Cookie Craze

Last weekend was the annual Christmas cookie making day at Mom's! Shinae, Anna, Mom and I spent nearly 6 hours making sweet treats for the holidays. It turned out to be more of a Christmas candy year, than Christmas cookies.


On the List:

• Candied pecans
• Peanut butter fudge
• Maple fudge
• Chocolate walnut fudge
• Angel food candy
• Peanut blossoms
• Rosettes
• Chocolate covered pretzels
  

YUM-O!!!

FUDGE:
We started out strong and ready to conquer...










...it was taking a looooooooooong time, so we put on our fightin' faces and pushed forth...









...then we just got bored and wanted to be done...

...but it was worth it in the end!

Alias

I have always loved to experiment with my hair, and each new style reveals another aspect of my identity. I have quite the portfolio goin on...





Jane, my plain side






Roxie, my stylist side










Leila, my sweet side









Jazlyn, my sensual side










Tori, my adventerous side









Frankie, my fun loving side












Bertha, my postpartum side














Cassidy, my flamboyant side







Isabelle, my sophisticated side

















Crissy, my messy side

A Latte Christmas

Last night, Shinae, Anna, Mom and I got all dressed up and went to the Latte Christmas concert featuring Elizabeth Hunnicutt. I have not had so much fun in a long time! Shinae brought over a bunch of clothes and dressed Anna and me. She did our makeup for us too. We dubbed her our "resident stylist." (Check out how mature Anna looks! She is so beautiful.) It was so nice to get all dressed up and spend time with my mom and sisters, and the concert was beautiful! Having special dates like this with my family makes me remember just how much I cherish them, and love hanging out with them.

Pain in the A$$

Our cat, Ruby, can be a real pain in the a$$ sometimes. I'm sure many of you have seen the "Feed Cat" video that's been circulating recently. I bet most of you didn't know however, that the cat in the video is actually my cat, Ruby. Yes, it's true. I have a cat star. Since the video released, Ruby has been letting all the fame go to her head, and she has been taking some liberties. She basically thinks she rules the roost.

Here is an example: the other night, Jared and I were laying in bed, enjoying a few precious moments of cuddling before the baby awakened, when all of the sudden Ruby decided to join the cuddlefest. She jumped up onto the side of the bed (but didn't quite make it because she is so fat). Just as I heard her jump, Jared yelped in pain and clutched his behind. When his hand came back, he was bearing this little memento that Ruby left in his butt. Like I said, she's a pain in the a$$.

Cleaning Day

I was standing in the living room, looking around and had a feeling it was time to clean. A move-everything-and-vacuum-under-it, use-the-hose-attachments-to-get-in-the-corners hardcore clean. I even brought out the Lime-Away to polish up the faucets. This feeling was confirmed when Jared was vacuuming and suddenly sucked up something hard. He called to me from the other room and asked if I knew what it was. He described the location. Ah yes. I knew. It was just a small piece of plastic that fell off of who knows what. It had been laying there for days. No biggie. A few minutes later, Jared stopped the vac once again. What had he sucked up this time, he yelled? Oh, in the nursery? Under Sophia's dresser? Yeah, that was just a tag I took off one of Sophia's new outfits. Carry on.

How sad is it that I knew exactly what garbage was cluttering our floors and never stopped to pick it up?

Quote of the Day

"Chicken nuggets can do anything!!!"

-Anna Norquist

Dump Cake

This is the easiest recipe EVER and it is so yummy! It is a very flexable recipe that allows you to choose ingredients tailored to your own taste.

Dump Cake

1. Dump a can of your favorite canned fruit in the bottom of a 9x13" pan.
2. Pour a powdered cake mix over the fruit.
3. Melt one stick of butter and pour over cake mix.
4. Bake according to directions on cake mix.

As you can see, you can play with the ingredients endlessly and come out with a different cake each time, though I would recommend using a yellow, white or vanilla cake mix.

When Grandma Jeanne made this cake for my baby shower, she used cherry pie filling, and added coconut and macadamia nuts in with the fruit. She used a yellow cake mix.

Down in Flames

I lost a part of my brain during pregnancy that apparently I will never regain.
Read the line running across the top of the page in this photo (click on photo to enlarge):


Obviously, an important piece of paper. It is the form we were supposed to have notarized* in order to receive an official birth certificate for Sophia. Last night I was making dinner. Jared had some paperwork sorted on the counter that was spilling onto the stove. I was too distracted to move it. I put the pot of rice on the stove, flipped the burner on HIGH, and started washing some dishes. Within a minute, I smelled something burning. I turned to check the rice, and saw an entire pile of paperwork smouldering. I had turned on the wrong burner. I dashed to the stove and grabbed the papers, which instantly burst into flames. I threw them in the sink and sprayed them to death. That's when the fire alarms started chiming in unison. That's when Jared dashed up from the basement. That's when he told me which papers I had just burned. That's when the floodgates opened and I sobbed uncontrollably.

*Yes Erin and Brandy, this happened right after I talked to you about notarizing this for us.

Turtle Bars

Here is the recipe for the turtle bars my mom brought to the baby shower.

Turtle Bars

2 cups flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 cup pecan halves

Topping:
2/3 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup (6 ozs) semisweet or milk chocolate chips (I used m.c.)

In a mixing bowl, beat flour, sugar and butter on medium speed for 2-3 minutes. Press firmly into an ungreased 9 X 13 pan. Arrange pecans over crust. Combine butter and brown sugar in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil; boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Pour over pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes or until bubbly. Sprinkle chocolate chips on top; let stand for 3 minutes. Spread chocolate, cool completely. Cut into squares.

Wild Women and Wine

I had a girl's night for the first time since Soph was born. Oh. my. gosh. SO MUCH FUN! Me and my girls know how to have a good time! We all gathered at Abby's house for a wine tasting party! The requirements were to dress "classy and sassy," and bring your favorite bottle of wine. We each presented our bottle and then gave a toast. There was a spread of delicious finger foods to accompany the wine. After each taste, we rated the bottle from 1 to 10. Best night I've had in a long time. I LOVE YOU GIRLS!

Erica brought Axumit Sweet Red Wine (from Ethiopia), Rating: 7
Megan brought Turning Leaf Pinot Grigio, Rating: 6
Ashley brought really yummy Concord Grape wine, Rating: 9
Hannah brought Yellow Tail Riesling, Rating: 7
Abby brought DaVinci Chianti, Rating: 4
I brought Lucci Moscato d'Asti, Rating: 10 (yeah, mine was the favorite. But don't worry, it's not a popularity contest.)

All the wine, and some pretty girls too!
Me and Meg
Hannah and Erica
Megan was the official bottle opener
Trying the goods, mmmmm
Ooooh, i love you girls!

Brain Fart

Jared: "Oh Sophie, you are so pretty! Someday you are going to steal the heart of a gentlemen... well, hopefully."
Naomi: "Jared! What a terrible thing to say!"
Jared: (chuckling) "What?"
Naomi: "You mean as opposed to a lady?"
Jared: (laugh out loud) "No! As opposed to a sleezbag!"
Naomi: "Ooooh."

Welcome!

My brother, Ben, and his wife, Ariel, started a blog! They just returned from 16 days in Rwanda, and bought a house the following day! They are referring to their new home as The Upper Cove. Give them a good welcome to blogosphere!

On the Hunt

I have always had a very difficult time spending money on clothes. It seems like a luxury to buy new clothes for myself, and not something to be taken lightly. I even feel guilty when I buy myself clothes at the thrift store. So instead of feeling guilty about spending Jared's hard-earned money (our money) on something that benefits only me, I came up with the ingenious plan of asking for cash for my b-day. It worked! I have over $100 in cash and almost $50 in gift cards from which to create a new post-pregnancy wardrobe. Frankly, I am still feeling guilty that I have such a large sum of $$ to be spent solely upon myself. But on the other hand, I have been feeling very uncomfortable and unattractive trying to squeeze into clothes that don't fit right anymore.

This special birthday money will not be spent quickly or flippantly. I will shop all the sales, and find treasures on the clearance racks. Of course, the thrift store will get a visit too. I am on the hunt for new clothes to flatter my new mommy figure. (Wouldn't trade it back for anything!)

Purchases to date:
Long pink beaded necklace: $4
Adorable blue and gray striped sweater: $12
Feeling beautiful in both: priceless

(Man, I have never paid so much for a sweater! Or a necklace! Uffda!)

Tummy Pains

I need help. After I eat (actually before I am even finished with a meal) I have been getting sharp, intense pains in my stomach. It started yesterday. Since then, it has happened three times, and it hurts like crazy. It is not food poisoning-- I have had that before and this feels different. What is happening to me? Anyone have any thoughts?

Rear Window

I have taken up where Jimmy Stewart left off. I sit on my couch next to the window for so many hours a day (with baby attached, if you know what I mean), that I have become the neighborhood snoop. I know what is going on in almost every house across the street. Three doors down, the boyfriend with the long, stringy rattail got kicked out, and there is a new very Abercrombie-looking boyfriend that has taken his place. This new boyfriend has a fiery temper and threw out their friend with the neck brace in a string of f-bombs that would make a sailor blush. Neckbrace walked down the street and rounded the corner, never to return again. (I was waiting for him to come back an hour later and start digging a hole in the garden, just like in the movie. Didn't happen.)

On to the next house... Jersey (thus named because I never saw him wear anything besides a football jersey), and his smoker girlfriend just moved out. The house was up for rent for 5 days before a new couple moved in. Their names are Muscleman and Trampy. Muscleman got his name because he has yet to appear wearing anything besides a ripped-off, too-tight T-shirt. (His muscles really aren't that big.) Trampy is a classic trailer-trash woman. She has bleach-blonde hair constantly pulled back in a ponytail, a cigarette always in hand, long, garishly painted fingernails, and always has on extremely tight jeans, with an over-sized sweatshirt. This couple has taken up the habit of hootin' and hollerin' in the middle of the night. Whenever I am in the nursery breastfeeding (again, next to the window) at 3AM, I am regularly greeted by a "Woooooo!" from across the street. It is one of those sounds that only a very drunk person makes.

I am discreet in my spy game, but if anyone ever caught me peeping through the slat of my window shades...

Scones

For all of you asking after the recipes for my mother's delicious scones, here it is!

Scones Lois Lee, Becky Norquist
6 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. baking powder
1 c. butter

Mix until crumbly with a pastry blender.

4 eggs
1 c. milk

Add to above mixture. Stir until blended. It will appear somewhat dry.

Add:1 1/2 -2 cups of fruit (I like dried fruit, especially cranberries)
1 c. white chocolate chips OR nuts
Mix well.

Put 1/4 cup scoops (for smaller scones) or 1/3 cup scoops (for larger) onto ungreased cookie trays. I use parchment paper.

Separate 1 or 2 eggs and whip up the whites using a fork until they are foamy. Brush the foamy egg white on the scones with a pastry brush. Sprinkle with sugar (I use Sugar in the Raw, available at most grocery stores). Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown . The bottoms do get dark so you need to keep checking.

Cool. Wrap individually with a Cling or Saran Wrap type product soon after they are cool. They freeze well if put into freezer bags.

Time for Change

It was time to revamp my blog, and add some spice to my bloggin' life. I finally figured out how to add a photo after months of wondering. A splash of new color helps too.

That's all for now. This mama is TIR.ED. since it is 3Am and all. Nighty night world!

State Fair 2007, Day Two

Jared and I finally made it out to the fair last night! We realized this was our last annual fair date without a babe in tow. As we walked around, we were thinking about how much more fun the fair will become with a child to enjoy all the sounds, colors and attractions. Going to the fair with my family is one of my favorite childhood memories. Jared and I are very excited to make fun memories with our beautiful children too.
Here is the story of our night in pictures:
Waiting for the free shuttle bus



On the bus headed to the 2007 State Fair. Yah Baby!

First stop: CHEESE CURDS!!! Priorities, priorities!

I just had to stop and get my picture with this charming NEON GREENASAURUS!

And of course Jared had to stop and get his picture with this charming RED VIPOR! (Sounds like we are really into the reptiles, eh?)

We ran into my cousin Brian and his family: Brian, Adrianna, Linette, Audrey(in front). It was really good to see them! We were able to sit and catch up for about ten minutes. Then we were off to make a quick pit stop by the Air Force area...

...where Jared found this F16! Swift!

Then we went to meet up with Gary and Nathan. The first order of business was of course to EAT! Jared and I split a delicious reuben from Schumakers (sp?), Gary had some spicy sausage and peppers, and we all devoured a yummy blooming onion! Yum-o!

After meandering through the Miracle Birth center, and downing about five glasses of chocolate milk at the Milk Booth, we headed over to the Fish 'N Chips stand for a visit. Jared looks like a little boy, leaning into the booth on his tip-toes. Let's face it, he is a little boy!!

We had to get our picture by the Fish Stand. There is just too much history not to!

We finished up our evening with a malts from the Dairy Building! Jared got Strawberry Rhubarb, and I got chocolate. YUMMY!

We were both SO READY to go home at that point. So we walked back toward the gate, making a quick stop at the saltwater taffy stand (one of Jared's favorite traditions), and then headed home, exhausted. Boy oh boy, being pregnant really takes the life outta ya (ha ha, actually it really puts life in ya! Haha!).