring to boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Boil, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool for 10 minutes, or until the glaze thickens slightly but is still pourable.
6. Set the cake, still on the wire rack, on a baking sheet. Drizzle the glaze slowly over the top, letting some of it run down the side. Transfer the cake to a serving plate and let the glaze set before serving.

Grosgrains and satins and sheers, oh my!

I LOVE ribbon!
Once upon a time there was a fair mommy who wanted to open a baby boutique... She bought all of her very most favorite baby products and accessories and an abundance of RIBBON to wrap it all up with. She wanted everyone to feel enchanted when opening her lovely gifts.
To make a long story short - it didn't work out... BUT she did collect some beautiful ribbon. A few of her favorite kinds include:
and

Where do you purchase such ribbon?
may arts was my favorite ribbon wholesaler. So...if you happen to have a wholesale license and would like to purchase a lot of ribbon check them out(oh, and let me in on the order. I am running low and all out of my very favorites). You can also get great ribbon at scrap book stores. I don't think you can get it by the spool though. I have not found any fabric stores where I live that have "magical" ribbon but I bet some do.I have bought some recently at Michaels and it is just not the same, but will get me through for now. ha ha. I am not really that much of a "ribbon-snob", I just really "heart" it. Almost exactly the same way I love butter, only different.Ribbon just makes everything more beautiful and more special. I use it for: gifts, scrap booking, cards, hair, home decor (I have all of my Christmas cards hanging on ribbon with little clothes pins)... so anywhere and everywhere you would like to add a little love, add some ribbon.

Note to Self:

DO NOT buy a Woman's Day Magazine for a recipe.
I have been eyeing this magazine for a couple weeks now because of the beautiful pancakes they have on the front. Don't they look delicious? MMmmMM, yes they do.

Well my disappointment started right after I got home from purchasing the magazine and I started thumbing through the pages looking for the same yummy picture and some intense directions. I found the recipe in a 2 inch portion of the next to last page (no pics). #2 disappointment - the first ingredient was pancake mix...wHaT tHe WhAt?
So I start making the pancakes while Dan is at scouts and the boys are both sick and Andersen tells me he doesn't want blueberries in his. You have to melt butter in a single pancake frying pan and it takes forever to make our 7 pancakes...that we only ate 3 of.
The review:
Pros - I did like the texture and flavor from the butter. The boysenberry syrup that I just purchased was quite delicious.
Cons: time intensive, ingredients were boring and pancakes soaked up too much syrup. I also forgot that I really don't like it when the blueberries pop in my mouth (for some reason I think of spiders).

The execution: I think I did ok except for I need to work on my food photography and timing (with the boys). I also forgot to add fresh blueberries to the top which would have added to the taste and the presentation. They do look kind of dark too but that part tasted the best.

The disaster: I dropped a slippery sippy cup of oj in mine and Dan's shoes.


I have high hopes for next time folks...high apple pie in the sky hopes...