Lazy Sundays

Since Ira reads now, he really enjoys reading the Sunday comics.  He's often commented that he wishes there were Monday, Wednesday and Saturday comics as well.  Why those days, I don't know!  It is cute to see him read them and cute to see just how much (or how little) of them he understands/thinks is funny.  It does a momma's heart good to see her child full-on laugh about something they've read!!

CrAzY hAiR

I must say, I LOVE having a little girl and I LOVE being able to do her hair!  Part of the fun of doing Ruby's hair though, is seeing what it looks like after we take the barrettes/elastic bands out.  I thought this hair don't was especially humorous!

Cloth Diapery Cuteness

In October, Andy and I made the decision to start cloth diapering.  I know this sounds silly, but the main reason we started using them was that we were SO tired of leaks/blowouts.  We constantly had a bucket of Oxi-Clean in the sink, which would take care of the blowout stains, but it was just a PAIN to always be stain-treating clothes.

I had always been apprehensive of switching because it grossed me out a little bit thinking of touching wet diapers and washing out poopy ones.  Well, first off, when you're dealing with blowouts, you often end up touching poop anyway, and secondly I learned about a little thing called a diaper sprayer.  My sisters who both cloth diaper were especially helpful in helping me figure out the ins and outs of cloth diapering.  Without them leading the way, I'm sure I never would have even known about cloth diapering.

Monica loaned me some Kissaluv Contours and a Thirsties cover and a Snappi so that I could try my hand at it before buying anything.  We were thrilled with how well they contained everything, and they really weren't that much trouble.  At that point, we decided to take the plunge.  I found some Kissaluv Hybrid Contour diapers (meaning they have elastic in the legs, but aren't really a fitted or a pre-fold) that I thought looked nice, so I ordered 9 of them as well as 4 Thirsties Duo covers, some Snappis and of course, a diaper sprayer!  I also ordered some Rockin Green soap to wash the dipes in as I had read very good reviews about it and Ruby had gotten a pretty bad diaper rash from a Free/Clear detergent.

For about 6 weeks, we washed dipes every other day (9 diapers don't last very long!)  (I waited a month for a rewards credit from the website I ordered them from.)  It was kind of a pain, but worth waiting for the credit.  Now we have 23 diapers.  I wash them about twice a week now, so that's a LOT easier!

Now, I'm not going to say that it is all flowers and hearts.  Cloth diapering is a little bit more work/trouble than good old disposables (which we still use at night - again - diaper rash issues)  but since we started using them, we have not had a single blow-out/leak.  At. All.  And we've had some FULL diapers.  That is reason enough for me to give them my stamp of approval.  And God-willing, we'll have lots more kids and get to reap the benefits financially as well!  (In my opinion, if you're going to cloth diaper only one child, the cost difference between disposables with coupons/sales, and cloth diapers is minimal - it's when you have MORE kids that they start to pay for themselves. - Well, that and the fact that you could probably sell your cloth diapers after using them for one child only.)

Now, for your patience in listening to me blather on about diapers, I will reward you with a cute picture.  Enjoy!!

Fiesta!

For Christmas, Andy's parents gave me a fun cookbook entitled "Mexican Fiesta."  (They know me well!)  I've used it several times already, once for a Fiesta party over Christmas break, and once just Friday night when we hosted Andy's parents for dinner.  It reminded me that I'd promised to share the awesome sopaipilla recipe from it.  They are delicious and easy!

Honey Sopaipillas
Serves: 16 (or 8 depending on the crowd!)
Ingredients:
1/4 c. plus 2 teaspoons sugar, divided
1/2 teas. ground cinnamon
2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 teas. salt
2 teas. baking powder
2 Tbsp. shortening
3/4 warm water
Vegetable oil for deep-frying
Honey

Directions:
Combine 1/4 c. sugar and the cinnamon in a small bowl; set aside.  Combine remaining 2 teas. sugar, flour, salt, and baking powder.  Add shortening.  With fingers, pastry blender, or 2 knives, rub or cut in shortening until mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Gradually add water; stir with fork until mixture forms dough.  Turn out onto lightly floured surface; knead 2 minutes or until smooth.  Shape into a ball; cover with bowl and let rest 30 minutes.

Divide dough into 4 equal portions; shape each into a ball.  Flatten each ball to form circle about 8 inches in diameter and 1/8 inch thick.  Cut each round into 4 wedges.

Pour oil into electric skillet or deep heavy pan to depth of 1.5 inches.  Heat oil to 360 degrees F.  Cook dough, 2 pieces at a time, 2 minutes or until puffed and golden brown, turning once during cooking.  Remove from oil with slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.  Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture.  Repeat with remaining sopaipillas.  Serve hot with honey.
 

Delicious Homemade Granola

I LOVE granola.  I love it plain, I love it with milk, and I love it on homemade yogurt.  I am not much of a breakfast person (especially not a sweets at breakfast-type-person.)  Granola would be the exception to that.  However, granola is expensive.  It is something we choose not to purchase, and I was okay with that.  Until I started making yogurt... then I really wanted granola to top it off.  The problem is, most of the recipes that I could find would be just as, if not more expensive than buying it.  (What with all the nuts and dried fruits, etc.)  So I finally stumbled across a simple, no frills recipe on Food Network's site that is perfect for me!  I thought I'd share it with you too (because if you wanted to embellish it with other goodies-craisins, dried bananas, cashews, raisins, flax, all come to mind-  you could do that too!)

Crunchy Granola
Prep time: 10 min;  Cook time: 1 hour; Servings: 10 cups

Ingredients:
1.5 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. water
4 teas. vanilla
1 teas. salt
8 c. rolled oats (I used old-fashioned, not sure if that's the same, but it worked great)
some chopped pecans, walnuts, slivered almonds (it called for 2 c., I put in much less because I'm cheap)
shredded coconut (Not in the original recipe, but I think it's a nice addition) 

Directions:
-Preheat oven to 275 degrees F
-Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper and set aside
-Combine brown sugar and water in a 4-cup microwave safe glass measuring cup or bowl.  Cook in microwave on high for 5 minutes until sugar is completely dissolved.  Remove from microwave, add vanilla extract and salt.
-In a large mixing bowl, combine oats, nuts, and brown sugar syrup mixture.  Stir until thoroughly mixed.  Spread the granola onto cookie sheets and bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until golden.
-When the mixture comes out of the oven, it is still very pliable.  You could add in dried fruit at this point if you wanted.  I like to break up the big clumps at this point, but that's truly a personal preference.  When the granola has cooled completely, store in an airtight container.

I'm dreaming of Christmas

I know, I know, Christmas was over over a week ago, but I'll be honest, I'm sitting here still relishing my Christmas decorations.  Yes, I know it's mid-January.  I just really, really, REALLY loved our Christmas decorations this year.  Usually, I am SO on the other end of this one.  I don't like to put them up very early because I get sick of them, then I'm ready to take them down shortly after Christmas.  But for some reason, this year was DIFFERENT!  I just can't bring myself to take them down this year.  So, you know how they say "admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery" well, documenting what you're going to miss is the second step (really, I promise!)  So I'm going to share with you our Christmas decorations.  They may not seem like much to you, but to me they hold such memories and magic.  I hope you enjoy my little tour!

When Andy was growing up, it was a tradition for he and his brother to have a picture taken with Santa Claus each year.  It is a tradition we hope to continue with our children.  (It sure is entertaining to look through the pictures of Andy and his brother from long ago!)

My snowmen collection

 

My Nativity Collection display.  Somehow in 5 years of being married, I have accumulated 9 Nativity sets.  No I have not purchased any of them.  I must have it written on my face that I love them though.  

 This one is from Mom & Dad last year.

This one is a little clay one that is supposed to be a children's play nativity set (also from my parents.)  When one of the camel's legs fell off as we took it out of the box, we decided that it was NOT a play nativity.  You can also see most of the other Nativities (they're not all full sets, some are just a solitary nativity scenes.)

When I asked Ira which nativity set was his favorite, he pointed to this one.

 

This is probably my favorite set that I have.  It was my family's Nativity set as a child.  When my parents got a beautiful new one years ago, my mom told my dad to get rid of this (unbeknownst to us kids!)  Luckily, my dad hid it away.  When I asked about it this year, Dad brought it out and said I could have it if I wanted it.  Words cannot explain how thrilled I was!  Oh how I LOVED this set as a child.  I always imagined that I was sitting up on the loft in the stable.

 

Our Christmas Tree.  I LOVE how it looks at night.

Andy and I both received Hallmark (or Hallmark-like) ornaments each year growing up.  They hold some fond memories for us each.  I really enjoyed having Ira help me get them out of their packaging this year.  Andy & I got to share with him our memories of our ornaments.  It was such a sweet time.  We are continuing the tradition by getting our kids Hallmark ornaments each year as well.  It isn't cheap, but the memories that they hold are quite priceless!  I'll share some of our favorites with you.

Ruby's ornament from this year.

 Ira's ornament from this year.

 Our ornament from my parents this year.

 My first Christmas ornament.  My mom always said she was so sad at how pathetic the "baby's first Christmas" ornament was the year I was born.  But I always truly loved it.

 One of Andy's numerous first Christmas ornaments.  He was certainly a long-awaited, long dreamed about baby!

  

An ornament that my aunt gave me the year that we were pregnant with Ira.  I think it's so sweet.

 My Frank Sintatra ornament that used to sing "New York, New York"  I LOVED that song when I was in High School (wanted to move there at one point.)  Unfortunately, it didn't work last year when I got it out.  I really wish I knew how to get it fixed.

 One of our favorite ornaments of Andy's.  It winds up and plays music.  The train goes around in a circle at the bottom and the mirrored base moves.  When you watch the mirrors, the soldiers look like they're marching.  (SO COOL!)

 One of my beautiful ornaments.  It always brings back memories of doing Christmas baking with my mom.

 Ira's ornament from last year (?) It plays 3 or 4 different Christmas songs and the toy soldier plays his drum along with the beat.  Very cool!

 My ornament from the year before Andy and I got married.  I sure do love my Raggedy Andy!

 Our beautiful ornament from my parents in 2008 - the year we lost our 3 babies.  It reads "Every life leaves something beautiful behind."

Well, I hope you enjoyed my little tour and walk down memory lane.  Perhaps I will take the decorations down now... Or maybe I'll just leave them up until next Christmas like Ira said!

So which one is it?

Ruby loves to play in her and Ira's cabinet.  (Filled with all kinds of things that I don't mind if they get into.)  Ruby's latest favorite has been the spring-form pans.

So which do you think it is?  A necklace?

Or a hula hoop!