Sippy Cup Drama!

Well sippy cup time is upon us now and it seams to be such a hassle. Kourtney isn't as apposed to it as I am. I guess it is mostly annoying because all the cups we get seam to have something wrong with them. Too big, too small, leaky, Kourtney can't get enough out.

Oh well... I posted on FB about my annoyance today and got great supportive feedback in my posts, email, and in my messages.

I am happy to say I just got home from BRU, and I got the top two recommendations....



AND>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

____Gerber Graduates BPA Free 2 Pack Fun Grips Soft Starter Spill Proof Cup 2 Handle, 6 Ounce, Horizontal, Colors May Vary____

I will keep everyone posted on how these work out for us :) And advice, thoughts, warm wishes, and of course suggestions are always welcome in the kids department :)

New Years Nails

OOOO what fun they are! I just painted my nails for new years and I thought I would share! Gun metal dipped in glitter!

Fat kid at heart! Thanks for sharing Steph!

Braided Spaghetti Bread

Posted by Stephanie on Wed, Apr 13 2011 15:23:00

 

We are carb lovers at our house, so when I saw the Braided Spaghetti Bread recipe in the Rhodes Home Baked Family Favorites with frozen dough cookbook I knew we would love it. This is a really simple recipe; it just takes a little planning for thawing the dough. It will take 2-3 hours for the bread loaf to thaw to room temperature or 1-2 hours for the rolls to thaw to room temperature.

You will need:

• 1 Loaf Rhodes Bread Dough or 12 Rhodes Dinner Rolls, thawed to room temperature
• 6 oz spaghetti, cooked
• 1 cup thick spaghetti sauce
• 8 oz mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2 –inch cubes
• 1 egg white
• Parmesan cheese
• Parsley flakes

Spray counter lightly with non-stick cooking spray (or use parchment paper).

Roll loaf or combined dinner rolls into a 12x16-inch rectangle. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 10-15 minutes.

Cook spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain and let cool slightly.

Remove wrap from dough. Place spaghetti lengthwise in a 4-inch strip down the center of dough. Tip with sauce and cheese cubes. (I mixed my spaghetti and sauce together and added a ½ pound of cooked Italian Sausage)

Make cuts 1 ½-inches apart on long sides of dough to within ½-inch of filling.

Begin braid by folding top and bottom strips toward filling. Then braid strips left over right, right over left. Finish by pulling last strip over and tucking under braid.

Lift braid with both hands and place on large sprayed baking sheet. (or transfer parchment paper to baking sheet). Brush with egg white and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley (I added garlic powder).

Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and slice to serve.

This was fantastic! I knew it would be. I mean, how can you go wrong with spaghetti and garlic bread all wrapped up into one?!

Best cookies EVER!

I had to share! Enjoy!

Best-Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies

barely adapted from Anna Olson, Food Network Canada

Ingredients: 

3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened 

3/4 c. brown sugar 

1/4 c. granulated sugar 

1 egg 

2 tsp. vanilla extract 

2 c. all purpose flour 

2 tsp. cornstarch 

1 tsp. baking soda 

1/2 tsp. salt 

1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy and light in color. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

3.  Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chunks.

4.  Using a standard-sized cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop dough onto a prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges.  (The tops will not brown, but do NOT cook longer than ten minutes.)

5.  Let cool, on the sheet, on a wire rack for five minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and let cool completely.  Makes approximately 3 dozen.  Try not to eat them all.

Christmas Pictures :) ~2011~

Christmas pictures :) Zach Kourtney and I had such a GREAT Christmas this year.

Sponge BOB... Kourtney's fav

Kourtney as Our fav Red nosed reindeer

Zach made orange Cinnamon rolls ...yum!

These last two are from today. Kourtney was helping me with the laundry...so cute!

Merry Christmas~!

Clements Castle "Before and Afters"

Well here we are ... it's time to give up some of the before and afters of our remodel.


House pictures BEFORE:

SOME of the DURING pictures.... There really are sooooo many!!!!

Whew! What a BIG project we took on.... and all with a little baby! :) Man good thing I married such a handy man! I will get on taking some pictures of what it looks like so far some time tomorrow. We are far from done doing finishing work but we are happy with where we have gotten in such a short amount of time. Zach did all new heating and plumbing throughout the house. We replaced all the floors in the whole house sub-floor and all. We added a laundry room, master closets, and master bathroom. We opened up the living room to the dining room and added a fireplace. We added a new window and french doors in the dining room. We opened up the kitchen and added all new cabinets and a new island. We closed in the Jack n Jill bathroom entrances from the master and Kourtney's room and made a single hallway entrance. Whew......

New pictures of the finished work soon!