Happy Birthday..........

Happy Birthday (tomorrow) to my daughter.  One of the most amazing people I know.

If you are reading this, hey, thanks for reading my blog....This IS your Birthday Card!!  :)

To the hubs who is probably reading this, but only because I set his computer to my blog as his home page, (just kidding)  you are the greatest (not kidding about that).

To both of you, I love you.

Now for the CARD.

L,

You have taught me never to settle, and you continually inspire me.  Thus, your birthday gift.

You have brought more into my life, than I have probably brought into yours.

You don't settle for anything, and always strive for the best.....Keep NOT Settling!!

You have the most amazing road ahead of you, your Dad and I will be right there beside you, annoying you and living vicariously through you........ahhhh the pressures of an only child.

Through you I have started my jewelry, and I do enjoy it.  Keep inspiring me and challenging me, and giving me those great ideas.

Through you I have learned to look closer and through and around things. (Thus, the setting of your gift -- ask me).

You are my greatest accomplishment, and I am proud of you every day.

What can I say, but Happy Birthday, quietly, not making a big deal.

Huge Hugs.  Oh, and XOXO.

Oh, and Klaus, boy was he jealous of your gift.

Below:

The L24.

In process after choosing the setting and stone.   Yes, I drove our guy crazy.  Oh, and you kept calling. 

Oxidizing, just add Chemistry, who knew?  Oh, probably you.  :).  Yes, Klaus had an egg.  Not one of these, but his own.

The L24.

Happy Birthday, We Love You!!!!.......Mom and Dad, and Klaus.

Just add Leopard or Cheetah

Leather and Leopard or Cheetah.  That pretty much says it all.  I need a little leopard/cheetah added to my leather.  Leopard/Cheetah is the new neutral after all.

Happy Sunday.

Vogue.

 Above Domino Magazine.

 Laura Bush's apartment -- love the ottoman/footstool.

                                                  

Elements of Style, Glen Eden Cheetah Stairs.

Do You Spaghetti Squash? Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs, Spaghetti Squash Hashbrowns

Do you Spaghetti Squash?  Well we sure do here, now...... And.....I will be planting some of these bad boys in the garden this summer.

All the Paleo Diets are using Spaghetti Squash.  I wanted to try it as a healthy alternative to spaghetti.  I love spaghetti and always over eat it.

Imagine my surprise when I stopped by my local Whole Foods, and they had 3 left.  So I bought 2 not knowing how far they would go.  Well they went far and we had leftovers, FYI I would still buy 2 for the leftovers alone.

Below, Spaghetti Squash and Trader Joe Mini Meatballs, in Trader Joe's Three Cheese Sauce.

Below the cooked spaghetti squaush.

Wash, cut length wise, and baked in a 350 degree oven, cut side down, with 1/2 cup of water.  It was a litte watery.  Next time, I am going to try baking face up.   Anyway bake then shred.  It just shreds like spaghetti.  I saw one blogger who, did a bit of shredding, then served everything in the squash.  Genius.

 

 

So, as to the leftovers, it was a weekend and I made spaghetti squash hasbrowns.  I just treated them like shredded potatoes, added butter, salt, pepper, Mrs. Dash, and fried in a pan until slightly crispy and done.  Then served with eggs and a tortilla.  Yep, they make a killer breakfast burrito.  Wish I had pics.

 

So, if you haven't tried spaghetti squash yet, give it a try this weekend.

 

And......like I always say, I can't cook, but....I can prepare.

 

Easy -- Fast -- Low-Cal - Puppy Chow Snack

Everyone in my house loves Puppy Chow.  Or, as I call it Moose Munch.

 

Either way, the traditional recipe with all the powdered sugar, and the peanut butter is not diet friendly.

 

So, we have modified it.  Diet and possibly school friendly.

 

1 Box Chocolate Chex Cereal.

1/2 Box Vanilla Chex Cereal.

As much as you want of the Milk Chocolate Morsels -- Or M&M's.

Some Yougart Raisins.

 

Mix in a container, pack and enjoy.

 

We try and keep it simple and easy.  You can add as many add ins as you wish.

Gray Sofa Love

I need a gray velvet sofa.  What I have is an old tan futon.  Hmmmmm.  It needs to be gray velvet.

I love the 10  12  08  in the picture below.  That would be easy to do art.  I will put it next on my list.

Now, on to the wish for a gray sofa.

 I love a gray velvet sofa.

Gorgeous.

File this under, things I want.
I am sorry, I do not have a source for these photos.
Enjoy.

Fast, Easy Shepherd's Pie

I love anything fast and easy.  I had leftover hamburger meat the other day, and needed a fast dinner.
No frozen veggies in the freezer.  So, I improvised.  Carrots, and onions.  I sauteed the carrots and onions until tender, added the leftover meat, a bit of taco seasoning.

Now for the top.  I normally use leftover potatoes, but, you got it, none.  So I went for the good old fashioned potatoes in a bag.  You know the kind, hot water and your done.

Threw them on top, baked in a 350 degree oven until the top was turning a bit brown on the peaks and served.

Fast, fun, and easy.  I can't cook, but I can prepare.

Dole Shakers -- Fruit Smoothie Shakers

I love a smoothie, I just don't like the whole cleaning the blender thing.

Can I just say these are wonderful.

Grab out of freezer, add juice (I use diet cranberry), and shake.

Thick or extra thick.  Juice, yogurt, and a smoothie.  What's not to love.

They are usually on sale at my grocery store, so they end up to be about $1.00 - $1.50 a piece.

Not a paid advertisement, just something I enjoy.

Porch -- Portal --Lanai

No matter where you live, a bit of porch is perfect all year long.  Especially perfect in the summertime, or when you want to sit out and watch it rain or snow.  For many years our porch wasn't covered, it was simply rocks/bricks/grass and a table with an umbrella.  We did build this portal several years ago, and have enjoyed it so much. 

We put in the lights around the top about 3 years ago, and they make it bright and fun. 

Here is a long porch view.

Simple globe Christmas Lights, stapled to the top of the beams.

We have several of these firepots.  Love their ambiance.  I love to watch the sunset from the porch.  Just a hint of blue/pink peaking through from the last of the sunset.

As with any appliance that uses fire -- please keep away from kids/animals, and use safely.

Summertime dreaming.  How are you getting your porch/portal/lanai ready?

Snow

Woke up to this.  Snow.  Last year we got a late snow and had no fruit on the fruit trees.  We are hoping that won't happen this year, as we want to do a huge garden, and I miss having the fruit.  We are planning our above ground garden just below the barn.  It has been a year or two since we last did a garden. 

Nothing better than a New Mexico sky.  Beautiful any time of year.

Buds on all the trees.

Here's to enjoying wherever you are.

Wrap-and-Go Bracelets -- Multi Wrap Bracelets

I wear one of these almost everyday.  Wrap and go bracelets.  Get the multi wrap look and multi bracelet look in one great bracelet.   They also work great as a necklace.  Find them in my Etsy store.  Shopshelbylynn.

 

More great posts coming soon.