tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75745604623881819672024-03-14T13:09:55.743-04:00Sugar & Spice in the land of Balls & SticksAdding sweetness and style to my daily grind.laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.comBlogger425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-933913514637996022012-09-10T10:06:00.000-04:002012-09-10T10:06:23.577-04:00Autumn For Real<div style="text-align: center;">
Technically speaking, it's still summer for another week and a half, but around here autumn starts when the kids are back in school and opening weekend arrives for the football season. This was SB on Thursday for the first day of school.</div>
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And yesterday we trekked to the new Meadowlands stadium to catch the season opening game between the Jets and the Bills. My longtime readers know that we're diehard Bills fans, and WD is a lunatic Jets fan. It killed me to create his <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/03/before-blogging-throwback-thursdays.html" target="_blank">Jets themed bedroom</a>, but he is my baby, no matter how big.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJptPoRuZzSf2Ai-6JdfIdF7Pambl9jRw_DLUs69z0F5o6z8JQgilMt_uvEJOfI9CEfMSkzO24bG5_-KiLz6ZCJaAtd18gv-NRudO6w-W0XN-yORH_6KhA9QRnWV8xEatNxMt5bJKxwzyC/s1600/100_0425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJptPoRuZzSf2Ai-6JdfIdF7Pambl9jRw_DLUs69z0F5o6z8JQgilMt_uvEJOfI9CEfMSkzO24bG5_-KiLz6ZCJaAtd18gv-NRudO6w-W0XN-yORH_6KhA9QRnWV8xEatNxMt5bJKxwzyC/s640/100_0425.JPG" width="480px" /></a></div>
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One of WD's gifts for his 16th birthday was a couple of tickets to the season opener. He elected to bring a friend that he's known since kindergarten and the 2 of them had a blast on the long road trip, playing games in the car, tossing the ball around in the parking lot, and of course enjoying the game.</div>
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We met up with some friends who only had to drive across from Manhattan to tailgate before the game. The Jets green clad boys were the minority in our group, but there was very little blue in a sea of green once we got into the stadium.</div>
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While some people tailgate with an rv and pro style smoker, all you really need is a couple of coolers, a propane campstove, a table to put your food on, and good friends.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speaking of autumn, nothing says autumn like fresh pressed Cider Mill cider.</td></tr>
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Speaking of food, my theme for this weekend's tailgate was bacon. I've shared my recipe for <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2010/10/heart-attack-on-plate.html" target="_blank">Drunken Bacon Wrapped Cheddar Brats</a> before, but I also made Bacon & Cheddar Potato Skins, and Sausage & Bacon stuffed mushrooms.</div>
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For dessert, I brought along some of the <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/09/chocolate-dipped-bacon.html" target="_blank">Chocolate Dipped Bacon</a> that I shared last week, as well as football shaped brownies(recipe post coming soon.)</div>
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It was a beautiful day for a game, I only wish my team had played better. There was far too much of this for my taste.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">QB swallowed up by unblocked defenders, ball thrown nowhere near receivers, RB on the ground.</td></tr>
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But as far as birthday gifts go, WD's team trouncing mine on a gorgeous end of summer day, couldn't have been planned better. And after the game was over we were treated to a flyover.</div>
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It's time to clear away the summer decor(spring, really, we were gone so much this summer that I never got a chance to decorate,) and pull out the Autumn decor I created last year as well as craft some new items.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIssO56d9b5FegZRUCFfSiHj8KjDP4hRlC_qd2HLPij0HkndFRBA07eAsuNo50vLvLEPlGpUB0mxt86M9JViZ8SZFiN3LQLb6g5xMOOXHcbML5dk1zGQSvTeoGkDVXJQM0K9k42y1_XTI/s1600/scrabble4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640px" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIssO56d9b5FegZRUCFfSiHj8KjDP4hRlC_qd2HLPij0HkndFRBA07eAsuNo50vLvLEPlGpUB0mxt86M9JViZ8SZFiN3LQLb6g5xMOOXHcbML5dk1zGQSvTeoGkDVXJQM0K9k42y1_XTI/s640/scrabble4.jpg" width="400px" /></a><br />
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Thanks for popping in and welcoming autumn with me.</div>
laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-6109973379866987252012-09-05T09:57:00.000-04:002012-09-05T09:57:06.367-04:00Chocolate Dipped Bacon<div style="text-align: center;">
I know some of you are thinking, "What?! Bacon & Chocolate - Ewww," but trust me when I say it's all sorts of wonderful. Salty & sweet, chewy & crunchy. I promised, I'd be back to regular posting once summer was over, and I figured that my first post back ought to be the kind of delicious craziness that comes from random flights of fancy in my kitchen. This summer of travel has meant very little time for crafting, but we do have to eat, even when living out of suitcases. This quick and easy treat gets a big thumbs up from my boys.</div>
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There isn't much to the recipe. It's basically dipping cooked bacon into chocolate. What could be easier? Recently I've been cooking bacon in the oven. It's a simple, easy clean method for perfect bacon every time. Lay out the bacon in a single layer on a foil lined jelly roll pan. I cut the bacon slices into 1/4ths for the candy, but leave it whole for breakfast.</div>
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Place into a cold oven, then turn the oven on to 425. Don't open the door while it's cooking. After 17-18 minutes the bacon will be perfectly done.</div>
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Remove the cooked bacon to paper towels to drain.</div>
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Meanwhile, melt 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips in the microwave. One of my favorite things about my <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/11/showing-off-my-drawers.html" target="_blank">microwave drawer</a> is that you can stir items from the open top without ever having to touch the hot bowl.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeib3MuoarZg7DiAA5K9WyMIBHsxwc3iJx9ITL7aRm76N7OJXhEfKkDrSbcGlpjK2YwXvCPSFuX9cvzNp5qxf1d1X98UloGnafxnFHdsS7xni0aSfbbFO4KzJ2Jvo3Fm6nff4950jI7r1/s1600/chocolate+dipped+bacon6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="524" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjeib3MuoarZg7DiAA5K9WyMIBHsxwc3iJx9ITL7aRm76N7OJXhEfKkDrSbcGlpjK2YwXvCPSFuX9cvzNp5qxf1d1X98UloGnafxnFHdsS7xni0aSfbbFO4KzJ2Jvo3Fm6nff4950jI7r1/s640/chocolate+dipped+bacon6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dip the bits of cooked and drained bacon into the melted chocolate and lay on waxed paper to harden. I use chopsticks for the dipping, but you could use a fork, too.</div>
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After the chocolate hardens completely, I store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator.</div>
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Thanks for popping in and cooking with me.</div>
laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-26336808125131352862012-08-15T07:50:00.000-04:002012-08-15T07:50:21.922-04:00Whirling Dervish<div style="text-align: center;">
This is my baby, my first born, the one I used to call Pooh Bear before he told me at the ripe old age of 5 that 'Pooh Bear is a baby name' and to please stop calling him that.</div>
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The former Pooh Bear, known to my readers as Whirling Dervish, will be turning 16 in 2 weeks. I've felt this birthday coming on like a runaway train. Most of his friends have already turned 16, and many of them already have their licenses.</div>
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This impending first adult privilege has had me panicking and counting down the moments left before he flies the nest. There are only 2 Halloweens, a handful of Christmases, 2 Mother's Days, etc. before he's living somewhere else. And that, my online friends, is why I've been MIA. I've tried to eke out every last moment of this summer, because we only have 2 left before part of this family unit might leave. Lucky for me, summer in NY doesn't end until Labor Day. We've spent this summer up at the cottage,</div>
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down in Georgia,</div>
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up at the 1000 Islands,</div>
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and camping in the Catskills.</div>
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This stage of teenage life has WD annoyed at being forced into family time,<br />
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and taking the first chance to go off on his own.</div>
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Museums that delight SB,</div>
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have WD asking if we're done yet.</div>
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But this summer of living out of our luggage has found that elusive WD smile every now and again.</div>
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This past weekend, WD and I ran the Warrior Dash at Windham Mountain. It was the first time in a long time that I've seen WD smile all day long.</div>
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It didn't hurt that he kicked my tail. The course goes 1 mile up a ski slope before zig zagging around and back down, with some walls, ropes, and barbed wire thrown in.</div>
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Let's not forget the mud pits,</div>
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and fire jumps.</div>
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There are no pics of us running together. It turns out that WD is part billy goat, because he darted up that mountain faster than anyone else in our flight. My pride hurt a little watching his backside bound up that mountain while my lungs were burning, but I couldn't be prouder of him. And I finished towards the top of my age group, so I can't be too disappointed in my own performance.</div>
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The little boy that I used to love reading to, when he'd sit still for a moment,</div>
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can now school me on a race course.</div>
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But that's ok, because he's announced that he'd like for us to try to run all of the Warrior Dashes(there are 49 in the US, Canada, and Australia,) then try a few Tough Mudders and Spartans, too. He may be planning on widening the gap between our finish times, but all I here is that he's making a multi-year commitment to hang out with his mom.</div>
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Summer's almost over and I'll be back to regular posting once the boys are back in school. Thanks for popping in and listening to me prattle.</div>
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laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-72880976425195937232012-07-17T07:04:00.000-04:002012-07-17T07:04:00.384-04:00Furniture Makeovers w/ Cassie from Primitive & Proper<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm so excited to have Cassie from <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Primitive and Proper</a> here today. She's such an inspiration, and every time I need a kick in the butt to get motivated on a project, I visit her blog.</div>
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Hello to all of Marcia's fans! I am so excited to be here today on Marcia's blog. She is so sweet, and talented, and MUCH better in the kitchen than I am! I am Cassie from <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/">Primitive and Proper</a>, where I blog about furniture makeovers, my home, crafts, life, and anything else I feel like. In my few years of blogging I may have shared one recipe, maybe two. So I am not here today to share any cooking tips- you don't want them from me!</div>
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Today, I am going to share with you some of my past furniture makeovers, with a little twist. We all have the right to change our mind, right? It's our prerogative. Don't need permission, make my own decision... he he.</div>
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The makeovers I am going to share today are going to be madeover makeovers.... meaning pieces of furniture I have redone not just once, but twice. We moved into our current home last fall, and with moves come change, naturally.</div>
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Recently in <a href="http://www.homeforhireblog.com/2012/06/guest-post-from-primitive-and-proper.html#comment-form">another guest post</a>, I shared this Dorothy Draper knockoff I found. When I first found it, it looked like this....</div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438880071895575554" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuPBalineunSKRdUobZ5X0oVCcOqBnbIQ9SwFd3oD04C0snHsOi6EDTRZJJ1hdRjf5Z1kdmK1xpRAsoBweZZ3NL1fubaONMvDgZAtZ9XLt-2jcoXqnFDVdvmgSNJ3v5mxeMTg22O3YbBU/s320/001+(5).JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #6699ff; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 320px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /><br />
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Then I gave it its first makeover, and it looked like this and was used in our family room.</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438880053631787794" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-BEXDHn3X7Y-TERIFg3lnWP0PxPbqBiDehxkRFDoo0cdio0HxasxyA_nIkjdxxu0se_2ZF9Myq2JGO4LvV29KmML1VTtxUAD4w9F-60_E8Y_isnUNo9ARNriK9ahy1iSuEONsy6Dmpc5/s320/001.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; color: #859cac; cursor: pointer; display: block; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; height: 214px; line-height: 23px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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And finally, the last outfit it wore before I decided to sell it.....</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #555555; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjsBG9i42eOhj4iOruHLYJKgLwEMN5SJ4v-ij0e48-tfd3_tCfpx7BL5NOOhKHlXtOkweA8DpMpSWegKUO_4XQ_NHRFDE9OETElhbaSnVRSz1_1Se_JhMQ0jUXueaXWTsDMtnm4acvdpu/s1600/IMG_9820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #5bbba2; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjsBG9i42eOhj4iOruHLYJKgLwEMN5SJ4v-ij0e48-tfd3_tCfpx7BL5NOOhKHlXtOkweA8DpMpSWegKUO_4XQ_NHRFDE9OETElhbaSnVRSz1_1Se_JhMQ0jUXueaXWTsDMtnm4acvdpu/s640/IMG_9820.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(241, 241, 241); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0976563) 1px 1px 5px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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We also had these cute chairs that were in our playroom in our first house. I can't find a picture of what they looked like after we painted them (they came unfinished) but here they are unfinished, prior to being painted blue and green.... (and that little baby is just about to turn 7, sniff sniff!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4O9Py1QbmZn3cf492EzXcJLAQN5IoX34EBJ8yIIQH_qF5GAlKq1wSL6Y153-RJfubInGuVJNinzBLJbhwzzMdfpc9-E-oA4I2lobqoT3xsUkJQ2dNDGD8NZtkXG-A-NBHUUWnyawZ1ay/s1600/640479351108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4O9Py1QbmZn3cf492EzXcJLAQN5IoX34EBJ8yIIQH_qF5GAlKq1wSL6Y153-RJfubInGuVJNinzBLJbhwzzMdfpc9-E-oA4I2lobqoT3xsUkJQ2dNDGD8NZtkXG-A-NBHUUWnyawZ1ay/s400/640479351108.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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When we redid the <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2010/06/project-playroom.html">playroom</a> in our last house they were repainted a pretty shade of turquoise...</div>
<img alt="" border="0" height="426" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477805154206608898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqZs63a-5pvqKrV3rlnBsL-gLjdaBD6EuQcbk8NV4GY2SsBo3mfGsg1Pzy_G0N0iRg_vof1R5xtP11d8V87A08AVRwBV7d9P9_5PipTofvL67ij4K89O46TBJQdI6NpGASYzgVrf-hekH/s640/017.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: none; color: #1396a5; display: block; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative; text-align: center;" width="640" /><br />
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And in this house, they are now being used in <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/04/sawyers-room-reveal.html">Sawyer's room</a> and needed a makeover again!</div>
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This time, he chose the color- glossy cherry red, and it adds a nice pop to his Star Wars room.</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPeK-jPIdJJwIcHJBnpac6NXeqV9DGbMNB3SihHjnMPKOhAteXLz5l_SJ7sofznCbnHd53BGN4ltdN-Adynwdkds2EEMJ0G_CWvpZzXszi63hq7M0TfQFM2x-R1wGQvXIUkBDOcDrGbXJ/s1600/IMG_0893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #1396a5; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuPeK-jPIdJJwIcHJBnpac6NXeqV9DGbMNB3SihHjnMPKOhAteXLz5l_SJ7sofznCbnHd53BGN4ltdN-Adynwdkds2EEMJ0G_CWvpZzXszi63hq7M0TfQFM2x-R1wGQvXIUkBDOcDrGbXJ/s640/IMG_0893.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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Emmy also had a piece that had been done for her old room, and then needed another makeover after moving. We bought this <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2011/01/emmys-new-vanity-revealed.html">vintage vanity and stool</a> for her room at our old house...</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-6111" src="http://thediyclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/003-300x200.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" width="500" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">In her old room, orange was perfect....</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><img alt="" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-6112" src="http://thediyclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/002-682x1024.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px;" width="500" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 24px;">But in <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/03/emmys-woodland-room-reveal.html">her new room</a>, pale pink was the best choice...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMU8WxBJEieDprEeEvc4hQvWB5m-ZGzJ0UcnZhgH7GJ8FFDxvshZhO3A3zMOEIA_tenS5qsne18RLYo3210wlLx0u6UMMdg18FON-vHtK4uC6A7mE0Qahrqp1aQ15LRJLNrStv1GjUOBT/s1600/IMG_0826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="color: #1396a5; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaMU8WxBJEieDprEeEvc4hQvWB5m-ZGzJ0UcnZhgH7GJ8FFDxvshZhO3A3zMOEIA_tenS5qsne18RLYo3210wlLx0u6UMMdg18FON-vHtK4uC6A7mE0Qahrqp1aQ15LRJLNrStv1GjUOBT/s640/IMG_0826.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="426" /></a></span></div>
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And finally, here is the last redone redo I will share today. I bought<a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2011/04/youre-one-that-i-want-ooh-ooh-ooh-honey.html"> this dresser</a> intending to redo and sell a while back....</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydEt5P_9PrczfsIE_GD_rMfGhesWEzBqkiooNKjCyxpeooyRORVl3o0oSCWerCJF1Gqcvb0Vd-CTeuqJo0IyHMvTXmAbf3ITTMWBDitVKTRltPA7LycXy71n7ExbxKr4JeQQ3t8m8v6H9/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #1396a5; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="266" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhydEt5P_9PrczfsIE_GD_rMfGhesWEzBqkiooNKjCyxpeooyRORVl3o0oSCWerCJF1Gqcvb0Vd-CTeuqJo0IyHMvTXmAbf3ITTMWBDitVKTRltPA7LycXy71n7ExbxKr4JeQQ3t8m8v6H9/s400/001.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="400" /></a></span></div>
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It had a nice clean modern shape that was perfect for a simple white treatment, so I painted it white., but then I loved it too much and kept it in my room!</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgV2SpIKzds2UWAX-YGNH2TGV_kbNJ3TJorEzmDqBcn98uWCeJ9eZ5_NPCbxw3o_2Yor4MYpp-rPzwZlJrSlW96YByNPml09r-cAl3lhjWsz_PsuBStmot90v-o8ef00XAnbaEgu8_rrI/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #1396a5; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="426" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgV2SpIKzds2UWAX-YGNH2TGV_kbNJ3TJorEzmDqBcn98uWCeJ9eZ5_NPCbxw3o_2Yor4MYpp-rPzwZlJrSlW96YByNPml09r-cAl3lhjWsz_PsuBStmot90v-o8ef00XAnbaEgu8_rrI/s640/005.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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Well, then I found <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/05/be-yourself-and-my-dresser-reveal.html">THE MOST AMAZING dresser</a> that was actually a little larger, too and gave us more storage. This one needed some touch ups, so of course I just decided to repaint it entirely. :) I wanted to give it a new, fresh look. <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/2012/05/wastin-away-again-in-mva-ville-and.html">Here it is now</a>....</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #666666; font-family: 'Droid Serif'; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWrona11Lcb1LIjRNTY7NYwPKBHq_camNW1iCAlqIj8NRu8yAp9hHUyRaHiHJtSlGsRX02fe9h-AckJmXA6Y8q4ko9yY82BwIy3nWxjVVHPa3U3B1ElCTRh9QMWMhbFgDGw_fiQwhs6c3/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #1396a5; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEWrona11Lcb1LIjRNTY7NYwPKBHq_camNW1iCAlqIj8NRu8yAp9hHUyRaHiHJtSlGsRX02fe9h-AckJmXA6Y8q4ko9yY82BwIy3nWxjVVHPa3U3B1ElCTRh9QMWMhbFgDGw_fiQwhs6c3/s640/IMG_1981.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: none; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; box-shadow: none; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 5px; padding-top: 5px; position: relative;" width="640" /></a></span><br />
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Of course, the problem now is that I love it even more. It won't work in my own room in pale pink, so for now it's sitting in my garage waiting for me to find a home in our home for it. Or waiting for me to get up the courage to say good bye, and I am not sure that will happen any time soon!</div>
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Thank you so much, Marcia, for having me here today and allowing me to show that it is ok to be <strike>fickle</strike> <strike>indecisive</strike> <strike>lacking direction</strike> confident in whatever direction you want to go! Never be afraid to change your mind!</div>
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<i>(Me again)</i> Big ol' Thank You to Cassie from sharing some of her amazing furniture makeovers while we're in Hotlanta. Isn't she amazing? Hop on over to <a href="http://primitiveandproper.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Primitive and Proper</a> to see even more awesome transformations.</div>
<a href="http://s1104.photobucket.com/albums/h323/theboldabode/?action=view&current=signature6.gif" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1104.photobucket.com/albums/h323/theboldabode/signature6.gif" /></a>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-41038416507495180382012-06-24T12:08:00.003-04:002012-06-24T12:08:48.113-04:00Life and Blogging<div style="text-align: center;">
I've had a few e-mails wondering how I've been doing, since it's been a while since I've posted, and I'm happy to say that everything is going great around here. It turns out that life has gotten in the way of blogging, which is such a better statement than blogging got in the way of life. I'd much rather report that endless hours at the pool have put a crimp in my screen time, instead of telling my kids that "mommy just has to finish this post."</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=tubes.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/tubes.jpg" /></a><br />
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Along with lots of pool time, there's been some water balloon action,</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=waterballoons.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="water balloons" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/waterballoons.jpg" /></a><br />
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and exhausted kids at the end of the day.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=campfiresnooze.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/campfiresnooze.jpg" /></a><br />
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I haven't stopped baking or creating, but my camera hasn't captured the step-by-steps needed for a tutorial. I did snap a pic of this strawberry crepe cake that I made the other day. It's made like my <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/07/chocolate-crepe-cake.html" target="_blank">chocolate crepe cake</a>, only without the cocoa powder, and using a strawberry mousse.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=crepecake.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Crepe Cake" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/crepecake.jpg" /></a><br />
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I hope to find time to share some projects, but I make no promises, because there's a finite number of summers available and the pool is calling.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=divingboard.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/divingboard.jpg" /></a><br />
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Thanks for popping in and bearing with the sporadic posting.</div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-56517043870586689062012-06-15T09:00:00.000-04:002012-06-15T09:00:02.747-04:00Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes<div style="text-align: center;">
Nothing says summer like pink lemonade, and the perfect way to kick off summer is with these Raspberry Lemonade Cupcakes.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=raspberrylemonadecupcakes.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="raspberry lemonade cupcakes" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/raspberrylemonadecupcakes.jpg" /></a><br />
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I started by creaming together 1/2 cup butter and 1/4 cup coconut oil.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=raspberrylemonadecupcakes1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="raspberry lemonade cupcakes" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/raspberrylemonadecupcakes1.jpg" /></a><br />
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I added in 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup agave nectar, 1/2 cup raspberry applesauce, 3 egg yolks, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, and the zest and juice of one lemon.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=raspberrylemonadecupcakes2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="raspberry lemonade cupcakes" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/raspberrylemonadecupcakes2.jpg" /></a><br />
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In a separate bowl, I whisked together 1/2 cup brown rice flour, 1/4 cup sorghum flour, 1/4 cup sweet rice flour, 1/4 cup potato starch, 1/4 cup arrowroot starch, 2 tsps baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/4 tsp salt.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=raspberrylemonadecupcakes3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="raspberry lemonade cupcakes" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/raspberrylemonadecupcakes3.jpg" /></a><br />
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I mixed the dry ingredients into the wet, and then mixed in 1/3 cup milk.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=raspberrylemonadecupcakes4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="raspberry lemonade cupcakes" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/raspberrylemonadecupcakes4.jpg" /></a><br />
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I accidentally set my camera down for this next part. I whipped up 3 egg whites with a couple tablespoons of sugar sprinkled in gradually until they were at a soft peak, then folded the egg whites into the battter. Spoon the batter into a lined muffin tin and bake for 22 minutes at 325 or until a toothpick comes out clean. Using a large tip on my piping bag, I poked a hole into the cupcakes, and piped in about a 1/2 teaspoon of raspberry fruit spread into each cupcake.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=raspberrylemonadecupcakes5.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="raspberry lemonade cupcakes" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/raspberrylemonadecupcakes5.jpg" /></a><br />
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I mixed up some cream cheese frosting(cream cheese, butter & powdered sugar,) and added in 1/2 cup raspberry fruit spread and 1/2 tsp lemon extract. I topped each cupcake with a fresh raspberry.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=raspberrylemonadecupcakes6.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="raspberry lemonade cupcakes" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/raspberrylemonadecupcakes6.jpg" /></a><br />
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Thanks for popping in and baking with me.</div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-74826640837420628792012-06-13T07:38:00.000-04:002012-06-13T07:42:39.581-04:00Luau Craft - Sand Art Necklaces<div style="text-align: center;">
As a room mom for my boys' classes, I've helped to throw a gazillion class parties. We tend to stick with a basic formula of a story, a snack, a craft, and a game. This year's first grade End of Year party is a beach / luau theme, and few things are more beachy than sand. Remember the Sand Art displayed in the boys' <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/06/before-blogging-throwback-thursdays-4.html" target="_blank">Under the Sea bathroom</a>?</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=sandart.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/sandart.jpg" /></a><br />
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We have several Sand Art bottles throughout the room, because it's a fun easy craft. In that same vein, we decided to have sand art necklaces as the craft project for our luau party. We found some fun fish bottle necklaces at <a href="http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?requestURI=getHomePageCR&BP=8911&source=google&cm_mmc=google-_-OTC+Brand-_-Oriental+Trading+-+General+-+Adlucent-_-4abe38cc6a0447eab964819cd88f8d65&ms=brand&kwid=4abe38cc6a0447eab964819cd88f8d65" target="_blank">Oriental Trading Company</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=sandart1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/sandart1.jpg" /></a><br />
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They each come with their own tiny little funnel, but an even easier way to fill them is with Pixy Stix.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=sandart2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/sandart2.jpg" /></a><br />
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You can fit the Pixy Stix into the neck of the bottle, and the finite amount in each stick makes over filling with any one color impossible.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=sandart3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/sandart3.jpg" /></a><br />
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It took 6 Pixy Stix(2 - 3packs) to fill the little fish bottle. The kids are going to love making these to take home.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=sandart4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/sandart4.jpg" /></a><br />
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Thanks for popping in and crafting with me.</div>
<a border="0" href="http://www.diybydesign.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkR0N5i6Co2GgKtmBer6Qw7HD3IGFNCEY_Wwwu-f7LlNKiYWx3QQ90L1jyxgQ9CHkOox1Z_NdAXwSu4CyPg87EIw48lkSDjVIMu5JfQYO43p3yNYlP2CEPmvaleBAOie7tp9pS1lewinH0/s128/18542089908.jpg" /></a>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-82776164009144291132012-06-12T11:16:00.000-04:002012-06-12T11:16:28.625-04:00Weekend Review<div style="text-align: center;">
It was another busy weekend of fun in the sun. SB had a baseball game Saturday, and for the first time this season, they had live pitching. SB has been hitting well off the machine - batting 1000 until this week when he got his first out, hitting up the first base line. Live pitching is a completely different animal. The league consists of 6 & 7 yr olds with a few 8 yr olds. The pitching is wild, and SB was hit with a pitch on his first at bat. It turns out there <i>is </i>crying in baseball. Lots of it. But the tears were all dried up by the time we made it over to the little league fun day.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=dunktank.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/dunktank.jpg" /></a><br />
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He may not be a future pitcher, but he dropped that kid in the dunk tank all the same.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=dunktank2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/dunktank2.jpg" /></a><br />
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We also attended the Princess's camp-out birthday party. There was swimming, a bear hunt, s'mores, and of course a camping cake.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=toriscake.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/toriscake.jpg" /></a><br />
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Speaking of parties, my big box from Oriental Trading Company arrived, and I'm getting ready for the 1st grade's End of Year party. This year's theme is a beach luau. I had WD blow up the beach balls last night, and it's a good thing I drive a van, because 50 beach balls take up a ton of room. I can't wait to share more of the details next week after the party.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=luauorder.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/luauorder.jpg" /></a><br />
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Thanks for popping in and sharing the weekend with us.</div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-47411853101937962472012-06-09T09:42:00.000-04:002012-06-09T09:42:28.199-04:00National GO Day<div style="text-align: center;">
I like to celebrate the random national holidays, like National Donut Day(June 1st) and National Ice Cream Day(third Sunday in July.) But today, I invite all my readers to take part in National Get Outdoors Day aka National GO Day.</div>
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GO - Dig in the Garden.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=bluebells.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/bluebells.jpg" /></a><br />
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GO - Take in a Baseball Game</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=troythebee.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/troythebee.jpg" /></a><br />
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GO - Throw a Line in the Water</div>
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GO - Explore Nature</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=butterfly.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/butterfly.jpg" /></a><br />
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GO - Flip Rocks in a Creek</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=creek.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/creek.jpg" /></a><br />
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GO - Make a Splash</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=splash.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/splash.jpg" /></a><br />
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GO, now, turn off your screens, and GO</div>
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Thanks for popping in and Getting Outdoors with me.</div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-16705218424174368242012-06-08T08:45:00.000-04:002012-06-08T09:11:56.014-04:00Mulch Better<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't take any pictures last week during my wallowing, so I don't really have proper before photos for you of the never ending landscaping project that we've been working on. Here's a very old picture that shows the area we've been working on. Look how young SB and the Princess are!</div>
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Those shrubs up against the house blocked the view and had to go. Plus the hill had crept up onto our house over the years with the dirt now 8" above our home's foundation. Our yard needed regrading, and the weeds had gotten out of control. Check out the craziness behind the hostas.</div>
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CG & WD spent countless man hours digging out our yard, one shovelful at a time, and built a new retaining wall using stone from our neighbor's yard that she wanted hauled away.</div>
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An afternoon was spent weeding(I cleaned up about 15 sq feet before the mosquitos chased me inside,) and we picked up a couple of vans full of mulch. We were lucky enough to find several busted open bags that were only $1.50 each.</div>
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And here's where it stands right now. I found boxes of solar landscape lights clearanced at Lowe's, and they now light up the pathways. We still need to seed our lawn, but we're getting there.</div>
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Thanks for popping in and working in the yard with us(mostly CG & WD, but I kept them well fed.)</div>
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<a href="http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.com/" title="Chic on a Shoestring Decorating"><img alt="Chic on a Shoestring Decorating" src="http://i968.photobucket.com/albums/ae163/kstrieg/flaunt_it_friday_button.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a><a href="http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The Shabby Nest" src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j480/theshabbynest/Shabby%20Nest%20Blog%205-2011/ShabbyNest-GrabButton.png" /></a><a href="http://stuff-and-nonsense.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="Fridays Unfolded" border="0" src="http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l178/alison94/productimage-picture-c2800--52.jpg" /></a>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-6478618654796929102012-06-06T07:56:00.002-04:002012-06-08T09:10:15.098-04:00Flourless Chocolate Cake<div style="text-align: center;">
One of my most often requested recipes is my Flourless Chocolate Cake. I was making this moist & wonderful piece of heaven long before we went gluten-free. It's so easy to make using only 4 ingredients, and it's so good that it disappears quickly, making pictures a tough enterprise. But I snapped a couple of quick pics the other day when I made one.</div>
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Here's the low down on this simple dessert. Melt 6 tbsps of butter and 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips in a double boiler or the microwave, stirring every now and again. Let the mixture cool for a few minutes before whisking in 6 egg yolks. In the bowl of your stand mixer, with the whisk attachment, beat 6 egg whites til foamy. With the mixer still going, sprinkle in 1/2 cup sugar, a little at a time, mixing until the whites are to a soft peak. Sacrifice a quarter of the egg whites to lighten the chocolate mixture, then fold in the rest of the whites a quarter at a time. Pour in a greased and parchment lined 9 or 10 inch springform pan. Bake at 275 for 45 minutes. Let cool before removing from the pan. You can sprinkle on some powdered sugar before serving to pretty it up, but desserts that taste this good don't really need to be pretty.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=flourlesschocolatecake2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="flourless chocolate cake" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/flourlesschocolatecake2.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thanks for popping in and baking with me. I'm linking this up to Gluten-Free Homemaker's <a href="http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/06/gluten-free-wednesdays-6-6-12/" target="_blank">Gluten-Free Wednesdays</a>.</div>
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<center><a href="http://www.bacontimewiththehungryhypo.blogspot.com/"><img 0"="" alt="Photobucket" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc418/milton05/newpartybutton-2.jpg" /></a> </center>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-40297170906866820112012-06-04T19:30:00.000-04:002012-06-06T07:59:53.612-04:00Roasted Corn Salad<div style="text-align: center;">
So many summer barbecue sides are muffin top inducing, heavy on the mayo concoctions. Don't get me wrong - I love me some potato salad, but when being able to hang poolside without <i>literally</i> <i>hanging out</i> is the goal, a lighter side is what's called for. The other day I made this light & fresh tasting Roasted Corn Salad, and it was delicious.</div>
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I started by roasting 4 ears of sweet corn. Some people roast their corn with the silks stripped, and husks on, but I just strip them completely, brush them with a little olive oil, and lay them on my grill, turning every now and again.</div>
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Cut the kernels off of the cobs.</div>
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Toss together with a can of black beans that have been drained and rinsed, a handful of grape or cherry tomatoes cut in half, and 3 thinly sliced radishes.</div>
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Add 2/3 cup pulled apart lump crab, the sliced greens of 2 scallions, and a handful of chopped fresh cilantro. I dressed this salad with a tablespoon of ginger infused olive oil, a tablespoon of regular olive oil, the juice of half a lime and some salt and pepper.</div>
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Toss it all together, and let the flavors meld in the frig. This is the perfect summertime make ahead salad.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=roastedcornsalad5.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/roastedcornsalad5.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thanks for popping in and cooking with me. I'm linking this up to Gluten-Free Homemaker's <a href="http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/06/gluten-free-wednesdays-6-6-12/" target="_blank">Gluten-Free Wednesdays</a>, and the parties below.</div>
<a border="0" href="http://www.33shadesofgreen.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac332/33shadesofgreen/tasty_tuesdays_complete2.jpg " /></a><a href="http://notjustahousewife.net/" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/StacyRisenmay/linkypartybutton-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.21stcenturyhousewife.com/index/Blog/Blog.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hearth & Soul Hop" src="http://premeditatedleftovers.com/hearthnsoul150.jpg" /></a>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-66267485638279003842012-06-03T07:27:00.001-04:002012-06-03T07:27:23.305-04:00I'm Back<div style="text-align: center;">
Sorry about the unplanned absence. Last you heard, we were heading on our annual Darien Lake camping trip for Memorial weekend. After having tons of fun in the sun, we came back home to be shocked by the news that our dear friend's sister had passed away. She was only 47. I'll say it again, 47. It's been a difficult week for all of us, and having to think about my own mortality had left me without words and with no desire to take pictures. We've been working on a major landscaping project, and my BFF(the deceased's SIL) asked if I had taken before pictures. I hadn't. She replied that she had noticed that I hadn't posted all week. On that note, I suppose it's time to put my big girl panties back on, and return to life. So here are some pics from the fun in the sun weekend camping at Darien Lake Amusement Park. We always go in a big group so the kids can pair up.</div>
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We've spent previous year's stuck in kiddie land like our friends,</div>
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but this year(with the help of some very chunky-soled sandals) SB was just tall enough to ride the big coasters, like the Boomerang,</div>
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which does some of this. 2 loops going forward, then another 2 going backwards.</div>
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The Motocoaster was another favorite of his. And lest you think I just hung back and took pics, that's me behind him. The threat of thunderstorms that never materialized kept the crowds way down, so we were able to exit the rides and get right back on.</div>
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We hit several non-coaster rides, too.</div>
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A new feature in the water park last year was cabana rentals. We opted to rent a couple of them to share between the 4 families, an option I'd gladly take again. Along with some much coveted shade behind a gated area, and no need to scramble for chairs, they included water, ice, a large deckbox with padlock, food delivery service, an attentive waitstaff, and the much coveted clear tubes.</div>
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What's so special about the clear tubes? They allow you to hop the line and stay on the lazy river until you feel like getting out. Something that our whole group took advantage of.</div>
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SB enjoyed the water park immensely. He spent a lot of time on the lazy river, slid down the Big Kahuna several times, and even enjoyed the wave pool. That's right. The kid who refused to get his head wet last year was out in the middle of the wave pool this year.</div>
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You might be wondering why so many pics of SB, and none of WD. That's because teenagers only find you at an amusement park when they're out of cash. And what do they need cash for? Midway games.</div>
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Thanks for popping in and checking out last weekend.</div>
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<br /></div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-26350612549193083672012-05-26T08:00:00.000-04:002012-05-26T08:00:04.922-04:00S'mores Waffles<div style="text-align: center;">
I love waffles. I've shared several versions of waffles including <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/02/banana-maple-waffles.html" target="_blank">Banana Maple</a>, and <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/08/chocolate-chocolate-chip-waffles.html" target="_blank">Chocolate Chocolate Chip</a>. We're camping this weekend and nothing could start a camping weekend off better than S'mores Waffles.</div>
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I started with my basic waffle recipe that I shared <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/08/strawberries-cream-waffles.html" target="_blank">here</a>. After folding in the egg whites,</div>
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I measured out 2/3 cup of mini marshmallows, 2/3 cup of crushed graham crackers(remember how I said I just bake the scraps instead of rerolling them in my <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/05/homemade-graham-crackers.html" target="_blank">graham cracker recipe post</a>?) and 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips.</div>
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Fold all of those into the batter, being careful not to deflate it.</div>
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I scoop about a cup into a hot belgian waffle iron for 4 minutes. I like waffles with a classic drizzle of maple syrup, but WD likes to add chocolate syrup to these.</div>
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Thanks for popping in and cooking with me. Hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.</div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-31034276686332596992012-05-24T07:00:00.001-04:002012-05-24T08:15:02.497-04:00Bringing the Garden In<div style="text-align: center;">
Living up north, I'm forced to live vicariously through everyone else's garden blog posts for a couple of months before ours really comes alive. Plus the extra altitude of living on a hill means that my garden is 2 weeks behind even my BFF's only a couple miles away. But things are finally looking pretty around here. Our peonies are just about ready to burst open.</div>
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Our rhododendron are in full bloom,</div>
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and while our hostas aren't blooming yet, the blooms are never really the star anyway. It's that lovely variegated foliage that really pretties up our backyard. Ignore that other sign of spring - the wiffle golf ball.</div>
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One of the best parts of having a garden is being able to bring cuttings inside. I filled an ironstone teapot with bluebells to pretty up my peninsula.</div>
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It's not the most ornate vignette, but I love the way the scent of bluebells fill the room.<br />
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Thanks for popping in and bringing the outdoors in with me. I'm linking up to Between Naps on the Porch's <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&amp;current=bloomin5.jpg%22%20target=%22_blank%22%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/bloomin5.jpg%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22Photobucket%22%3E%3C/a%3E" target="_blank">Tablescape Thursday</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-62420916554618160612012-05-23T08:52:00.000-04:002012-05-24T09:25:48.398-04:00Homemade Graham Crackers<div style="text-align: center;">
Every year, we kick off the summer with a <a href="http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg05142043337.html" target="_blank">weekend camping trip</a> to Darien Lake Theme Park. Camping means a lot of things to a lot of people(we're tent campers, not glam-pers,) but almost universally it means S'mores.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers.jpg" /></a><br />
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This s'more was made on my stove, not a campfire, specifically for this post. Incidentally, in the oft argued gas vs induction debate, no one ever cites the perfectly roasted marshmallow as a reason to use gas, but how would you make indoor s'mores without flame? I've never been one for the basic traditional s'more. I bring the traditional Hershey bars, but I also like to bring peanut butter cups and Ghirardelli squares for a more decadent treat. </div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Even before going gluten-free, I had a disdain for boxed graham crackers preferring to make s'mores with soft ginger cookies or almond thins. And in that vein, I decided to make my own graham crackers to bring along this weekend. I started by whirring together 1 cup light brown sugar, 2/3 cup sorghum flour, 2/3 cup arrowroot starch, 1/3 cup brown rice flour, 1/3 cup white rice flour, 1/3 cup millet flour, 2 tbsps potato starch, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp xanthan gum in my food processor. I pulsed in a cubed stick of butter.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers2.jpg" /></a><br />
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In a small mixing bowl, I whisked together 1/3 cup honey, 1/4 cup milk, 2 tbsps molasses, and 2 tbsps vanilla extract.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers4.jpg" /></a><br />
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I like using local honey to help inoculate against pollen related allergies.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers3.jpg" /></a><br />
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With the food processor on low, I mixed in the wet ingredients. I turned the dough out onto a floured board and kneaded it into a ball, then patted it into a rectangle. Wrap the dough and chill for a few hours in the refrigerator.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers5.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers5.jpg" /></a><br />
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Roll out half the dough to 1/8" thickness, and using a pizza wheel, cut into squares. Prick the dough all over with a fork. You can gather up the scraps and re-roll them, but I just left them. Those scraps will be great for s'more's milkshakes or crumbs for cheesecake bases. Repeat with the other half of the dough.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers6.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers6.jpg" /></a><br />
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Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes, rotating the sheets halfway through. Immediately after pulling them out of the oven, rescore the lines.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=grahamcrackers7.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/grahamcrackers7.jpg" /></a><br />
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Let cool completely before breaking apart. Pack in an airtight container. I had to make that above s'more for blog posting purposes, and it was perfect in it's ooey, gooey, deliciousness. I can't wait to bust these out around the campfire this weekend.</div>
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Thanks for popping in and baking with me. I'm linking this up to Gluten-Free Homemaker's <a href="http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/05/gluten-free-wednesdays-5-23-12/" target="_blank">Gluten-Free Wednesdays</a> and Something Swanky's <a href="http://www.somethingswanky.com/2012/05/sweet-treats-and-swanky-stuff-sponsored.html" target="_blank">Sweet Treats Thursdays</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Catch a Glimpse Button" border="0" src="http://i993.photobucket.com/albums/af54/allimarie17/Blog%20Design/catch_glimpse.png" /></a><a href="http://www.momnivoresdilemma.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/momnivoresdilemma/RecentlyUpdated.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-38716109429398094782012-05-21T10:09:00.000-04:002012-05-24T09:11:25.344-04:00Redneck Pool Heater<div style="text-align: center;">
It was blazing hot this weekend. The temperature reached 95 on Sunday, and SB and the Princess spent all day in her pool. Sorry about the crummy phone pic. Her parents put up her pool this weekend, and filled it with water from their Rinnai on demand water heater.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=IMG_20120520_185921.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/IMG_20120520_185921.jpg" /></a><br />
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Our pool is still a frigid 60something. I've shared pics of the kids playing in our pool <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/07/scrub-dub-dub-more-outdoor-sprucing-up.html" target="_blank">here</a> before, and various pool related projects like when I made a <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/07/using-your-noodle.html" target="_blank">DIY buoy line out of a dollar store pool noodle</a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSCNtjzX6W-2CjsHkvp01gTBxdylMy2aYQ1YBUPx2QAe9lWuOSZJwlZG2630JN36IiRvyN-c3tPqzT8o7gvdx_EGF5ZtyvWXNigCd3OrZS9hKeNZMNgATP3MiLkumnDuW8HFU60QeDTM/s1600/buoy+line4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSCNtjzX6W-2CjsHkvp01gTBxdylMy2aYQ1YBUPx2QAe9lWuOSZJwlZG2630JN36IiRvyN-c3tPqzT8o7gvdx_EGF5ZtyvWXNigCd3OrZS9hKeNZMNgATP3MiLkumnDuW8HFU60QeDTM/s400/buoy+line4.jpg" width="500px" /></a><br />
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See that stone wall back there? It's holding back the hillside. Not just any hillside - a heavily wooded hillside. </div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=redneckheater1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/redneckheater1.jpg" /></a><br />
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I like trees, and the boys enjoy trekking back there with paintball and airsoft guns, but all those trees mean a shaded yard. And a shaded yard means a cold pool. We have on the roof solar heaters, but there's only so much they can do with our limited sunlight. We looked into gas heat, but those things are really expensive. I checked the webosphere for cheap pool heaters, and that's when I came across the concept of a <a href="http://www.redneckpoolheater.com/" target="_blank">Redneck Pool Heater</a>. We had some copper pipe sitting in our garage after we switched to pex tubing when we did our <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/05/finished-kitchen-reveal.html" target="_blank">kitchen reno</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=redneckheater.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/redneckheater.jpg" /></a><br />
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It took several evenings and one nasty blistery burn for CG to put ours together.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=redneckheater4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/redneckheater4.jpg" /></a><br />
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Voila! Our very own Redneck Pool Heater. It sits in our grill, but can be removed when it's done heating up the pool.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=redneckheater2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/redneckheater2.jpg" /></a><br />
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And here it is with the lid down. We tested it out and the water coming out was 7 degrees warmer than the water coming in.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=redneckheater3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/redneckheater3.jpg" /></a><br />
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A couple of days with this running continuously, and about 3 propane tanks, and we should be able to start using our pool. In May. Craziness.</div>
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Thanks for popping in and checking out our new pool heater.<br />
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_x908CSKJhI4/TUX7UBvTgEI/AAAAAAAAW7k/MVgnfNcOk7I/s400/Pic_for_Body_of_Blog.jpg" /><a href="http://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="shabby creek cottage" border="0" src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb119/tightwadtips/SCCTTBadge.png" /></a>
</div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-80194757883978613272012-05-17T16:02:00.000-04:002012-05-17T16:44:48.196-04:00A Tale of Two Shippers<div style="text-align: center;">
I do a lot of internet purchasing(and yes, I do total it up come tax time for good ol' NYS.) In the last 3 months, I've bought 2 lax shafts, 1 lax head, several lax shorts, football tickets, CityPass tickets, fishing tackle, some stuff from Williams-Sonoma, and the stuff I'm reviewing on-line. I've had great experiences, not-so-great experiences, and everything in between. I thought I'd share a couple of recent on-line purchase experiences, both of which are custom printed products. First the Good. I recently ordered several photo books from <a href="http://www.mypublisher.com/?utm_source=Marketing&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=5.17.12cpc&utm_campaign=DAD60" target="_blank">My Publisher</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=books.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/books.jpg" /></a><br />
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My Publisher offers a free program download that makes it extremely easy to put together photo books. They offer several sizes of books in paperback, hardcover, leather covers, etc. You can caption and arrange your photos yourself, or let the software do it by chronological order. I chose to make an A to Z minibook(tiny little 2.5"x3.5" books) of my boys. The software is so easy to use with drag and drop functionality.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=photobookexample.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/photobookexample.jpg" /></a><br />
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I ordered 8 of my minibooks on Thursday May 10th. The minibooks are only $2.99 each, and shipping for all 8 only added $1.69. That's 8 minibooks + shipping for less than $30. They e-mailed an order confirmation at 9:07am. At 2:15pm, they e-mailed that my order had gone into production, and that it could be seen and tracked on-line. The next day, May 11th, I received an e-mail that my order had shipped at 10:37am. I received my package the next day, May 12th. How sweet is the note on the included invoice? It's cute and makes me smile.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=happiness.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/happiness.jpg" /></a><br />
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And now the Bad. My boys play a lot of sports and I've bought an awful lot of spirit wear throughout the years. $100 warmups for one season of wrestling? $45 cross country hoodies? Too many lacrosse shorts to count? Check, check, and check. This year's spirit wear flyer came home at the start of the season in March. The on-line storefront was through <a href="http://www.shopgraph-tex.com/default.aspx/MenuItemID/65/MenuGroup/Home.htm" target="_blank">Graph-Tex</a> and the website stated that orders would be shipped 3 weeks after the storefront's end date. The Vestal JV/Varsity Boys Lacrosse storefront would stay open til the last week of March. I placed my order(for a shooting shirt and shorts,) and my credit card was charged on March 21st. I received an order confirmation e-mail on the 21st at 8:38am. And then I waited.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=calendarturning.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="241" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/calendarturning.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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And waited, and waited. 3 weeks had come and gone without an e-mail. I called on Thursday April 27th, and asked about my order. The gentleman told me that there had been a delay with the shirts, but that they were being printed as we spoke, and that my order would ship on Friday or Monday. Still no e-mail, but I had spoken with an actual person, and was confident that my order was on it's way. Thursday May 3rd a package arrived. Yay! But it felt a little small. Urmm...where are my shorts?</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=laxshirt.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/laxshirt.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1/2 an order, 0 e-mails. Very good quality, but questionable customer service.</td></tr>
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Friday, May 4th, I called and asked about the shorts. I was told that he would check on the order, and call me right back. {Insert Final Jeopardy music} 3 hours later, I was told that there had been a delay in receiving the shorts, and that they were expecting them on Wednesday, and would be putting them into production and shipping them out immediately after receiving them. More waiting. Still no e-mails. Thursday, May 17th(today,) I called at 9:32am and left a voice mail with my order number asking to be called back. More waiting. I called again at 1:18pm and asked about my order. I was told that they had shipped out on Tuesday and that he would e-mail me tracking information. He even confirmed my e-mail address from the order information. It's 4pm and there are <i style="font-size: x-large;">still no e-mails. </i></div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=angry.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="229" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/angry.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I had mentioned in this last phone call that I understand that some businesses charge your card at the time of the order vs when an item ships. I'm ok with this, as long as I receive e-mails keeping me in the loop, so that I don't feel like someone has absconded with my money. If my order will be split up and shipped separately, shoot me an e-mail. I've bought multiple times from Kohl's, Barnes & Noble, Wayfair.com, and the aforementioned Williams-Sonoma when items have shipped separately. It's not a big deal <i>as long as I'm expecting it. </i> Incidentally, Graph-Tex is located in Cortland, a 45 minute drive from here. No package should take more than 2 days to arrive on my door.</div>
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So what do you all think? Is it fair to expect e-mail updates when ordering on-line? Is 2 months without an e-mail acceptable? Thanks for popping in and shopping with me. And check out <a href="http://www.mypublisher.com/?utm_source=Marketing&utm_medium=Email&utm_content=5.17.12cpc&utm_campaign=DAD60" target="_blank">My Publisher</a>. These books make great gifts.</div>
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*I was not paid or perked in any way for this glowing endorsement of My Publisher. I'm just really happy with the experience.<br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">*Editorial note* - after going live with this review, I was contacted by a very apologetic Ben Connery at Graph-tex, who refunded my shipping costs, gave me a tracking number, and offered me reasons to believe that this slip up in customer service is not how they like to do business nor is it tolerated.</span></div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-71167708555418796172012-05-16T08:46:00.000-04:002012-05-16T21:33:10.115-04:00Knitted Doll Poncho<div style="text-align: center;">
I haven't posted a knitting project since<a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2010/12/knit-baby-dress-guest-posting.html" target="_blank"> this baby gift</a> way back in 2010. It's not because I haven't picked up my knitting needles. I have. There have been scarves, vests, tunics, mittens, and fingerless gloves. But knitting is something I do when I'm waiting to do something else. My knitting comes with me to doctors' and dentists' offices. I take it to sports practices, and the long wait for Black Friday deals(incidentally nobody will think of jumping the line in front of someone openly toting sharp metal skewers.) Plus, there's the whole readership thing. The only people who will read a knitting post tend to be the few out there who can read the gobbledygook that is a knitting pattern. Still I bothered to write the pattern down so without further ado - here's the Knitted Doll Poncho.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=poncho.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/poncho.jpg" /></a><br />
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This poncho will fit an American Girl Doll or Journey Doll or other similarly sized doll. Remember when the <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/03/daytripping-in-ithaca.html" target="_blank">Princess broke her arm</a> back in March? I kept up a steady stream of conversation to help keep her mind off the pain, and one of the things I said was that I loved her poncho and her Journey doll should have a matching one.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7AOpxie6ZemGSwa7V1zdbO3GSdgfDLtP_lBtoFlpTL5wsFVK3SnKMCGb4Lumiif3smbBVmO6yZHQcPIsX33q60leyQ4rzA2tUn99mITOuaLT_8GHGxLcXDkYRrYfrFWdFafwtQ9WFabF/s1600/IMG_20120317_230328.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7AOpxie6ZemGSwa7V1zdbO3GSdgfDLtP_lBtoFlpTL5wsFVK3SnKMCGb4Lumiif3smbBVmO6yZHQcPIsX33q60leyQ4rzA2tUn99mITOuaLT_8GHGxLcXDkYRrYfrFWdFafwtQ9WFabF/s400/IMG_20120317_230328.jpg" width="322" /></a></div>
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And here's how I made it:</div>
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cast on 24 stitches of a basic craft yarn on size 7 needles.</div>
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Row 1: K</div>
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Row 2: P</div>
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Row 3: K3, cable4, K3, cable4, K3, cable4, K3</div>
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Row 4: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Rows 5-8: Repeat Rows 1-4</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 9: K8, yo, K2tog, K5, yo, K2tog, K7</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 10: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 11: K3, cable4, K1, yo, K2tog, cable4, K1, yo, K2tog, cable4, K3</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 12: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Rows 13-24: Repeat Rows 1-12</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 25: K8, yo, K2tog, K5, yo, K2tog, K7</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 26: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 27: K3, cable4, K3, cable4, K3, cable4, K3</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 28: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Rows 29-32: Repeat Rows 1-4</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 33: K</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 34: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 35: K3, cable4, K1, yo, K2tog, cable4, K1, yo, K2tog, cable4, K3</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 36: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 37: K8, yo, K2tog, K5, yo, K2tog, K7</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 38: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 39: K3, cable4, K3, cable4, K3, cable4, K3</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 40: P</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Rows 41-44: Repeat Rows 1-4</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Row 45: K</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bind off</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Make 2 of these rectangles and make up the poncho by stitching together the rectangles as below. Stitching the blue parts together, then the red ones.</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=poncho4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/poncho4.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Add on some fringe.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=poncho3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/poncho3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And your doll is ready for cooler spring or fall temps.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=poncho2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/poncho2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for popping in and knitting with me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<a href="http://polkadotsonparade.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i1210.photobucket.com/albums/cc405/laderalady/JaimeButtonWOW.jpg" /></a><img alt="Sew Woodsy" src="http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb431/ktbright7/button_sewwoodsy.jpg" /><a href="http://sewwoodsy.com/2012/05/weekly-link-party-5.html" target="_blank">http://sewwoodsy.com/2012/05/weekly-link-party-5.html</a><br />
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<center><a href="http://sewmuchado.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i807.photobucket.com/albums/yy351/jdsmit21/SMAbuttonWDIWscissorsbordercopy.jpg" /></a><a href="http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">
<img border="0" src="http://i602.photobucket.com/albums/tt108/valentinestudio123/Client%20Blog%20Design/dividers%20buttons%20etc/White-Wedneday-Button.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.somewhatsimple.com/" title="Somewhat Simple"><img alt="Somewhat Simple" src="http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a342/stephd757/linkpartythursday.png" /></a><a href="http://www.momnivoresdilemma.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1198.photobucket.com/albums/aa446/momnivoresdilemma/RecentlyUpdated.jpg" /></a></center>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-31937917480556818142012-05-15T08:07:00.002-04:002012-05-15T09:50:08.577-04:00Cinnamon Mango Scones<div style="text-align: center;">
You might have noticed the mangoes in my fruit bowl in my <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/05/finished-kitchen-reveal.html" target="_blank">finished kitchen reveal</a> photos. If I was a professional, I'd have probably replaced those with some bright green apples(and had better lighting, but let's not pile on ;-P) But the fruit is ever changing in that bowl, and last week it was champagne mangoes. I used a couple for breakfast the other day to make some Cinnamon Mango Scones.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I started with 2 champagne mangoes. If I had the larger type of mango, I'd only have used one.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones2.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I sliced the flesh of the mango off each side of the pit, and scored through the fruit to the skin diagonally</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones3.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in both directions to create diamond cubes that I sliced off the skin. Reserve the fruit while you make the scone batter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones4.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones4.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In a medium bowl, I whisked together 2/3 cup sorghum flour, 2/3 cup arrowroot starch, 1/3 cup white rice flour, 1/3 cup brown rice flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp salt.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones5.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones5.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In a separate bowl, I mixed together 1/3 cup melted coconut oil, 1/4 cup agave nectar, 2 tbsps maple syrup, and 1 tsp vanilla and mixed the wet ingredients into the dry.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones6.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones6.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mix in 1/4 cup of hot water and fold in the reserved mango.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones7.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones7.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Drop by large scoops onto a parchment lined baking sheet and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones8.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones8.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=mangoscones1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/mangoscones1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Let cool for a few minutes before removing from the baking sheet and enjoying. These were so moist, not at all like a store bought scone.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for popping in and baking with me.</div>
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<center><a href="http://www.yummyinspirations.net/search/label/Breakfast%20Ideas%20Mondays"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyI2Dx-EE8rMOWQPVtqsv9MQOQc_yIwrZ35R2Fji9n4bV3ydtqMyHHTwUHITv2uHmFHkVIJhwBPtRcRKEEm0JJpf765aAFNSCBsRchc1cLWUFZKoHRI_Ewy4Wf6yh8YexXy4ha8GHFPOHX/s1600/Breakfast+Ideas+Mondays.jpg" /></a><a href="http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" height="150" src="http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/slightly_indulgent_tue.JPG" /></a><a href="http://notjustahousewife.net/" target="blank"><img border="0" src="http://i492.photobucket.com/albums/rr283/StacyRisenmay/linkypartybutton-1.jpg" /></a></center>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-69026685710262803512012-05-14T09:32:00.002-04:002012-05-14T09:32:56.905-04:00Come Closer<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you to everyone who's sent me such sweet comments and e-mails about our <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/05/finished-kitchen-reveal.html" target="_blank">finished kitchen</a> both here and on the <a href="http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg05142043337.html?30" target="_blank">Gardenweb Kitchen Forum</a>. I've had a few requests for some closeups, so here are a few more kitchen pics and details. Here's a closeup of the walnut pegs in the corners of our cherry cabinets. These are Kraftmaid cabinets in Cherry Lynchburg Mission style with a Honey Spice stain.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=cookbookshelves9.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/cookbookshelves9.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There are a couple of upper cabinets that have glass in them. The glass is Clear Coral from <a href="http://www.bendheimcabinetglass.com/productCatalog.cfm" target="_blank">Bendheim Cabinet Glass</a>. I've talked about Bendheim before. They have the most amazing selection, great prices, and terrific customer service.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=upperglass.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/upperglass.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also have Clear Soft Wave glass in the liquor hutch that CG built.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=hutchglass.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/hutchglass.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's a closeup of the finial tipped hinges that I picked out for the liquor hutch. I obsessed over the hardware in this kitchen. The hinges were an all day decision.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=hinge.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/hinge.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I love the square knobs. They have pegs on the back side to keep them from spinning out of square. Have you ever been in a kitchen or bath with oval knobs that were slightly out of alignment? I have to turn them so they're perfectly straight. My fingers itch until I do it. The pegs on the back of the knobs keep me from being twitchy in the kitchen.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=knob.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/knob.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I also have a handful of novelty knobs on a few drawers. The grapes knob has cheese knives, the tea kettle has tea cozies and strainers, the ribbon and turtle have candy making supplies.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=shapedknobs3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/shapedknobs3.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But most of my utensils are held in larger drawers with double stacked dividers.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=utensildrawers.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/utensildrawers.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks for popping in and checking out some more of my kitchen.</div>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-28504611699804884292012-05-11T14:04:00.001-04:002012-05-13T13:15:08.265-04:00Finished Kitchen Reveal<div style="text-align: center;">
You've all seen snippets of my kitchen in the background of all my baking posts, but with the installation of our shiny new range hood, <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/05/this-really-sucksin-good-way.html" target="_blank">here</a>, it's time to finally put the "Done" stamp on our kitchen renovation. For those of you who don't know the back story on our kitchen, it all started years and years ago. When we first bought this house, 11 years ago, I said, "this kitchen will have to eventually be redone."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=Kitchen_Before1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/Kitchen_Before1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I know you're thinking, "That's not too horrible," but let's break it down for you. That dropped ceiling and wall of peninsula hanging cabinets made the space feel tiny and claustrophobic. You needed to send a small child with a miner's cap to find anything, because the kitchen had 6(!) blind corners. Even after emptying out the cabs, we still found random stuff in those blind corners when we demolished the kitchen. You can't tell from the pics, but the counters had stains and burns that would not come out.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=before-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/before-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The double sink had 2 basins that were both too small to fit cookie sheets or large trays, which meant soaking myself when I washed them.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=beforewindow-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/beforewindow-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And that super shiny cabinet finish? If you looked close it was a disgusting drippy mess of an application. And the floors had permanent stains, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=beforeOld_Cab_Base_Glue-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/beforeOld_Cab_Base_Glue-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So 4 years ago(2008,) we took sledge hammers to the whole mess. We waited until summer vacation, because we didn't want to interrupt WD's schedule. School ended June 23rd, and we had the dumpster delivered June 24th.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=100_0400-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/100_0400-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
See those cabinet boxes? The boys made cardboard homes for themselves, complete with lighting and wall decor, and slept in them for a couple of weeks. One of my greatest regrets is that those pictures were lost in the hard drive crash of 2008.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=Cab_Boxes2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/Cab_Boxes2.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
WD stands for Whirling Dervish, but could just as easily be Weapon of mass Destruction, because the boy loves demo. We had 7(!) layers of flooring, and he chewed through all of it. Don't worry there were masks and other protective gear - he's just ready to jump in the pool after the day of work.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=Demo4_Floor2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/Demo4_Floor2.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The slider to our backyard</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=sliderbefore.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/sliderbefore.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">pic from the winter of 2007</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was replaced with french doors.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=New_Fr_Doors.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/New_Fr_Doors.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We also replaced the window with a garden window that lets in so much more light. Cabinets and undercabinet lighting were installed relatively quickly. The LED strips were picked up clearance for $9.97 each.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=100_0449-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/100_0449-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were only without a kitchen sink for 6 weeks. The large side can fit even my biggest cookie sheets, and the small side is nice for veggie prep and hand washing when there are dirty dishes on the other side(which is often, since the boys do not load the dishwasher.) We installed it in cherry butcher block from Lumber Liquidators. I had planned on taking the sink cutout and making a small cheese board, and larger breadboard, but the darn thing is still sitting in our garage untouched.(Hey, it'll happen sometime.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=sink.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/sink.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We lived with that one stretch of butcher block counters and plywood everywhere else for months while I dithered on selecting the perfect slabs of soapstone. We also had plywood subfloors for several months. I ordered cork tiles in Cocoa and Praline from <a href="http://www.duro-design.com/index.cfm/page/cork/" target="_blank">Duro-design</a>, a fantastic Canadian company, and waited until WD was back in school in the fall to install them. I laid the floors about 30sqft at a time during SB's naps.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=corkfloor-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/corkfloor-1.jpg" /></a><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We used some of the leftover tiles for our message center.</div>
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I placed my order for cut to size soapstone slabs just after Halloween. <a href="http://www.soapstones.com/" target="_blank">M. Texeira</a> offers several ways to order soapstone. Installed, slabs, cut to size(rectangles that you can cut to shape,) or cut to fit(you provide templates, they cut them exactly.) We were slammed with snow and ice that November and December, and my slabs made it to Binghamton on a truck, but couldn't make it up our hill until mid-December. I decided to wait until after Christmas to do the fabrication.</div>
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CG and I cut and shaped the counters, and we called in our friends to help carry the giant peninsula piece. Nothing like some rib-eyes and a case of beer to lighten the load. You can read more about the soapstone installation and other DIY soapstone installations in this Gardenweb discussion <a href="http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/kitchbath/msg0310172923514.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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When it was installed in January of 2009, it sat on top of 2 30" normal base cabinets. One of the reasons this reno took so long, is that I kept moving the finish line. I'll get back to that.</div>
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With cabinets, floors, counters, and lighting done, there really was only one major component left - backsplash. I had originally been planning on carrera marble subway tiles, but I needed a good price on them. During my tile hunt, I came across <a href="http://www.interstyle.ca/products/barcode/barcode.html" target="_blank">these</a> glass Interstyle Barcode tiles in Dragonfish and fell in love. I fell hard. And then I found out how much they cost. Gasp.</div>
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I searched for a year for something else that would make my heart sing like those Barcode tiles. Nothing. Then in May 2010, CG presented me with 13 of them for Mother's Day. I may have wept. I decided to create a random bricks and sticks type tile arrangement. Over the summer we found some 24x24" clearanced grey ceramic tile at the tile store, some random grey and black tiles at the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and some marble at an architectural salvage place. We set up a wet saw and started cutting, and cutting, and cutting.</div>
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We tiled the entire backsplash area, all the way up the sink wall. I didn't really plan it out, just grabbing from different piles as I went along. The backsplash was done Thanksgiving of 2010. It's grouted in Delorean Grey.</div>
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This is how it looked at that point. I probably could have called it done in 2010. <br />
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But there was that whole moving finish line. I made a huge mistake in selecting a side by side frig, and we replaced that with a french door frig that I love. You can read about how we bought this $2100 frig for $892 <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/05/chilling.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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I didn't love the big blank side of the pullout pantry, and hadn't planned any cookbook storage, so we installed some cookbook ledges to pretty up that side. Check out the tutorial <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/05/diy-cookbook-shelves.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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I had become disenchanted with the OTR microwave vent. It didn't work as a vent and WD aka Destructoboy was no longer an age where I had to worry about him putting things in the microwave just to see things spark or explode. (It's never been an issue with SB.) I didn't want a MW on the counter, so I looked into a MW drawer, and after much stalking, snagged one off e-bay. You can read about the retrofit <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/11/showing-off-my-drawers.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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We repurposed the cabinet drawers, installing them sideways and adding some simple bungees & eyehooks to hold wraps.</div>
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Speaking of nifty pullouts, I love my baking pullout. Gluten-free baking means having a ton of different flours and starches to work with. This keeps them all in one spot in the main part of the kitchen.</div>
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I love our knife pullout. No more knife block. They're both handy to prep and out of the way of little hands. I keep meaning to face the plywood edges with some cherry veneer. I'm still calling this done.</div>
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We have 2 double trash pullouts. One is for trash and returnables(bottles & cans with a deposit,) and the other is for recyclables for curbside recycling.</div>
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Above the frig, I have vertical storage. Above the frig and ovens is a great place for vertical storage, because you only need to grab the bottom corner to get a tray down.</div>
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I have long monkey arms, so I put the vertical storage up on a shelf and have trays underneath.</div>
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For those people without abnormally long arms or those a little more vertically challenged(Mom, I'm talking to you,) there is a handy spot for a folding step stool next to my range. I also keep round things like pizza pans that I don't want in the above the frig slots.</div>
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<a href="http://www.containerstore.com/shop/laundry/stepStoolsLadders?utm_medium=feed&productId=10020451&utm_source=google_products&sku=10041064" target="_blank">This</a> slim step stool is 2 steps high, yet fits in a regular cabinet space.</div>
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The other side of the range has a pullout for my oils, etc.</div>
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The other side of the room has the liquor hutch that my clever husband built. It was featured in Atticmag. You can read about it <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/04/featured-at-atticmag.html" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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I love the creamy, buttery yellow we used on our walls. That was an adventure, too. I picked what I thought was a buttery yellow, brought it home, and it turned out to be a migraine inducing, staring at the sun, melt your eyes yellow. The paint store guy helped fix it. And behind this $10 salvage yard door is our closet style pantry.</div>
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It still needs some work, but that's for another day.</div>
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If you've read this far, you really deserve the big before and after. Just a reminder of the before.</div>
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And the big "Tada!" The finished after kitchen. It's not classic white inset, subway tiles, farmhouse sink, but it's very much me. Hope you like it.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/?action=view&current=finished.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/finished.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thanks for stopping by and checking out my finally finished kitchen.</div>
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<center><a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special" border="0" src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/signmakergirl/satnitenew150w-1.jpg" /></a><a href="http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/diy-project-parade/" title="DIY Show Off"><img alt="DIY Show Off" src="http://i899.photobucket.com/albums/ac195/Roeshel/DIYprojectparadebutton-1.png" style="border: none;" /></a>
</center>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-43463358785246324482012-05-08T09:53:00.000-04:002012-05-11T22:59:43.501-04:00Walnut Ganache Tartlets<div style="text-align: center;">
No finished kitchen pics yet, mostly because it's been grey and dreary for days, but also because I've been busy, busy, busy making messes in my kitchen. I made Walnut Ganache Tartlets to bring into school for our Staff Appreciation Luncheon today.</div>
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And last week I made approximately a gazillion White Chocolate Lemon Meringue Tartlets and Fresh Berry Mini-Pavlovas for a fundraiser Saturday evening.</div>
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Here's how I made the Walnut Ganache Tartlets for today. I started by placing a generous cup of walnuts on a baking sheet and popping them into a 350 oven. After about 10 minutes they are perfectly toasted and fragrant. It's important to keep an eye on toasting nuts, because they go quickly from perfectly toasted to burnt.</div>
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I pulsed the nuts in my mini chopper, reserved 1/4 cup of nuts for decoration, and gave the nuts another couple of pulses for a fine chop.</div>
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I mixed in 2/3 cup brown rice flour, 1/3 cup white rice flour, 1/3 cup amaranth flour, 1/3 cup potato starch, 1/3 cup arrowroot starch, 1/2 cup sugar, and 2 tbsps of lemon zest.</div>
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I cut in 12 tbsps of butter with a pastry blender,</div>
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and mixed in 2 slightly beaten eggs. The mixture will look crumbly, but hold together if you ball it up.</div>
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I loosely fill an ungreased mini-muffin pan, and press the crumbs into the sides and bottom of each cup.</div>
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Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.</div>
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Let cool for 5 minutes before removing from the pan. You should be able to spin them out of the pan. I've shared several recipes that use <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/11/ganache.html" target="_blank">ganache</a> before. These tartlets only need about 1/2 of my linked ganache recipe, but I like to make a full batch each time and keep some in the frig. It often inspires off the cuff recipes like my<a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2012/02/creamcheese-cookies-w-ganache.html" target="_blank"> Creamcheese Cookies w/ Ganache filling</a>. While the tartlets are cooling I made a batch of ganache.</div>
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Spoon some ganache into each tartlet cup,</div>
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and sprinkle on the reserved toasted walnuts.</div>
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While the tartlets were baking, I had piped out several masquerade masks, because the theme of today's Staff Appreciation Luncheon is Masquerade. A trick I use to keep multiple piped items the same size is to sketch it out on paper and slide the waxed paper over my drawing. Each mask(or butterfly, or whatever,) will still look individual, but the last one won't be twice the size of the first one. </div>
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Always pipe more decorations than you actually need, because after they're chill in the freezer, some might break as you peel them off the waxed paper.</div>
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After the ganache cooled and set up, I placed a mask in each tart.</div>
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Thanks for popping in and baking with me.<br />
<img alt="Gluten-Free Wednesdays button" src="http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Gluten-Free-Wednesdays2.png" /><a 05="" 2012="" <="" a="" gluten-free-wednesdays-5-9-12="" glutenfreehomemaker.com="" href="http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/05/gluten-free-wednesdays-5-9-12/" http:="" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://thekingscourt4.blogspot.com/search/label/What%27s%20Cooking%20Wednesday" target="_blank"><img src="http://i528.photobucket.com/albums/dd329/crissyren/menumeme1.gif" /></a><a href="http://simplysugarandglutenfree.com/" target="_blank"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://www.simplysugarandglutenfree.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/slightly_indulgent_tue.JPG" /></a><a href="http://comfyinthekitchen.com/"><img src="http://comfyinthekitchen.com/wp-content/themes/mocha/images/button.png" /></a><br />
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laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-79885481369561869052012-05-07T08:54:00.001-04:002012-05-07T09:24:12.472-04:00This Really Sucks(In a Good Way)<div style="text-align: center;">
Sorry for the radio silence, everyone. I was stuck in the weeds last week and had to step away from the computer. But I'm back, and energized and ready to do some sharing. I think I might actually finally be able to put a done stamp on our kitchen. For those of you who don't know, CG and I took sledgehammers to our kitchen nearly 4 yrs ago. We completely DIYed the reno, and it took a few years to get to almost done. We finally finished the last item on our list and call it honest to goodness done. I'll share the whole 4yr long before and after with you later this week, but for now I'll show you that last project - replacing the microwave hood that sucked(or didn't suck as the case was) with 900CFMs of superior sucking. This is where we started.</div>
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Remember how we installed a microwave drawer <a href="http://sugarnspiceinthelandofballsnsticks.blogspot.com/2011/11/showing-off-my-drawers.html" target="_blank">here</a> last year? That cleared the way for us to get rid of the non-sucking microwave. The microwave venthood had to come down, and CG installed a plywood shelf to attach the hood to. It plugged into the same outlet as the microwave vent, but we ran new ducting because of the different size needed(that rectangular hole was for the microhood.) Each elbow in ducting will reduce air flow, but we have such a short run that it was fine to use them.</div>
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It's important to note here that the duct elbows are connected with silver foil tape, not what we all know as duct tape. Silver foil tape is the correct material to use for ducting. The other duct tape is great for making<a href="http://duckbrand.com/Promotions/stuck-at-prom/vote-now.aspx" target="_blank"> prom dresses</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAAicTg2tjo" target="_blank">wallets</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=ventmetalfoiltape.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/ventmetalfoiltape.jpg" /></a></div>
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Since no one wants to look at ducting, we attached blocking into the hole using a spare piece of a cherry veneer cover panel as a spacer.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=ventblocking.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/ventblocking.jpg" /></a></div>
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And slid a piece of cherry veneer into the hole in front of the blocking.</div>
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Blue tape was used as handles to slide it into place.</div>
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I placed some of my salt and pepper shakers up on the resulting ledge. The hamburger splits into 2 shakers, and I painted the dog and cat at one of those paint your own pottery stores.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=ventshelf.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/ventshelf.jpg" /></a></div>
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A reminder of the before.</div>
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And the after.</div>
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I fried up some potatoes, and it really did a fantastic job with capturing the grease. The baffles and grease catcher cups can go right in the dishwasher. I'm so excited to be sharing the entire kitchen reno later this week now that I can finally call it done.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=ventbaffles.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/ventbaffles.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thanks for popping in and checking out our new vent.</div>
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<center><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WzPdfImjyJ8/Ti3RiAl7TrI/AAAAAAAAbsk/EOZi_5qvP7o/s1600/One+on+sidebar.jpg" /></a></center>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7574560462388181967.post-86113920608188341462012-04-28T14:59:00.000-04:002012-05-02T06:56:16.569-04:00Toffee Bits Brownie Cookies<div style="text-align: center;">
After holidays like Halloween and Easter, you often see candy bar recipes - ways to use up extra candy in cookies and cakes. We almost never make anything like that, because candy doesn't last very long around this house. CG's favorite type of candy is toffee. Every now and again, I'll splurge and buy him the really good English toffee bars and they never last for more than a day or 2, certainly never long enough to bust up for desserts. Luckily, you can buy Heath bar toffee bits all busted up and ready for baking.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=toffeebits.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="215" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/toffeebits.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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I made a batch of Toffee Bits Brownie Cookies the other day and boy were they ever good.</div>
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I started by whisking together 1/2 cup brown rice flour, 1/4 cup white rice flour, 1/4 cup sorghum flour, and 1/2 cup potato starch.</div>
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Melt 1 stick(1/2 cup) of butter and 1/3 cup of semi-sweet chocolate in a heavy bottomed pan set on a super low burner.</div>
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When the butter and chocolate had melted and was velvety smooth,<br />
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I added 3/4 cup of turbinado sugar.</div>
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I like using turbinado sugar(sugar in the raw) on top of pastries for a caramelized crunch, but I break it down when I make cookies so that it absorbs into the batter better. A quick whirr with my stick blender is all it needs.</div>
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I added 1 egg and 2 tsps vanilla before adding the flour and 1/8 tsp salt. Fold in half a bag of toffee bits and drop by tablespoonfuls on a parchment lined sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes. These cookies are chewy perfection.</div>
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<a href="http://s485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/?action=view&current=toffeebitscookies1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr217/laxsupermom/blog%20posts/toffeebitscookies1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Thanks for popping in and baking with me. I'm linking up to Gluten-Free Homemaker's <a href="http://glutenfreehomemaker.com/2012/05/gluten-free-wednesdays-5-2-12/" target="_blank">Gluten-Free Wednesdays</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/search/label/show%20and%20tell"><img border="0" src="http://www.rememberthemoments.com/images/blog/satbutton.gif" /></a>laxsupermomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10797787877548962742noreply@blogger.com8