Recipe of the Day

This week is BBQ Beef

Ingredients:

4 lb roast (you can make this a little bigger/smaller depending on what you find at the store!)

2 T vinegar

1 bottle ketchup

4 c celery (chopped)

2 T Worcestershire sauce

3 sm onions (I usually use 1 large)

1 T salt

1 tsp chili powder

2 c water (sometimes I add a bit more!)

Trim the fat from the meat and cut into large pieces. Place all ingredients into a large roaster. Bake in slow oven 275-325 for about 5 hours. As the meat cooks, break apart with a fork. Water may be added if mixture becomes dry. Serve on buns.

Flying Giggles and Lollipops Giveaway!

Isn't their name just the cutest??

Anyways, her clippies are also adorable... And I want to win some... and someone to convince Emma to keep them in her hair! Oh, yes, that's probably my job right?? 

Check them out!!

Flying Giggles and Lollipops!

Weekly Book Pick

Synopsis:

This clever and inventive tale works on three levels: as an intriguing science fiction concept, a realistic character study and a touching love story. Henry De Tamble is a Chicago librarian with "Chrono Displacement" disorder; at random times, he suddenly disappears without warning and finds himself in the past or future, usually at a time or place of importance in his life. This leads to some wonderful paradoxes. From his point of view, he first met his wife, Clare, when he was 28 and she was 20. She ran up to him exclaiming that she'd known him all her life. He, however, had never seen her before. But when he reaches his 40s, already married to Clare, he suddenly finds himself time travelling to Clare's childhood and meeting her as a 6-year-old. The book alternates between Henry and Clare's points of view, and so does the narration. Reed ably expresses the longing of the one always left behind, the frustrations of their unusual lifestyle, and above all, her overriding love for Henry. Likewise, Burns evokes the fear of a man who never knows where or when he'll turn up, and his gratitude at having Clare, whose love is his anchor. The expressive, evocative performances of both actors convey the protagonists' intense relationship, their personal quirks and their reminiscences, making this a fascinating audio.

*courtesy of Publisher's Weekly via Amazon.com

My Review:

I loved this, it was hard to get into in the beginning as the story takes place on different levels and on different time periods and narrated by different characters. However, once I got them figured out, I was enthralled. I found their love story to be drastically different than the norm, and inspiring at times. Other times, I found it completely unconventional, but I think that that was the beauty in the story. I've had friends who found it unethical and immoral, but again, I think that was the author's point of drawing out your emotions and making you reexamine what you thought a love story was supposed to be. I urge you to pick this up and struggle through the first few chapters: afterwards, you'll thank me for it!!

Family Fun Friday

Space Buddies! 

(insert corny space-y music here...)

We bought this movie a few weeks ago in a Walmart Easter sale of some sort and threw it in Harry's Easter basket. We finally got the chance to sit down and watch it with him this week, and its definitely a new family favorite. My hubby loved the corny humour, Harry loved the rocket ships and all the "boy elements," and Emma just plain ol' LOVES puppies. So, it works well for us. 

I'm guessing since I'm going to be in Seattle for the weekend with my girls (insert joyous escape music here!), this will get played at least once when hubby needs some "down time." (Read: computer time!)

Summary:

The third film in the Air Buddies series, itself a spin-off of the Air Bud series, Space Buddies features five golden retriever puppies who have a knack for getting into mischief. While the Buddies separated at the end of Air Buddies and currently live with different families, their kid owners all go to the same school and live in the same town. When the kids take a field trip to see the launch of a real space shuttle, excitement runs high and Buddha quickly gets his brothers and sister together to sneak onto the school bus and join in the fun. The dogs get the adventure of a lifetime when they tour the shuttle at the wrong time and inadvertently get launched into space on a trip to the moon. All is not as it should be in mission control, and saboteur Mr. Finkle (Kevin Weisman) may just get the whole mission scrapped--Buddies and all. Mission control's Slats (Lochlyn Monroe), remote pilot Astro (Ali Hillis), spaceship designer Pi (Bill Fagerbakke), and his pet ferret Gravity try their best to save the shuttle and the Buddies, but the success of their mission hinges on help from crazy Russian cosmonaut Yuri (Diedrich Bader) and his cosmodog Spudnick. Voice talent includes Jason Earles as Spudnick, a Russian bull terrier with a decidedly strange accent, and Josh Flitter, Liliana Mummy, Nico Ghisi, Skyler Gisondo, and Henry Hodges as the Buddies. Bonus features include a 13-minute making of featurette that includes some history about space travel and is narrated by the Buddies, bloopers, and Alyson Stoner's "Dancing in the Moonlight" music video. An adventure story with a nice message about family and teamwork, children ages 3 to 10 will enjoy Space Buddies with its cute talking puppies and not-too-scary space travel, but those seeking believability will not be impressed. --Tami Horiuchi

*Review from Amazon.com

Recipe of the Day!

Nacho Chicken and Rice (Crockpot!)

1 cup white rice

2 cans cheddar cheese soup

1 16 oz jar of salsa (I like the chunky!)

1 lb cubed chicken

1 1/2 cups water

Mix all together and cook on low for 5 hrs. (I cook a little less time, but my crockpot tends to burn at the edges, so just keep an eye on it towards the end!)

I use this on tortillas, with chips, and on its own depending on how my family is feeling. Harry hates spicy stuff, so I use the mild salsa, but I've made it with the hot and its super good that way too, especially on the tortillas. Enjoy :)

Weekly Book Pick

Synopsis:

Juggling the demands of her yarn shop and single-handedly raising a teenage daughter has made Georgia Walker grateful for her Friday Night Knitting Club. Her friends are happy to escape their lives too, even for just a few hours. But when Georgia's ex suddenly reappears, demanding a role in their daughter's life, her whole world is shattered. 

Luckily, Georgia's friends are there, sharing their own tales of intimacy, heartbreak, and miracle making. And when the unthinkable happens, these women will discover that what they've created isn't just a knitting club: it's a sisterhood.

*courtesty of bn.com

My Review:

I found this to be a bit slow going at first,  the story is there and the characters drew me in, but the author just didn't have me hooked with her writing. I did feel compelled to finish it, and was frustrated with her ending, but it plays out very well with the sequel (Knit Two) and I ended up being much less disappointed. I have to say that this is a book that you should definitely read while planning to read the next. They tie together very well and each complement the other perfectly, standing alone, I would not recommend. Its hard to give much more of a review as it would tend towards the spoiler section instead, after all, this is chick lit! :)

Fun Family Day Friday!

Play-Dough!!

This is the recipe that I use, simply because it makes the dough last longer than the simplest recipe. I found it at Amazing Moms.

Flour: 3cups
Salt: 1 1/2 cups
Water: 3 cups
Vegetable Oil: 2TB.
Cream of tartar: 1TB.
Food coloring: few drops or unsweetened "Kool-Aid" 1pkg.

Mix ALL of the ingredients in a large saucepan.
Cook over medium low heat, until the dough comes away 
from the edges of the pan and it becomes difficult to move the spoon. Remove from heat. Cool until it can be handled.
Place on counter or wax paper knead 3-4 times.
Store in an air tight container.

I usually try and make two colors, that way each kid gets there own, and it cuts down on the fighting. 

Enjoy and have fun!!

Feel Good Moment for the Day

My hubby found this on YouTube today. It's sooooo adorable and surprising! Made me cry, although it doesn't take much these days!

Susan Boyle

Recipe of the Day!

WW Blueberry Streusel Muffins

2 1/4 cup(s) all-purpose flour, divided 
1/2 tsp baking soda 
1 tsp baking powder 
1/2 tsp table salt 
1 large egg(s) 
1 cup(s) sugar, divided 
3/4 cup(s) reduced-fat sour cream 
1 tsp vanilla extract 
1/4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk, divided 
2 cup(s) blueberries, washed and picked over 
2 tbsp butter, melted 

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 375ºF. Place muffin liners in a 12-hole muffin tin. 

In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; set aside.

Using an electric mixer, beat egg with 3/4 cup of sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add sour cream and beat until thoroughly combined; blend in vanilla extract. 

Add half of flour mixture and half of milk to sugar mixture; beat until just combined. Add remaining flour mixture and milk; beat until smooth.

Fold in blueberries and fill each muffin liner about 3/4 full; set aside.

To make streusel topping, in a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup each of sugar and flour. Pour in melted butter and combine with fingertips. Divide crumb mixture over muffins; gently press into top of muffin batter with fingertips. 

Bake until slightly golden and a toothpick inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in pans for about 10 to 15 minutes and then transfer muffins onto racks to cool completely. Yields 1 muffin per serving.

Weekly Book Pick

This week's book pick is Marley and me by John Grogan. As you all probably know, this is also a recent movie that has come out on DVD. I finally just got around to seeing the movie this weekend (it was in my Easter basket!), but I'd read the book a few weeks ago. 

Synopsis:

John and Jenny were young and in love, with a perfect little house and not a care in the world. Then they brought home Marley, a wiggly yellow furball of a puppy—and their life would never be the same. Marley quickly grew into a barreling, ninety-seven-pound steamroller of a Labrador retriever who crashed through screen doors, flung drool on guests, stole women's undergarments, devoured couches and fine jewelry, and was expelled from obedience school. Yet Marley's heart was pure, and he remained a steadfast model of love and devotion for a growing family through pregnancy, birth, heartbreak, and joy, right to the inevitable goodbye.

Review:

I figured that this would be a pretty predictable story: puppy comes home, puppy chews things, family grows to love puppy, puppy dies. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how hilarious the writing was and how much family background the author contained in the narrative. It is a true story and I fell in love with both the irresistible puppy (Marley) and the family. I laughed when Marley ate through the drywall, cried when Jenny had her miscarriage, laughed harder at Marley at the dog beach, cried when Marley got sick, and was so emotionally invested in the story of this beautiful family that I couldn't bring myself to see the movie until now, knowing that I would bawl through the whole thing. And bawl I did, but in a good, happy, loving way. 

Bonus Features:

I found this "I Can Read" book for Harry at Target, so he got this in his Easter basket yesterday as well. He was super excited, as it has pictures from the movie, so he got to follow along in his book while we watched it.

This book is hilarious, and another spinoff. We've actually had this book for a few years, Harry was first learning to talk when we got it, and would follow along as we read it saying, "no, NO, puppy!" It was sooo cute and lovable. 

And of course, the movie. We bought it, but I'm sure you could rent/blockbuster/netflix your way to seeing it as well. Enjoy and stay close to the tissues. :)