Daffodils in Jars

Happy Love Day to you!  We took a trip to Dunkin' Donuts this morning to celebrate.  That's a definite treat around here because we rarely go.  They had heart shaped donuts (of course) with chocolate so my kids were in sugar heaven!  Then we took a trip to the grocery store to buy ingredients for our little Valentine's dinner.  They were still on their sugar high so that was quite the experience.   At the store I found my favorite first signs of Spring - daffodil bunches!!  Oh, how I look forward to these each year.  And they were a bargain at $1.50/bunch.  Can't beat that!  Mine still haven't opened yet, but I know by tomorrow morning they will be.

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I'm making Spaghetti Pizza Pie for the littles.  I had some pepperoni's on hand and only needed to buy a few ingredients for the dish.  For me and my Valentine, I'm making a steak salad.  We're both kind of dieting so it's healthy but it has meat for my meat loving man!  We're kind of cheating because I'm going to make some homemade croutons but you only live once, right?!

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!


"It was a million tiny little things that, when you added them all up, they meant we were supposed to be together... and I knew it." - Tom Hanks, Sleepless in Seattle

Shop Maintenance

The shop is down for a few days for maintenance.  If you have any questions or want to place an order, please feel free to e-mail me directly.  debdamboise {at} comcast {dot} net  

We'll be up and running shortly!

Baking Healthier Breads

We visited a Winter Farmer's Market over the weekend.  It was such a pretty location.  They had soft music playing as we walked up to the building and then inside they had musicians playing live music.  

They had a good mix of fresh produce, freshly baked breads, organic meats, handmade soaps, homemade soup, baked beans, green coffee beans and more.  We weren't sure what to expect but we really were happy to have gone.

I ended up buying a bag of freshly ground whole wheat flour from Brookford Farms.  One of the changes I'm making is to eat whole foods and cut out processed junk as much as possible.  It's not easy and it's quite expensive so we're making small changes where we can.  One is to eat healthier breads so I thought we'd try baking it ourselves.

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This was my first time baking with whole wheat flour and I chose a Wheat Oatmeal bread and oh my, was it ever yummy!!  I used Soule Mama's, WHO bread recipe and in keeping things simple I actually just made the dough in my bread machine but baked the bread in the oven.

I hadn't used my bread machine in years so I dusted off that baby, did a Google search on which ingredients go in first because I couldn't remember or find my manual and attempted the bread.  It couldn't have been easier!  Once the dough was done (1 1/2 hours) I kneaded it a little, put it in a greased loaf pan and let it rise in the pan for a bit and then baked it.  I was curious to see how my kids would like it but they gobbled it up!!    Next up is searching Pinterest for a whole wheat bread good for sandwiches.  This bread was a bit sweet for sandwiches so that's what I'll be trying this week.  Happy Monday!

Baby Chicks!

Unfortunately, this Fall we lost several of our chickens to unknown predators so we are down to five hens.  We were so sad.  They are all laying eggs now but typically will only lay for two years and after their first year they drop off in production a little.  We ordered our chicks earlier in the week and they will be here the week of January 28th.  The kids get so excited when they see the box and hear the peeping!

We ordered a mix of 25 Brown Egg Layers.  It was a discounted price because we couldn't pick exactly which breed we wanted.  They'll just send a mixture of some of their best layers.  It'll be a fun surprise to see which ones we get.  We ordered some for us and some for my brother who has a farm.  We also ordered three of a breed called Araucanas, which they call the Easter Egg chicken because she lays blue-ish green colored eggs!  I know - isn't that exciting?!

I can see that will be one of the highlights of my day when we get colored eggs.  Look how pretty they are.

Today the kids don't have school so we're heading to the library.  Tomorrow we are checking out a new Winter Farmer's Market.  I'm excited to see what they have.  I'll share with you next week. :)  Enjoy your weekend.

The Happiness Project

Like some of you, I'm working on my New Year resolutions.  Except this year I'm doing something a little different.  I read a book recently that inspired me so much that I'm following in her foot steps.  You may have heard of the book, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  She took one year of her life and made small changes each month that made her a little happier.  

January I'm working on a few things.  Firstly, getting to bed earlier.  This is a challenge for me because I only get a few, short hours without my little ones and some nights I feel like I force myself to get to bed.  But, I also know that I feel so much better when I have a good night's sleep.  I've been getting to bed 30 minutes before my usual bed time.  It's only been a couple weeks and I have to say I'm feeling pretty good.  Some mornings (like today) I am up before the kids and have a little more time to myself.  It's quiet, I have my coffee, check e-mail (write blog posts).  Very enjoyable.

I'm also working on two areas of my house that drive me a little craaazy!  One, the kitchen counter.  It always seems to get cluttered no matter how I try.  And the funny thing about clutter is that it seems to multiply.  Once a few things are placed on the counter, more things get placed on the counter.  Neat areas tend to stay neat and clutter multiplies!  One thing I know adds to the clutter are the kids art projects.  As adorable as they are, they bring them home from school, we have a little art show and then I put them in the back corner of the kitchen counter.  Not so pretty then.  My solution is to either hang up the special projects, which we already have a spot for OR file them away immediately.  The other thing I did was put away any appliances we don't use on a daily basis.  For me that was our Kitchen aid mixer and toaster oven.  I use both of them regularly but not every day.  I cleaned and organized one of our bottom cabinets to make room for them.  Got rid of mismatched bowls and Tupperware, old cookie sheets and muffin pans, found some pretty glass mixing bowls that I was never using and brought those to the front so I can start using them.  It's funny how much more I enjoy cooking with pretty dishes to use.

And lastly, my hope is to paint my kitchen this month!!  Yippeee!  I still have crayon marks on the wall from when the twins were toddlers when I wasn't smart enough to use washable crayons (first time Mom and all). :) I may need more than a month to paint the kitchen since it will be done after kids are in bed and now that I'm getting to bed earlier it doesn't give me as much time, but I'll get there.

The Stockings Were Hung... Happy Holidays!

Stockings created by the lovely and talented Leslie Marsh.

We wanted to wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!  I'll see you in the new year.  I plan on spending the week with my family so I won't be posting until 2013.  May each of you be blessed with health and happiness in the new year. 

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

I made cinnamon rolls for the first time yesterday.   I've wanted to try them for awhile but I've always found them intimidating.  They're actually really easy.  I was even able to do it between phone calls to my doctor's office, a fussy two year old waking from a nap and a car trip to pick up older kiddos from school.  So, I'd say they were pretty easy.

 

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The majority of it was made in my Kitchen-aid, which made it even easier.  I used this recipe at Savory Sweet Life that shows step by step instructions on how to make them.  I didn't roll the dough out thin enough so mine were a little doughy but they were delicious!!!  My entire family loved them.  My mother in law makes *ah-mazing* cinnamon rolls and these even got my husband's approval, so that was pretty huge.  It was probably not the best time to be making cinnamon rolls since we've started going back to the gym and eating healthier but we can't totally deprive ourselves, can we?!

 

The kids are happily entertaining themselves with play dough and Mr. Potato Head but that seems to be ending so I'll leave you for today.  Do something today that makes you happy!