Breakfast Today

Guess where I was this morning?  I'll give you a clue: Its not IHOP, Dennys or Coco's.  Another clue: most people go there to buy things like LEKSVIC, SKOJIG, or SNOIG.  Did you guess IKEA?  You are right!  And I have fallen in love with their 99 cent breakfast.  Seriously eggs, bacon, hash-browns and if you get here before 10am...free coffee too!  Now most people probably don't know that the cafeteria style dining room opens a half hour before the store and serves up a seriously good deal of a breakfast.  Those Sweedes know how to do it right I tell you.

A little birdie...

I've been wanting a little art to add in the kitchen...to spice it up a bit you know (no pun intended).  I thought about doing something with silverware, pears, stacking bowls...(and still may later), but ended up with the well loved bird.  Check this one out- its quite a conglomeration (yes I had to spell check that).  Frame- Target, years ago $3 something- actually have 2 more.  Bird- Michael's dollar bin $1- I think its an ornament.  Blue swirly paper- Michael's scrapbook paper $1 something. Cork tile background- tore it off the wall of the garage in our rental (which unfortunately left behind tons of tacky tape residue- oh well, I don't live there anymore!).  Green metal word holder- scrapbook junk drawer.  I told you it was a conglomeration (dang it, had to spell check again!)

Oh my cupcake!

My sis in law is having a baby girl in just a few weeks and we celebrated today with a shower.  I was in charge of cake which for me, translated to cupcakes.  Of course I had to make the salted caramel crowd pleasers, but wanted to couple them with something new, equally as yummy, and of course chocolate.  Let me tell you, I have discovered the cupcake of all cupcakes.  By far, and I really mean it, the best cupcake in the world.  And lucky for you, I am taking a little break from eating them (I am between my second and third ones of the day) to let you know how to make some of your own- cause I know you won't want to share!

Make a chocolate fudge cake mix as directed on the box.  Fill 24 cupcakes with the batter.  Now here's the yummiest part.  Mix 6 oz cream cheese (softened), 1 egg and 1/4 cup sugar until really smooth.  Then stir 1 cup of chocolate chips into the cream cheese mixture.  Now drop 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture onto each cupcake- it will sink in some.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Take them out and let them completely cool.  Now for the frosting.  Mix 2 packages of cream cheese (16 oz. total), and 1 stick unsalted butter until smooth.  Then add 2 teaspoons vanilla and 4 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth and stiff.  Put it in a ziploc, snip the corner, and squeeze away.  Top with mini chocolate chips.  Now go make them now- I guarantee you will love.

Graham Good

Leighton is really getting into finger foods now.  One of her favorite thing to snack on is graham crackers. Personally, I can only eat them soaked in milk or as the crust on a cheesecake, but this girl loves them.  The only drawback...the graham mess when its all over.

Next best thing...

So they aren't the adorable mini latte bowls from Anthropologie, but for $2.50 a 4 pack in the dollar bins at Target, you really can't go wrong.

Goose Egg

This is what you get when you are chasing your uncle out the door and don't see the small step on the porch.  Now we know why they call it a goose egg and not a robin egg.

Your Baby Can Read

Brooklyn came home this weekend with her first reading assignment.  She is officially a reader!  I knew she was totally ready to start reading this past year, but I wanted to save something for her to learn and get excited about in kindergarten.  What teacher wants a student who knows how to do everything already right?  The biggest thrill for her was reading "The pig sat in the mud" and realizing the words actually told what the picture showed- she gets it.

wishing...

Wishing I was here.....so badly! (as Ellie says) Could you imagine what an inspiring weekend that would be?

Ladybug

I can't believe our little ladybug is already 8 months old. She brings so much joy to our lives. Her smile, her baldie head, her arm flaps, her blankie cuddling, her dimpled chin, her giggle, her crib bumper peeking, her army crawl, her baby blues, her 3 nightly wakings, her 4 toofers...we can't get enough of her!

full sink= full heart

There are people who can't leave the house with dishes in the sink. Or go to bed with dishes in the sink. Or do anything with dishes in the sink. I am not one of those people. I can do lots of things with dishes in the sink. Its a talent I guess.

Got him!

I have officially moved from a hummingbird feeder watcher to a hummingbird watcher. So the pic isn't worthy of a postcard or a puzzle photograph but its a start. I may have to add to my lens collection to capture something this fast.

Plantie

This is Plantie. I write that with a capital P because it is a proper noun. She is Ellie's pet plant. She got her from Home Depot today. It's probably the smallest plant they sell there. So far she has fed her popcorn, asked me to babysit her while she went to the bathroom., and transplanted her into a larger home- "like a hermit crab Mom."

Buh-Bear

Brooklyn was sick this week. A killer sore throat that had her in tears more than once. On her worst day she laid in the chair downstairs and slept off an on all day. Her biggest comfort...Buh-bear. Her nap and nighttime companion of over 5 years.

Calling all Hummingbirds

I have a new hobby. Its a developing hobby I guess. Hummingbird watching. I've been on the prowl for a cool hummingbird feeder for our front yard. We've got 2 plants that attract them in the early evening and I always love watching them. So this week we cooked up humming juice-as Ellie calls it- and set the bait. I watched off and on all day today and finally this evening saw the first one take a sip. He was too quick for my camera, but I'll get him on film sooner or later. Did you know:

• The average hummingbird's wings beat about 53 times per second, seen by the human eye as a blur.
• The wings move in a figure eight pattern to produce the gravity-defying hover effect for which hummers are famous.
• The energy needs of this little bird are amazing - they must feed every 10 to 15 minutes throughout the day, consuming up to two thirds of their body weight in food.

So if I was a hummingbird, it would be like me eating around 60 pounds of food spread out over 70 snacks every day. So I guess the phrase "You eat like a bird" is not really meant for hummingbirds.

Wobbly tooth

The Challenge:

corn on the cob v. loose tooth

winner: corn on the cob

Brooklyn had been working on her wobbly tooth for over a month now. If you know Brooklyn, you know she can't be rushed into anything. Especially anything that could possibly involve pain. Swine flu shot- 20 minutes of convincing (including coaxing her out from hiding under the table in the office), multiple old band aids-at least 30 minutes of convincing each time, splinters-same deal. I can say we were concerned when she got her first wobbly tooth that it was going to be a similar battle with her going for days on end with the thing hanging by a string. So we were much relieved when she surprised herself and the rest of us tonight at dinner. No whining, hiding, begging, pleading, tears, etc. Just pure shock and joy. Her comment- I've been waiting my whole life for this.