2012-06-30

Don't faint! I've picked up a needle for the first time in about 16 months and started stitching again. Haven't worked on this piece since I don't know when. Wonder how far I'll get before packing it back up for another year-plus? (This is Midsummer Night's Fairy by Mirabilia.)

2012-06-29

Not only is this way too hot, it was hotter than this earlier in the day. It's been this hot for a few days, and it will continue to be this hot for a few more days. Ouch! Our power bill is going to be horrid, and that's *with* the new windows.

2012-06-28

Our little experiment for the day. Neat optical illusion! Pinterest idea; source here. My first attempt is on  the left, and my second on the right.

2012-06-27

Okay, so technically this is two pictures, but both were needed to tell the story. This may well be the best tip I have ever picked up from Pinterest, and the idea came from here. Cook your boneless skinless chicken breasts however you like (these were done with the Crockpot Cafe Rio Chicken recipe). Then, while still hot, put the chicken in your stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and turn it on medium (I start with 4 and go up to 6 if it's being stubborn) for 20-30 seconds. Perfectly shredded chicken! If I hadn't tried it myself, I wouldn't believe that it would work so quickly or so easily. I am stunned!

2012-06-26

I'm pretty sure that this is what the inside of Luke's brain looks like. I love that we have this basement space that allows him to make as big of a mess as he wants, and all I have to do is close the door and ignore it.

2012-06-25

I was really hoping this recipe would be good. It was a sweetened condensed milk cake. It looked pretty, and the flavor was fine, but the texture was weird, very eggy and rubbery. I ate one piece and threw the rest away. :-(

2012-06-24

Ready to see Brave!

2012-06-23

Current manicure: China Glaze Strawberry Fields. Yes, I really am that pale!

2012-06-22

Holy cow, when did gas get so low?!

2012-06-21

Lunch with Daddy at The Varsity, followed by an afternoon at Daddy's office.

2012-06-20

I "invented" these several years ago. They're called Pizzadillas. Smear a flour tortilla with pizza sauce, fill with cheese and chopped pepperoni, heat until cheese is melted. I'm sure I'm not the first or the last person to think of this, but I was very proud of myself.

2012-06-19

Making pizza dough for the first time. It turned out pretty well! Luke ate 5 out of 16 pieces, so it can't have been all bad.

2012-06-18

Nice shiny manicure for this week. This is Rage by Orly. It's a rose gold type color, very pretty.

2012-06-17

The robins have really been frolicking outside. Star is having fits!

2012-06-16

After saving for two years, we finally had our original wood, single pane, 1960s windows replaced. It should make a bit of difference in the summer, but I am really looking forward to the difference it will make in the winter!

2012-06-15

My good friend Leah. I am still in contact with only two people that I have known longer than her (outside of family, of course). I actually can't remember for sure which year we met, but she was 15-16, and I was 17-18. She was also one of my bridesmaids. Things have changed quite a bit since then, most notably the addition of two husbands and four children between us, but every time we see each other (which sadly is only every few years), it's like no time at all has passed!

2012-06-14

Best of friends. Cleo has pretty much been Luke's cat from the moment he arrived in this world, and certainly from the time he could crawl.

2012-06-13

I know they are exaggerated from this angle, but I am still amazed by the long legs and huge feet! And he crosses his legs just like my grandfather does (well, when sitting up; no way my 90+ year old grandfather could do this!). It was quite startling the first time I saw it.

2012-06-12

He's become quite the puzzle junkie, and he did 75% of this one by himself.

2012-06-11

My first scones. They turned out quite well! I remembered my friend Heather's advice about having large chunks of butter and that it's okay. It was hard, but I did it, and they turned out well.

2012-06-10

Crock Pot Cream Cheese Italian Chicken, one of the most popular recipes on Pinterest! My friend Leah calls this "Chicken Yum Yum," and I have to agree with her. We served it over rice instead of pasta. YUM indeed!

2012-06-09

It has been raining for days! Good grief. This photo is actually from 6/10, but I could just as easily taken it yesterday, or any day this month.

2012-06-08

Star is enjoying the warm sun streaming through our old, single paned, original to the house, 1964 windows.

2012-06-07

One of our Super Summer experiments. This was 1/4 of a bar of Ivory soap, put in the microwave for 30-40 seconds. He thought this was awesome!

2012-06-06

Some of the few flowers in our yard. So pretty! Sorry for the crummy cell phone picture. I meant to come back out with my real camera but forgot.

2012-06-05

Our first day of Super Summer 2012! Luke will be home with me some days during the summer, since I'm not working. He's helping me clip coupons here for a trip to the grocery store.

2012-06-04

(Make-up) Star was fascinated with something just outside the window, and the light was really nice. This shot is actually from 6/19.

2012-06-03

He used to be able to sit all the way in this. No chance of squeezing in those long legs these days!

2012-06-02

Preparing to leave my parents' house after being there for the better part of a week. I forget what he was upset about (it wasn't leaving).

2012-06-01

(Make-up) Another shot from yesterday at DH's dad's with BIL and family. This is the only shot I got with both boys and all the kids.