One more Moore

Apparently in a fog

I'm helping to plan an upcoming baby shower. I'm in charge of the invitations. I made them. All 40+ of them. Then, mere moments before they were to be distributed, it was brought to my attention that I printed them with the
WRONG DATE.

On another note, I just pulled a screw out of Kate's mouth.

Be back next week- when I hope to have my act together (and a vacuumed floor.)

Have a happy weekend!

xo

A little getaway

My sister was in Vegas for a week and so I drove up with the kids for a less-than-24-hour road trip. I remembered that I had a free night at the Bellagio Hotel that I'd been hanging onto for 3+ years (that I got back in the day when I was a working girl, and by working girl, I mean working girl).

The kids had a ball. I think they would have been fine if we never left the hotel.  I stayed here for a week when Henry was 5 months old. My Mom came down to watch and stay with him in our room while I worked and kept him close so I could come and nurse him when I had a  break. She would wheel his stroller up to one of these big windows and he would just stare out for what seemed like hours. Times have not changed.
My previous job led me to Las Vegas a lot. So much so, that I cringe everytime we even drive through it on our way to Utah. It's symbolic of long, hard days, tired feet and a job that I didn't love. Going on a vacation there has never been anything I've wanted to do. But we had such a great time. It was so good to see Vanessa and good to have a little bit of a change to our daily routines (and it doesn't hurt to stay at the Bellagio). We visited the Chinese New Year Garden (which changes every season):

and the floor-to-ceiling chocolate fountain:

And while at the end of day, I still had tired feet, this time there was a new baby to nurse, and that old 5 month old baby has now grown to a near 4 year old superman.

Life is good.

Thanks for the photo's, sis. We miss you already!

Amish Friendship Bread

 About a week ago, I received a fragile, liquid & perishable package (which I am still debating reporting to my local area officials) from my sister in Vermont. It was actually addressed to Henry which he was so excited about. That is until we opened the package and it contained fermenting goo in the form of Amish Friendship Bread (a second runner up to the 'presents' (aka pants) he received for Christmas.)  We followed the directions and mashed it everyday, fed it on the 14th (whoops one day late) and cooked it today.
 The whole idea of Amish Friendship Bread is that before you cook it, you separate it into 4 batches to give away to friends so that 10 days later they can make their own bread and then they divey up the batter until the AFB reaches all corners of the earth. It's not your normal bread- it's more like a banana bread. It has cinnamon sugar sprinkled on top (and on the bottom of the pan). I think my pans were too big which made for stubby little bread, but I don't discriminate. I'm a lover not a fighter.
It smelled good in the oven. At least I think it did. I couldn't tell if it was the cinnamon sugar or the roast in the crockpot. Which leads me to wonder why I haven't been cooking every single meal in that thing. Seriously. It's like the easiest thing ever. We are on day 2 of planned meals for the week. The first time I have EVER planned dinner, in advance, for a week. In 10+ years of marriage. I am so proud of myself.

9 months

Little Miss Cutie Pie turned 9 months on Valentines. She's starting to mimic what we do and rolling around like crazy. She's gnawing on a big soft pretzel here. Eating anything and everything and happy as a clam.

Today we truffle

It's a perfectly rainy pre-Valentines day. We had a morning trip to Target for a humidifier (coughing kids), box of legos (kicking myself for not ebaying them- have you seen the cost for a blasted box of legos?) and new booster seat which resulted in lots of "This is AWESOME!!! Thank you TARGET! Let's call everyone we know in Utah!"
 I taught a little class this week on how to make truffles. I know, I know, the amount of sugar going in & out of this house.... But, in keeping with a childhood promise to my parents that I would let my kids have candy every. single. day.' (we grew up on carob) I'm pretty much obligated. At one point there were 18lbs of truffle goo in the fridge. I actually didn't make any the night of the class, so thought I would use up the last 1 1/2 lbs. I mean they were just sitting there. Staring at me every time I opened the fridge.
White paper is milk chocolate, brown is for dark. I am all about 2 ingredient deserts. It just doesn't get any easier than that. Plus they look like they take mad skills, but in all reality a monkey could do it.

Happy Friday!

xo

3 years in the making ...

A new blog banner. It brings me such joy and jubilee. I can't believe I hadn't changed it in 3 years.

Thank you, Lyndsay. You are a wunderkindt. I *heart* YOU.

xo

Wanna make a little LOVE?

Of course you do! Head on over to the hip and always delightful Store & Style for a Valentine tutorial by yours truely. It's a super easy project that you can whip up in no time (and it's oh so easy on the pocketbook!)

xo

The return of the Frenchies

It was good. I'm just sayin'. On that last batch of meringues I made, I piped 4 large meringues and piped a rim around on top of the heart to create a little well on the inside, perfect for filling with berries. I used a bag of mixed frozen berries, added a little water & sweetener and let it simmer on the stove until it turned into a syrup. Delish. I think it's a perfect Valentines treat!

Happy Weekend!

xo

p.s. I've got a Valentines Day tutorial for ya'll so check back Monday.

Fluffy Clouds of Goodness

In the form of French Meringues. Yum. Oui Oui. Merci Beaucoup. Magnifique.  I made some of these last week for a baby shower and decided to make some heart-shaped ones in honor of the upcoming Valentines Day. You know, because things taste better when they are heart-shaped. And meringues, they are so fluffy and good. All you need are 2 ingredients: egg whites & suga' sug.

 

French Meringues

4 egg whites (room temperature)
2 1/4 C confectioners sugar

Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees. Line baking sheet with silpat or parchment paper.
Whip the egg whites until foamy. Slowly add all the sugar in small bits. Mix in Kitchen-Aid on medium speed for 30-40 minutes until satiny and looks like whipped cream.

Place in pastry bag and pipe into desired shape (I used a large star shaped tip with my bag)
Place in oven and put a wooden spoon in the oven door to keep it slightly propped open (this will avoid getting cracks in the meringues)
Bake for 3 hours.
Make sure they are completely dry before pulling them out of the oven.
Allow to cool completely & store in an air-tight container.

Mine just came out of the oven. I think I'll top them with mixed berries. Oui Oui.

xoxo

It's how we spend the Winter