I am a cleaning lady! February 28, 2007

After having a housecleaner for the last year, I have officially started cleaning my house again. I recently was laid off so gone are the luxuries!

We are doing a lot of work for our upcoming move. Everything needs to be clean and organized. Hopefully, we can get the house ready for showings in the next two weeks. If you want to buy a house from us - let us know!

Audrey’s birthday is this weekend - we are having a tea and makeover party for her and her five friends. She is turning five!

Well, that is a short update - hope you all are great!

I love donuts February 5, 2007

One of my favorite desserts is donuts. I know they are horrible for me so I don’t have them everyday. So, when I saw in one of the magazines I receive that a muffin recipe was claiming to be like a freshly made homemade donut - I said, “I have to try that.” It was so good. I was going to take a picture of them to show but they were gone before I could do that.

Here is the recipe:

French Breakfast Muffins (like a cinnamon sugar donut)

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
2/3 cup sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (next time I am going to increase the amount a bit)
1 large egg
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar Topping
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled

Step 1: Heat the oven to 375. Butter the bottoms only of 12 standard size muffin cups and set the pan aside.

Step 2: Measure the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg into a large mixing bowl and combine them with a whisk.

Step 3: In a medium size bowl, whisk the egg until it is frothy. Blend in the milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the liquid mixture.

Step 4: Using a wooden spoon, mix the batter just until it is evenly blended, then spoon it into the muffin cups, filling each about 2/3 full.

Step 5: Bake the muffins on the center rack for 15 minutes. Then rotate the pan and bake for an additional 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack until the muffins are cool enough to handle , about 5 minutes, then remove them from the cups.

Step 6: Before the muffins lose their warmth, prepare the topping. Mix the sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl. Melt the butter and transfer it to a seperate small bowl. Set both bowls next to the muffins.

Step 7: Working one muffin at a time, quickly dip the tops in the melted butter and then the cinnamon sugar, rolling each muffin in all directions to cover the entire top. (I DID THE WHOLE MUFFIN) If you want more topping roll again on the top.

These were so good. Much healthier than donuts - no frying involved.

Enjoy!

I love CJ! January 29, 2007

Went to my old work last night because I had been craving their food. (That is what happens when all you eat is that food for over three years!) We took all the kids but equipped them with their Leapsters. (learning software) It was kind of like a date!

Anyway, food took a long time. From working there - I knew what happened. The food was ready but the pizza was not. Earlier, I had seen a manager that I knew from Rancho (where I worked - we were in Corona) The server told him about the pizza and he comped it. My food was sitting there for awhile I could tell because of the hard tortilla and limp salad. The server noticed that I was not eating it and said she would have him comp that also. (it was really fine - I was actually used to eating it that way because of all my time as a server - I never ate food right away because it was always busy when it was ready) I was actually just full. She said he wanted to buy us dessert. Yummy - carrot cake! To go of course!

Jon had the prime rib. He said it was yummy! When it came time for the bill - it was all comped. This was at least a $65 bill! We left a nice tip - $30. But yeah - I told Jon he had his cake and ate it too because he was able to have a nice meal, he pleased his wife and it was totally cheap!

Rachel is walking!!!!! January 23, 2007

Just wanted to share our good news!

So much TV to watch and so little time… January 14, 2007

I am about to go downstairs and watch two hours of 24. Tomorrow there is another 2 hours. (Thank God for Tivo)

The Unit is starting and American Idol. Then there is Grey’s Anatomy, Lost and Heroes. Sometimes, The Office and My Name is Earl. I am so glad we cancelled Netflix. No time!

What are you watching? Or what is your Tivo getting for you?

OC Marathon January 2007 January 8, 2007

We did it!

26.2 miles!

Kristy’s time was 17 minutes ahead of mine. Good job Kristy!

I ended up walking a lot of it. It was an experience that challenged everything in me. I hit the “wall” at mile 23. I did not want to continue. I was physically and mentally exhausted. I had been going continually for 6 hours at that point. We went thru Newport Beach, Tustin and finally to Irvine Spectrum. I am so sore today. It is hard to move. But I have a medal!

I am doing another one - maybe San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon in June. Thanks to all of you for your support! I could not have done it without you!

Christmas aftermath December 27, 2006

I love Christmas but not dealing with the afterwards. Now with three kids and three HUGE piles of presents - now comes the fun part of taking it out of the box (at least 5 minutes of twisting or turning ties) and putting it away. Now I know I should count my blessings that the kids are still young and not asking for the expensive Ipods, cell phones, DVD players and all that fun stuff. But they have HUGE toys with lots of little parts. So not only do I need to find space to put these things but also find storage for the tiny parts all in one area so the toy does not get forgotten about.

I am finding that as I get older I really cannot live in clutter. So while my house looks like Christmas threw up everywhere - my stress level is elevated because I cannot even sit on any of my couches. Once they get cleaned off - then comes the weeks of living with big cardboard boxes cluttering my garage because there is only so much the garbage man can take.

I am done complaining of that.

I tried some new recipes for this Christmas season. They are:

Pumpkin Pie cake (good but really sweet)
Soda Cracker Almond Roca (yummy)
Banana Sour cream bread (the best bread recipe you will ever taste)
Pumpkin bread (a close second to the above)

I also received several cookbooks so I will let you know what I try out of those. When Jon gets home from seeing Arlen - I will have him help me link the recipes.

I hope you all had a great Christmas. I hope you had fun spending time with your family and friends. Happy birthday to Jesus! I will try to remember to be thankful for all that I have as I try to put it all away!

Happy birthday to my two favorite boys! December 20, 2006

Wishing Jon and Seth a happy birthday! Seth turned 7 on the 18th and Jon is turning 35 on Friday the 22nd!

Girl’s post December 8, 2006

Boys you have been warned if you continue…

This week I have been watching some older kids that live down the street from us. It has been pretty fun except when it came to homework for three kids. Then I saw into my future what was coming.

Anyways, these kids talked my head off about junior high life and everything. The girl I was watching was in 6th grade. She was telling me lots of boy stuff. In the middle of that conversation, she whispers to me, “I became a woman.” I instantly freak out internally. My mind went to the sex talk and what to do. (I have not had to deal with that yet - you see) So I said, “What?” She says it again.

I have no idea what to do. I want to be that cool confindant that all the experts say older kids should have but also want to be respectful of her mom and my Christian beliefs. So I decide to play dumb. “What do you mean?” She said, “I started my period.” “Oh.” I stammer out. I give an audible outward exhale. And then in all my inifite wisdom I say, “Uh, you know about that stuff right?” She says she does.

Boy, I think I rated worse than my father on that one. I seriously had no idea how to handle that. That was a wake up call - I need to practice keeping my cool.

Later I started thinking about when I would say I became a woman. I do not think it was the day I started my period - I was way too young. It would probably be the day I had my first baby and realized I was going to be responsible for someone other than myself.

So, I am done watching the kids for the week. The mom told me the kids had lots of fun and she would use me again when the next time their regular sitter was on vacation. So I can continue to gets lots of practice for when my kids come to me with that stuff.

Who’s been to the Melting Pot in Irvine November 16, 2006

I was talking to Heather #1 about her special dinner there today. It seems everyone I know has been there. I know it is quite expensive (and from a previous server’s POV - probably a good place to work to make money - added gratuity 18% on 5 or more!)

So, are Jon and I just cheap people and have not eaten there. Are we totally missing out? Whatcha think?