Showing posts with label wishes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wishes. Show all posts

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Things I wish I Knew How To Do.....And AMAZING Bourbon-Less Chicken.......

I suppose we all have things we wish we knew how to do.
My list would be a long one if I really thought about it.
Today's writing prompt is to list one or two things I wish I knew how to do,
so I'll go with the first few that popped in my head.

I wish I knew how to crochet.
A year or so ago, I actually found a yarn store and signed up for a class.
I didn't realize that it was ONLY knitting.........the owner didn't care for crochet.
But that was ok.......close enough.

* * * Note to yarn store owners..........
When you have a first time student, please don't scour your store for the
U.G.L.I.E.S.T color of yarn EVER.
There really are people like me who like color......... a lot of it.  And pretty color at that.
So to start with, I already hated my project.
Then, the other 3 ladies apparently were old friends/long-time customers
because y'all knew everything about each other.
So you sat and talked to them the whole time and barely remembered that I was there.........
fighting with my grotesque yarn to do the right stitches,
until I got up and came to ask you for help.
And you were only two seats away from me.
That was my one and only "class experience".   And by the time I got home,
I had forgotten how I did anything at all.
Next time, I will try to learn with online videos.
At least I can pretend they are paying attention to me;)
After all, I have so many important pieces I want to crochet
for my grandchildren someday.......
Sources:  Click on each link.....Booties,  Indian Headdress, Elsa Hat "Frozen",  Cowboy Hat and Booties
See?  SUPER important things I need to make them:)

The next thing that popped in this ol' head was this...........
I wish I knew how to ice skate.
Oh, we used to skate as kids but I can't remember that.

I think it would be a fun way to get a bit of activity in, especially when it's so blasted hot outside here, which is pretty often:)
Therefore, I start ice skating classes in February.
Seriously!
And I can't wait:)
Just hope I don't look like this on my first day!
I probably will, but that's okay.
I'm still really excited.
Because deep down, I think I could've been a really good skater;)

I started to learn to speak French,
before we went to Paris.
I learned a few phrases, but I think it's such a beautiful sounding language that I'd
like to learn to speak it more fluently.

Lastly, I have a Canon rebel camera that I want need to learn to use.
Then maybe I could stop practicing how to take selfies.
Yes I'm 50.......not 15:)
There you have it!
Things I would love to know how to do.

Moving on,  my niece visited over New Year's and told me about a recipe (and food blog)
that she loved.  The recipe is for Bourbon-less Chicken
and the blog is Jamie Cooks it Up.
Wow.......what a find.

Tonight I made it using Jamie's recipe,
and I could have eaten the whole pan all by myself.
In fact, just writing this makes me wish I had tripled the recipe!
You have to try it out.  For real!
Feel free to add some stir friend veggies, but make sure you increase your liquid amounts.
In fact, I increased my liquid anyway because I like my rice floating in sauce:)
BOURBON-LESS CHICKEN
5 chicken breasts
2 T oil
1 t minced garlic
1/4 C apple or pineapple juice
1/3 C brown sugar
2 T ketchup
1 T apple cider vinegar
1/2 C water
1/3 C soy sauce
pinch red pepper flakes

1 T cornstarch

1. Cut your chicken into small 1-2 inch pieces with some kitchen scissors. 
2. Heat up a large skillet over medium high heat. Once it is hot, pour 2 T Olive Oil into it. 
3. Add your chicken pieces to the pan and let them cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. 
4. The chicken will start to get a bit juicy and bubbly. 
Put the lid on the pan, slightly tilted and drain the juices out into the sink. Return the pan to the stove top and continue cooking over medium high heat. 
5. Into a medium sized mixing bowl combine 1 t garlic, 1/4 C apple or pineapple juice, 1/3 C brown sugar, 2 T ketchup, 1 T apple cider vinegar, 1/2 C water, 1/3 C soy sauce, a pinch of red pepper flakes and 1 T cornstarch. Whisk it all together until the cornstarch is dissolved and all ingredients are well combined. 
6. When your chicken has a nice brown sear on some of the pieces…
pour the sauce into the pan. Stir it around to cover all the chicken pieces. 
7. Reduce the heat to a low simmer and cover the pan with the lid at an angle to allow some of the steam to escape. Let this baby simmer away for about 20 minutes, stirring a couple of times during the cooking period. 
8. Serve over white or brown rice. 

I can't wait to try more recipes from Jamie Cooks it Up!
Guess that's it for today.
Is there something YOU wish you could do?
xoxoxoxo
Suzanne

Thursday, May 10, 2012

for mom......a shabby chic dream cottage and soft, cuddly puppies......

hi mom!
yes, YOU:)
it's your big week 
and since i'm not there to do something special with you,
i'm showing you what i WOULD do if i could.

i would give you a shabby chic home makeover.
better yet, i would buy you a sweet
  shabby chic cottage 
and decorate it like this.

WELCOME to your new shabby cottage.........


 complete with a white picket fence covered with beautiful pink roses!


your palettes inside would be either based on WHITES and creams,
or shabby pastels like this.....

here are two ideas for your living room.......
don't you love the pink furniture and the pretty rug?


here, the blue walls are optional.
i just know you like blues:)


let's go to the kitchen area for a cup of tea.....

do you like it?


 did i mention i would paint your piano white 
and add some embellishments like this one?

 makes me want a piano!:)


are you wondering what your bedroom will look like?
well, here you go......
we could do something like this......

of course, your bed would be made:)

or maybe like this.......
actually, this is pretty much my dream bed:)

or maybe you prefer this beauty.......

a shabby bathroom of course, simple white tub, white fluffy towels, with maybe a touch of distressed aqua.......

or maybe we would keep it ALL white.
yes, i think that's what we'll do.


we can't forget the porch.......
one thing would be mandatory.......
an iron daybed for those afternoon naps:)

you need a porch swing, too......

and if you had this sign hanging out front, i guarantee
LOTS of visitors:)

of course, i would make sure there were beautiful flowers in every room......

so, what do you think?
like it?
well......i WISH i could make it all come true.
at least my heart's in the right place:)
but something's missing.
cute cottage......check
shabby chic decor.......check
flowers........check
vintage signs.......check

what could it be?
i know!
something to share it with.
something to 
C
U
D
D
L
E
!
something like one of these cuties.........
the puppy in the center, on top, is looking at you right now.
gazing in your eyes.
can you hear it?
"won't you take me home.........please don't let me be picked last."
go ahead.........say it.
NO WAY!

but listen to me......
don't be swayed by the dogs aunt m had.
she loved them so much........TOO MUCH to raise them right.
you learned what to do and what not to do.
and when you want to go away,
people will BEG to watch a well behaved dog.
see......i should know.
cute little freddy was given everything a dog could want......
and he never lets us forget that.
maui was raised better and people want to take him home all the time.
(and anyway, kathy will watch your pup:)
you wouldn't have to take it out at night.....you could train it to use
puppy pads on your back porch.
see.....i've thought of everything!

and not to make you sad, but i believe things happen for a reason.......
and who would've thought dad would fall in love with 
one of these cuties.
i think it's a sign.
he wants you to have one:)


okay, okay.....i'll stop.
but first i have a confession to make.
after i saw dad with his new buddy,
i was actually planning on getting him one just like her.
i know.......what was i thinking!
oh, you would have been so mad at me!
(heeheehee)

alright, you know i'm just playing with you now.
but i WAS going to get one.
and i STILL WOULD gladly get you one of your own.
just say the word:)
it would make me feel better about living so far away.
okay, have i tried every argument yet?:)

well, i hope you like your shabby little dream cottage:)
i had fun creating it for you.
what else can i do on a day when i am severely sleep deprived.....again:)
XOXOXOX

Monday, September 19, 2011

Shabby Chicks Online Christmas Party...Calling all Sellers!

hahaha...
NO, i'm NOT kidding!
i'm talking real, honest to goodness, Christmas shopping.
i mean, have you noticed the survey
at the top right corner of my blog?????
okay...IF you're still with me,
here's the deal.....
this is september.....
and before you know it, december will be here.

this time of year gets crazy for so many of us.
the older i get, the more i hate that.
i don't LIKE that we get lost in only the FUN stuff of the Holidays
and lose sight of the REAL reason for the season.
(but i DO believe it's okay to be real AND have fun:)
this season is also NUTCRACKER season around our house
so it adds one more twist on this time...
and i end up wishing i had started earlier.
besides, you'll have more time to decorate like THIS.....

i KNOW it isn't the gifts that matter,
but since we DO exchange presents, i really like to put a bit of
thought behind this...but then i end up grabbing
SOMETHING just to be done.....
just to lose the crowds.
(bah humbug:)

so why not start early this year and even better,
why not support the WONDERFUL
friends we have all made who sell online?

it could be through a company website that has your name on it,
an etsy store, your own website, blog.....
wherever you sell your pretties and what nots:!
 and the beauty of it is, you can get involved
in as many of these parties as you like...
even more business, right?
PLUS, we all know that when you sell your own creations,
you still have a life.....
and the SOONER you get orders done,
the MERRIER your own HOLIDAYS will be.

so even though it's early,
i wanted to give you a head's up about our first annual
SHABBY CHICKS online Christmas shopping party.
 i'm starting it OCTOBER 1st.
that gives me time to make a link to the party for you to tell ALL
your readers where to shop,
time to make a shopping section on my blog...
good stuff like that.
it might start small at first but as we get rolling and gather more links...
it WILL be awesome, i promise you that!

so don't miss out!
all i need is this.....
send me the link to your site,
along with a brief line or two about what you sell,
 if you offer any early shopping specials, order deadlines, free shipping.....
any info you would like shoppers to know about.

what i will do for YOU is this....
each week i will PROMOTE at least one shop,
i will visit every possible place on the web and tell everyone i know
about our little party to bring in shoppers,
tweet often...HECK......
i'll even re-activate my facebook
to tell the snoops sweet people of this world all about it!
HEEHEEHEE!

and did i mention a few GIVEAWAYS???????
(that always gets everyone's attention:)

like i said...i still have work to do but i am DETERMINED
to make this work.
last year i did a bit of my shopping online and guess what?????
those ended up being my most creative, unique, clever gifts.
so let's DO this!
no matter what you sell.....
(except NOTHING inappropriate, of course)
from tupperware to tutus......
join in.
it's free advertising!!!

so take my shopping survey, send me your info,
start gathering your supplies,
make some RED VELVET hot cocoa
and
LET"S SHOP!

HO,HO,HO
Suzanne

RED VELVET HOT COCOA

  • 4 cups Whole Milk
  • 1 dash Water
  • ¾ cups Premium Semi-sweet Chocolate Chips
  • 1 teaspoon Red Food Coloring Paste
  • 1 cup Heavy Whipping Cream
  • 1 Tablespoon Sugar
  • 1 teaspoon Whipped Cream Cheese 

In a medium mixing bowl or a stand-up mixer, pour in heavy whipping cream and sugar. Whip on medium with the whisk attachment for 2-3 minutes. Just before it peaks, add the teaspoon of whipped cream cheese and whisk for another 2 minutes. Taste the whipped cream and add more cream cheese to taste. If you like it more tart (i don't) ,  add another 1/2 teaspoon.  just be careful to not over-whip or you’ll have butter on your hands in no time.
In a medium saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat. Add a splash of water and the chocolate chips, constantly stirring gently. When almost melted, add the red food coloring paste and stir some more. The color should be a deep red, similar to the picture above. When the chocolate chips are all melted, pour the hot chocolate in four mugs and top with the whipped cream.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sweet 16...

 my SWEET Taylor is 16 years old today.
sweet 16...whoever came up with that phrase must have known that someday,
somewhere, there would be a 16 year old who was just pure sweetness.
and how blessed I am to be able to say I am her mother.
after the gift of His love and grace,
giving me a little girl and now young woman like Taylor
is one of the greatest gifts God has given me.

sweet Taylor...
how do I write this post?
I can't pick out a card for you in the Hallmark store without crying my eyes out.
you went from a little girl with cake on your face to
this beautiful young woman.
yes, i get a bit sad sometimes...
because i feel you might leave tomorrow.
(sorry for the dramatics:)
but then I remember that you are the lovely young woman that i raised you to be.
that i prayed you would be...
and you'll ALWAYS be my little girl:)
SO, it's also a BEAUTIFUL day...
one to celebrate your life.
and that makes me HAPPY.
I have learned so much from you.
yes, you have taught me.
to smile and bring joy and laughter to others...
you do this so naturally while most of us have to work at it.
to be a good friend...
how I wish I had known a friend like you.
to forgive easily and often...
to love with your whole heart...
to be curious...
to be cautious...
to think of others first...
to find something to laugh about in many situations...
to go after something you dream about...
 YOU have taught ME...
and so many around you.
you have so many gifts...
and by sharing them you bring such joy to the rest of us.
 never lose your sense of wonder.
your excitement is contagious.
 I saw a quote recently that read
"many things in life will catch your eye but only a few will catch
your heart. Pursue these."
 make good choices.
how you spend your days are how you spend your life.
 be in control...
of the things you put in your head, of the decisions you make...
be happy, be smart, be safe.

you will uncover many treasures in life.
thank you for being one of mine!
okay, the moment you've been dreading is here.
the moment I get to share the video of you dancing the role of the Snow Queen 
in the Nutcracker this year.
yes...a home movie.
well, sort of.
let me tell you, the quality is bad...not even as good as a home movie.
but I did the best i could.
the spotlight makes it difficult to view at times but it clears up after a moment.
there is some dark scrolling lines from time to time.
thank goodness we have the actual dvd to keep forever.
if you would like to watch my sweet girl perform, click on the link.

first up you will see her pas de deux (dance with a partner)...a big deal and a big milestone for
any young dancer.
 after that is the dance with her snowflakes.
she's easy to keep track of...
she's the one in the short tutu with the bigger crown.
(hey, she IS the snow queen:)

thank you in advance for any birthday wishes.
i'm sorry if i got behind on my blog but you see,
i kind of had this really special day to celebrate!
Happy Birthday SWEET Taylor!
We love  you more than you will ever know.
XOXOXOX

P.S.  can I borrow your car sometime?

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