Christmas Cookie baking, 2010

Yeah, so I'm a year late on this. I've been meaning to post it, but life has happened.

So, this is from LAST year before our nephew could crawl or walk. BIG difference from this year, where he was running around the house! :)


I'll share photos from this year's installment of cooke baking SOON! :)

#117 — Have photos published on a wedding inspiration blog

Well, in making some recent post about my bucket list, I realized I have some items I have completed, but didn't realize were on the list. So I'm playing a bit of catchup.

Anyone remember THIS blog post?


Well, it was on my list, so I'm officially crossing it off! :)

#73 — Photograph a family for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep

This item was originally on my 101 in 1001 list, but it was transferred to my bucket list. I actually have done several over the last several years, but I heard from one of my clients from this year who was willing to share her family's story.


You may read what mom shared with me HERE.

This session was very special because baby was living at birth, and lived for a short while. The priest came in to baptize, and at the same time gave last rights. As a Catholic, it was a beautiful circle of life for this baby, to be welcomed into God's family, and then into his kingdom.

After each and every single one of these sessions, I cry. Usually on the way home. Sometimes while talking with my mother.

As having kids hasn't been the easiest path for us, it has been easy to think "well, at least you can get pregnant and carry a baby for a significant portion of the pregnancy." --- and this session hit me like a ton of bricks. This is not easier. In some ways, I think it is harder for these families. Each situation is its own cross, with a differing set of pains.

Yes, these sessions are difficult to photograph. They're even more difficult for me to edit later. I don't look forward to it/them. Ever. But I know the immense value this has to the families, and that is worth more than any discomfort I might feel.

Lazy laundry

I was talking with my sister last night, and she said "I'm using your easy way to clean the microwave! It's so easy!"

Which is why I thought I'd share another lazy way to do household tasks (sounds nicer than chores, eh?).*

LAUNDRY:

Let me back up to when we were little. Friday afternoon was when we'd sort laundry. We'd all take our basket into mom and dad's room, dump it on the bed and sort into piles: whites and colors. I'm the oldest of four, and have 2 younger brothers. When I was in high school, I was sick of wading through everyone else's dirty laundry, so I started doing my own. Solution!

This "lazy laundry" way started when we were married. I had a basket or two and Erik has a monster basket (read: it's actually an outdoor trash can that's monster-sized and has been with him since college, but he won't part with it, so I had to find a way to live with it). We had ample baskets, so why not pre-sort?

I have 3 baskets and 1 pile in the laundry area of our closet. It's actually not pictured here, but the very last picture in the post, the laundry baskets sit in a little nook just to the right. So, we have our 3 baskets and 1 pile.

Biggest basket (Erik's essential trash can): colored clothes/jeans
Medium basket: whites. socks/undershirts
Small basket: Karen's colorful socks/undies
Pile: Karen's delicates/nice shirts

This way, if I need something SPECIFIC (I'm out of undies), I don't have to sort through the ENTIRE pile to nab enough for a load. It's all there!

I shared this with Robin a few weeks ago, and I swear, she freaked out in excitement. Which is why I thought I'd share this with you.

Now, I also read in a magazine somewhere (maybe Better Homes & Gardens?) that for families w/ little kids, using those mesh bags for delicates is a great way to launder kids' socks. Just have a little clip or hang it close to their laundry basket and have them throw dirty socks in there. So during/after the laundry process, they're easier to find (read: maybe you'll loose less of them). I've never tried this, but it seems smart to me.


*I'm sure you now think I'm the laziest housekeeper on the planet, but I find if things are simplified/quick and easy, I don't have as many excuses to NOT do them. Which is why I've come up with a few of these things. Use them ... or not. If you're a highly motivated person and don't need my lazy ways, you rock! For the rest of us who might find ourselves in a funk about house tasks, I am happy to help share inspiration! :)

# 119 — Decide on a color; paint the middle bedroom

Holla!!!!! The middle bedroom has been painted! Yes, I know there's a paint drip in the corner; I still have to paint the trim, so we're in good shape.

Orange, you say?

Yes, ORANGE. It seems fun + energetic ... and I'm digging it. Erik wanted to go more salmon, but once the walls were painted, this was EXACTLY what I envisioned.

This is where our nephew stays when he comes to hang with us, so I wanted it to be vibrant, fun and energetic. All words to describe Theodore. See? We even have a photo of him for the wall! (you can read about the frame project HERE). It's going to be KILLER on the orange walls!


Before anyone completely freaks out and thinks I've gone off of the deep end with my color selection, I want to remind you of what the room looks like (see above). There is nearly a FULL wall of built-ins on one of the long walls (left side of above photo). These built-ins will be painted white. I'm going to paint them with the trim, and they're not done yet, which is why I don't have a photo to share. But with all of the white, it helps to balance the room. Plus, the room is fairly large (about 12x18, I think). Before the addition was put on the back, I guess this room was considered the "master" bedroom. So it can handle the more bold color choice.

I was prepared to put in a chair rail and paint the bottom of the room white if the orange was too strong, but we agree it looks great!


I found these little owls at Bath & Body Works. They're super cute! I know the intention is to put candles in them, but here, they're nesting on the shelf above the desk. See how cute they look with the orange wall?

Garrison Keillor is comin' to town!

I hardly know where to begin the story of my relationship with Garrison Keillor.


Perhaps my first introduction was a quirky composition instructor in college. He had a tape and played several of the Lake Woebegone stories for us.

It was during my college years that I started listening to NPR. I was in a photojournalism class, and the instructor would give us weekly news quizzes. Since I was (admittedly) too lazy to read the paper (terrible for a journalism major, I know!), I listened to NPR to get the general feel of what was happening on the national and international level. I must have eventually run into the show. And loved it. :)

This is a great little story. Erik and I were going to KC. I was going to meet his parents for the first time. BIG deal! Right? It was. Of course, after we'd made our plans and all, I found out Garrison Keillor was doing a show. That night. IN KC. I made the BIGGEST case to Erik about why I should go. He must have thought I was trying to make excuses about not meeting his parents. It honestly wasn't that. I was excited to meet them. But couldn't I meet them AFTER the show? No such luck.

I pouted a little, but we had a lovely dinner and I liked them enough to marry their son.

Maybe it was last year and we were talking about that weekend. Erik said to me 'I didn't realize how much you liked him then; if I did, I would have realized what a big sacrifice it was for you to not go to see him.'

Last night Erik came home from work with a paper in hand. This is a bit unusual, so I knew something good must be in it. AND THERE WAS. Garrison Keillor is coming to town on April 24 (info HERE). :) I'm so excited! It won't be a live show/taped for a show, but I could listen to that man read the phone book.

I'm going to add seeing him in his home theater in Minnesota to my bucket list, but for the time being, I'll settle for him coming to OUR Home Town. :)

Corn Bread Dressing

Oh.My.Goodness.

I'm in love with this recipe. It's been a long time since I've had dressing or stuffing of any sort. Mainly b/c there's bread in it, and there is usually yeast + sugar in bread. But I came across THIS recipe for Corn Bread Dressing and wanted to try it. There was no sugar in the corn bread and none in the rest of the ingredient list. (I actually added about 1/2 c. dried cranberries to it, to give it a little sweetness, but it would be good w/o that).

Wow. That's it. Wow.

I think StoveTop Stuffing must use corn bread in their dressing. It was really good. I suggest giving it a try. It's really good with chicken, too.

****Be sure to scroll down for his cornbread recipe ... it's AMAZING! It's so moist + sponge-like. Really tasty. Unbelievable. I suspect it has to do w/ using buttermilk.

Roasted veggies w/ chickpeas

Thanks to my friend, Sarah, I've been trying to branch out and use items I wouldn't ordinarily use in recipes.


Case in point: I came across THIS recipe for roasted veggies + chickpeas and decided to give it a spin.

Not only did it smell wonderful when cooking, but it was really tasty! Absolutely worth a try!

Lazy way to clean the microwave

I think I picked this up from a college friend. Ready for an easy way to clean your microwave?

1. Put water in a measuring cup or bowl. Add lemon juice* if you like.

2. Microwave for 3-5 minutes. You'll want the water to boil/steam.

3. Wipe the inside of the microwave down, starting at the top. (the steam loosens the junkity-junk up, and it's really easy to wipe down).

*lemon juice isn't essential. It just makes it smell extra nice if that's important to you.

Future hot rod?

Hold on to your estrogen, ladies! There's going to be plenty of testosterone (read: car stuff) in this post. There are a few photo tips/notes hidden in here, though.

My father-in-law restores classic cars, and over Labor Day, Theodore checked them out.





(no flash here).


{I forced my camera to flash here ... if you have glass, don't take a flash photo straight-on ... stand a bit off to an angle).