Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
what's cooking wednesday - rolo cookies
So about a month ago my buddy Karen was tempting me by posting on facebook that she was baking rolo cookies. Well she had me at Rolo....... and cookies. I have been attempting for the past month to make them, but never managed to have all the ingredients in the house at the same time. Then I had a hard time finding regular Rolo. Michael accidentally picked up the jumbo rolos and they were huge. Too huge to go in a cookie. Over the weekend I grabbed a bag of mini rolos and thought I'd try and make those work.
Go and check out the recipe.... go ahead. I'll wait.
So yeah, that's them. The mini rolos worked out okay, but I think the regular size ones would be way better. The actual cookie itself is delicious on it's own. I may actually make these again with just a bag of white chocolate chips thrown in. The dough makes a nice soft cookie that reminds me of a brownie. Maya declared them "the best cookies ever!" And she's a kid that doesn't like food.
These have actually made the short list of cookies I think I might take to the first annual Festivus cookie exchange taking place over at the Mommy Project's house. I'd love to show you a picture of them, but they were all gone before I got a single shot, but just ask Heather, she was here just when they were coming out of the oven and got to taste the deliciousness.
What is What's Cooking Wednesday and how can I play?
What's cooking Wednesday was born out of a desire to get out of that what's for dinner rut. Playing is easy, on Wednesday post a recipe that has been tried and tested by you and then pop over here and add your name to the Mr. Linky. When entering your name also add the name of the recipe in brackets and make sure you link to your What's Cooking Wednesday post and not just your blog's front page. *All front page links will be deleted!* Don't make me be a jerk. And don't forget to link back here, the home of What's Cooking Wednesday.
So for example I would write Shan (Speedy Chicken Stir Fry) in the name section. For the URL section I would post this: http://shanrev.blogspot.com/2007/10/whats-cooking-wednesday-speedy-chicken.html
I'll let you in on a little secret, my WCW recipes are almost never made on a Wednesday. So feel free to cook and photograph whenever you have time and join us posting on Wednesday
Go and check out the recipe.... go ahead. I'll wait.
So yeah, that's them. The mini rolos worked out okay, but I think the regular size ones would be way better. The actual cookie itself is delicious on it's own. I may actually make these again with just a bag of white chocolate chips thrown in. The dough makes a nice soft cookie that reminds me of a brownie. Maya declared them "the best cookies ever!" And she's a kid that doesn't like food.
These have actually made the short list of cookies I think I might take to the first annual Festivus cookie exchange taking place over at the Mommy Project's house. I'd love to show you a picture of them, but they were all gone before I got a single shot, but just ask Heather, she was here just when they were coming out of the oven and got to taste the deliciousness.
What is What's Cooking Wednesday and how can I play?
What's cooking Wednesday was born out of a desire to get out of that what's for dinner rut. Playing is easy, on Wednesday post a recipe that has been tried and tested by you and then pop over here and add your name to the Mr. Linky. When entering your name also add the name of the recipe in brackets and make sure you link to your What's Cooking Wednesday post and not just your blog's front page. *All front page links will be deleted!* Don't make me be a jerk. And don't forget to link back here, the home of What's Cooking Wednesday.
So for example I would write Shan (Speedy Chicken Stir Fry) in the name section. For the URL section I would post this: http://shanrev.blogspot.com/2007/10/whats-cooking-wednesday-speedy-chicken.html
I'll let you in on a little secret, my WCW recipes are almost never made on a Wednesday. So feel free to cook and photograph whenever you have time and join us posting on Wednesday
Monday, November 16, 2009
life lessons
So I mentioned briefly that Abby is in resource at school for reading. This is something that came up at the end of last year. The plan was to read with Abby over the summer and reassess the situation in Grade 2. So far all concerned feel that what's holding Abby back is Abby. She's great until she gets to a word she doesn't know, then she just stops reading. She has convinced herself that she can't read and that she's the worst in the class. It's more than a little bit worrisome and a tad bit heart breaking.
But the good news is... and there is good news, sometimes you just have to go looking for it.... she loves going to resource and loves the resource teacher. At home, with me, the reading - well - it's a challenge for both of us. I do my best to keep calm, hold on to my patience and make the experience as pleasant as I can. When she gets to the point where she stops I need to push her to continue and she pushes just as hard back. Some nights though, there are bigger lessons to be learned.
Tonight when it came time to read the books she'd brought home from school she was laying in my bed. When I appeared at the door she flung her arm across her eyes.... but I'm tiiiirrrreeedddd!!!
That's fine, I told her. As soon as we're done reading these books you can go to bed.
So we read. And Abby did her best to stall as much as possible and play the "I'm tired" card as often as she could. We got through the three books (She did a great job, a few stumbles, but it was coming out a whole lot easier. I hope it's all beginning to click with her.) and I sent her off to her room to get into jammies, telling her I'd be there to tuck her in as soon as My-Pie was settled in bed.
Do you know what time it is? I asked her when I got back to her.
She didn't.
It's 8 o'clock and your bedtime is 8:30. You see, you were telling me how tired you were hoping to get out of reading your books tonight. I told you when you were done you could go to bed. So you had to read the books any way and now you're in bed a half an hour before bedtime. And you know I'm not going to let you get out of bed now, right?
She nodded.
So what did you learn tonight?
That I just should have read my books and not whined.
Here's hoping she remembers this for tomorrow night.
But the good news is... and there is good news, sometimes you just have to go looking for it.... she loves going to resource and loves the resource teacher. At home, with me, the reading - well - it's a challenge for both of us. I do my best to keep calm, hold on to my patience and make the experience as pleasant as I can. When she gets to the point where she stops I need to push her to continue and she pushes just as hard back. Some nights though, there are bigger lessons to be learned.
Tonight when it came time to read the books she'd brought home from school she was laying in my bed. When I appeared at the door she flung her arm across her eyes.... but I'm tiiiirrrreeedddd!!!
That's fine, I told her. As soon as we're done reading these books you can go to bed.
So we read. And Abby did her best to stall as much as possible and play the "I'm tired" card as often as she could. We got through the three books (She did a great job, a few stumbles, but it was coming out a whole lot easier. I hope it's all beginning to click with her.) and I sent her off to her room to get into jammies, telling her I'd be there to tuck her in as soon as My-Pie was settled in bed.
Do you know what time it is? I asked her when I got back to her.
She didn't.
It's 8 o'clock and your bedtime is 8:30. You see, you were telling me how tired you were hoping to get out of reading your books tonight. I told you when you were done you could go to bed. So you had to read the books any way and now you're in bed a half an hour before bedtime. And you know I'm not going to let you get out of bed now, right?
She nodded.
So what did you learn tonight?
That I just should have read my books and not whined.
Here's hoping she remembers this for tomorrow night.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
one day she'll have a shoe closet like carrie bradshaw
It's been tradition the past few years that on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend Mike and Papa take off to the tractor pulls at the fair. This year Grandma Linda and I thought while the boys were off doing that we'd take the girls and do a little shopping. At the mall. Where Granny works.
So off we went, but when we got to Granny's store she wasn't there yet. In fact she wasn't due for another hour. So Grandma Linda suggested we go across the mall to Payless Shoes. Also known as Abby's Disneyland.
As soon as we got to the part of the store that housed her size she spun around and asked me.... do you have your camera? I didn't, but I did have me new old cell phone and snapped the picture above. The next thing she asked me was... can I try all of these on? And I wish I had recorded her because I cannot fully explain the awe that you could hear in her voice. Just to be surrounded by all these shoes, these beautiful shoes. It was like a divine moment for her.
And then she found these. It was love at first sight. Just to clarify these are brown "suede" peep toe pumps... in her size. They were the most beautiful thing that she'd ever seen. They were soulmates, destined to be together. She was already telling me of the places she could wear them. The things she could wear them with.
Even still, with the lovefest that was going on... do you see that blur of orange and brown just past the box? That's My-Pie. And what is My-Pie doing? Scouring the shelves for more shoes for her sister to try on. No joke. She would get them off the shelf and bring them to Abby's feet like she was leaving an offering. Girlfriend is serious about shoes. And My-Pie... she's serious about her sister.
Not surprisingly, she was only more in love with them after they hit her feet. I'm sure the pose she's striking tells the entire love story. And Grandma Linda, being a self declared shoe girl herself...... well she was buying into it too. I won't even try to deny that I wasn't a little swept up in the excitement as well. She was just so in love with these shoes. And I'm sure they'd be in my closet next to the eleventy billion other pairs of Abby shoes right now had I not keeled over from sticker shock ($35!!) and told Grandma Linda she was not allowed to buy them for her. Really, I guess I should be thankful she doesn't know what Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin or Prada is yet.
So off we went, but when we got to Granny's store she wasn't there yet. In fact she wasn't due for another hour. So Grandma Linda suggested we go across the mall to Payless Shoes. Also known as Abby's Disneyland.
As soon as we got to the part of the store that housed her size she spun around and asked me.... do you have your camera? I didn't, but I did have me new old cell phone and snapped the picture above. The next thing she asked me was... can I try all of these on? And I wish I had recorded her because I cannot fully explain the awe that you could hear in her voice. Just to be surrounded by all these shoes, these beautiful shoes. It was like a divine moment for her.
And then she found these. It was love at first sight. Just to clarify these are brown "suede" peep toe pumps... in her size. They were the most beautiful thing that she'd ever seen. They were soulmates, destined to be together. She was already telling me of the places she could wear them. The things she could wear them with.
Even still, with the lovefest that was going on... do you see that blur of orange and brown just past the box? That's My-Pie. And what is My-Pie doing? Scouring the shelves for more shoes for her sister to try on. No joke. She would get them off the shelf and bring them to Abby's feet like she was leaving an offering. Girlfriend is serious about shoes. And My-Pie... she's serious about her sister.
Not surprisingly, she was only more in love with them after they hit her feet. I'm sure the pose she's striking tells the entire love story. And Grandma Linda, being a self declared shoe girl herself...... well she was buying into it too. I won't even try to deny that I wasn't a little swept up in the excitement as well. She was just so in love with these shoes. And I'm sure they'd be in my closet next to the eleventy billion other pairs of Abby shoes right now had I not keeled over from sticker shock ($35!!) and told Grandma Linda she was not allowed to buy them for her. Really, I guess I should be thankful she doesn't know what Jimmy Choo, Manolo Blahnik, Christian Louboutin or Prada is yet.
Friday, November 13, 2009
friday high five - the wishlist
Well it's been a while since I partook in a Friday High Five. I'm not sure why, but by the time Friday rolls around I am beat and ready to crawl into bed not long after the kids. Since Christmas is barreling towards us at the speed of light I thought I'd let you take a sneak peek of the 5 things I've got on my wish list to Santa.
1. A laptop. Oh sure it's a pipe dream, but a girl can wish can't she? Oh I have pined for a laptop this past month as Mike, Abby and I jostled for computer time. Even more so as I struggled to balance the school fair payout sheet. Something tells me it would have been alot easier if I could have retired to my quiet bedroom and locked the door. Then nobody could ask me for a glass of water/milk or to mediate a dispute (often over Polly Pockets) or if I was done yet so they could play Farmville/webkinz.
2. Books. Yes I have stacks, but I have my eye set on stacks more. Like Cookie Craft and the Pioneer Woman's cook book. And Heather Armstrong's book It Sucked, Then I Cried (or something like that). And Born Standing Up by Steve Martin. He's one of my favouritest ever. And The Kids Are Alright, by I can't remember right now, but the review I read made me really want to read it. The latest Douglas Coupland. My own copy of the Twilight Series. Some Nick Hornby. The Sookie Stackhouse Series. Some Kate Jacobs. The Diners Drive in & Dives cookbooks.
3. DVDs. I love dvds. Especially TV on dvd. Season 3 and on of Entourage. Season 2 and on of Grey's. Season 3 and on of The Office. For some inexplicable reason I do not own Christmas Vacation or StepBrothers on dvd. Ridiculous when you figure they are likely the two movies I quote from the most. And I haven't heard, but I'm hoping that The Hangover makes an appearance on store shelves before the big day.
4. Gift cards. I know. Boring. But we just never go to the movies. Or go shopping at Michaels. Or out to dinner at a place with menus they bring to your table.
5. Wii games. I'll let you in on a little secret. I love the Wii just as much as my girls. It's definitely a cold weather activity for us. I can count on one hand how many times it's been on this summer. I'd love some more workout type games. Some more sports type games to play with the kids. Group games like Wii Resort and the like. Bowling is a huge hit here. I think Mario Kart would be fun. Oh and The Price is Right. I love the Price is Right. I could play Plinko right in my own living room. And the lego series. I have the Complete Star Wars, but the others look like fun too.
What's on your wish list?
1. A laptop. Oh sure it's a pipe dream, but a girl can wish can't she? Oh I have pined for a laptop this past month as Mike, Abby and I jostled for computer time. Even more so as I struggled to balance the school fair payout sheet. Something tells me it would have been alot easier if I could have retired to my quiet bedroom and locked the door. Then nobody could ask me for a glass of water/milk or to mediate a dispute (often over Polly Pockets) or if I was done yet so they could play Farmville/webkinz.
2. Books. Yes I have stacks, but I have my eye set on stacks more. Like Cookie Craft and the Pioneer Woman's cook book. And Heather Armstrong's book It Sucked, Then I Cried (or something like that). And Born Standing Up by Steve Martin. He's one of my favouritest ever. And The Kids Are Alright, by I can't remember right now, but the review I read made me really want to read it. The latest Douglas Coupland. My own copy of the Twilight Series. Some Nick Hornby. The Sookie Stackhouse Series. Some Kate Jacobs. The Diners Drive in & Dives cookbooks.
3. DVDs. I love dvds. Especially TV on dvd. Season 3 and on of Entourage. Season 2 and on of Grey's. Season 3 and on of The Office. For some inexplicable reason I do not own Christmas Vacation or StepBrothers on dvd. Ridiculous when you figure they are likely the two movies I quote from the most. And I haven't heard, but I'm hoping that The Hangover makes an appearance on store shelves before the big day.
4. Gift cards. I know. Boring. But we just never go to the movies. Or go shopping at Michaels. Or out to dinner at a place with menus they bring to your table.
5. Wii games. I'll let you in on a little secret. I love the Wii just as much as my girls. It's definitely a cold weather activity for us. I can count on one hand how many times it's been on this summer. I'd love some more workout type games. Some more sports type games to play with the kids. Group games like Wii Resort and the like. Bowling is a huge hit here. I think Mario Kart would be fun. Oh and The Price is Right. I love the Price is Right. I could play Plinko right in my own living room. And the lego series. I have the Complete Star Wars, but the others look like fun too.
What's on your wish list?
Thursday, November 12, 2009
quiet night
Tonight I.....
Watched Abby's riding lesson. She's doing amazing and loving every minute of it, but dang it's cold in that arena. But seeing her trot with no hands... well that's totally worth it!
Made dinner - spaghetti and meatballs in the crockpot. Neither of the girls would touch it. Peanut butter sandwich for Abby. Fruit Loops for Maya. Which she ate with milk! I wouldn't of believed it if I hasn't seen it with my own eyes.
Helped Abby practice playing jingle bells on her ukulele. Basically I just needed to hold her music sheet. I think it kinda sounded a little like jingle bells. Sorta.
Did two loads of laundry. I think I may finally be buying into the Flylady's "one load per day" way of thinking. Of course the over achiever in me (snort!) did 2 loads.
Attempted to snuggle Maya out of her crusty mood. It was somewhat of a failure.
Took out the recycling and moved 30+ leaf bags out to the road for pick up. Okay to be fair Mike took out about a third of them, but the rest was all me.
Watched the coming attractions and the first 5 minutes of Ice Age 3.
Listened to Abby read The Little Pets - Teachers Pet for her book club. Was pleased to hear the improvement in her reading. I'm not sure if I mentioned she is now seeing the resource teacher for some extra reading help. It's a little bit worrisome, but I'm confident that between home and the school we have things well in hand.
Watched Survivor and The Office while folding 2 loads of laundry.
Put away two loads of laundry.
Tweeted The Mommy Project just a little bit. Really... way less than usual. I had too, she misses me when I don't.
Panicked - silently - about how quick Christmas is coming up.
Directed the toy room tidy up project before bed. You would have thought I had asked Maya for a kidney and not to pick up 5 webkinz and put them back in their bucket.
Tucked two little girls into bed. Both were zonked out within 5 minutes.
Made myself a tea and remembered to drink half of it before it went cold.
And now here I sit wondering where in the heck the night went. Feeling a tad frustrated that all that work was only a portion of what I wanted to get to tonight. Time to call it quits and attempt it all again tomorrow.
Watched Abby's riding lesson. She's doing amazing and loving every minute of it, but dang it's cold in that arena. But seeing her trot with no hands... well that's totally worth it!
Made dinner - spaghetti and meatballs in the crockpot. Neither of the girls would touch it. Peanut butter sandwich for Abby. Fruit Loops for Maya. Which she ate with milk! I wouldn't of believed it if I hasn't seen it with my own eyes.
Helped Abby practice playing jingle bells on her ukulele. Basically I just needed to hold her music sheet. I think it kinda sounded a little like jingle bells. Sorta.
Did two loads of laundry. I think I may finally be buying into the Flylady's "one load per day" way of thinking. Of course the over achiever in me (snort!) did 2 loads.
Attempted to snuggle Maya out of her crusty mood. It was somewhat of a failure.
Took out the recycling and moved 30+ leaf bags out to the road for pick up. Okay to be fair Mike took out about a third of them, but the rest was all me.
Watched the coming attractions and the first 5 minutes of Ice Age 3.
Listened to Abby read The Little Pets - Teachers Pet for her book club. Was pleased to hear the improvement in her reading. I'm not sure if I mentioned she is now seeing the resource teacher for some extra reading help. It's a little bit worrisome, but I'm confident that between home and the school we have things well in hand.
Watched Survivor and The Office while folding 2 loads of laundry.
Put away two loads of laundry.
Tweeted The Mommy Project just a little bit. Really... way less than usual. I had too, she misses me when I don't.
Panicked - silently - about how quick Christmas is coming up.
Directed the toy room tidy up project before bed. You would have thought I had asked Maya for a kidney and not to pick up 5 webkinz and put them back in their bucket.
Tucked two little girls into bed. Both were zonked out within 5 minutes.
Made myself a tea and remembered to drink half of it before it went cold.
And now here I sit wondering where in the heck the night went. Feeling a tad frustrated that all that work was only a portion of what I wanted to get to tonight. Time to call it quits and attempt it all again tomorrow.
