Christmas 2011

We had a fantastic holiday!  So much went on in such a short period of time...we travel this week yet, but I can actually take a few minutes to sit, blog, and relax.  And I can't wait for the "round 2" of craziness!!  (aka...the in-laws...house in the woods in the middle of nowhere...21 people!!!!!)

Our vacation days began with visitors from N. Carolina, who surprised us with an unexpected furry house guest. 

 "Waffles" was the quietest house guest EVER!  She slept all night in a lidded basket.  ~never made a peep~ 

 Christmas Eve started with a bang!  We exchanged our "family gifts" with the kids. We did it early this year. That way, they had something to do, while waiting for the afternoon festivities to begin.  I never in my life saw a kid scream SO LOUD over an $8 video game!!  If I would've known that, that would've been all we bought him!  :)

                                   (check out Elise's face in that one~  She was crackinggggggggg up!!!)


The kids were truly in SHOCK that they BOTH got guitars from mommy and daddy.  Real guitars!!  Let the tuning and lessons begin!

                                                                                                                                                                            

 

    what a natural!!!!                                    

 Then came the party at Gramma's house. Needless to say, it was full of laughs and lotsa, lotsa music!! 

                                (check out Santa, Elfie, and little baby Rudolph!)

                                 

                                           (this picture CRACKS ME UPPPPPPPPP!!)

The prep for Santa was complete....

...and finally Christmas morning

                          the smiles...

                          the shock!...

                          a little crafting...

                         1 of 4 homemade tech deck ramps...

Overall, we had a fantastic Christmas!!  I can't wait 'til tomorrow...another 4 days of hype!! 

Final pictures...

So I went back to Merge today to finish the tree branch.  Everyone at the worship service last week wrote on a tag....
....something that the Lord brings to you.... 
The tags made the wall project a bit more personal ~ not just "basic wall art."  You can read my previous post for more detail on that...
but anyway, I promised a picture of the completed project~ 

I think the most amazing part of the whole thing is that I hung them all straight, even, and equally spaced on the FIRST TRY! 

project of the week...

I've been going to a new worship service Sunday mornings. 2 friends of mine lead it.  It's set up like a bible study with music...a very relaxed environment...a room filled with friends. 

Merge ministries got to be so well attended, that they needed to move locations.  So....they moved into a very large warehouse in town.  With hours of volunteer time, including electrical work, paint, sandblasting, drywalling, etc...the space is absolutely beautiful.  Exposed brick with large windows, hardwood floors, and natural wood pillars just screams to me!! 

Anyway, long story short, Merge asked me to help out with wall art.  ...to come up with ANY idea...  Ya know, it's really, really difficult to do that.  If someone gave me a "theme" or "color idea" that they wanted, it would be a bit more simple.  I think they were thinking they were being nice letting me do "whatever."  Phew!  What pressure!!  When I called to give him (Matt) a list of my ideas, his response was, "Sure sounds great!  They all sound great!  You just be creative!" 

Because the 2 main walls are about ... oh I don't know... 30-40 feet long, I knew whatever I did had to be big!  I recommended painting a large section of the one wall (between pillars) with magnetic chalkboard paint...that way they could list reminders, hang posters, doodle, or whatever on it.  And it wasn't very expensive to do.  (which is KEY!)

The other main wall, I decided to paint three 4-foot canvases. My inspiration came from the symbol for life.  The tree. 

The canvases turned out great.  Everyone was very complimentary.  I'll be taking picture of the space on Thursday, but for now...here are the pics from "the beginning." 

I simply spray painted the edges with black semi-gloss...

 ...then brushed the center in a cross-hatch pattern with copper metallic paint, called "copper penny." 
This color complimented the brick wall and hardwood floors beautifully...and the black tied in nicely with the chalkboard on the opposite side of the room...

 Don't you just love my wonderful workspace?  It's so handy and I love all the room I have (cough, cough)...

Again, Thursday I'll post pictures of the final product, hanging at the warehouse. 

Looking at these...I think I'm a wanna-be artist!! 

1st Annual Gingerbread House Party!

Making gingerbread houses is SO.MUCH.FUN!!!  Honestly, there's not a ton of prep...

*buy bulk candy at the grocery store, along with graham crackers and white icing (1 per child), marshmallows, chex cereal, and coconut.

*Foil-wrap cardboard.

*Add a "sawed-off" milk/o.j. carton to the foil-wrapped base, with tape.

*give everyone a butter knife to saw through the graham crackers to make them the size you need.  They actually "saw" and "cut" rather easily without breaking!

Now these are some happy kids!  I love living in a neighborhood that has lotsa kids!  Hopefully, when they're all grown, they'll say to their own kids, "When I was little, there was this lady that lived down the street, and every year at Christmas time..." 

Triplicity Designs makes its debut!!!

You can't get more excited than when something just falls into your lap.  This whole business venture has been a whirlwind for me and my 2 friends, Bobbi & Sara. We kept it very hush hush for quite a while...just in case things didn't work out...because then we would look like a bunch of dorks.  But honestly, everything fell into place and today was THE OPEN HOUSE!!! 

We, Triplicity Designs, are creating/designing furniture and homegoods from reclaimed wood and other findings from old factory buildings.  The Woods Company, Inc. is our supplier of these items.  All the separate pieces are quite unique...the history behind each piece is fascinating! 

We designed and fabricated several pieces for The Woods Company, Inc. open house today.  They were having somewhat of an "information session" for architects and builders, and our lovely things were there on display as well!

                            (my coat rack...designed by me, and assembled by Sara's husband)

                                                        

                                                                 (my corkboard)

                                                                
                                                                (Sara's lamp)

                                                

                                                              (Bobbi's reading nook) - I mean seriously?  Couldn't ya just take your new favorite magazine and curl up on that...mmmmmm......lovely job, Bobbi! 

                                                   

                                (end table) ~ wish I had a picture of the construction of the inside

This was quite a fulfilling day for each of us.  The three of us never dreamed we would be called "designers."  But to be introduced to others as that...well...I admit...it was VERY cool!! 

This dream-turned-reality may succeed...and it may fizzle...but while it's here...it's gonna be FUN!! 

Opportunity = Scary!!

Opportunities come and go. Some you snoot at and move on...others you feel compelled to go along for the ride.  Whether it be a great deal on a new home, a new business venture, or what have you...

opportunity = "the unknown"

There are few times in my life where I have had an opportunity to do something that is just that...."UNKNOWN"... I'm not typically that kind of gal ~ one who says 'ok, whatever!'  I'M the kind of gal that asks every question in the book, because I need details!!  The more details, the better (for me anyway!!).   But this time, currently, right now, I'm having the guts to go with the flow ~ like so many people do!!  Usually I'm envious of those that are able to do that...and I'm proud to say, I've joined the band wagon with this... I'm going with the flow!!  So far, the 'flow' has been very uncertain, which is driving me insane! ~ but that's okay.  I'm surviving!!  

So...Cheers to a new chapter in my life.  The chapter of an uncertain business venture!  I can't believe I'm doing this...and I can't believe it's reality! 

Love My Job!

...I love my job.

There are VERY few people in this world that can say that!  Not only am I lucky to love the job I have, I'm luck to have "a" job! I feel very blessed for that.

So...this week in Occupational Therapy, my students are going to be cutting & following directions to assemble this
A-W-E-S-O-M-E creation!!! 


Last week at our town's Applefest, I bought a haunted house kit, from the local Council for the Arts.  Laurie, a local artist, had created this and was selling individual kits. "GREAT," I thought.  "Perfect for my students!!!!!"  I just now got around to checking this out.  I was WAY disappointed to find out Laurie had copyrighted the project.  Hmmph.  

Then I had a lightbulb moment!!  I remembered she has a website!  SO, I went on-line and found it...and on it was her phone number!  SO...
I called her right up. She was very pleased to find out I wanted to do this. She immediately allowed me to trace the pattern and make as many copies as I'd like, for my student's use.  

Tonight, my kids and I put together the kit I bought. It is such a cute house!  My kids loved helping with it and I'm sure my students will too!  They LOVE crafts!  So many parents these days don't have time to devote to crafting at home.  The kids THRIVE on it! 

So off to Michael's tomorrow before school to load up on Halloween stickers, and purple card stock!  

Happy Halloween! 

Thanks Robin!

Much thanks to Robin from All Things Heart & Home for this wonderful recipe!  I plan to use my mac & cheese recipe and just add the egg yolk and top with parm. to make these bad boys!  I think they should be renamed... Mac & Cheese Poppers!

(p.s.  After you read it, you can all fight over who wants to invite me over for a party and try 'em!!!)

Macaroni & Cheese Bites

by Robin on January 25, 2011

It’s just 2 weeks until Super Bowl Sunday! This means two huge things to me:
1- Super Bowl Commercials
2- Super Bowl Snacks!
Have you seen these cute little  Macaroni and Cheese Bites? Wouldn’t they be a great thing to have on Super Bowl Sunday? They’d be great with sliders or sandwiches or wings!

These are also GREAT for little people! They freeze well so you’ll always have something yummy to add to your little one’s lunch! (After thawing, reheat in the oven or even in the microwave) Add shredded chicken breast (bake breasts in Italian dressing in a cooking bag) and put into large muffin tins and you have a ‘one-tin-lunch’ for your  kiddo’s!

Macaroni & Cheese Bites

Makes 4 ~ (12 cup) Mini-Muffin Tins

* 1/2 Pound Elbow Macaroni

* 1  1/2 Tablespoons  butter (extra for muffin tins)

* 1/4 cup Parmesan Cheese

*2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour

*3/4 cup milk or evaporated milk

*A few shakes of Tabasco sauce

*1  1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese sheredded

*1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese

* 1 large egg yolk

* 1/8 teaspoon Nutmeg

* 1/8 teaspoon Dry Mustard

Oven: 425*

Cook and drain pasta.

Spread mini muffin tins with softened butter then sprinkle with Parmesan Cheese. (shake off extra cheese)

In a big saucepan melt the 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and whisk in flour over med. heat. Whisking for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and cook, continuing to whisk until boiling (about 5 minutes). Add the Cheddar and Monterey Jack Cheeses and whisk until melted. Take off the heat and whisk in the egg yolk, Nutmeg and Mustard.

Fold in the macaroni.

Spoon slightly rounded tablespoons of macaroni into prepared muffin cups. Pack them gently. Sprinkle more Parmesan on top.

Bake on top and middle third of the oven until browned. (About 10 minutes)

Let them cool a few minutes then use a spoon a carefully loosen the bite-size minis!

You’ll notice this mac and cheese is a little thicker than usual but it helps when you’re putting it into the tins.

Don’t forget to press the pasta before you bake!

The Parmesan Cheese sprinkled inside the muffing tins and on top gives them the best texture…almost crunchy.


You can just pick ‘em up and pop one into your mouth…yum.

tuck 'em tight!

Every time I watch the food channel (and I'm a junkie, so that occurs quite often!), I watch them...all of them...tuck their fingers in before they slice & dice their veggies.  They all do it.  They make it look so simple!!  Have you EVER tried that??  It's virtually impossible!  I end up practically cutting my knuckles! So, after trying it and trying it repeatedly... and having it take 15  minutes to chop 1 onion ... I thought, "Forget it. I'm just choppin' MY way!" 

My dear friend & neighbor (aka...nebber...aka...neb) simply cringes every time she watches me cut something.  She's like, "RACHEL!  TUCK YOUR FINGERS IN!!"  ~ like she's my mother or something!  I just laugh and continue chopping!

WELL.

I now know the reason of WHY you should tuck 'em tight!  Yes. A lesson learned the hard way. On Tuesday, I was wackin' a carrot into thick slices as fast as I could...as I wanted to be on time for a very important meeting.  Suddenly, I felt something warm.  Something wet.

I had done 'er good.  I chopped the tip of my poor little thumbkin. I didn't just knick it. I chopped it. My thumbprint will no longer be nice and round. When I make thumbprint people/creatures with my kids from now on, everyone will know which creature is mommy's...the one with the dip in his head. 

Let me tell ya...thumb's BLEED. for hours. and they won't stop. and when you bump it, it gushes. and the next day when you're packing lunches and trying to open the mayo jar, it'll bleed again. and when you're trying to button your britches it'll bleed again. and when you try and TEXT it really bleeds (and hurts like a you know what!) and when .... you get my point ~ I could rattle on forever! 

Well, lesson learned!  Tuck 'em tight!  And a "told ya" moment to my neb...

SEE!!! My knives ARE sharp!  So there!!!

...got skate?...

We live in such a beautiful little town...

 Nick was asking all summer to PLEASE skate downtown.  "Yes honey, we will. I promise."  I realized the other day, it's now October and we had never done it.  He doesn't ask for much, so when I realized I let him down, I felt like a really bad mommy.  So off we went! 

 We were all over the downtown area.  We had SUCH a wonderful time...just the two of us...that's really nice sometimes  ~  to be able to focus on just 1 kid.

 I mean really, how can you look at this face and not want to squish it and smooch it??  (he was trying his hardest to 'not squint'~haha)

This one is his favorite of course!!  He thinks he's the next Shaun White!

 ...a little help from the self-timer!  Gotta love that feature!...

                                              We had a rockin' good day...

Sava da Flava!

Oh me! Oh my!  I found a new yummy thing!  And before I go any further...in case you don't know me well...I must disclose that I. LOVE. FOOD.  So as you read this...how I go on and on about something you eat...well...I just can't help it!! 

"What is it?" ~you ask? 

OLIVE TAPENADE!!!

I found this deliciousness at Wal-Mart, of all places.  Seriously. Wal-mart has olive tapenade!  I had it all planned...get home and unload groceries...then sink my teeth into some yummy fresh slices of my just-purchased french baguette, topped with the deliciousness.   1 PROBLEM.  Forgot the baguette.  URGH!!

It sat on my kitchen table, unopened, for 30 hours.  The poor thing.  I think I heard it crying during the night....calling my name....Raaaaachhhhhelllllllll....

So today it happened.  I opened 'er up.  Forget the bread
!!  I got some white cheddar wheat thins out of the cupboard...and dipped.  And dipped.  And dipped.  Ah.  Soooo fantastically good!!  I loved it!  E. loved it too!!  "Mom, PaaaaaLEASE can I have more?"  With just one bite, there's so much flavor that absolutely dances around your mouth.  It's truly an experience!

Yep, this is a keeper for sure!!  Can't wait 'til tomorrow so I can justify another 'scoop!'

I

opposites attract.

I just have to get this out there...

I love being around people that are the polar opposite of me.  I'm talkin' POLAR!!  I'm not sure why.  I can't pin point it...but I'm thinking maybe it's because I find it purely fascinating.  Fascinating that we all are together on this Earth ~ That the 'majority' of us were raised with good morals and values...  So how does that happen?  That people are so different.

It's true what they say of course...."Life would be boring if we were all the same"...and yadda yadda yadda...

But...
well...
It's just fascinating.  And I like it.

DON'T. YOU. DARE!

Just out of curiosity...how do YOU let your family know NOT to eat the muffins??  Me?? 

Simple.