hartbeats

A motto for life.

2011-06-21T09:36:00.002-05:00

"Live in a mansion. Marry Justin Beiber. Always wear a nightgown to bed." Emma age 7

Well said my little one. Well said.

(And no I didn't die. I just still haven't managed to balance real life and a blog.)

A rose by any other name...

2011-05-02T19:59:00.005-05:00

...wouldn't look as sweet. A little outfit post and refashion for you today. When I found this little blouse at the Goodwill I immediately saw it's potential. I mean what's not to love about little rosebuds? Right? And to be truthful it wasn't that bad before. Just a little dated. I shortened the sleeves because I knew I would want to wear it this summer and I adjusted the neck line. I love it! Hope you do to.

Before

After

A bad week, a good outfit and Applebee's.

2011-04-20T11:33:00.008-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posting. Last week was bad. Like work all week, someone stealing my credit card information, $40 going missing from my purse while at school, wind storm so strong it knocks our entire fence over, bad. And today my daughter is throwing up. So yeah. Looks like this week is going to be a winner too.

But this outfit is pretty good. It was actually going to be the last outfit that I posted for my abbreviated 30 for 30. It is just so simple and classic. I felt pretty great in it too. Ironically it's the last thing I wore before my life fell apart last time and I was absent from blogging for so long. But that's a story for another day.

My sweet husband and I are having this "discussion" last night. We got to talking about the royal wedding this week and that got us to talking about Princess Diana and subsequently her death. We were talking about where we were when we found out. And we both say "We were at the bar and it came on TV." And I say "Yeah we were at Applebee's." And my husband says "No. We were at the "such and such" pub in our old neighborhood." He can't remember the name of the place, which to me is suspect. But long, boring story short, we cannot agree. We are both convinced of where we were. And it just got me to thinking. Memory is a weird thing.

And that's it really. Until next time.

Take me out to the ballgame.

2011-04-07T17:25:00.003-05:00

So I am subbing at the school yesterday and I have lunch duty. I look up and see a table of 3rd grade boys fooling around. I walk up to them and say:

"Y'all need to stop doing the wave and sit down and eat your lunch."

They look up at me wide eyed and shocked and say:

"You know what it's called?!"

"Yes."

"Have you been to a baseball game?"

"Yes."

"Have you done the wave?"

"Yes I have."

With mouths hanging open they say "Cool."

The most delicious pork you will ever eat.

2011-04-05T17:34:00.010-05:00

And that's not an understatement. Admittedly this isn't the best picture. But I wasn't going to waste time retaking them because I was in too big of a hurry to eat. That's how good this pork is. It is the most delicious pork I have ever eaten. For real. And I have eaten a lot of pork. It is moist and tender and so full of flavor. I served it on both corn and flour tortillas and the corn was way better. Just ignore the half eaten beans in the background. Next time I will serve this with whole black beans and maybe some spanish rice.

Where did this most fabulous recipe come from you ask? Well I'll tell you. Because I learned how to share in kindergarten. This fabulous girl is my sweet cousin. Her blog covers her journey following her weight loss surgery. She's awesome. Really. I admire her so much for her determination to go through with the surgery and then maintain everything afterward. And she's an awesome cook. She created this recipe all on her own. Amazing.

The only change I made was to cook it in the oven. I baked it at 325 for 3-4 hours. Just until it was fork tender. This made it slightly crunchy and browned on the edges. And I think that you are supposed to use red salsa that has green chile in it. And even though I have learned to read, again thank you kindergarten, I used green tomatillo salsa instead. But I think it was a happy accident and would make the same mistake again.

Four bean turkey chili.

2011-04-01T13:34:00.006-05:00

See, I told you I was back. I'm gonna change it up. And surprise you with a recipe today. It's been all about the cute outfits around here, but y'all I am a girl of many talents. I cook too. Among other things.

With the cold snap here this week I was all about the soups. And this chili is a winner. Serve it with your favorite cornbread recipe and I guarantee you won't be sorry.

Here is the link for the recipe. I pretty much follow the recipe except I use about 2 cups of broth and I only drain my garbanzo beans. The others I just dump right in. It makes it a litte thicker.

This is a really lean and healthy chili. Except when you eat it smothered in cheese as Frito pie the next day. Which in my opinion is how it should be eaten. Enjoy.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

2011-03-31T11:04:00.011-05:00

Yeah. I've been gone a long time. A lot has happened. I could go into it, but I think I won't. Just know that I'm back now.

And I am going to return with a little refashion and outfit post. It has been really chilly here in Texas this week. Which has been kinda nice. I'm not ready for summer. I've enjoyed wearing my tights, boots and sweaters one last time. I found this dress at Goodwill ages ago. It was mostly okay. But it did have this weird ruffle at the waist. And if there's one thing I don't need, it's anything extra at my waist.

I just did a few minor tweaks and it ended up looking like this.

I love it. You can't really tell from these pictures but I made the hemline longer in the back and shorter in the front. I saw that same look on a dress at UO and thought it would be fun to try with this dress. That's the really great thing with buying things second hand. You can take risks with the refashion because you haven't spent that much. So if it all goes wrong, it's okay. Because you didn't spend a fortune on it.

Thanks to my faithful few who read this little blog. I'm back. Pinky Promise.

A little island wear.

2011-02-28T00:39:00.004-06:00

I'm so sorry it's taken me a few days to blog. When you blog everyday, you start to miss it. But we have been very busy here in the beautiful Aloha state and this is the first time that I have found time.

I promise to come back with a fuller post and more photos. But for now I just wanted to check in and show you what I wore to church today. I gotta say, it's been nice to wear whatever I want. I only miss the 30 for 30 a little bit. And I love this dress. It is so comfortable and cute.

Hope you everyone is doing well. You can bet that I am great. It's lovely here in paradise.

Outfit Details
Dress- Maeve from Anthropologie
Sweater- Target
Wedges- Payless

17/30 This post is brought to you by the letter H.

2011-02-23T15:56:00.008-06:00

As in Hiatus, Holiday, Hawaii and Henry.

By the time you read this I will be on my way for a little holiday in Hawaii. Yes you read that correctly. My sweet sister invited me to go with her and my nephew Henry to visit her in-laws. And since she offered to pay for my ticket, how could I refuse? So I will be taking a bit of a hiatus from the 30 for 30. This is my first time to visit the lovely state and may be my last. So I don't really want to be fettered by my clothing.

I will be posting while I am there and you might recognize an item or two from my 30 but there won't be many. I know I am going to live in sundresses and shorts. I'll be thinking of all of you and wishing that you were there with me. Really.

And also for Hot. Which is what I was in this outfit. I should have traded the tights for some knee high socks.

And sorry for my absence yesterday. After my horrible day I came down with the stomach flu that night and spent all day in bed. I am so glad I am better now. Next time I check in it will be from paradise. Can't wait!

Outfit Details
DKNY dress- thrifted
H&M sweater- thrifted
Frye boots- eBay

16/30

2011-02-21T21:21:00.008-06:00

The best laid plans all that.

I had so many today. And here's what happened instead.

I worked at the school (in pre-k) which was fine. Except sometimes my heart (and my eyes) weep for these kids. Today it was a little boy who was a troublemaker and quite a handful. I'd been warned about him. Well, he's raised by his Grandmother because both his parents are in PRISON. Yeah. I'm gonna go ahead and say the kid is going to have some issues. But it just breaks my heart because I know that he doesn't have much chance at a normal life. Maybe not even a happy one. And it's not his fault. And he's only 4. I'm crying right now just thinking about it.

So, now I'm what I would call emotionally compromised. I get home and we have snack and then it's time for homework. And my 5th grader comes in after spending literally one minute working and tells me she doesn't understand. Let me just tell you that math is a problem for this kid. She has a hard time when she does understand the stuff. And it's not hard. But she's not getting it and I can't deal with it today. I get upset with her because I feel like she isn't trying and then I get upset with the school because seriously, my child can't tell me how many minutes are in a quarter of an hour. This is a problem. She should know these things.

So, now I'm angry. And I have to go to Wal-Mart. Which is never good. But it's the only place to shop for groceries that aren't expired in the little town I call home. I wish I was kidding about the expired part. But we need to eat dinner so to Wally World I must go. And as I'm walking in a man says something to me. A much older man. I thought he was saying hello. Or something like that. I live in Texas. Most people are friendly. It takes a minute for my brain to catch up with my hears however. What he said was, "Niiiiice."

So, now I'm depressed. Because a lecherous old cowboy hit on me while I was just trying to buy groceries. And then when I get home, I burn dinner.

"But mom says some days are like that. Even in Australia."

Outfit Details
Red cords-Gap
Loft sweater-Thrifted
Santita clogs-interwebs

P.S. I know I started with Of Mice and Men and ended with Alexander and the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. On a normal day I would've picked one theme and brought this whole post full circle. But not today. I'm hoping you'll understand.

15/30

2011-02-20T17:06:00.004-06:00

When I wore this outfit I asked my husband if he liked it. He said he liked everything but the skirt. Which is what makes the outfit in my opinion. But it got me to thinking. I didn't wear skinny jeans for forever because I'm not what you would call "skinny." And I didn't think I could wear them. This past winter I was at Target and they had some on sale for $15. How can you go wrong with that? You can't. And it turns out I loved them. They are super comfortable and look great with boots. So while I want to wear things that my husband likes, that's not the most important thing. I want to wear clothes that I like. I want to own clothes that make me feel good.

I think it all comes down to being comfortable with you are. Right now. Not after you lose 10 pounds or a new wardrobe later. If you think you look good, then other people will too.

Confidence really is the best accessory.

Outfit Details
BCBG blouse - Marshall's
Skirt - thrifted and refasioned
Seychelles Booties - eBay

14/30

2011-02-19T19:27:00.005-06:00

It was a little cooler today. Which was nice. I mean it is still winter after all. I love this sweater and am so glad that I pulled it out of the dry cleaning bag and added it my 30. I wish I had done it at the start. I wouldn't be so much of a cheater if I had.

I had envisioned wearing a belt with this to accentuate my waist. Unfortunately, all it emphasized was my muffin top. Which wasn't pretty. And since all I did was spend my day thoroughly engrossed in the new Ken Follett book, it was more comfortable anyway. Hope you had a lovely Saturday too.

Outfit Details
BCBG sweater - thrifted
Red Cords - Gap
Seychelles booties - eBay
Necklace - Forever 21

13/30 Almost half way.

2011-02-17T20:34:00.008-06:00

I changed the venue of my photo today. I figured you might be getting tired of seeing me in the same old field. I know I was getting tired of taking pictures in it. This is my front door if you want to know.

It's hot here y'all. I had on this sweater for pictures and I put it back on when the sun went down, but dang. Not two weeks ago our temperatures were in the single digits. It was almost 80 today. That's more than a 70 degree change in just two weeks. I am almost hoping it cools off again. I mean you've seen my 30 items. I don't have much spring wear. I should have planned better. This is Texas after all, it's gonna do that. We'll probably get snow on Easter.

I don't remember my hands just floating out in space like that when I took the picture. They felt fine. Not awkward looking at all. And yet there they are in all their detached glory.

I should more carefully proof my pictures before I release my photographer to go play with her Barbies. Live and learn people. Live and learn.

Outfit Details

Gap skinnies and tunic
Loft cardigan
Santita clogs
Necklace made by me

"No post for you!"

2011-02-16T19:25:00.002-06:00

Yeah. That's a lame title. I know. But it's kinda funny. And if I don't laugh right now, I'll cry. It's been one of those days. Weeks actually. Home with a sick kid and then my photographer had a really bad headache. Poor thing. So no photo. Which is okay.

Because I didn't like my outfit anyway.

12/30

2011-02-15T22:20:00.007-06:00

I wonder if there are style bloggers who ever get tired of looking at their own picture? Honestly, that's been the biggest challenge for me. I will say I am getting better at it. But still, the first thing I notice is all the flaws. My shirt tucked funny or a hair out of place. Or take today. No makeup. I was home with a sick little girl all day and I had dinner on the stove and barely had time to take a picture let alone put on makeup for one.

And being almost two weeks in, I am having a much harder time putting outfits together. I still have a few cute ideas left but I have worn almost all my items and I still have 18 days to go! I feel like I am going to start repeating myself. I guess we'll have to see how the whole thing plays out. Here's to another day my friends.

Outfit Details
J. Crew Buffalo Check
Gap skinnies
Gold flats

11/30

2011-02-14T19:24:00.005-06:00

I really have no words today. My insomnia has been bad this week. So I am tired. And I have a worked a lot the last couple of weeks which I'm not used to. Which is sad. Because I know so many of you work full time, raise kids, blog, create and do a ton of other things too. Y'all have super powers I do not. So I will just leave you with a "Happy Valentime's Day" as my sweet girls would say, and I will be back tomorrow.

Outfit Details
BCBG polka dot shirt -new 30x30 item- Marshall's years ago
Denim skirt - Thrifted and refashioned
Red Cardi - Target
Gray Boots - Target

10/30

2011-02-13T21:51:00.005-06:00

A truly lovely day. We drove to the beautiful town of St. Jo and went to a wine tasting at the Arche vineyard. We then came home and had wine and dinner with friends. I am content.

Outfit details
Vigoss boot cut jeans- Thrifted
BCBG gray sweater- Thrifted
Frye Boots - eBay
Blazer - thrifted

9/30 New Kids on the Blog

2011-02-12T23:21:00.007-06:00

I am posting at 11:30 pm so that I am only one or two days behind instead of three days. And Kendi only posted her day 10 outfit today. And I go by official Kendi time. So I am only a day behind. Whew.

I decided to "exchange" some of my items. I know this isn't in the rules. And there will be those who will call me a cheater and a bad remixer. And to them I say "Haters gonna hate."

Seriously though. I started this remix for a reason. Well, many reasons actually. You can see my previous post here if you want the full list. The most important reason is to teach me to work with what I've got. And I think I got lost a little bit. I saw a bunch of cute style bloggers and wanted to recreate what they wore. Instead of being true to who I am and what my style is. I let this influence my decisions when I shouldn't have.

So today, I reevaluated my clothes. I decided it wouldn't be fair to exchange an item I had already worn. And surprisingly I had worn a lot of my items. 19 to be exact. I tried things on and really looked at what was already in my remix and what was still in my closet. I decided to change out 6 items all together. I didn't picture a pair of black booties that I ordered pre-remix. They came, I just haven't worn them yet. And I'll be sure to point out the new items when I wear them.

Like right now. The first new item is the shirt I am wearing today. A Gap tuxedo shirt I picked up at the after Christmas sale for $5. You've seen the black skinnies from Target and my Deena and Ozzy booties.

The other items are:
The boot cut jeans you saw yesterday
Red cardi - Target
BCBG gray sweater - Thrifted
Bright pink skirt - Thrifted and refashioned
BCBG black and white polka dot - Marshall's ages ago
White tuxedo shirt - Gap

I just felt like for me to get the most out of this, I needed to have a more workable wardrobe. And let's be honest. No one is going to die because I made some changes. Or at least I hope not.

8/30

2011-02-11T18:11:00.006-06:00

So, I decided to change out some of my items. But more on that tomorrow. This is just a quick outfit post because I am headed to Bunco with the ladies. The red sweater and boot cut jeans are the new items. I am wearing my Gap tunic and the leopard clogs. And you can't really see my necklace but it is a tiny red heart. My nod to Valentine's day.

And I like the sunflare but it is a tad much. Bless my 9 year old. She's really trying. But she said I glowed like an angel. So I was kinda ok with it.

Cheater, cheater pumpkin eater.

2011-02-10T20:27:00.005-06:00

No outfit post because I was busy preparing for my love's 35th birthday. I had to make a cake and dinner. Plus I had to help 4 kids make valentine's and boxes for school parties tomorrow.

But that's not the real reason. I'm not posting today because I cheated. I wore an item not in my 30 for 30. I work as a substitute teacher and on Wednesdays you can wear jeans and a green shirt for their Recycle program. We were iced in on Wednesday so they changed it to today. So I wore my jeans and my gold flats which are in my 30 for 30 but a green sweater not in my program.

I feel better. Like I've just been to confession. Except I'm not Catholic. I'm a Methodist.

7/30

2011-02-09T15:24:00.008-06:00

See? I knew it was good to be a day ahead. While we didn't get the 3-5" of snow they predicted, we did get enough to cancel school. But this is Texas. They cancel school if it gets too cold. And it's very cold outside. Let's just say I didn't have a reason to get dressed today.

And the last several days when I go into my closet, and I look at my 30 for 30 items, I feel like this guy.

That's Gob Bluth (pronounced Job not gob) for those of you who haven't seen Arrested Development. And if you haven't seen it, please do. It's seriously funny. Anyway, he's always lamenting his relationships and saying "I've made a huge mistake." This is how I feel. My items are betraying me. I went to put on the chambray shirt yesterday, I swear I tried it on pre-challenge, and it won't button up. How can I have an item that doesn't fit? And I am seriously questioning some of my other choices. So what to do? Do I solider on? Do I take items out and add different ones? I wouldn't exchange anything I've already worn. I feel that would be cheating, but what about the items I haven't worn? Help me please. I am a 30 for 30 virgin after all. I'm bound to make bad choices. Next time will be better.

Enough talk. Onto the outfit.

I totally copied Kendi with this outfit. You can see her version here. And I am most definitely not Kendi. She is way cuter with her red shoes and flower. But I think that I got the gist of the outfit. My take on it anyway. I love this top. I can't wait to dress it down with jeans. And can you tell the difference in my skirt? I changed out the buttons and I love it even more. I just wish my daughter had mentioned my belt was wonky. Again with pointing out my flaws. Will I ever learn? Apparently not. Because I just compared myself to Kendi.

Outfit Details
Silk blouse - J. Crew - eBay
Skirt - Thrifted and refashioned
Tights - Walmart
Belt - Gap
Shoes - Deena & Ozzy - eBay

6/30 Another 2fer

2011-02-08T16:51:00.005-06:00

This is actually the outfit I wore yesterday. I know that I pinky promised you two outfits today. But I think that I may have to break that promise. See, if I only give you one outfit today that means I'm a day ahead. And I like that. It means I'm prepared. And who knows what tomorrow will bring. So, I hate to break a promise but it's what I've got to do.

Onto the outfit. It started out like this.

And then after I hacked and hemmed, it ended up looking like this.

I really liked this outfit and it was super comfortable. I even got a few compliments on it. And one person even said she was going to style her denim skirt the same way! Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Or so I'm told. Tune in tomorrow for my own imitation. I can only hope that Kendi is flattered.

What? No outfit?

2011-02-07T23:32:00.001-06:00

Sadly no. I stayed up much to late to watch Inception. Two outfits tomorrow. Pinky Promise!

5/30

2011-02-06T17:04:00.006-06:00

I really liked my outfit today. I feel like it was just as cute on as it was in my head before I wore it. If you are wondering where I found the little beach hut, it's in Granbury. That's right. In Texas. My folks were there for the weekend celebrating my dad's 60 birthday so we decided to drive down and have lunch with them. We took the kids to this little pier by the lake and they had these cute tables with bamboo and thatched roofs.

My pants are doing this funny little tuck thing. But it's stuff you don't notice if you don't have a mirror to check yourself first. And you probably wouldn't notice if I didn't point it out. I should learn to not point out all my faults to you. I'll chalk it up to being a novice fashion blogger. Yeah. I'm gonna go with that.

Outfit Details
Blazer - Thrifted
Sweater - H&M
Red cords - Gap
Boots - Frye
Bracelet - Made by me

Outfit 4/30.

2011-02-05T19:28:00.005-06:00

So today, for the first time since Monday, I left my house. It was also the first time this week that I actually got dressed for a reason. Every other day, I just got dressed to take a picture, and then I promptly put my sweats back on. :) It is also the debut of another of my items not pictured originally. I LOVE these little booties and was so excited when I saw them in the mail today. And I got a few compliments on them too!

I thought I would go ahead and post the outfit details in case anyone wants to know.
Blazer - LL Bean - thrifted
Ruffle Top - Gap - way on clearance after Christmas
Patchy skinny jean - Gap - eBay
Belt - Gap - again after Christmas sale
Booties - Deena and Ozzy - eBay
Necklace - made by me!

And I hate that little hair in front of my face but I can't do anything about it now so. I mean I guess I could photoshop it out, but I'm not gonna. I hope you understand.

Outfit 3. A 2 for 1.

2011-02-04T11:06:00.007-06:00

I just realized that when I went back and labeled my old posts it removed them from the blog. So I went back and republished them. Sorry if you got a bunch of postings from me in your reader. I am going to try to be better and label them when I post.

This is a 2 for 1 post today because my skirt is a recent refashion. I found this very 90's looking skirt at the Goodwill recently. I'd been looking for a khaki skirt to refashion for the 30 for 30. I was inspired by a skirt that Kendi wore here and here. And while it isn't exactly the same, I think it's close. Here is how the skirt looked when I bought it.

Not much to look at but I could see the potential. I shortened this skirt and added elastic at the waist. I am still contemplating replacing the buttons with something a little more modern, but it works for now. Here's how I wore it today. Today also marks the debut of one of the items not pictured in my previous post. I purchased this before the challenge started but it only arrived today. It is a J. Crew angora sweater I got on eBay. I love the bright color and am already planning my Valentine's outfit around it!

I am finding that the hardest part of this whole challenge is getting in front of the camera. Really. I dread it. I somehow always look way cuter and more put together in my mind. But I am committed to this project. So I will carry on.

Day 3 but outfit 2

2011-02-03T11:19:00.007-06:00

My husband says that I copped out yesterday. That I could have taken a picture. But it is just so hard to get dressed when you have nowhere to go. We are quite literally iced in and have been for 3 days now. And also when you don't have hot water. And to be honest I only got dressed today to take pictures. But that's how much I love the faithful few who follow this blog. I am willing to get out of my sweats and go outside in the 13 degree weather to take pictures. You're welcome.

And you get two photos today. I feel positively narcissistic.

Day 2

2011-02-02T15:25:00.004-06:00

Sub freezing temps = frozen pipes

Frozen pipes = no water

No water = no shower

No shower = no cute outfit post

I am already on day 3 of not washing my hair and it ain't pretty people. I'll be back tomorrow!

What's black and white and red allover?

2011-02-01T15:43:00.007-06:00

Me in a red chair. Why? What did you think it was?

And I know you can't really see my whole outfit. I am wearing the J. Crew buffalo check shirt and the black skinnies from Target. And I wore the gold flats if you need to know. As we are having sub arctic temps here today, I wasn't going to venture outside. Heck I almost didn't get dressed! So this is as good as it gets today. And maybe tomorrow. You'll have to check back. I'm sure the suspense is killing you.

Here we go.

2011-01-31T16:58:00.012-06:00

I actually don't feel much like posting. I need to be cooking dinner but I'm not. It has been a really rough week. And yeah I know. It's only Monday. But there is a lot of residual ugliness from last week. Let me just say that it is sometimes very hard to be a parent. And if I could not be a parent for awhile and pick it up again in say a few weeks, months or years after all this is over, I would in a heartbeat. And to clarify, I love my girls. My heart is breaking for one of them right now. Let's just say that girls can be mean. And when your daughters are as innocent and sweet as mine are, they tend to get hurt. But they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'll let you know if I survive.

Moving right along. I am actually really excited to start the 30x30. Naivete you say? Maybe. Ask me again on day 20 when I have worn all my items twice and am ready to pull out my hair.

My husband is intrigued by this whole thing. He was asking me why I decided to participate. And so it got me thinking. Here is what I came up with.
1. I hate all my clothes. Seriously though. I want to be more mindful of the clothing that I buy. I should love everything in my closet and everything in there should "go" with everything else. This is an exercise that will force me to look at my closet, and the clothes inside it, in a new light.
2. It will force me to blog everyday. Something I haven't EVER done. Clearly. I have been posting for almost a year and only have a couple dozen posts.
3. It will allow me some one on one time with my middle daughter. She has a budding interest in photography. And she happens to be quite talented. She will be my photographer for this challenge.
4. And finally, it will force me to be in front of the camera. Something I am VERY uncomfortable with. My place is usually behind the lens.

And there you go. Now you probably want to see my items. Too bad. Not really. I'll show you. And in the interest of full disclosure and for those of you who can count, I am only showing you 26 items. One of the rules of the challenge is that you cannot shop for 30 days. And so, I did some very last minute shopping and several of the items have not arrived yet. I'll add them to the list when they do. Without further ado, my 30x30.

My only dress. A lovely little Donna Karan I picked up at the consignment store.

Two cardigans. The yellow is J. Crew from eBay and the gray is Ann Taylor LOFT from a consignment shop.

Two blazers. Both thrifted.

Four pants. Red and gold cords from Gap via eBay. Black skinnies from Target and skinny jeans from the Gap via eBay.

Four skirts. The denim and khaki are thrifted and refashioned by me. The purpled ruffle number is from Express and the lace is a very old Old Navy that I also refashioned.

Four pair of shoes. Brown Frye boots vie eBay. Gray boots from Target. Leopard clogs also via eBay and gold flats from ?.

And finally 9 shirts. Chambray from the Gap. White tunic from the Gap. Buffalo Check and navy dots from J. Crew via eBay. Floral shirt. Thrifted. H&M striped sweater from a consignment shop. Sleeveless white ruffled top from the Gap. Blue tunic from Target and cream lace from F21 via eBay.

Whew. I'm done now.

30 Days.

2011-01-18T12:33:00.006-06:00

Is the exact number of days since my last post. Which is just shameful. But I have been thinking a lot about this blog and what it is and what I want it to be. So, new things on the horizon I think. Hence the lovely sunset photo. Get it? The horizon? No? Ok then. Moving on.

I have decided that I hate everything in my closet. It's true. So I am trying to revamp my wardrobe and my style. And I have decided to sign up for and participate in this challenge. Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30. This girl is the bomb. I almost didn't type out that phrase. I know I've dated myself by using it. But seriously this girl is amazing! Her sense of style is something that I aspire to and her sense of humor and writing style always put a smile on my face. If you want to laugh so hard you'll cry, read this post. You can thank me later.

I'll admit this challenge terrifies me. How do you only wear 30 items from your closet? How do you remix? I don't really know. But I do know I have far too many items in my closet that never get worn. I do know that I shop too much. I do know that I think quantity is better than quality. I am trying to change all these things. I think this challenge will do just that. I'm ready.

And do you see what I did with the title? With the 30 days? The challenge is 30 days and it's been 30 days... Just thought I would point it out. In case you didn't get how clever I am.

Today's Refashion.

2010-12-17T09:31:00.007-06:00

This week has been busy. Christmas parties, cleaning, decorating and the like. I was going to post a recipe since I haven't done that but it didn't get done. And it is hard to take a decent photo of our dinner when it gets dark at 4:30. Flash food photography isn't pretty. But my new dress is!

It started out looking like this.

I found it at our local thrift store for $2. I liked the sheerness. Is that word? Anyway, I started to go one direction with this dress months ago. But I just didn't like it. I cut the sleeves and tried to make it into a v-neck. It wasn't working. So, I just put it in my closet and then forgot about it. A friend of mine came by and (I was bragging about how cool I am that I refashion clothes) I was showing her some of my ideas and she was the one that said I should make it into a baby doll dress. And so that's what I did. I turned it around, so there is a little button in the back, and made it into an empire waist baby doll dress and I love it. I have worn it twice now. You can't tell in the picture but my tights are brown with flowers all over them. It looked really cute with my pink flower pin. I think that I am going to have to retire it for the summer though. I wore a sweater, tights and a slip and I was still cold.

Don't you think I just sparkled in it? Oh wait that's just the flash. And trust me this was the best picture. I think I need to figure out the timer button on my camera because this picture in the mirror thing just isn't working.

RE-fashion Friday on a Saturday.

2010-12-11T15:54:00.012-06:00

"I went to sleep with gum in my mouth and now there's gum in my hair..." Not really of course, but I do feel a bit like little Alexander. It's just been a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. And I can't even explain why. Some days are like that I guess. So I know I am a little behind with this post. And I also promised you more blog worthy photos. I lied. Moving on.

Before

This dress really wasn't too outdated. I bought it because it was such a great color. It's so bright and cheerful. And I also knew it would be an easy fix. This dress took me all of an hour to refashion. I took off the collar, adjusted the length of the sleeves and the hem. And removed the awesome plastic silver buttons and replaced them with simple black ones.

After

I really liked the way it turned out. Even if my face looks awkward and scrunchy. And you can see my laundry in the mirror. I think if you look closely you can see the same laundry in last week's photo. It's like a virtual scavenger hunt. Can you find Waldo too? I digress. My bad mood is showing. I apologize. Come back next week.

If I'm not here, I decided to move to Australia.

Not a real post.

2010-12-06T16:47:00.005-06:00

This isn't a real post because I don't have a real recipe. I don't have anything real important to say. And Jason says a baked potato isn't a real dinner. So. You get this picture of a potato. And I know that looks like an unholy amount of sour cream, but I assure you, the potato was heavenly.

Baked Potatoes
4-6 Idaho potatoes
1-2 T. kosher salt
1/4 c. olive oil

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Wash and prick your potatoes. Next dump the salt onto a plate and pour the oil on top. Take your potatoes and roll them around in the oil and salt until they are covered. Next, and this is the most important step, place all your potatoes in a cast iron skillet. It must be cast iron. If you don't have one, go out an buy one. Because no self respecting cook is without a well seasoned cast iron pan. Lodge is a really good brand, if you need to know. And don't even think about using aluminium foil, just place your pan, uncovered, in the hot oven and bake for an hour or until they are fork tender. The skin will be crunchy but that's what makes these so great. Crunchy and salty on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. Serve them with all your favorite toppings. I added chopped, pickled jalepenos to mine and it was unreal. ;)

RE-fashion Friday!

2010-12-03T07:37:00.002-06:00

First off wanted to mention the new Gatsbyesque header photo. If you are getting this in your reader, you won't see it. So click on over and tell me what you think. I found the photo op on our trip to Granbury. I love it. It's just creepy enough to be cool. And the word on the street is that they are doing a remake of 'The Great Gatsby' with Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick and newcomer Carey Mulligan as Daisy. Baz Lurhmann is directing and he is a GENIUS so I am excited.

Anyway, onto re-fashion Friday. I love to sew. And thanks to my mother, I know how. Her mother taught her. So I guess I am thankful for my Grandmother too. And fairly recently I was inspired by this talented lady and her blog. So while in Houston over the holiday weekend, I did a little thrifting. I found several dresses including this one.

I hope to make this a regular feature on the blog so I promise to have more blog worthy photos next time. Needless to say, this photo does not do the dress justice. It is a deep navy blue with vibrant purple and pink flowers. Here is how I wore it.

Though you can't see because of the sweater, I detached the sleeves, changed the neckline and the hem. I also took it in several inches on each side. I really liked the way it turned out. I feel it is still a little big at the waist and plan on bringing it in some more. I went with a bright pink tight which Jason questioned, but I feel turned out really well. I wore it on Wednesday to a sub job, and got quite a few stares from the kids.

But it's just because they never had a substitute teacher who dressed so cool. That's what my story anyway. And I'm sticking to it.

Aimless

2010-12-01T19:11:00.006-06:00

I was going to post a recipe tonite but something happened instead. I took the dogs out in the front yard to do what dogs need to do and I looked up. I don't know about you but I often forget to do that. To just look up and marvel at creation. The stars. But it wasn't the stars I saw. First a preface.

This is a picture of me and my best childhood friend Carmel. We were born exactly one year and one day apart. It was like we were meant to be friends. We grew up in the same town but grew apart as our lives took us down different paths. We remained friends and every year I would think of her and sometimes talk to her on our birthdays. Almost 7 years ago Carmel had a heart attack and passed away.

One year when we were in our teens we took a trip to Taos. Our favorite thing to do was to take a blanket out late at night and lie down and stargaze. On one night we looked up and saw something different. It looked like a star but it was moving very slowly in an arc. We knew it wasn't a plane and it was much to slow to be a shooting star. Since we didn't know what it was, we named it an 'aimless wanderer.' It was childish and romantic and perfect. That is until my mom burst our bubble and told us it was just a satellite.

When I looked up tonite I saw one. An 'aimless wanderer.' And it made me miss her. But I know she waiting for me. And the day when I am called home and we can stargaze together again.

The Tooth Fairy, Pumpkin Bread and Homeschool.

2010-11-14T09:01:00.009-06:00

How's that for random? I feel like I have a lot to say without wanting to really say anything. Do you ever feel that way? Anyway, first a story, then a recipe, then a question.

Emma lost her tooth on Thursday last week. She put her tooth under her pillow and was giddy with anticipation for the next day. When Jason went to wake up the girls that morning and found Emma face down on the couch, he knew. We are the most terrible parents. He walked up to check on her and she rolls over and slowly opens her hand. Inside is her tooth. Here's how the rest of the conversation played out.

"I can think of four reasons this happened.
One. The tooth fairy isn't real.
Two. My parents forgot to put the money under my pillow. Because the tooth fairy isn't real.
Three. When the tooth fairy came, I was awake so she couldn't leave the money.
Four. She couldn't find my tooth because it was under my pillow."

I don't know how Jason kept a straight face. Emma went to school and later that evening she lost another tooth. So Jason quickly set an alarm on his phone to remind us to set out her money. He left her 3 dollars. One for each tooth and a bonus dollar plus an apology note from the tooth fairy. We thought that should cover it. However, upon waking the next morning, Emma let us know how she really felt. Her exact words on finding the money, "This is pathetic." Okay then.

I have made this bread recipe for ages. It is just a simple pumpkin bread. Nothing fancy. No nuts, no chocolate chips, no streusel topping. But it is the best pumpkin bread I've ever eaten. The other day I decided I didn't want to wait the hour it takes to bake it and made it into muffins instead. This was a revelation. Because you have to watch the bread really carefully. There is a very fine line between an undone center and a dry and burnt bread. No such problems when you make them into muffins. They are dense and moist. And the best part? They are ready to eat in under 20 minutes.

Pumpkin Bread or Muffins
2 c. pumpkin (I just use one can of Libby's)
4 eggs
1 c. oil
3 c. sugar (This seems a shocking amount. It's not. Just go with it.)

3 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking powder
2 t. baking soda
2 t. salt
2 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground cloves
1 t. nutmeg
1 t. ground allspice

In a large bowl, mix the first four ingredients. In a smaller bowl, mix all the dry ingredients. Add the dry to the wet and stir until combined. Pour into 2 well greased loaf pans. If you are making muffins, line your cups with paper. It's the easiest way. Bake this heavenly concoction at 350 degrees for 1 hour for the bread and 18-20 minutes for the muffins.

And now a question. Jason and I are seriously considering homeschool. That's not a question really but a statement. I know. But I would like your advice on this. We are at our wit's end with the school here. And being a small town, we have no other option. There isn't a private school, and if there was we couldn't really afford it anyway. So what do we do? I know if we pull them out without trying to make a change in the school first it could seem cowardly? Elitist? Avoidist? Is that even a word? I don't know what I'm trying to say. But I do know that trying to fight the entire school system is not easy. They have policies, curriculum, standardized tests, etc. etc. And all these things are failing my children. But I don't know if homeschool is the answer. I'm not even sure I could do it. But I can't sit idly by anymore. So. Thoughts? Advice? Any and all are appreciated.

What does your heart know?

2010-10-28T08:48:00.002-05:00

First off, just a pretty picture. Because a post without one just isn't the same. I took this years ago, an old film picture, when I went to Boston to visit my dear friend. I kinda wish I was there today. Gosh it's beautiful there. I digress.

The point of this post is a quote I read the other day by Ann Voskamp.

"What a heart knows by heart, is what a heart really knows."

And then she wrote this post. And I have not been able to stop thinking about it. And what my heart knows. I have had moments lately where I question where I am, what I am doing and even who I am. But on days like those, the Almighty One is good, all the time. And all the time He is good.

This my heart knows for sure.

Where I want to be today.

2010-10-22T10:22:00.005-05:00

I am dreaming of a place like this today. I can't even read the website cause it's in Swedish or whatever. But I know I want to live there. And at only $7.5 million, I think it's a bargain.

Anyone want to move to Sweden with me? I'm happy to split the mortgage.

What a 7 layer burrito should taste like.

2010-10-19T09:00:00.015-05:00

So, sometimes I love Albertson's. Don't get me wrong. I love the HEB. But sadly we don't have one of those in my neck of the woods. We don't have an Albertson's either. I had to drive to Saginaw. But anyway, I digress. The other day, Albertson's had pot roasts that were buy one get one. And I am not one to turn down free meat.

I put said 'free' roast in the oven with a little salt and pepper, a sliced onion and some broth. Now at this point I still didn't know what we were having for dinner. And I don't usually cook like this. I usually have a menu plan. But I was trying to use what we had on hand. So, I scrounged around in the cupboard and found refried beans and a can of duck sauce. The PW (The Pioneer Woman) first turned me on to this sauce. It is actually called 'El Pato' but it has a duck on the front so that's what we call it. Next time you need refried beans for something take a can of the yellow (they have a green can too) duck sauce and just mix it in with the beans. I use about 3/4 of a can. Seriously good.

Instead of tacos, I decided to change it up and have burritos. And by the time all the toppings were added, we realized there were 7 layers. And because I know you want to know, here are the seven layers. Start with your tortilla (not a layer), smear on some beans, add the meat, then spanish rice (I used Zatarain's), then cheese, then lettuce, then guacamole and finally sour cream. I actually added some salsa too. But Jason said that wasn't a proper layer. Just a condiment.

Jason and I quite agreed that if Taco Bell was a gourmet restaurant instead of just fast food, this is what their 7 layer would taste like. Since it isn't, and since we don't have ANY gourmet restaurants in town, I cook almost every day of the week. "It's my lot in life. It's not a lot, but it's my life." (Name that movie.) But we eat well. And you will too.

For the burritos almost everything was homemade. So this is a bonus post. You will receive not one, not two, but THREE recipes. That's right folks! Everyone's a winner today here on hartbeats!

The Roast
Pot Roast (I think mine was a 6-8 pound roast)
1 onion-sliced
2 c beef broth
salt and pepper to taste

Place your roast fat side up in a heavy pan. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Add in the sliced onion and pour the broth over the top. I just use bouillon and water. Cover the roast and place in a 325 degree oven for 3-5 hours. Or until the roast is fork tender. When it is done, take it out and let it cool a little. Since we were eating this in burritos, I shredded the meat. I used to feel bad about using such a nice piece of meat in this way, but darn it it's just too good. And we ate this 2 or 3 times and I still had enough meat to throw in a pot of black bean chili. So just go for it!

The Tortillas
Jason has become quite the master at making tortillas. They are really easy and they are so good we hardly ever buy them from the store anymore. He started making them with a basic recipe I found somewhere, but has since modified it in his brain. I asked him what he did so that I could post it, but...

Our conversation went something like this.

Me: How do you make your tortillas? I want to blog the recipe.
Him: I just put some flour in a bowl. Then I add a little salt and some baking powder. I cut in the lard and then add some water. I mix them up and they're done.
Me: Do you have exact measurements? I want to blog this.
Him: No.
Me: Great. Just great.

So, I will provide you with this recipe. Which is basically the same. Just be forewarned. Once you start making your own, you won't go back to store bought. Oh, and use lard. It really is the best way to make them.

The guacamole
4-5 ripe avocados
2 T finely diced onion
2 T finely diced tomato
juice of one lemon
2 T chopped fresh cilantro
2-3 T chopped pickled jalapenos
1/4 t garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Start by dicing your avocados and putting them in a bowl. Next add in the lemon juice so they don't start to turn brown. Add in the tomato and onion. This is when I mash up the avocados. I like the onion and tomato to get a little mashed too. Now add in the jalapenos and cilantro. And then add your seasonings. Check the flavor and adjust as needed.

Now, I have had some really good and fancy guacamole. But this is how I usually make it. Just really simple, and really good. And a good tip on how to store your guac so it doesn't turn brown. Just cover it with saran wrap. Literally lay the stuff down right on top of the guacamole. Then put the lid on and you are good to go. You can now enjoy fresh and green guacamole for days.

Sunday with Mae 'Shel Silverstein' Hartman

2010-10-17T11:00:00.001-05:00

"Dark"

Dark is quiet.
Dark is calm.
Dark washes around me on the silent street.
When the light goes out, all is Dark.

Written on 8/31/10

Man I love this kid.

Poisoned Apple Fritters

2010-10-09T10:32:00.005-05:00

That got your attention I bet. And no I am not giving you a recipe for your enemies. The girls were watching "Enchanted" this morning. And in case you haven't seen it, there is an evil witch, a handsome prince, a beautiful princess and a poisoned apple. And they all live happily ever after. Except the witch of course.

I printed this ages ago. I had a couple of Granny Smiths wilting in the fridge and it's getting cooler here in the great state of Texas. So today it was time for Fall food!

I have fried food more times than I would like to admit. But to be honest, I have never been that good at it. I never get the temperature of the oil quite right. It's too hot and burns on the outside while being uncooked and gooey on the inside. Or I don't get the oil hot enough and it ends up being super greasy. Not appetizing at all. But today, the stars aligned for me. The oil was the perfect temperature and everything was golden brown. I didn't burn even one fritter. I may have to eat and cook fried food more often.

These fritters were so good. The exterior was super crunchy while the inside was moist and dense. The girls said they tasted like apple pie and I quite agree. I know PW says to dunk them in the glaze, but I found them cloyingly sweet that way. They only need a little drizzle on the top. With my espresso, it was a great way to start the day.

And I'm not a princess but I'm sure my day will end in a happily ever after. And yours will too. Especially if you make these for breakfast.

Pretzel Dogs

2010-09-25T18:03:00.006-05:00

These were so good, I couldn't wait to blog them. Two posts in one week. It's almost like I'm a real blogger! Anyway, these were beyond good. I just wouldn't want someone to miss out on a opportunity for awesomeness. I know. I'm a true friend.

I printed out this recipe back in April. But she got the recipe from here. I don't know why I haven't made them before now. Probably because I thought they were going to be super difficult. But these were a piece of cake. Mostly because I didn't make the dough. Jason did. But even he said they were easy. And the dough goes together in an hour. Which for a yeast dough is really fast.

To make them into pretzel hot dogs is easy. When you roll the dough into long tubes make them 16 inches instead of 12. You'll need the extra length to go all the way around the dog. I had 12 hot dogs but we would have had enough dough for 14-16. Allow the rolls to rest for a few minutes and then take a piece of dough and start at one end and twist the dough all the way around the dog. Pinch the ends together and then set aside. When all the dogs are wrapped, boil 10 cups of water with 2/3 a cup of baking soda. This is the exact measurement you need. Don't cheat. I'll know. Next just boil the dogs for 1 minute. Transfer them to a wire rack to drip and then place them on a parchment lined baking sheet. Brush the tops with an egg wash and sprinkle with kosher salt. Bake them at 450 degrees for 10-12 minutes. You want them to be golden brown. Serve with a variety of mustard. But some of that nasty orange nacho cheese would be good too.

We used two kinds of hot dogs. Hebrew National and Earl Campbell Red Hot links. I wanted a little higher quality dog than Oscar Mayer. Jason and I agreed that the Hebrew was by far the superior dog. While the Campbells were tasty, it was too much meat to pretzel. We used good old French's, Gulden's Spicy Brown and Grey Poupon mustard. And we both agreed that the Grey Poupon really complimented the Hebrew. Whew. This is a long post. But this recipe is deserving of it.

Life.

2010-09-24T09:03:00.004-05:00

I took this photo earlier this year. I was going to try and make one of those moving pictures, but I didn't want to fool with PSE today. So, you get this. I love their faces. Such unbridled enthusiasm to be silly and have fun. And it reminded me of this post. I read it awhile ago but the message is a good one.

I want MY greatest desire to be "to love my life while I'm living it." To live each and every day like it is my last day on earth. To have joy unbridled. To love unconditionally.

And now to clean and do laundry. But I must admit I am having a hard time loving that.

Calzones

2010-09-14T10:50:00.005-05:00

Wow. So almost a month since my last post. So many things have happened and I just haven't made time to blog. Well, no longer. I made these two weeks ago I think. Jason was out of town for training and the girls wanted calzones. Ever one to give in to the demands of my children, I agreed. ;) Actually, they just sounded good so I got to work.

I wish I could tell you where this recipe comes from, but I have no idea. Jason used to be the master of all things yeast and this is one of his recipes. I used to be so afraid of yeast and Jason, being a loving husband, said I just needed to get over myself and refused to help me. So I got over it. And succeeded. Now I am the master.

This recipe is ridiculously easy and idiot proof so don't allow fear to control you and your menu planning. Make this today!

Dough Recipe

3 1/2 c. flour
1 c. warm water
2 T. yeast
1-2 T. honey (Just depending on your sweet preference.)
1/4 c. olive oil
1-2 t. salt

I mix this dough by hand. It is super easy and you don't have to get out your heavy mixer. And one less thing to wash is a good thing.

Start by pouring the warm water into a large bowl. I used to worry about this part. And Jason gave me some advice that has really helped. The water shouldn't be any warmer than you would feed to a baby. If it's too hot for a bottle, it will kill your yeast. Add the honey and salt and mix it up until it is well blended. Now add the yeast and mix it up a little more. Let this mixture sit for about 5 minutes or until the yeast gets all frothy. Add in 1 cup of the flour and the olive oil. Mix until it is well blended. Add the rest of the flour and mix well. If you want to add anything else to the dough do so now. I sometimes add in chopped garlic and black pepper.

Your dough should turn into a ball at this point. If it doesn't, it is either too dry or too wet. Add in either flour or warm water a tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. The dough should hold it's shape and be slightly elastic. Once the dough is balled up, I just knead it in the mixing bowl for about a minute. Doing this ensures that you build up the gluten which will yield a light and fluffy dough. Transfer this ball into a lightly greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Place the bowl in a warm dry place and allow to rise until it is doubled or about 45 minutes. Now you get to show the dough who's boss. Give it a good smack so that it deflates and allow the dough to rise again for another hour or so. Now your dough is ready to use.

If you want to make pizza, transfer the dough to a floured board and cut it in half. Then roll out the dough and add the toppings. I usually use a little cornmeal on my pizza board so that it doesn't stick. Bake the pizza on a stone in a 450 degree oven for about 10-12 minutes.

If I am making calzones, I transfer the dough to a floured board and cut it into 8-10 equal pieces. Flatten out the rounds onto a board dusted with cornmeal. Add just a tablespoon of sauce and your desired toppings. My favorite is pepperoni, cheese, spinach, jalapeno and just a little fresh basil. Stupid good. Seal it up and transfer to a pizza stone and bake in a 450 degree oven for 10-12 minutes. Just tap the top. If it sounds hollow and the outside is nice and brown they are ready to eat. Enjoy!

While my Cat is away...

2010-08-21T09:34:00.008-05:00

With the hubs out for the day and with it being the last days of summer I decided to make pancakes for breakfast. I have several recipes that I use depending on my mood and what I have on hand. The Joy of Cooking has a really excellent recipe. But today I had some buttermilk I needed to use. The other day my good friend mentioned that she rarely uses her cookbooks anymore. What with the ease of the internet and the sheer volume of recipes at your fingertips it is really easy to overlook all the books on your shelf.

But not today! I pulled out one of my favorite vintage cookbooks. The 1963 version of the Pillsbury FAMILY cook book. I love old cookbooks. From their tattered covers, to the AWESOME artwork (I'm thinking of the dutiful housewives cooking their work weary husbands a fabulous meal. In pearls and all.) and the sometimes questionable recipes. They are a look into our not so distant past. And I love it. But I digress. The recipe.

These pancakes were somewhat dense while being light and puffy at the same time. The recipe couldn't be simpler. The most difficult thing to do is beat egg whites. And if you don't have buttermilk, just sub in milk with a little vinegar splashed in. I think the exact ratio is 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Just be sure to let it sit for 5 minutes or so. I served these with scrambled eggs and some Jimmy Dean. With my espresso, it was the perfect way to start the day. And I wish I could say that I didn't clean my plate, but that would be a lie.

Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

2 c. flour
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
2 c. buttermilk
3 eggs, separated
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 t. vanilla

In a large bowl mix the flour, soda and salt. Stir in buttermilk, vanilla and well beaten egg yolks. Stir in butter and beat until the batter is smooth. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form; fold into batter. Bake on a hot skillet until done.

I served these with homemade syrup. I haven't bought syrup from the store in over a year. And I don't miss it. So, here is a bonus recipe for you. Next time you run out of syrup, don't panic. Just make this instead. You can thank me later.

Homemade Maple Syrup

1 c. boiling water
1 c. sugar
1 c. brown sugar (sometimes I use half light and half dark)
1-2 t. maple extract (I use Mapeline. Which I think is best. You can find it at Wal-Mart in the blue and white box.)

Pour the sugars into a small bowl. Pour the boiling water over the sugar and stir until smooth. Add the extract and serve hot. I store the leftovers in a bottle in my fridge. It keeps forever.

Butter Chicken

2010-08-18T17:26:00.008-05:00

This recipe is so tasty! And that's where I first heard of the recipe. The PW posted it to her Tasty Kitchen blog. I made it for the first time and Jason and I about died it was so good. I serve it over plain rice. I always mean to serve it with Naan but forget at the last minute to make it. And I always mean to serve it with a veggie but can't think of what would be good with this. Steamed green something.

I make a few changes to the recipe. I use 6 chicken breasts instead of 4. There is always a lot of sauce and it will go to waste. And you don't want that. I have used a lemon instead of the lime that it calls for and have come to prefer it that way. I can't BELIEVE this recipe calls for a pint of heavy cream. There is just no way it needs that much. I use maybe a tablespoon. I just splash some in until it looks right. And I would NOT substitute half and half. I have found that when using it with tomatoes the half and half tends to curdle a little. I think the extra fat in heavy cream doesn't do that. It's not that much, so just use the good stuff! You won't be sorry.

Once everything is mixed together I take the breasts out and slice them and then put them back into the sauce. It makes the chicken go a little farther and it is easier to eat. If you like Indian food give this a try. And don't be like me and forget to make the Naan and veggies!

Things to do before I turn 36.

2010-08-12T10:53:00.006-05:00

My birthday breakfast made by my sweet girls. The honeyed "banapple" was interesting. But it's the thought that counts. Right? I wanted to make a list of 35 things to do before I turn 36, but that proved to be too difficult. I am another year older after all. The brain doesn't work as well as it used to. I made it halfway to 35 so I'm proud of that. What's on your list?

1. Learn how to ride a bike and enjoy it.
2. Take more pictures.
3. Allow more pictures to be taken of me.
4. Blog once a week.
5. Give up sugar. Again.
6. Have a family portrait session. By the lovely and super talented Tara Whitney perhaps?
7. See the final Harry Potter with Carrie M. on opening day.
8. Travel to California to see my beautiful friend and the beautiful city of San Fran.
9. Refashion more clothing. Like she does on this blog.
10. Kiss my husband goodnight. Every night. No matter what.
11. Run a half marathon. Or maybe a full.
12. Go to a county fair and ride the Ferris Wheel.
13. Take the girls roller skating and strap on some skates myself.
14. Laugh more.
15. Live more.
16. Love more.

I WILL be a better blogger.

2010-08-04T16:25:00.003-05:00

I will be a better blogger, I will be a better blogger. This is my new mantra. I promise to take the time to blog things from my life. And to the three people who read this blog, you can hold me accountable. So, for today, a recipe.

I came across this recipe the other day and since I had frozen chicken in the freezer, I thought I would try it out. I pretty much followed her spice suggestions but next time I would leave out the curry. I found it overpowering.

But this post is really about the buns that I made to go with the chicken. I did some searching for homemade hamburger buns but nothing looked really good until I went to the King Arthur site. I think this will be my go to site for anything bread. The directions are easy to follow and these buns turned out amazing. The only change I made was subbing one cup of wheat flour and only adding 5 cups of flour total. Just play with the texture of the dough. It should be pretty soft but not sticky. I will be making these again. In fact, we are going to eat these with mini "Juicy Lucy" sliders tonight. Thanks CRZ for the recipe on that one!

The next Shel Silverstein

2010-04-01T17:46:00.002-05:00

So, it's been awhile since I posted. Life is crazy. I'll learn to fit blogging in there somewhere. I know that it is almost Easter and that this has very little, if anything, to do with that. But Mae wrote this on Tuesday and it made me smile this week. So I am going to share it here as well. Enjoy!

Oh, it's Christmas Eve
And there are lots of chills.
But my parents don't care,
Cause they're paying the bills.

I feel like a mouse in a house
With a cat.
My mom won't let me have a hot donut,
Cause she thinks I'll get fat.

There's no log for a fire.
And we can't go buy some,
Cause our car lost a tire.

I think I might freeze,
My sisters are catching some z's.
Oh, it's a horrible Christmas Eve.

The End

The Workshop.

2010-03-05T09:29:00.004-06:00

I thought I would post a few photos from the workshop. I am loving the workshop so far. For those of you who don't know I am attending a workshop given by the lovely Marta Locklear. I am able to attend because back in January I was the fortunate winner of a giveaway hosted by The Creative Mama. You can read about the giveaway and see my submission here.

I feel a little out of place among the other members. Most have already started on this journey toward a photography business. And their work is incredible. But we all have to start somewhere. Right? I feel like I really made a breakthrough the other day. I was able to capture the light in a way I have never been able to before. I feel like for the first time that I might actually be able to do this. That I have the talent and now am beginning to learn the skills I need to take me down this road. I'll let the photos do the talking. And you can let me know what you think.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow. I'll love ya tomorrow."

2010-03-01T14:28:00.000-06:00

Emma and I went on a road trip this weekend. I hooked up the DVD player so that she could watch a movie. She decided on "Annie." Her favorite. I could hear her singing along from time to time and it made me smile.
And then,

"MOM!"
"Yes, baby?"
"I AM SOOOOOO GLAD I AM NOT AN ORPHAN!"
"Me too Emma. Me too."

And I am laughing until I cry.

Hello.

2010-02-24T16:33:00.000-06:00

Who am I?

A wife. Friend. Mother. Daughter. Sister.

A photographer. Crafter. Writer. Baker.

A blogger?

We'll see.