Coconut Lime Rice Pudding

 

Maybe I should be spending my time between loads of laundry (there's always a load of laundry)

exercising, instead of cooking & baking? 

Hummmm...I'll have to give that a little consideration. 

Tomorrow.

Inspired...

...by my friend, Nola, and her Cooking Scrapbook....(with a yummy looking Christmas Stolen) and a shopping trip to Ikea yesterday~

What a fun way to spend my time between moving around loads of laundry ;o)

and I'm thinking the kids are going to be happy when they get home from school today too!

Full of Fun & Sadness at the same time...

I didn't get selected out of the parent lottery to chaparone Audra's Field Trip to Sonora. 

She headed out on the bus, bright & early this morning, along with her 68 classmates. 

She was feeling excited to go on this highly anticipated 6th grade over 2 nights event, 

and I was feeling sad to see her leave me for 3 days. 

I know she is going to have a GREAT time...but I'm missing her already!

High School Dance Night

Jared's school dance for Sadie Hawkins was 

Opposites Attract. 

So he went as a surfer & his date went as a snowboarder.

He and Marissa have been classmates since kindergarten

...and he reported their 12 years friendship 

made for a Fun Evening out!

A little more crafting this month...

Some from the OVEN...

 

These were yummy! 

Doughnut Muffins, as seen on The Best Thing I Ever Ate television show on the Food Network.

Without a doubt, I'll bake these again...

Then,

from the Stovetop...
I whipped up a batch of Peanut Brittle to share with my Knotty Knitters friends.

And neither last nor least,

at my Good Things Crafters Meeting

...we made mini cupcakes from Fimo dough to use as jewelry charms.

These are to be gifted or worn, but certainly not eaten.

WinterFest WaterPolo Weekend

What a GREAT weekend I had with my son!

Watching his Water Polo Games, Spending time with his Fun Friends, 

and Soaking up the Southern California Sunshine.

We had a few visitors too....

Aunt Jenise, Uncle John & Ike joined us for day 2 of the games,

and then cousins Kerri & Gary surprised us by slipping in,

just in time for the final game of the tournament. 

Jared had his own personal cheering section in the stands
for his team's exciting OT Win!

My recent Scrapping & Crafting Craze: 4 acts featured below...

Since the New Year arrived...

I've taken quite a bit of time to play with pretty paper & my craft supplies!

However, the high school swim season starts next week for my son,

& as of last night, my daughter has added Demo Team to her schedule.

....I'm thinking my crafting days may be numbered?!*#?!

My recent Scrapping & Crafting Craze: act 4

A Sweet Valentine's Day Banner...

(Thanks to Suzelle)

& a little break from scrapping & a bit of time for my crafting

My recent Scrapping & Crafting Craze: act 3

Okay, then I got down to real business and immersed myself is a week long scrap extravaganza.

I did over 40 pages & completed a Big Album for Audra...whew! 

 

Now that her 3rd grade year is in an album...I think I should get started on her...

(sadly, she's more than half way through 6th...see, I'm never getting caught up at this rate)

My recent Scrapping & Crafting Craze: act 2

Then for a little 'fast fix', 

I created another little mini album of Audra's "Demi Lovato Concert Night".

I admit my need for instant gratification...and it seems to be a good tactic 

in procrastinating on my 12x12 chronological page scrapbooks,

where I'm never really caught up with our real life.

My recent Scrapping & Crafting Craze: act 1

I started off the New Year by finishing my 9 photos, on the 9th of each month, in 2009 Album. 

I really enjoyed this year long, but fast & easy project.

Audra's School Open House

~ Country Report

~ Self Portrait

Pictures with her Teachers: 

   ~for Science & Religion: Mrs. Silverio

   ~for all other subjects: Mrs. Garrett

The Last Dance of the 6th Grade Cotillion Season

...and it has been fun for us all!

Homemade Junk Food

So here's the deal....instead of using my day to do something productive, I made junk food!

Twinkies, actually.

I got this pan at a gift exchange during Christmas time & was hankering to give it a test run.

Once the cakes were baked, I tried making the cream filling. 

Oops...the stuff in the kitchen aide mixer never whipped up past the point it is in the photo~Yuck!

(besides I didn't like the ingredients so much)

...so scrap that batch

...and onto making a Vanilla~Buttermilk Pastry Cream instead~Yum!

So, after chilling it down in the ice bath, it was time to pump it into the little cakes. 

The finished one, on the yellow plate, posed for the photo & then went directly into my mouth.

A Great Lunch Today!

The ones on the long plate are for the kids & my dessert tonight,

...and the ones wrapped up in bags are for giving away to a few special friends.