{delight}

just love this cake mold.
that's all.

speaking of recipes.

have you heard of tastebooks?
i hadn't heard of them until i saw my sis in law brit's cookbook that her mom made her for christmas.
they are awesome.
you can add your own recipes, or find ones online to use.
my favorite part is how personal you can make it.
you can add pictures of the food, or of the people who you got the recipe from.
so check them out and if you want to become a friend of mine over there be sure to let me know your e.mail address and i can send you an invite and we can start swapping recipes.

cafe rio recipe.

my friend mimi made this yummyness the other night for us and it was love at first bite.
it's a great recipe for a cafe rio style dinner.
it's a pretty easy recipe, but there are a lot of steps to it.
but i promise it is worth the work!

SWEET PORK

2 POUNDS PORK
3 CANS COKE (NOT DIET)
1/4 C. BROWN SUGAR
DASH GARLIC SALT
1/4 C. WATER
1 CAN SLICED GREEN CHILIES
3/4 CAN ENCHILADA SAUCE (I USED OLD EL PASO BRAND, MEDIUM SPICINESS)
1 C. BROWN SUGAR

PUT THE PORK IN A HEAVY DUTY ZIPLOC BAG TO MARINADE. ADD ABOUT A CAN AND A HALF(18OZ) OF COKE AND ABOUT 1/4 C. OF BROWN SUGAR. MARINADE FOR A FEW HOURS OR OVERNIGHT.

DRAIN MARINADE AND PUT PORK, 1/2 CAN OF COKE (6OZ), WATER, AND GARLIC SALT IN CROCK POT ON HIGH FOR ABOUT 3-4 HOURS (OR UNTIL IT SHREDS EASILY, BUT DON'T LET IT GET TOO DRY). REMOVE PORK FROM CROCK POT AND DRAIN ANY LIQUID LEFT IN THE POT. SHRED PORK.

IN A FOOD PROCESSOR OR BLENDER, BLEND 1/2 CAN COKE, CHILIES, ENCHILADA SAUCE AND REMAINING BROWN SUGAR (ABOUT A CUP, YOU CAN ADD A LITTLE MORE OR LESS TO TASTE..). IF IT LOOKS TOO THICK, ADD MORE COKE LITTLE BY LITTLE.

PUT SHREDDED PORK AND SAUCE IN CROCKPOT AND COOK ON LOW FOR 2 HOURS. THAT'S IT!


CILANTRO-LIME RICE

1 C. UNCOOKED RICE
1 TSP. BUTTER OR MARGARINE
2 CLOVES GARLIC, MINCED
1 TSP. FRESHLY SQUEEZED LIME JUICE
1 CAN (15 OZ) CHICKEN BROTH
1 TBSP. FRESHLY SQUEEZED LIME JUICE
2 TSP. SUGAR
3 TABLESPOONS FRESH CHOPPED CILANTRO

IN A SAUCEPAN COMBINE RICE, BUTTER, GARLIC, 1 TSP. LIME, CHICKEN BROTH AND WATER. BRING TO A BOIL. COVER AND COOK ON LOW 15-20 MINUTES, UNTIL RICE IS TENDER. REMOVE FROM HEAT. IN A SMALL BOWL COMBINE LIME JUICE, SUGAR AND CILANTRO. POUR OVER HOT COOKED RICE AND MIX IN AS YOU FLUFF THE RICE.


BLACK BEANS

2 TBSP. OLIVE OIL
2 CLOVES GARLIC, MINCED
1 TSP. GROUND CUMIN
1 CAN BLACK BEANS, RINSED AND DRAINED
1 1/3 C. TOMATO JUICE
1 1/2 TSP. SALT
2 TBSP. FRESH CHOPPED CILANTRO

IN A NONSTICK SKILLET, COOK GARLIC AND CUMIN IN OLIVE OIL OVER MEDIUM HEAT UNTIL YOU CAN SMELL IT. ADD BEANS, TOMATO JUICE, AND SALT. CONTINUALLY STIR UNTIL HEATED THROUGH. JUST BEFORE SERVING STIR IN THE CILANTRO. (**NOTE** WE ADDED A CAN OF CORN, DRAINED, TO THE BEANS WITH A DASH OF CUMIN AND CHILI POWDER, IT WAS AWESOME! WE RECOMMEND DOING THIS EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT "TRADITIONAL CAFE RIO")


CILANTRO RANCH

1 PACKET TRADITIONAL HIDDEN VALLEY RANCH MIX (NOT BUTTERMILK)
1 C. MAYONNAISE
1 C. BUTTERMILK
2 TOMATILLOS, REMOVE HUSK, DICED
1/2 BUNCH OF FRESH CILANTRO
1 CLOVE GARLIC
JUICE OF 1 LIME
1 JALEPENO (WE LIKE IT SPICY SO WE KEPT THE SEEDS IN IT, IF YOU LIKE IT MILD, JUST REMOVE THE SEEDS)

MIX ALL INGREDIENTS TOGETHER IN THE BLENDER. THATS IT!

K SO NOW TO MAKE IT ALL PERFECT... HERE IS HOW WE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER: FIRST OF ALL, WE BOUGHT THE ALUMINUM DEEP-DISH PANS (THEY HAD THESE AT THE GROCERY STORE, YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU SEE THEM.. THEY LOOK JUST LIKE THE CAFE RIO TINS). LAY A TORTILLA IN THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN, SPRINKLE CHEESE ON IT, AND PUT IN THE OVEN AT 375 FOR ABOUT 5 MIN OR UNTIL THE CHEESE IS MELTED. REMOVE FROM OVEN, ADD BEANS, RICE, PORK, THEN LETTUCE (WE USED THE LEAFY GREEN LETTUCE, NOT ICEBURG) AND A LITTLE SCOOP OF DICED TOMATO AND ONIONS (PICO DE GALLO). WE MADE UP SOME GAUCAMOLE AND PUT SOME OF THAT ON THE SALAD (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). WE ALSO ADDED A LITTLE SPOONFUL OF SOUR CREAM. ADD SOME CRUSHED TORTILLA CHIPS (WE HAVE YET TO FIND THE LITTLE TORTILLA STRIPS), A SHAKE OF PARMESAN CHEESE, AND TOP WITH A FEW CILANTRO LEAVES. SERVE WITH THE CILANTRO RANCH DRESSING AND THERE YOU HAVE IT!

{easy DIY t.shirts}

i love this idea and totally had to try it out for myself.

i learned a few things in the process:
1. she says buy the cheap paint...but i think she really means the almost expensive paint. i tried the cheap paint and wasn't too happy with the results. jo-anns or michaels has a much better selection than walmart.
2. don't put on too muc paint. it looks terrible. i think if you had to choose...a little less paint looks cooler than too much!
3. i think that smaller looks better. the "beezy" could have been a tad smaller and would look cuter.

i made a few of them and am excited to make more.
i used nicknames, initials, and animals silhouettes for all 3 of my boys.
i love the blue and white striped onesie i made for merrick with a yellow "M" on it!
but of course i didn't take any pictures of the others ones!
easy project that anyone can do!
instructions here.

Heather Mann Photography: {$50 off any session}

Heather Mann Photography: {$50 off any session}

{danskin}

i recently discovered that walmart has cool workout clothes.
i hate spending a lot of on workout clothes because...hello.
you just sweat in them and throw them in the laundry everyday.
but still.
i like to look good in them.
if i look good in my clothes, it usually makes me want to work out more.
danskin at walmart is actually super cute...some of the styles.
and super cheap.
you can't go wrong with a great pair of yoga pants for 11 bucks.
the tops aren't always my favorites, but so far i have really loved the bottoms!

{hooray hooray hooray!}

i am just so excited.
i opened my door and was super giddy to see the mailman had come.
i got my package from tuesday mourning!
i love my friend merrilee's blog mermag and was so excited when she said she was opening an etsy store.
so clearly i had to get something!
and ta-da...

now i have this awesome peter pan print for my boys room.
which is so perfect.
if you know me at all, you know that peter pan has been my favorite story since i was little.
the thought of never growing up is so intriguing.
so now this print hangs proudly in my little boys room to remind them to stay young, and to always have fun.
now if only i could get them to smell like the wind...rather than stinky feet!

make sure you stop by both her blog and her etsy store.
you won't be disappointed!

{little birdie secrets}

first of all i love the little birdie secrets blog.
and i love it even more now that they have giveaways!
and one of them is for a photography package from ME!
so be sure to go and enter my awesome giveaway at little birdie secrets!

bebe aulait mothers day...

i love bebe aulait.
their burp cloths are awesome...they always have such beautiful fabrics and designs to choose from.
my personal favorite is their nursing covers.
i have 2!
so be sure to take advantage of this great offer for all the new mom's you might know!

{beautiful cookbooks}

i love cookbooks.
especially pretty ones with big pictures.
my sister.in.law julie has been using the williams-sonoma "food made fast: simple suppers" cookbook and really likes it.
so i thought i would try it out too.
i looked online to see if i could find one for a good price, and of course i did.
so i bought pretty much the whole line of "williams-sonoma: food made fast".
they are beautiful cook books, with surprisingly simple, easy, really 30 minute, recipes.
they are around $18 each, which really isn't that much, but here is what i did.
just go to amazon.com and find them for way cheap.
i think i spent around $5 each including shipping.
they are all new, or just like new, and look so great on my counter...thanks to blaire's genius-ness!
i just really like these cookbooks because they are all pretty easy.
easier looking than the original williams-sonoma cookbooks.
and you don't have to buy weird ingredients.

{hooray for honey butter}

i love baby food jars.
especially the little ones.
and i never know what to do with them other than recycle them.
but now i use them as jars for honey butter!
so delicious and so easy.
and you can make cute labels and give them with fresh rolls as cute gifts...just for fun!
try it out...it takes like 3 minutes to make and tastes amazing on homemade rolls or muffins.

here's what you need.

1 c. honey
1 c. butter softened
1 tsp. vanilla

here's what you do.

combine honey, softened butter, and vanilla. beat with electric mixer on high speed for about 3 minutes or until thickened. put into jars. and badda bing badda boom...your done.
keeps in refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.
enjoy!

you could even switch it up a bit and be creative!
let me know if you have any fun butter recipes.

{coming soon}

{no more messy rooms}

my son's room is my nightmare.
i can NEVER seem to keep it clean.
and i am so sick of having to clean the whole room by myself...because conner and orion never really seem to be able to help.
but i love the advice i found here and am going to try it out.
hopefully the nightmare messes will go away!

A well-organized children’s room offers two big benefits: Kids can find what they’re looking for fast, and the room stays neater because everything has a place.

•Make a mess. Start by dumping all the toys on the floor.

• Assess and categorize. Group toys by type and then by size: small, medium, and large. Make another pile for anything that’s broken or that your kids have outgrown.

•Donate or toss. Call up local charities and arrange for a pickup of the items in good condition that your kids no longer use; toss anything that’s beyond repair.

•Consider containers. Choose a variety of containers that will work for different types of toys. Invest in see-through plastic storage containers in various sizes, and repurpose other storage devices such as shoe organizers, canvas totes, and plastic shoe boxes.

•Involve your kids. Ask your children to help you choose the appropriate storage containers. They will learn basic organizing skills and also be more likely to remember which pieces go where.

•Make storage mobile. To allow your child to play with toys in more than one room, buy a container with wheels.

•Control the small stuff. Use clear jars with lids to contain collections of items like seashells or small figures.

•Label items. Give anything that’s not plainly identifiable a clear label.
Organize art supplies. Stash paint and other messy items on a high shelf that only you can reach. For other art supplies, use straightforward Lucite or other plastic containers, which provide easy storage and sensible consolidation (no more forcing crayons back into a disintegrating cardboard box).

•Store games like books. For easiest access, store square-shaped games vertically. (You’ll never have to upend a stack to get at one on the bottom.) Make sure that the side facing out shows the game’s name.

•Systematize schoolwork. Use large loose-leaf binders to hold schoolwork and drawings, organized by year, for each child.

{goodbye frizzies}

i love this stuff.
my bestie Katy used to use this all the time and i just started trying it out.
it really is great.
i have semi curly hair, and totally heat damaged hair.
but a little dab of this stuff and it feels so healthy.
great for straight styles and curly.
and it doesn't feel "producty".
i usually don't use product in my hair because i hate the feel of it, and it usually makes my hair look greasy.
but this stuff totally doesn't.
try it.
you'll like it!

{DIY magazine holder}

i love magazine holders.
i use them for magazines of course...but also for coloring books, construction paper, computer paper, labels, scrapbook paper, etc.
i have fun brown and white flowered ones from ikea...and also some boring white ones.
and i love this easy tutorial to make them with fabric and a post office box.
easy peasy.

{rainy day toys}

i live in washington.
and well...it rains a little bit.
we like to play at the ikea play place on rainy days sometime, and i always love looking at the kid section.
they have a great bunkbed that i plan on getting.
a super cool swing for your kids room.
and now they have this rad slide.
i am thinking it would be great for rainy day fun in the garage!
my sister.in.law julie is so clever.
she put carpet in her garage and uses it as play room/work room.
so this slide would be perfect!
plus it looks cool.

{awesome cribbie}

ok.
so these wall decals are great...if you read this blog, you know i like a good wall decal.
but how awesome is this crib.
i have no idea where it is from...but i want one.

{the secret}

to super yummy cupcakes is on the box!
yep...the box.
my friend Celeste told me about this and i love them.
just get a duncan hines devils food cake mix, and check the side of the box for a delicious recipe.
you guys probably already know about this, but if you don't, try it.
just add some pudding to the mix (plus some water and an egg) and your cake is to die for!
and i know...i didn't take pictures of the frosted final product!
sorry about that.
but Celeste also told me an awesome way to decorate them...which you have to try.
frost the cupcake white.
cute a marachino cherry in half.
put the 2 halves next to each other, and add 2 little green stems.
they look super cute!
kind of like these...except not with gummies!

{design public}

uh oh.
i found another new site that i love.
design public has some really great stuff.
like these super cool kid activity kits:



and i love this dishware for my little mini men.



here's the thing though.
i don't really feel good about spending a ton of money on things like this.
i think i am going to look into making some activity kits for the boys...would be great to keep them quiet for church.
if i do...and they turn out cool...i'll be sure to post them with insructions.
and the snack set is $26, which isn't super terrible, but i bet i could put one togeter from the dollar store and make it even cuter!

oh, and i am planning on posting a cape "how-to" since a few of you (like 2 of my 6 readers!) have asked about them.
hopefully soon!

{i ♥ faces} :: adult entry

welcome to my "no flash: adult entry" for the i heart faces blog.
hope you like it!
see another shot of my hot sister.in.law here.

{ribbon shoes}

i am not sure how i feel about these shoes.
but they could be cool.
at least they would match any outfit!!!
what do you think?

{photo jojo...again!}

i am in love with this awesome wrap around wall frame.
and these lovely wall decal frames.
check it out here.

{i ♥ faces} :: kids entry

my friend tyra always enters such cute picture for this {i heart faces} blog.
so i thought i would join in the fun and enter a every once in a while as well.
this weeks theme was "green".
here is merrick, my little green leprechaun.
his big trick lately is arching his back like this...all the time.
it makes changing his diaper interesting!

{moustache}

i like this moustache key holder.
i have been meaning to get some little moustaches for some photo shoots.
i think i might just go and get some today!

{polkadot papoose}

uh oh.
these slings are too cute.
i have one that i love.
but i might need a new one to go with a different outfit right!
anyway.
check them out.
you'll love them!

{boots}

so i admit that these are jessica simpson boots.
but i actually kind of like them.

{simply beautiful}

i miss the smell of ballet shoes.
i miss the feel of the dance floor.
i miss the freedom of dancing.
i miss being flexible!
these pictures by rachel papo make me smile.
they are simply beautiful.
i feel inspired and want to try to take some ballet photography.
how cool would that be.
and of course...i want to dance again.

{gutter library}

ok.
seriously awesome play room.
she used gutters for the shelves.
i love the bright colors.
i love the open space.

{start writing}

ok.
so my good friend celeste gave me this great notebook a little while ago and i just wasn't sure what i wanted to use it for.
i love notebooks and have tons of them.
then i saw this great post over at dear diaries.
i love it when things come together perfectly.
i got a new notebook and then got a great idea for writing in it!
i just decided to copy and paste her whole entire post here because it is such a great idea.
hope she doesn't mind...


write now.

welcome to the club. here we go.
i'm starting write along with you.

i'm so fired up about writing. real writing. and i hope you are too. i've decided to start a writing club to get me writing in a notebook on a very regular basis. to stop talking the talk and actually walking the walk. i was going to start a few weeks ago, hoping i'd be the guru in write club, but i've been procrastinating waiting for your company. which now i realize is like selling blueberry cream cheese muffins without first tasting one. do they have enough brown sugar? are they done in the middle? are the blueberries ripe? so here we go. i'm simply along for the ride. as, i hope, are you. making it up as i go. pardon my inexpertise.

onto club business. my goal is to write. with my own hand in my own notebook for at least 15 - 30 minutes every day. i am aiming high. but i'm not going to beat myself up if i cannot get to it. though i'm truly going to try. no grocery lists. no to-do lists. no recipes or design ideas. with these writing exercises, i am planning to juice my imagination. to dig in deep. to give writing a shot. to not be afraid of what i'll find. to not be afraid of failure. to look fear in the face and just write what's on the inside. write. everyday. yes, it's a commitment. which gnaws at me. but i know, in the end, good things will arise. hopefully this will form a habit.

No one likes to write but everyone likes to have written. - Joel Salzman

the real writers advise to practice not lifting up your pen, to keep your hand moving during the entire exercise. you can always sift through the mumbo jumbo later. jot down whatever you come up with. whatever your mind is whirling. it can be a daily journal, it can be a random rant session, it can be a character sketch about the stranger next door, it can be details about your childhood, it can be chapter three of the mystery novel you hope to publish someday. every day can be a completely different writing session. no rules. no edits. no comparisons. no strings attached. do not worry about grammar or spelling. you are not handing this in. do not worry about who might read this. it's just for you. it's just practice. it's simple. just keep writing and good writing will eventually come out. though you may have to hunt for it among the busyness of your words. i figure practicing every day will only assist in juicing the real flavor.

so if you plan to play along, every week i will list three writing prompts to help you get going. they will only be suggestions. if you had a fabulous encounter with a mad man on the street, by all means, write about that instead. prompts are a simple way to get the pen to the page.

other write club suggestions.
start reading books by people you admire. books that have stimulating words. texts by authors who you want to write letters to and thank them for writing such glorious books. when you are so submerged in a good book, you are more motivated to write. good authors make it look so easy.

create sections in your notebook. 01.) excellent quotes that keep you inspired. 02.) writing prompts that you want to visit in the future. once you start noticing the details in every day, you'll begin to conjure fantastic writing material. don't forget them, write your own prompts down. i have whole notebooks with one-liners. ready for upcoming novels. if only my creative genius could come in paragraph form. 03.) make a list of books about writing that you have read or want to read. that way when you re-visit your notebook in four years, you'll get all fired up again and know where to go to feel enlightened.

but be warned, do not allow the set up (the notebooks and tabs and the reading of inspiring quotes and the search for the perfect pen) snatch up all of your energy. if you take too much time setting up, inevitably you will need to start dinner or make your bed or check your email or water your plants. and you will have missed your 15 - 30 minutes of madness. make your writing sessions brief but enjoyable. treat yourself to a handful of chocolate chips whenever you sit down to write.

ready, set, go.
write now.

writing prompts | week 01.
the real you. you got a new notebook? very good. now introduce yourself. use any of these prompts in any mixed up fashion you'd like to get your juices going.

01. describe your daily routine from sun up to sun down. use only nouns.
02. list your obsessions. what do you think about, obsess over, what types of things, ideas, ideals, plans, dreams, and hopes consume your mind? what are you known for? wearing red lipstick? write about that.
03. pick a year from your life. past or future. describe who you were, what you wore, what your problems were, what your biggest concern was, who you spent time with, who you dreamt of becoming, what you watched on tv, what type of shoes you wore, what you ate for lunch. dig deep and rediscover who you were then and who you are now.


have fun.
meet back next week.
with ink on pages.

{mmmmm...}

just saw this cake and became instantly happier.
i love rainbows.
and i love cake
what is better than an actual rainbow cake.
i can't wait to have a little girl so we can have a rainbow bright party!
until then though, i am perfectly content with my little he-men...
because he-man is all that orion wants to watch lately!