Little Braids!

I must admit, though I was never the real "girly" type girl, I have always loved to play with hair. Curling, braiding, french braiding, straightening, twisting, pony tails, barrettes, bows and bobby pins...I love them all! So on the rare day when Lizzy will sit still for long enough, I start to play! Aren't these just the sweetest little braids?!

Lime Meringue Cupcakes

This is a recipe that I tried today. They turned out pretty good. I loved the lime curd and the meringue, but the actual cake wasn't my favorite...it wasn't bad, just not my favorite. The recipe came from the cookbook Cupcakes from Williams Sonoma. I had a great time trying out my cooking torch to toast the meringue! My sweet husband gave me the torch as a gift a number of years ago, but I had never actually taken out of the box. (I was pleasantly surprised to find it in a cupboard in my kitchen, rather than stored away in a box in the garage.) I love trying new recipes and having family to share the recipe with! Timothy said he didn't like it, then proceeded to eat the whole cupcake.

It's official...

I am a witch. Or at least, I will be playing one in the upcoming SVCT production of Into the Woods. I am very excited for this part! I can be mean and nasty and sarcastic without any of the guilt. After playing the nice girl for so many years this part will be a refreshing change. I get to sing, "I'm not good, I'm not nice, I'm just right!" That just about sums it up for how I feel as a mother most days. ;o)

Dining Room Measuring Spoons - Anthropologie.com

Dining Room Measuring Spoons - Anthropologie.com

I love these measuring spoons! I used them today to make some yummy oatmeal cookies, and everytime I bring them out of the drawer, they make me smile!

Audition!

I love the theatre...but as the demands of motherhood are, well, demanding, I don't often have time to put in an appearance on stage. Every so often though, a show comes along that I am just dying to be a part of. That happens to be the case in SVCT's newest production "Into the Woods".

This is a fabulous show, full of fairy tale stories, witty lines, and tongue twisting songs. And I love it!

So, I picked a song, packed my dancing shoes, and headed to the SVCT warehouse on Friday to audition. It was so nice to see some familiar faces, but I have rarely been so nervous! I'm still waiting to hear the results...keep your fingers crossed!

To laugh or to gag?

Timothy came out of the bathroom the other day and went straight to the fridge. I asked, "Did you wash your hands?" He said dejectedly, "I never get away with it!" So I tried to explain that if he didn't wash his hands he would be eating the bathroom germs along with his food. On the way back to the bathroom he muttered, "I've eated my boogers before, and those are germs..."

Spring Cleaning...Day 4

Day 4's assignment was to start cleaning and organizing the kitchen. The article suggested starting in the pantry, emptying everything, and then putting it back. So that is what I did. I didn't realize how much my pantry could hold until this little exercise! I didn't think the pantry was terribly unorganized, but this was a great opportunity to check expiration dates (I threw away three tall garbage bags full of expired food) and to sweep and mop the floor of the pantry.

Before

The kitchen was overflowing with pantry items. This was difficult for me because I had worked so hard all week to keep my counters and tabletops clear all week long. But it was great motivation to get everything put away.

After

I don't want to post these things in an effort to toot my own horn. It is rather a way to measure the progress I am making in our home in a more tangible way. So much of my life as a mother is working on tasks that don't stay done. But here I can look at my photos and know that I completed a project. I find great satisfaction in that!