Guess Where I am Going to Go

Well, I think that when I am back in KC I am going to have to go here: http://www.lidias-kc.com/

Yeah!! :-)

Anolini

anolini

This is the kitchen tool I am looking for. I would like to make Anolini and I am unable to find this little Italian tool. Anyone know what it is called? Anolini stamp?

New Year's Resolutions

So, I guess that there are always people who make resolutions every year and people who scoff at those who do because they do not want to. I am the latter usually but I am hoping that this year I am a bit different. Especially with food. I have always had a love hate relationship with food. One of the things that I would love to do is to learn how to make new dishes this year and eat healthier. I found a cool website that is pretty neat especially if you want to check your food intake. :-) Here you go: www.everydayhealth.com sign up fpr free and use the tools to track what you eat, your vitamin intake, water intake and weight watcher. I think it is pretty cool.

One of the Best Sites EVER!!!

Check out this site: www.etsy.com you can buy and sell homemade items!! How great is that?? Everything is darling!! This is now one of my favorite sites!!

Fun Facts and Things to Try!

I decided that one of the things that I am going to try to do is write more about fun things to try...and....well.... try them!! :-) For example, if you read this you may get quite a few posts about cooking and baking this year because that is one thing that I want to do more of this year= HOME COOKING!!! :-)

I found some things that I tink may be worth trying this year. These are from the Real Simple magazine:

*January 9th is Winter Trails Day!! Go out and try a new winter sport!! pg.10


* Did you kow that on your daily to-do list you should only have 7 or less things? I guess that this number helps us manage our daily tasks and actually accomplish them. I thought that was cool and I want to give it a try. pg. 10

*I thought these were really cute accessories and fun to wear! pg.38

*If you are a baker and need a cool rolling pin check this one out!! It measures the thickness for you!! pg.44

*OK, this I thought was so cool!! If you don't want to give out your number on craigs list or another site use inumbr!! Wow! :-) It hides your number and forwards calls to you. pg.44

*If you are vacationing and want to know what you can do in the area use this site. pg.44


So, try some of these out and let me know what you think. :-)

Zoë's First Christmas

Zoë is enjoying her "big" elephant pillow from her daddy and mommy, and her first dolly from her Granny Janny and Grandpa Steve.



Here Zoë is playing with her new cup that has her name on it from her Nonna and Grandpa in KC.



This is our tree and we wanted a picture on Christmas morning with Zoë right by it. :-)

This is Zoë's Christmas outfit...but it was a little too big for her, but I know nobody would care, and she loves it.



There was snow for Zoë's first Christmas. :-) Yeah!!

Zoë just LOVES her elephant pillow.

Luke 2:1-14

Luke 2:1-14

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.
2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)
3 And everyone went to his own town to register.
4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.
5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born,
7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.
12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."



One of my very favorite pieces of scripture is the angels visiting the shepherds. I always am whisked away in my imagination for a brief moment in time wondering what it would be like to experience something so incredibly supernatural. What did the shepherds say, or do? Was it an ordinary night, or was there something else a bit amiss during that night? Was any shepherd not there that night? Perhaps detained and ended up missing the whole thing? What did they even say to each other in the midst of their being terrified? Were they awestruck? Dumbstruck? There are those moments in life when there is no way of conveying how you feel in the moment. I am thankful this year for the awe inspiring things in my life. I am thankful to an Aunt who lived her life well. I am struck speechless at times to describe this little person in stature but a mighty warrior in spirit. She is missed greatly. I cannot describe the new level of love that I feel towards my daughter Zoë. How can you even begin to describe the love you have for a child? I now know a bit more than I did before, of God's love for us, while thinking of Him sending His son as a baby to this earth. I am also thankful for my husband Paul. I have seen him serve me at my worst and I am grateful for his gentle, tender, patient, and kind spirit. I see the fruit of the spirit in him everyday. I guess I am struck by the little things that God allows in our lives to see a glimpse of Him, like the angels that night singing with the shepherds and bringing good news. Tonight I am thinking of our good friends in Africa, for those people preparing to go and minister in other countries. I am praying for those people who are hurting for lost loved ones, in pain, or far from those they love. Lord, may your peace rest on them and may you give them a glimpse of your glory in their lives.

Yum, something good for dinner!!

OK, well, I guess that I need to tell you that I am definitely not the best cook in the world and I am a HORRIBLE baker... I mean... horrible. There are a few things here and there that I can bake and I am a better cook than I am a baker. All that said, I can now tell you a quick and easy dinner that you may want to give a stab at. It is one of Paul's favorite dinners that I make. Here is the only problem, I really do not measure, so you will have to do it by your personal preference. So here is the recipe:

Meatball Madness

You will need: EVOO, large skillet, 20 precooked frozen meatballs, skim milk, noodles of your choice, cream of mushroom soup (I usually use a family size), 2Tbs of flour and two different soup pans, casserole dish


OK here is what you do:

heat the meatballs in the large skillet making sure to heat them all the way through, especially if they are frozen. I usually heat them with a little EVOO. When they are heated all the way through turn heat down to low. In one of the soup pans put the whole can of cream of mushroom soup. Add to the soup a half a can of skim milk. Be sure to stir this. You can add the flour here to help thicken the sauce. You may need to add more... it's your preference. In the second soup pan get the water going for your noodles. Paul's favorite is penne... you can use whatever you like. When the mushroom soup is ready you can pour it carefully over the meatballs in the large skillet and let them heat together. Be sure to do this carefully as the soup can spatter. The last thing is to have a casserole dish ready. Put the cooked noodles(that have of course been strained) in the bottom of the casserole dish and then place the meatball mixer over the noodles and mix with a spoon... enjoy!! YUM!!

p.s. you can add veggies if you would like to this.... like.... cooked broccoli or something else that you like. :-)

Zoë is 7 months old!!

Well, Zoë is 7 months old today!! Yeah!! Good job Zoë!! Paul and I fed her her first rice cereal yesterday. What fun it was to watch her making faces. etc. She actually has already eaten a lot of different foods. oops. Paul and I really didn't follow any strick food guidelines. So far she is not allergic to anything yet. :) What a blessed 7 months. Thank you Lord for Zoë. We love her!!