Author: Erica (Page 13 of 269)

The other morning we woke up to a thick layer of snow/ice/frost on the trees.  I don’t know what the proper definition for it is, but it sure is beautiful.  And this time it was really large ice crystals that gripped to the branches making it even more striking.

I know that pictures just don’t do it justice, but I had to take a couple anyway…

Driving around that morning felt like something out of a fairy tale.  And it was so still and quiet.

Simply.

Lovely.

In other random news:  Tim is making wonderful progress staining all the cabinets for the church remodel.  Did I tell you he volunteered to that?  Yup.  It’s like 24 feet of cabinets.  He’s so awesome.  And all the tables and chairs for the church have finally been ordered and are starting to arrive.  Things are coming together!

And of course, we’re also rounding the corner towards my piano contest season which is just over a month away now.  I’m hoping for an early spring here so we can enjoy eating on the patio during our lunch on contest weekend.  Fingers crossed!

Look!  It’s Finn from Star Wars!  😀

One of my students gave me super fun nail stickers again (remember the Christmas ones I got before?–same student!)  And this time they were… wait for it……. VALENTINE’S DAY stickers!

How fun, right?!

So, Chloe and I spent some time this weekend putting nails on.  Look–twinsies!

Ok, I know it’s super hard to see the nails in that picture, so I’ve also taken a closer shot to show you how adorable they are…

We are really living up the spirit of Valentine’s days here this week!  In fact, they don’t have school this Friday (although I do still teach) so I’ve got grand plans of all sorts of heart things. It will be awesome.

But for today, I’ve totally lost my voice.  Totally.  It makes for funny lessons, since I have to just whisper.  I’m hoping it passes quickly.  This happens to me every couple of years.  I pretty much feel fine otherwise.  I think it perhaps started as a little cold and then just settled right into my voice box.  Ah, well. Hopefully my voice will be back soon!  It’s kind of stressing Maddie out.  🙂

Our Church was cancelled yesterday due to a snowstorm (lack of visibility and no snowplows on the roads, made for less than ideal driving), so the kids and I took full advantage of some unexpected time to make their Valentine’s Boxes.  This is Chloe’s last year making a box.  She was bummed about that.  I, on the other hand, will have MANY more years of making Valentine’s boxes… 😉

Josiah chose to make a Mario tunnel (shocking, I know) and Chloe went for a book, complete with pages that actually turn inside the front cover.  Both were very pleased with their creations.  They were also very pleased that they have a crafty Mom.  Ha!

(Photo Credit: Tara Berg!)

Some of the goodies this year included:

• Mini corndogs
• Empanadas (homemade!)
• Chicken nuggets
• Mini tacos
• BBQ meatballs
• Lil’ smokies
• Smoked Ribs
• Fruit (grapes, bananas and apples)
• M&M cookies
• Special K bars
• Brownies
• Veggies (peppers, carrots and cucumbers)
• Doritos
• Caramel Popcorn
• Gaucamole
• Whoopie pie (that says 2020 Superbowl)
• Buffalo dip
• Cheesy bacon dip
• Homemade fruit dip
• Bacon cheddar ranch pinwheels
• Raspberry fluff
• and a BOATLOAD of green jello for the field.

It took 26 boxes of Jello to make the green jigglers, but it worked so well!  We are definitely doing that again next year.  And guess what my kids have been eating all week?  Green Jello!  Yup. We’re having it supper and I even pack it in their lunches for school.  Haha!

We also smoked the ribs–but discovered the smoker was acting up, so we had to put them in the oven for the last hour.  I’m not sure what’s up with that…

But for today’s recipe I’m going to post the fruit dip that I made.  It was crazy easy and quite delicious.

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If you chop onions, carrots, peppers or celery on a regular basis then this little gadget is a true time saver.

It’s amazing. Best $10 spent.

We are on our 3rd one–replacing it as it wears out.  Seriously, it’s the best thing ever.  You simply roughly cut your veggies down a little and slap it on the device and *WHAM* you have perfectly cut little (or big) squares.  I love it!  I especially love how fast it is, and how uniform all of my veggies look.  It satisfies my particular personality.  😉

We have had the bottom style chopper (the flat white one–I think the brand is Progressive) since we started using them.  But when our last one broke I decided to try a new style this time.  I looked around on Amazon and saw that this one (the one on the top that looks more slanted–I think the brand is Muller) and thought “What if there is a better chopper out there that I’ve never tried!”  So I ordered it.

*Insert slow head shake here*  I was wrong.

I thought the slanted top would give me more torque to really smash those veggies.  It turns out I really don’t need more power.  I mean how hard are my carrots anyway?!  But what really bummed me out what how easily the blades come loose.  And how hard it is to get those blades into the device… I know that seems like a juxtaposition.  But somehow it’s true.

But the straw that broke the camel’s back, so to speak, was last weekend when Jen went to use it and sliced her finger.  We all decided that it was time to let that one go and return to our tried and true (and loved!) model.  🙂

So, my conclusion after using two different models is that the one with the blade attached as one straight unit is the better choice.  Do not get one that the blades pop in an out.  Yes, I know that gives you more variety, but you might suffer in the end (like Jen!)

Our church is in the process of remodeling the front part of our building.  We’re redoing the lobby and front entrance of our building (which was a movie theater in a past life) and then combining two of the theaters into one room that will be the new auditorium.  It’s very exciting.

I’ve been asked to help with ordering and helping choose some of the decor and chairs/tables, etc.  And boy, I had no idea how much work that would be!  There are so many details and decisions you have to get right.  And I’m stressed about wanting it to look good.  Classy, but warm and inviting but also a little modern because we’re a contemporary church…   I’m exhausted–and frustrated.  I’ve chosen the wrong table base TWICE.  Ugh. Who knew I would need to order table tops separate from the base?  And seriously why are there so many bases to choose from?!  And why is their website so confusing?

But I think I’ve finally selected all the right items.  So now we wait and see what arrives.  🙂  (Fingers crossed!)

More pictures and details to come tomorrow.  I just wanted to share this epic picture that my friend Stephanie took.  🙂

Remember that Bible study I talked about starting?  Well, I decided to make a cute (“punny”) cake with my amazing new small cake pans that I got for Christmas.  My first attempt did NOT work.  I was a bit overexcited and put 5 pans in the oven at the same time and they did not bake properly… It was a mushy mess.  I actually took a video of it in case anyone wants proof that I do mess up!  Hah!  Sometimes people tend to think I always get things right on my first try, and that is definitely NOT the case!

But the next day I tried again and the cakes turned out much better, and then I got to the part I actually love the most–frosting!  I used a butter cream frosting for the outside.  I love that I now know how to make it.  The recipe I love most is actually the creme filling for homemade oatmeal creme pies.  (Which are AMAZINGLY delicious).  I’ll link the recipe below.  I have used it now a few times when I want to make a really bold colored frosting. Like green.  🙂

Here is the link in case to those amazing oatmeal creme pies… yummmmmmmm:

www.mybakingaddiction.com/homemade-oatmeal-cream-pies/