Just Window Shopping

 I love to go window shopping on Pinterest.  I'm such a visual person (please don't tell me you are in the bathtub while we're talking on the phone!)- that just seeing beautiful pictures and ideas are pure eye candy for me.  Here's a few ideas I like:

I love everything about this simple favor.  Always enough to make me break out my sewing machine....  ideas from The 36th Avenue

 I love this idea of putting all your Christmas cards on a ring for easy viewing

 beautiful white kitchen from pinkpeonies.com

 the ice lantern is from Oh My! Creative

 

the darling candy wrappers are from fefifofamma.com

 
love these meatballs with a star cut out on top!  From Recipes and Me

 darling cupcakes with trees on top- from Cuded Art and Design

 
and finally-

Trying "Pins"

 Truly, I have the ugliest feet in the world- PLUS I have summer feet- meaning I'm in thongs constantly, I mean flip-flops....so the feet are calloused and cracking.  So you can imagine how this claim caught my attention.

 

The claim:  This is crazy. Mix 1/4 cup Listerine (any kind but the pinner likes the blue but DON'T do that cause it makes your feet blue!), 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup of warm water. Soak feet for 10 minutes and when you take them out... the dead skin will practically wipe off.

My results:  first of all, 1/4 plus 1/4 plus 1/2 isn't enough of anything to soak my feet in.  I 4-timed this recipe.  Also, you are adding the warm water to cold vinegar and mouthwash so the foot soak was cold.  Next time I will heat the vinegar and make the water hot.

Because there WILL be a next time.  This was absolutely amazing.  I used a pumice stone and it really worked great.  This will be a part of my weekly routine forever.  It's a winner.



Last night I went over to one of my BFF's Brendalyn.  She had made roasted tomatoes for her hubby's dinner and made me a plate.  I had forgotten how much I loved them...and made then for myself this morning for breakfast!  So easy and a good way to eat that zucchini that neighbors are leaving on your door step in the middle of the night...teamed with those luscious tomatoes growing on your vines.

Slice your zucchini in about 1/4 inch slices.  Put a little olive oil in a pan and cook for a few minutes on one side.  Meanwhile, slices a few fresh onion rings and go ahead and saute them as well.  They are my favorite flavor here.  I actually sprinkled a few of my favorite herbs on top as well.

 

Put a slice of tomato on top of the zucchini, then top with sauteed onions and some grated cheese.  I used Romano but Parmesan or a soft cheese would be good too.  Presto!  A delicious side or, in my case, the perfect breakfast! 

 

S'mores seem to be the rage and my love is no exception.  Saw these s'more cups pinned and had to make them up.  You can tell they were freshly dipped in chocolate and haven't set up yet.  These are so quick and easy to do.     (I like the s'more bars better but they aren't as quick so these will do just fine.  Both recipes on the cooking blog.)

 

 

 

 

Another tip I've been meaning to try out is cooking corn, husks and all in the microwave.  You place the whole ear of corn in the microwave for 4 minutes. 

 

 
 
 
 
Then let it rest for two minutes.  I guess it was hard work there in the microwave!  Then cut off the end of the corn- making sure you get into the kernels.  The cob is suppose to slide right out, without silk.  Mine actually didn't want to slide out so I just unwrapped it and it was almost silk-free.  Definitely a great way to do corn especially if you're just cooking for 2 or 3 people like me.

Which brings me to the most important part.  I've shared this before but here it is again.  If you happen to watch "Back to the Future"- there is a scene where the family is sitting around the dinner table.  They are having corn on the cob and everyone butters their bread, then rolls the hot corn in the buttered bread.  I remember the theater laughing...and I couldn't figure out why since that was how I grew up buttering my corn as well.  I love the bread afterwards as well- a little moist and buttery.

 
What in the name of corn on the cob is goin' on around here? Because of Winn-Dixie

Bon Appetit dinner and the (ugh) debates

 

 

 

 

 

 

We went last week to the Cook's for our Bon Appetit dinner...and one of the recipes Valene (who I call my favorite chef) served was a soup from Bon Appetit. Yesterday Valene called to ask me what my favorite soups were...since she is hosting a Halloween dinner for her kids...and I immediately said, "the soup you just fed us for dinner at your house!" It really is a 5-star recipe. (as good as the soup at the Blue Lemon!)  It was my assignment to take dessert....and I finally broke down and took a "pin-sensation."  But I have to tell you, I was a titch disappointed, it was 4-star instead of 5...but I added an ingredient that gave it an extra umph!  Everyone loved it.  Check out the recipes on the cooking blog.

www.constantgrowingamazementcooks.blogspot.com

We had a great time with the Cooks.  We had a fabulous dinner (shrimp from that shrimp shack in Hawaii...I can't remember the name, delish salad, homemade artisan bread, butternut squash and apple soup. We watched the last of the presidential debate (which just made Valene and I cranky) then the guys beat us in Hand and Foot.  Dessert kind of cheered us up......

Kiddo Fun

 I've decided that each week I'd share projects I've done that I've pinned from Pinterest.  No use pinning if you're not going to do some.  Recently I posted several recipes from my Gotta Try This! category.   Now this is a fun project I  posted to my Kiddo Fun category.  First of all I printed full size pictures of the kiddos.  Then (heart be still) I laminated them, both sides, so they'll last.  (I always have a box of C-line 8 x 10 laminating sheets on hand that I order from Amazon. You can get them from Xpedex in SL. You know me and my lamination addiction....)  Then I hauled out the dry erase markers (putting those on my next shopping list since we about used them up today!)  Earlier today I had Sadie here....she LOVED it.  We colored forever.

Then this afternoon Heidi, Elijah and Noah are here.  I love their creations!

Noah loved to scribble and eat cookies at the same time.

Sadie Jo is always in a princess dress.  It helps her coloring too. 

When you're done, you just erase them off.
Such a fun project with the kiddos!  Try it!  You'll love it!