Banana Bread

There were 3 very ripe bananas sitting on top of my microwave this morning so I decided it was time to make banana bread.

It took some looking to find the perfect recipe, the one that didn't call for butter because I didn't have any, but I did find one.

Once I found the recipe the next struggle was to locate the bread pan...couldn't find it. I think I gave it to dh to use for something he was doing in the garage. Oh well. So a searchin' I went for what pan I could use. Before children I would go to garage sales and hit up thrift stores at least once a week. I have a double shelf in my kitchen and I saw the mini loaf pan and thought oh I can make mini-loaves. Got it down, rinsed it off, because it was dusty, dried it, and greased it up.

They were popping over the edges because I probably could have used one more mini loaf to have 7 instead of 6. Total deliciousness!!!

"Reedism"

"There's bleed on my shoe."

scarf

I have been wanting to make one of these scarfs for awhile now and since I have plans to go north this coming Friday it is now time that I will need one. I started with 1/3 yard of black fleece. {I had looked at more interesting colors/patterns, but my jacket is white, with some red and black...decided black was my best choice. Discovered that there are so many shades of red.} I cut it in half and laid the 2 pieces on top of each other and sewed down the middle. This was nerve wracking for me to make sure that it stayed straight but it was actually quite simple.













Now onto a half inch from the middle on the right.













1/2 inch from the middle on the left.

I then laid it out and cut every 2 inches on each side.

Here it is all completed sporting it with my coat.

Welcome 2010

We went over to a friend's house for dinner and game playing New Year's Eve, but we left about 11:40 p.m. Reason being Eric was falling asleep and I really don't like being on the roads after midnight. Once we got home the kids were wired and ready for some sparklers so we hung out in the driveway and counted down to the new year with sparklers. Once the sparklers were done we went out in the backyard and watched the fireworks that neighbors were setting off. We were all in bed and asleep by 12:30 a.m.

The above picture is my favorite...just wish that Tyler's sparklers would have stayed little just a little bit longer. (It is not easy getting pictures of 2 boys together with sparklers, but a mom sure does try.)

Oh and while all of the sparkler fun was going on Dad sat behind us and kept yawning BIG yawns.

2009 review

I decided to go through all my pictures from 2009 and pick ones that meant something special to me or even something that will help jog the memories in years to come.

Starting with the center picture...the first time I went tubing...oh so fun!
There are pictures of...

my wonderful family.

my youngest dressed and ready for his 1st soccer game.

many trips to the beach or to the races.

holiday traditions and a new failed holiday tradition.

silly times.

vacation memories.

my handsome husband doing great things or just being his wonderful self.

my pink (Barbie, toy, whatever you would like to call it.) phone.

I hope that your 2009 was a great one and you have many fond memories just like I do.

I welcome 2010 with open arms.

Happy New Year!!!

Oreo Balls

These are just a little piece of heaven everyone loved them and they are oh so easy to make.
I first found the idea for them here, Little Birdie Secrets. Then yesterday I got an email from Kraft Foods and they have them there with a different name and some different topping ideas.

I started out using my blender to crush the Oreos but it wasn't working too well. So instead I turned to my handy dandy Tupperware chopper. This is a whole bag of Oreos.

Mix with 8 oz. softened cream cheese. I used 1/3 less fat kind.

Place the balls onto a waxed or foiled lined cookie sheet. I used a Pampered Chef scoop.

All the balls rolled up.

Melt some chocolate for dipping. This is what I used but when I used it all I just melted some of the chocolate squares.

All covered in chocolate.

This was the hardest part for me. I tried using a spoon to let the white chocolate drizzle and sometimes it came out looking like this...

See the big glob on the one to the left and at the top of the pictures.

Put in the fridge for 1 hour and they are ready to be eaten.

No matter what they looked like I still said it was a little piece of heaven. Oh they were so delish! I made them to take to a Christmas Cookie Exchange party for Dec. 23rd and made them again Christmas Day. The 2nd batch I wasn't able to find regular cream cheese or 1/3 less fat so I bought the fat free kind. (Target had cream cheese on sale and that is why I couldn't find the other.) Won't ever not ever buy the fat free kind to make these again. They would not roll up right for me and I had my hands covered in the Oreo/cream cheese mixture.

Sweet Giveaway

Make it and Love it is having a sweet giveaway. Go check it out! You won't regret it! I think that I will also be making a purchase from Pepperblossom Decor...such cute stuff!