Two bloggy anniversaries to shout about: John Deere Mom and Finding Normal are having blog anniversary giveaways. They just so happen to be friends too, which, as we know, is the best gift of all! Go check them out!
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Christmas Dinner Casa de Jaramillo
This year Chief and I hosted Chritmas dinner, sort of. Grandma Rose and Aunt Jenny cooked at Jenny's place and brought it over. So I got off easy! I made an appetizer and a dessert and provided the table. I opted for no centerpiece and we actually put the food on the table rather than buffet style this year:
I went with traditional Chritmas colors, but I really wanted to do blue and white - maybe next year:
I got these cute placecard holders at Michael's for $.50. I love a bargain!
These glasses were my Grandmother's. She has passed on, and I LOVE them!
Our nephew, Jackson, with his Daddy, Jim.
Jackson with Mommy, Jenny, and teeny baby sister, Caroline (so sweet)!
Grandpa and Grandma Jaramillo here from Florida for the Holidays.
Grandpa Joe, Grandma Rose, Little Chief and Jackson.
I guess that's Cheif's way of coping with all the Holiday stress, geesh, pass the bottle, will ya?
I went with traditional Chritmas colors, but I really wanted to do blue and white - maybe next year:
I got these cute placecard holders at Michael's for $.50. I love a bargain!
These glasses were my Grandmother's. She has passed on, and I LOVE them!
Our nephew, Jackson, with his Daddy, Jim.
Jackson with Mommy, Jenny, and teeny baby sister, Caroline (so sweet)!
Grandpa and Grandma Jaramillo here from Florida for the Holidays.
Grandpa Joe, Grandma Rose, Little Chief and Jackson.
I guess that's Cheif's way of coping with all the Holiday stress, geesh, pass the bottle, will ya?
Monday, December 29, 2008
'Twas the Night Before Christmas
Little Chief loves the tradition of spreading reindeer food on the Lawn the night before Christmas. In case you don't have the recipe, here it is for next year:
In a small ziploc bag or baby food container, mix:
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup sugar
sprinkle of red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)
If you use a baby food jar, you can layer the ingredients for a "sand art" look for a small gift.
Reindeer Poem to go with:
Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.
This year making the reindeer food was an activity at his school party and the poem was printed on mailing labels and put on the outside of the ziploc bag.
Sprinkle Away!
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse, but a certain Bad Pedro Kitty was drinking Santa's milk, sssshhhh, don't tell Little Chief!
The final picture of the tree waiting for Santa's arrival!
In a small ziploc bag or baby food container, mix:
1/4 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup sugar
sprinkle of red or green sugar crystals (for cake decorating)
If you use a baby food jar, you can layer the ingredients for a "sand art" look for a small gift.
Reindeer Poem to go with:
Sprinkle on the lawn at night
The moon will make it sparkle bright
As Santa's reindeer fly and roam
This will guide them to your home.
This year making the reindeer food was an activity at his school party and the poem was printed on mailing labels and put on the outside of the ziploc bag.
Sprinkle Away!
Not a creature was stirring not even a mouse, but a certain Bad Pedro Kitty was drinking Santa's milk, sssshhhh, don't tell Little Chief!
The final picture of the tree waiting for Santa's arrival!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas, Y'all!!
I hope your day is merry and bright!! Pray for our troops! Much love, Kim!!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Snow Patrol
Too busy to blog, too ramped to sleep, too tired to exercise, but never too full to eat.
Happy Day, Y'all! Now go get all your work done, hurry up, step away from the keyboard, shoooo!!
Friday, December 19, 2008
Fly By Friday: Cupcake Love
Today is a Fly By, I have so much going on, I bet you do to. Last night I made 5 dozen cupcakes. Two for Little Chief's school party, two for my work and one for my neighbor whose elderly father passed away yesterday. I thought I'd share some photos before the Friday Race that is my day begins.
Cute Snowmen for the school party, these are chocolate with white icing at LC's request:
Red Velvet with cream cheese icing for my work and neighbor:
How is your friday shaping up? Are you baking up a storm? I love all the recipes on blogs this time of year and I have printed off more than a few of those shared around these parts.
Cute Snowmen for the school party, these are chocolate with white icing at LC's request:
Red Velvet with cream cheese icing for my work and neighbor:
How is your friday shaping up? Are you baking up a storm? I love all the recipes on blogs this time of year and I have printed off more than a few of those shared around these parts.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Tasteful Thursday: Baked Cream Cheese
This is a go-to appetizer I use when someone drops in unexpectantly and a few glasses of wine make us hungry...what? It happens sometimes, ok, maybe a lot. I usually have the ingredients on hand and I got the recipe from my Philadelphia Cream Cheese Cookbook, love, love, love it! I borrowed a photo from the Kraft website, cause I forgot to take a photo the last time I made it, maybe it was the wine!
1 pkg. (4 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1 egg white, lightly beaten
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Unroll dough on lightly greased baking sheet; press seams together to form 12x4-inch rectangle.
SPRINKLE cream cheese with dill; lightly press dill into cream cheese. Place cream cheese, dill side up, in center of dough. Bring dough up over cream cheese to completely enclose cream cheese; press edges together to seal. Brush with egg white.
BAKE 15 to 18 min. or until lightly browned. Serve with your favorite NABISCO Crackers, French bread slices or cut-up fresh fruit.
1 pkg. (4 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1 egg white, lightly beaten
PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Unroll dough on lightly greased baking sheet; press seams together to form 12x4-inch rectangle.
SPRINKLE cream cheese with dill; lightly press dill into cream cheese. Place cream cheese, dill side up, in center of dough. Bring dough up over cream cheese to completely enclose cream cheese; press edges together to seal. Brush with egg white.
BAKE 15 to 18 min. or until lightly browned. Serve with your favorite NABISCO Crackers, French bread slices or cut-up fresh fruit.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Everyday Heroes: Tissue Warning
A high school friend of my family sent the letter that I am posting below. Her son, Kaleb, age 15, died of cancer and she wrote this touching tribute. Every time I hear about this type of loss it takes me back to days that were so hard to endure, I wonder how we ever did. Our own Angel, Amanda, taken from us too soon at only 19, Chief's younger brother, age 35. Days filled with raw emotion and pain like no other. This made me think of how you never know what is going on in a person's life. We have everyday heroes out there struggling to put one foot in front of the other, praying for the energy to get up and take a shower, or the strength to admit to themselves that they will never get another chance on this earth to hug someone they love, see their smile, hear that laughter. Heroes surround us dressed in regular clothes wearing a smile to mask the hardships they have to daily overcome, not enough money to pay the bills, fear of job loss and those who have to spend hours in waiting rooms and still have faith and hope to share. I have met some of those heroes in this forum who inspire me everyday, blogs like Lizzie's, Kori's and Finding Normal to name a few. I just want to remind all of us to be careful with those around you. You have no idea what kind of battle they face and it is the least we can do to help with a kind word, a hug, a smile or a silent prayer. Traveling mercies to Kaleb and a huge battlecry for support for our everyday heroes, you know who you are.
Here is the email written by a mom who is in need of our prayers today: Kaleb's Christmas Party:
Kaleb woke me this morning @ 4am and told me he thought he
> was passing
> away... As I crawled into bed with him, I told him that he
> couldn't
> because today was his party and he was the guest of honor.
> Almost
> immediately he perked up as I spoke about how much he would
> enjoy his
> Christmas and how everyone wanted to see him. The party was
> at 3 pm and
> he just couldn't wait. He continued to ask me what time
> it is and if it
> was time to go yet! by the time three o'clock came he
> sat up and wanted
> to know when we were leaving. By this time we had to
> explain that we
> brought the party to him instead. He opened presents and
> told everyone
> "oh thank you so much" and "sweet"! As
> each guest arrived he greeted
> them with his usual "hey" and big smile... His
> girlfriend was the best
> medicine... He gazed into her eyes as she sat in the
> spotlight, (totally
> embarrassed) and he gently told her how beautiful he
> thought she was...
> He even told her that he could just stare at her all day.
> He was so in
> love... Kaleb told her mother that on Christmas he was
> bringing over
> mistletoe in hopes of their first kiss.
> Kaleb's party was like no other! As he finally drifted
> off all of his
> friends and family were at his bedroom window singing
> christmas
> carols... He continued to tell each of us how much he loved
> us and asked
> us not to cry. He even got that first kiss... By 8:45pm he
> took his
> final breath! Never once did he complain! His only worry
> was for each of
> us that he left behind. What a gift! The party was for
> Kaleb so that he
> could open his gifts for his last Christmas! Everyone came
> with the
> intention of giving but no one knew just how precious of a
> gift they
> would all leave with... I love you my baby! I will miss
> your smile
> forever! Mom
Here is the email written by a mom who is in need of our prayers today: Kaleb's Christmas Party:
Kaleb woke me this morning @ 4am and told me he thought he
> was passing
> away... As I crawled into bed with him, I told him that he
> couldn't
> because today was his party and he was the guest of honor.
> Almost
> immediately he perked up as I spoke about how much he would
> enjoy his
> Christmas and how everyone wanted to see him. The party was
> at 3 pm and
> he just couldn't wait. He continued to ask me what time
> it is and if it
> was time to go yet! by the time three o'clock came he
> sat up and wanted
> to know when we were leaving. By this time we had to
> explain that we
> brought the party to him instead. He opened presents and
> told everyone
> "oh thank you so much" and "sweet"! As
> each guest arrived he greeted
> them with his usual "hey" and big smile... His
> girlfriend was the best
> medicine... He gazed into her eyes as she sat in the
> spotlight, (totally
> embarrassed) and he gently told her how beautiful he
> thought she was...
> He even told her that he could just stare at her all day.
> He was so in
> love... Kaleb told her mother that on Christmas he was
> bringing over
> mistletoe in hopes of their first kiss.
> Kaleb's party was like no other! As he finally drifted
> off all of his
> friends and family were at his bedroom window singing
> christmas
> carols... He continued to tell each of us how much he loved
> us and asked
> us not to cry. He even got that first kiss... By 8:45pm he
> took his
> final breath! Never once did he complain! His only worry
> was for each of
> us that he left behind. What a gift! The party was for
> Kaleb so that he
> could open his gifts for his last Christmas! Everyone came
> with the
> intention of giving but no one knew just how precious of a
> gift they
> would all leave with... I love you my baby! I will miss
> your smile
> forever! Mom
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tag, I'm it!
I was tagged by John Deere Mom to post 7 random things about myself. I have never been tagged B4, so here it goes:
1. I have really small hands, super small, smaller than my 7-year-old. I keep acrylic nails just to make my hands look bigger.
2. I have freakishly long eyelashes. People think they are fake, like I have time to put on fake lashes every day!! I have even had co-workers try to pull them to see if they would come off. All four of my sons inherited the lashes, go figure!
3. I am a bibliophile.
4. I can't whistle.
5. I once saw President Clinton in Madrid, Spain walking down the sidewalk. There were armored tanks, machine guns and lots of secret service guys everywhere.
6. I was 31 years old the first time I flew on an airplane.
7. I have never been to Disney. :(
I don't have time to tag anyone, because I'm supposed to be working right now!
1. I have really small hands, super small, smaller than my 7-year-old. I keep acrylic nails just to make my hands look bigger.
2. I have freakishly long eyelashes. People think they are fake, like I have time to put on fake lashes every day!! I have even had co-workers try to pull them to see if they would come off. All four of my sons inherited the lashes, go figure!
3. I am a bibliophile.
4. I can't whistle.
5. I once saw President Clinton in Madrid, Spain walking down the sidewalk. There were armored tanks, machine guns and lots of secret service guys everywhere.
6. I was 31 years old the first time I flew on an airplane.
7. I have never been to Disney. :(
I don't have time to tag anyone, because I'm supposed to be working right now!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Saturday Special: Kung Fu Shopping
Today we are going to visit the local Rec Center where I will get to work on my fitness goals for the upcoming year. I have been feeling terrible and disgusted with myself and I am resolved this year to become healthier. So nothing like a little headstart.
After that, I will be heading out for some final shopping before Christmas. Little Chief and Jackson have been practicing their best Kung Fu Panda moves in the event that I need a little back up!!
Enjoy your day, whatever it might bring!
After that, I will be heading out for some final shopping before Christmas. Little Chief and Jackson have been practicing their best Kung Fu Panda moves in the event that I need a little back up!!
Enjoy your day, whatever it might bring!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tasteful Thursday: Red Rice
Today my nephew (and new big brother to Caroline), Jackson, will be demonstrating a family favorite, Red Rice, being prepared in a rice cooker. This is a simple side dish that can be doing it's magic in the rice cooker, while you are preparing some other culinary goodness on the stove.
Our ingredient list is short and simple:
Rice/Water according to rice cooker directions: I use two to one - two cups of liquid to one cup of rice - as a rule of thumb. Mostly I rely on that measurement because I can't ever find the dadgum measuring cup that came with the rice cooker. It is lost in the Tupperware cabinet - where no woman would dare to go alone. I digress...
1/2 pkg bacon, chopped
medium onion, chopped
Goya Sazon seasoning pkt.
Salt and Pepper
Sautee bacon and onion in a pan until onions are tender - they start looking opaque -that's the fancy word for "see through" for my Mississippi kin folk.
Have your precious nephew, if you are so lucky, combine rice, water, and salt and pepper in the rice cooker. Also add the bacon and onions once they are done up right.
Now for the secret ingredient. You can find this in the ethnic food isle with Hispanic food stuffs. Put one little envelope in your rice pot.
Lookey there, Aunt Kim, it turned that water red! Jackson is so astute, takes after his Auntie in that regard! Turn on the rice cooker and let the steaming begin. Of course I got busy after these photos trying to keep Jack from tormenting Pedro Kitty and forgot to take a photo of the finished product. But it was um, um, good. Give it a try and tell me what you think.
How about you? Do you like having help in the kitchen or do you prefer to go it alone? I'd love to know!
Our ingredient list is short and simple:
Rice/Water according to rice cooker directions: I use two to one - two cups of liquid to one cup of rice - as a rule of thumb. Mostly I rely on that measurement because I can't ever find the dadgum measuring cup that came with the rice cooker. It is lost in the Tupperware cabinet - where no woman would dare to go alone. I digress...
1/2 pkg bacon, chopped
medium onion, chopped
Goya Sazon seasoning pkt.
Salt and Pepper
Sautee bacon and onion in a pan until onions are tender - they start looking opaque -that's the fancy word for "see through" for my Mississippi kin folk.
Have your precious nephew, if you are so lucky, combine rice, water, and salt and pepper in the rice cooker. Also add the bacon and onions once they are done up right.
Now for the secret ingredient. You can find this in the ethnic food isle with Hispanic food stuffs. Put one little envelope in your rice pot.
Lookey there, Aunt Kim, it turned that water red! Jackson is so astute, takes after his Auntie in that regard! Turn on the rice cooker and let the steaming begin. Of course I got busy after these photos trying to keep Jack from tormenting Pedro Kitty and forgot to take a photo of the finished product. But it was um, um, good. Give it a try and tell me what you think.
How about you? Do you like having help in the kitchen or do you prefer to go it alone? I'd love to know!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
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