Snow Time!

I will start with saying this.....we have not had much snow this year and I couldn't be happier!  I am not a fan of the snow.....I don't like to drive in it, I don't like thinking about anyone I love driving in it, and this year I hate seeing my little man CRY because he has to come in from the snow!

Riley LOVES to play in the snow, but everytime we bring him in, it results in at least a 10 minute melt down because he wants to "play snow!" 

I do want to take him sleeding if we get another snow this year.  We don't have a hill at someone's house to use so we will have to go to a park. The thought of getting us all bundled up and driving to the park to be there for 5 minutes doesn't sound like much fun, but it may happen if we don't get some decent temps when there is snow on the ground!

Anyways....we do live in Illinois so I guess we just have to deal with it when it is here!

Here are some pictures of Riley's snow adventures.  ENJOY!

If we do get to take him sleeding this year I will be sure to post some pictures of it!

Tara

Shedd Aquarium

A few weekends ago we had the chance to take Riley to the Shedd Aquarium with my mom's family. We had a total of 12 people in our group!  We piled into two cars and headed up to the big city.  It was fun to take Riley and Cooper to do something together.  They don't see each other too often, but seemed to have a great time. 

Hopefully we get a chance to go again sometime....maybe when it is a little warmer!  :)

Tara

Shrimp Beignets!

Wow!  Our dinner tonight was amazing!  So yummy that I am probably going to regret buying that box of popcorn shirmp this week at the grocery store.  We had Shrimp Beignets and I highly reccommend you try them.  We did not make the sauce for them, just used some cocktail sauce.  Probably not the healthiest dinner, but no one said we were trying to be healthier!  :)  Kyle said I did good AGAIN!  2012 is going pretty good so far!

TRY THEM!

Tara

Shrimp Scampi

Last week we made a new shrimp scampi recipe.  It isn't from Red Lobster, but it turned out pretty good.  Not gonna lie, as I was making it I was a little worried.  Now that I think about it....this seems to happen alot when I am cooking!  :)  Anyways....the sauce was supposed to thicken...and it wasn't.  In the end I don't think it thickened like it should, but the flavor was amazing!  We will be making this shrimp scampi again!  FYI--If you are looking to make it a little healthier...we didn't think it needed all the butter the recipe called for.

Try it....you will love it!

Tara

New Year = Organization!

Now that we have the crazy holiday season past us, we have had some free time for some organization.  I have been meaning to clean out our spare bedroom closet for probably about 4 months.  It was much needed!  I should have taken before and after pictures, but this is the after picture and it is a HUGE improvement!  And the pile to the right will be going in an under the bed bin once I buy one!

After getting that closet cleaned up, I was in the mood to spring clean!  So we continued on with Riley's closet and our closet!  My wonderful husband even installed shoe racks in our closet! 

And we even had some time to get the crawl space cleaned out!  We just cleaned it out back in October, but somehow with the busy holiday season it got very cluttered and needed a spring cleaning too!  I don't have a picture, but trust me; it looks 100% better!

I think I like to do my "spring" cleaning in the winter because who wants to be in the house cleaning in the spring!?!

Happy cleaning!!

Tara

Wool Dryer Balls.....Ah-mazing!

So apparently I am turning into a "green" freak.  While researching training pants for Riley on the internet I came acorss Wool Dryer Balls. 

I thought they sounded so neat!  The thought of not having to remember, "did I already put the dryer sheet in?" or "do I still need to put the dyer sheet in?"  You put these fun bright colored balls in the dryer and LEAVE them.....for years!  On lady said she has had hers for 8 years and they are still going strong! I paid $23 (including shipping) for 4 of them.  I wasn't sure this would be enough, but thought....why would they sell just 4 if it wasn't enough?  They said you can use anywhere from 2-12!  The more you use the better they work.  I figured I would start with 4 and if I liked them....I could add them to my Christmas list next year!  I ordered them earlier this week and luckily they arrived on a day when I was doing Riley's laundry; so of course....I threw them in!!  To my delight....they worked like a charm!  Riley's clothes had less static in them then when I use a dryer sheet.  And it is supposed to cut down on the drying time too!  Since I have only used them once I haven't confirmed that, but either way....I am totally excited!

Check them out!  And ENJOY!

Tara

White Cheddar Chicken Pasta

It wasn't perfect, but I would say it was a success!  The recipe said to make the chicken, noodles, and then the sauce for it all seperate.  The chicken was complete and moved to a plate and covered with foil...just like they said. The noodles were easy, but complete before the sauce.  I put some butter on them and covered so they wouldn't stick (might have been a mistake). It said to make the sauce mixture in a large skillet.  After adding the ingrediants it was supposed to thicken.....it never really did.  In the end, we just threw in the chicken and noodles and mixed it up.  When we ate it the noodles and chicken were covered in sauce, but when I came back to the left overs the sauce had all ran to the bottom of the pan.  Maybe it was the butter I put on the noodles, or maybe the mixture was not thick enough.  Either way....it still tasted good.   AND I got the ok from Kyle to make it again! 

I know I said one new recipe a month, but we are starting out BIG!  I am making a shrimp scampi with angel hair pasta dish this week too!  Hopefully it turns out just as good!

Tara