the fair 2011

We ventured out to the fair on Saturday. I think it was the hottest day of the year ( I know there hasn't been many this year). It was slightly miserable to be standing in line in the beating sun but we made the best of it! Right Tracy? Wind in my hair and chocolate dipped strawberries!!!! The absolute highlight of the fair was watching my kids go on rides together. I can't believe how quickly they have grown according to fair standards. Amelia and Aiden were able to go the bumper cars together and had a blast. Fair highlights this year were the 100 foot drop for Dale and Amelia, baby pigs for me and Aiden loved the Gravitron even though it took him about 45 minutes to recover from his vertigo/nausea. Crazy kid. My camera battery died about an hour into the fair so I missed a lot of pictures. C'est la vie.

house rules

30 bags in 30 days

I was inspired to declutter and wasn't sure where to start. Looking around the house I made a list of a specific areas that need some attention. The premise is picking a place on the list and grabbing a bag and start cleaning and organizing. Most of the places on my list will take under 30 minutes but a few are monsters and will need a larger chunk of time. Hopefully, baby steps and crossing items off my list will keep me going!
Living room hutch
Magazine bin
Dining room hutch
Junk drawer kitchen
Filing cabinet
Computer desk
Media cabinet
Powder room medicine cabinet
Entry closet
Linen closet
Utility closet
Kids bathroom
Aiden's room
Amelia's room
Bedside tables
Dresser
Master bath vanity and cabinet
Master closet
Laundry room cabinets
Playroom
Craft room
Basement pantry
Basement bathroom
Garage shoe rack
Fridge and freezer
Sports bins
Gardening shelf in garage
Craft closet
Craft desk
Stair basket

this week end was...

blueberry picking
pizza partying with friends
pickling pickles
neighborhood ice cream social
blueberry jam making
anniversary fondue date on the deck
yard working
book reading

summer kind of week end

sesame lime edamame

This is one of my favorite appetizers from Scotty Brown's so I tried to recreate it at home!

1 package of frozen edamame in shell (we buy them at Costco)
1/2 tbsp sesame oil (I like chili sesame oil for spiciness)
juice of 1/2 lime
sesame seeds
kosher salt
Heat frozen edamame in microwave according to package instructions.
Place heated edamame in bowl toss with sesame oil, lime juice, sprinkle with sesame seeds and kosher salt. Yum. This makes enough for 2 people increase as needed.

The pukey princess

feeling really punky after 48 hours of not keeping anything down

morning after iv fluids, life is good

blowing bubbles in the hospital bed

the royal departure

This is the second and final installment of Amelia's hospital adventures for 2011(I hope!). Wednesday evening Amelia started throwing up, it continued all night (every 20 minutes) and continued into Thursday. She was vomiting less frequently but still wasn't keeping anything down. She slept through the night Thursday but started up with vomiting and diarrhea Friday. I took her into the doctor's and he felt she needed to be admitted overnight for iv fluids. We arrived at the hospital but our direct admit had been cancelled due to a staffing issue. We were directed to the ER where they told me it would be a couple hours before she could be seen. They did give us a Popsicle for her to try. She was able to keep it down. A nurse came in early on the pediatric unit so we were able to go upstairs after a 90 minute wait in the ER waiting room. They gave her another Popsicle while we waited for the doctor to arrive and write orders. They placed an iv,started a fluid bolus and drew blood work around 7pm. The blood work came back that her blood sugar was 67 after 2 Popsicles (normal range is 80-110). Her electrolytes and chemical balance were also wacky. Amelia did throw up once more but settled down once she got her maintenance drip with glucose and potassium in it. Saturday morning she woke up a bit more like herself. She had 2 nursing students fussing over her, everybody telling her how cute she was, an electric bed, remote and television, all the juice or Popsicles she could consume. She was in heaven. She told the doctor that she didn't want to go home. I think the doctor briefly looked us up and down to see what type of parents have a child that wants to stay in the hospital. We assured her our daughter is a diva and she felt she was getting the attention she deserved. She was spoilt with a Tangled  doll play set and some fun activity packs and the icing on the cake was the wagon ride for discharge. By tonight she was acting much more like the Amelia we know and love. Hopefully, tomorrow she will eat some food!

branching out...

I made Amelia a little something different from the usual dress or nightie. I was so proud of this cute two piece number until she tried it on and the top looked like a half top. Amelia thought it looked just like the princess, Jasmine and didn't want me change a thing. Darn Disney princesses trying to corrupt my daughter. I added a ruffle to the front and like how it turned out.

greek nachos

I saw this recipe on Pinterest (thanks for taking up so much of my time btw). Just looking at the picture I could figure it out and thought it would be popular at our house.

1 package of ground turkey (or lean ground beef)
1/2 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
2 tsp Greek seasoning or oregano and thyme
brown meat and onion, garlic and seasonings in pan on stove top

tzatziki sauce (we love the brand they are currently selling at Costco)
1 chopped tomato
1/2 chopped cucumber
1 chopped red pepper
chopped red onion
diced black olives
feta cheese
pita chips or pita bread cut into wedges and toasted in oven or if you are completely desperate like  I was last night I cut sandwich thin buns into quarters and toasted. They were pretty good!

Place your cooked meat on plate, top with tzatziki and chopped vegetables of our choice, sprinkle with feta cheese. Serve pita wedges on the side and use to dip into the yummy goodness!

papa's peach tree

My grandpa passed away a month ago today. I felt it was a long anticipated passing and am grateful that his suffering is over. This is a first for me, grieving the loss of a close family member. A few weeks ago I was looking out my kitchen window at our new peach tree. I was reminded of a phone conversation with my Grandpa a few months ago on his eightieth birthday. Dale had called him to wish him happy birthday and asked him if he had any advice on planting a peach tree. My grandpa had always taken forever to tell a story or give advice. Being sick it was no different but he still sounded like himself on the phone. He told us to make sure the tree would get lots of sun. We planted the tree in the sunniest part of the yard. I love that every time I look out the kitchen window I am reminded of my grandpa. He was that special.

things I want to...

can this year.
-strawberry jam
-pickled beets
-blueberry jam
-dill pickles
-red pepper jelly
-sweet pickles
-green beans
-applesauce
-peaches
-chili sauce
-salsa or tomatoes
I love to have a pantry of  homemade canned goods! Sometimes, I think it would be fun to have been a pioneer but then I remember how much I enjoy indoor plumbing, washing machines and dishwashers!

happy august

Today feels like a beautiful summer day. The sky is blue and the sun is shining. We haven't had a lot of those kind of days this summer but I am optimistic for August. We also have nowhere to be this morning and I think that's an important part of summer. We were a little to busy for the month of July and now it's time to relax and enjoy some lazy summer days. Hopefully, I'll get back into the blogging thing as well.