Favorite Little Princess

I love apple butter. My grandma used to make it for me when I was a little girl. Probably the only reason I like to eat at Cracker Barrel is because I know I can get it there. They do sell it there at the Country Store. However, it's full of preservatives for shelf life. Publix recently started selling a pretty good version at the bakery, but it's not cheap. So, I decided to make my own. I tried using an apple peeler/corer, but it was just a huge mess and it peeled more apple away than I liked. So, I just did it with a knife and potato peeler. It went pretty quickly. Slow Cook Apple Butter Apples - I used 8 small Red Delicious, peeled, cored, and sliced 2 1/2 cups sugar 2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp allspice 1/4 tsp cloves  1/2 tsp nutmeg dash of salt 1/2 cup water Mix all together in a 4 Quart Slow Cooker and cook overnight on low. You could also cook during the day, but you need a good 10-15 hours or longer. I've heard some people cook for 24 hours

It's hard to believe that 16 years ago today, my life would be forever changed in a most profound way.  Always my little reader, you were brilliant from the very beginning. I couldn't ask for a happier baby. You never cease to make me smile. You were so full of life and so easy-going.  It must have been all the practice I got with these two little girls. My precious blue-eyed monster.  You'll always be my Pooh Bear, even if I can't call you that in public anymore. I hope you continue to go to new places, explore and experience new things... and meet new people. But most of all, I am so thankful that you have decided to share so much with me. Our 1st 5K Megacon 2012 Les Miserables   You are the most important treasure I will ever find and my heart would be empty without you. You have made me the luckiest mom in the world. Happy Sweet 16, my precious baby.

Happy I Love Yarn Day! I thought to celebrate I would share with you what yarn project I am working on.  Let me start off by saying to I do love this yarn. Bernat Softee Baby is easy to work with and doesn't tangle easily. It's my favorite baby weight yarn. Usually, I have a specific project with a designated gift recipient. Not this time. I saw an article with a photo of a granny square afghan and fell in love with it. With this yarn on hand, I thought it would make a perfect baby blanket and it's nice to have a stash of baby afghans for last minute gifts. I couldn't find a pattern for the photo that I saw, so I just improvised and made my own. These make up quickly (about 15 minutes each) and I have worked up several to and from work. My hubby and I carpool many days and this is the perfect time for me to bust out some squares. Gauge is not important for this, but I am using a G hook. Just try to keep your stitches even and consistent so that it is easier to

Now that the 10-miler is complete and I have taken a week off, it's time to start training for my first half-marathon. I signed up before I completed the 10-miler only because I was able to score registration for $1. No kidding! How could I not? The hubby also signed up, but his registration was $10. Even so, $11 for 2 people to run a half-marathon is incredible. On February 2nd, 2013, we will be running our first half-marathon in the Best Damn Race . Seriously, that's the name of it. We will see if it lives up to its name. Even though I just completed the 10 mile race, the hubby has not, so I'm going to start over with the training. Wonder if he will survive? He bailed on the 10 mile training, but now that he has committed to a race perhaps he will see it through. This time, I have stuck to the more traditional training plan. I used baby steps to work my way up with the 10-miler, but I had a lot more time to train.  After finishing this, I discovered that K2 was mov

It's not quite cool enough here in Florida to start up the chili or stews, but we are going to pretend anyway. With our crazy schedules this month, I decided it was time to utilize my slow cooker more. So, I found a few recipes and I'll be digging up some more in order to use the slow cooker at least twice a week. First up, Beef and Beer Vegetable Soup.  Ingredients 3 medium onions, sliced 1 pound carrots, cut into ½ inch slices 4 parsnips, cut into ½ inch slices 4 cloves garlic, minced 2 bay leaves 1 Tbsp snipped fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried thyme, crushed ¾ tsp salt ½ tsp pepper 2 Tbsp quick cooking tapioca 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes 1 14-ounce can beef broth 1 12-ounce beer Directions In slow cooker, place onions, carrots, parsnips, garlic, bay leaves, dried thyme, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with tapioca. Place meat on vegetables. Add beef broth and beer. Cover; cook on low heat for 10-12 hours. Remove bay leaves and

To celebrate National Gymnastics Day, K2 participated in a Fun Meet. It's an opportunity for kids to experience a meet without the pressure of competing. They get to show off what they have learned in class and even get scored by judges. It's pretty chaotic in the gym with so many kids at so many different levels, but the coaches kept it moving along.  There were a few kids who really wore themselves out with all the waiting, but many were really attentive to the others while they were performing. She stuck this landing, which is better than I can say for my photo taking. Oops!  Cut her head clean off! She was just too quick for me. At the end, everyone got the opportunity to stand on the winner's podium when they received their flower and ribbons. K2 was excited to see her scores. It was an exhausting day filled with lots of excitement. When it was over, we found out that she gets to move up a level. Now she will go 2 days a week to practice. Looks