25 CLEVER IDEAS TO MAKE LIFE EASIER

I got this from my cuz in Utah-of course this comes out of UT! But this is some ingenious ideas - why didn't I think of this????? Enjoy!





Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape
Amplifies the music.




Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bed linen sets inside one of their own
Pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.




Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.



Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40
(also works on walls).



Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.



Hull strawberries easily using a straw.


Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.





Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.





Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.




Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila –
You have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream.

Sugar Cookie Bowls Recipe:

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon No Color Almond Extract

Makes:

12 bowls.


Instructions:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray the outside of each bowl cavity of Ice Cream Cookie Bowl Pan with vegetable pan spray.


Step 2

In medium bowl, combine flour and salt. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Beat in egg and extracts. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, 1 cup at a time, mixing after each addition.


Step 3

Roll out dough on generously-floured surface to 1/8 in. thickness. Cut 4-1/2 in. circles from dough.. Drape one circle over each bowl cavity of pan, pressing to form smooth surface.


Step 4

Bake 11-13 minutes or until cookie cups are firm and golden brown. Cool on pan on cooling rack 10 minutes. Loosen bottom edges of cookies from pan using small spatula. Carefully remove cups from pan and cool completely. Wash, dry and spray pan; repeat with remaining dough.






Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!




Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod
to hang your spray bottles. Genius!





Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and
Cheaper than the packet stuff.



Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids
To eat. Definitely doing this!



Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.




A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to
Make them tip-resistant.







Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.




Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily –
Who knew?.




A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles
Rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!






Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby
Pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door.




For those who can't stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly
Fold a fitted sheet.






Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.





Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum
Hose.





Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling,
Rather than cluttering up the floor.





Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.

Ideas for all the preg-os out there

I found this article and thought these sounded good. I haven't tried any yet, but want to!

3 perfect pregnancy breakfasts


Breakfast is more important than ever when you're pregnant. Your body and baby need energy after hours of not eating. These quick and easy breakfast ideas from Nicole Britvan, a dietitian at Kaiser Permanente Outpatient Nutrition Clinic in San Francisco, have a healthy mix of protein and other nutrients.

• Fruity Protein Smoothie Mix 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder with 1 cup nonfat milk, 1 cup fresh or frozen fruit, half a banana, and 2 tablespoons of peanut butter. Add ice for desired consistency. Serve with 1 or 2 slices of whole-wheat toast spread with low-sugar jam.

• Yogurt and Fruit Mix 1 cup low-fat yogurt with 1/2 cup of berries, 1/4 cup of low-fat granola, and 1/4 cup almonds or walnuts.

• Breakfast Burrito Scramble together 1 egg and 2 egg whites. Place inside 1 heated whole-wheat flour tortilla and top with salsa or tomatoes, 1 slice low-fat cheese or low-fat veggie sausage or turkey bacon. Serve with 1 cup strawberries.

Late Thanksgiving post

I made this for Thanksgiving, well one of our desserts for Thanksgiving. We had 5 pies and this (we had 22 people). And this won hands down. Everyone loved it and enjoyed every bite. The crazy thing is, it looks like a hard recipe, but it was pretty easy. Try it, it will become one of your favorites! I know I need to make it again, I only had one slice of it!

*Serves 8-10

INGREDIENTS:

Cake:
8 ounces bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped (I used half bittersweet, half semisweet)
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
5 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup all purpose flour

Mousse:
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
4 large eggs, separated at room temperature
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
8 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped finely (it is important the chocolate for this mousse layer is chopped finely or it won’t melt completely when added to the warm egg yolks)
1/2 cup sugar

Topping:
3/4 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 cups fresh raspberries

DIRECTIONS:

For cake:
Preheat oven to 325°F. Butter 10-inch-diameter springform pan; dust with sugar. Melt chocolate and butter in heavy large saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Cool to lukewarm. Whisk in sugar. Whisk in eggs one at a time, blending well after each addition. Mix in vanilla and salt, then flour. Pour batter into the springform pan. Bake until cake just rises in center (tester inserted into center will not come out clean), 30-35 minutes. Cool completely in pan on rack (the center of the cake may fall slightly). Cover and chill while making mousse.

For mousse:
Melt butter in medium metal bowl set over saucepan of simmering water (do not allow bottom of bowl to touch water). Whisk yolks, 1/4 cup cream and vanilla in small bowl to blend. Gradually whisk yolk mixture into bowl with melted butter. Whisk constantly over simmering water until thermometer registers 150°F, about 6 minutes (mixture may appear broken – mine did not but it was very thick like custard or pudding). Remove from over water; add chocolate and stir to melt. Set aside. Beat egg whites and 1/2 cup sugar and a pinch of cornstarch in large bowl to medium-stiff peaks. Whisk 1/4 of beaten egg white mixture into warm chocolate mixture to lighten. Fold in remaining egg white mixture. Pour mousse over the cooled cake in pan; smooth top. Chill torte until mousse is set, at least 6 hours and up to 1 day.
Run sharp knife around edge of pan to loosen torte. Release pan sides. Transfer torte to platter. Using electric mixer, beat 3/4 cup cream and powdered sugar in medium bowl until peaks form. Spread whipped cream over torte. Top whipped cream with raspberries.

Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies

These are so good! I made them today...hard to stop eating but they are kind-of good for you!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Cookies by kitchen café


*Makes about 4 dozen cookies

1 ¼ cups brown sugar
1 ¼ cups sugar
1 ¼ cups butter
3 eggs
1 ¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 ¼ teaspoon salt
2 ½ cups white wheat flour
2 ½ cups oats
2 ½ cups semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter and sugars together. Beat in eggs and vanilla extract. Stir in dry ingredients and mix well, then stir in chocolate chips. Scoop rounded tablespoonfuls of cookie dough onto greased (or lined) baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

5 months now....."Damn......this is good."

I have been the worst blogger lately. Well, I do have a good excuse. This pregnancy has been so hard! I have been sicker than ever, but now at 20 weeks I am feeling more like myself, no more meds and no more puking! That was the longest 5 months of my life. I really didn't do anything, I laid on the couch, didn't cook and made myself pick up the house and took my kids to school. So nothing to brag about, so no blogging.

So we are having a sweet baby girl, no name yet but we talk about it a lot. Matthew says, Bella or Elliot. Izzie says to name her Princess. I like Lily, and John doesn't. But still thinking and we have plenty of time-March (middle).

I do have a funny story about Matthew -

The other day I cooked dinner, nothing exciting, probably leftovers. But we were all sitting at the table eating and Matthew picked up his food, took a bite:

Matthew: "Damn." "Damn, this is good."

John and I looked at each other and said,

"Excuse me? What did you say?"

Matthew-again: "Damn, this is good."

That is what we thought we heard and John says, very nicely. "We don't say that word Matthew."

Matthew: "ok"

John (jokes) blames me for his swearing - HA! I laugh! Right!

I read this on a blog and had to share!

Stress Free Mornings-Food for Thought by Made famous by…

Mornings are tough when you are trying to get three kids out of the house, ON TIME, for school. Sometimes they can be rushed and stressful. I want to share a few tips on how to make getting ready and out the door for school smooth and stress free.

This is important to me because it is ME who sets the tone for my children's day. It is my job to make sure they don't feel stressed out, sad, or mad because I didn't make sure to be a patient loving parent. I figured this out when my oldest started Kindergarten. When I was running late, stressed out, impatient and dare I say raising my voice I could visibly see that I had created turmoil inside of him. After noticing this I made a conscious effort to correct my behavior.
After all I am teaching him life skills through my actions every second my kids are with me.

Tip #1-Wake up earlier!!

For someone who LOVES LOVES LOVES her sleep this is a tough one, but most important in obtaining a happy peaceful morning. I find that if I wake up 15-20 minutes earlier then I usually do we sail through the morning with out any stress. Another good tip is to get yourself ready quickly before you get the kids ready. That way you can focus on them. Use the extra 15-20 minutes for this.

Tip #2-Consciously correct YOUR attitude

Our kids feed off of our every word. Spoken and unspoken. If you are a frazzled mess...they will be too. Say a prayer if you need to. The extra help from The Big Guy up stairs always helps.

Tip #3-Read the scriptures

This applies to us all, no matter what faith we are. Before our oldest started to play football we read scriptures every night and in the morning I would read a story from a magazine called The Friend. The older my kids get the harder it is going to be to find a time to read scriptures as a family. With football and soccer in the mix our family scripture study was falling apart. The answer was clear. Read them in the morning!!
As my children are eating breakfast I read a chapter of scripture to them. It is actually easier then reading at night because their mouths are full of food so they can't talk as I am reading to them. I feel as if it gives my children spiritual strength to choose the right during the day as well as setting the tone in our home. Since I have been reading scripture in the morning there is an over whelming peace in our home. In turn my children are happy as can be and spiritually strengthened to face their day.

Tip #4-Do as much as you can the night before

Being as prepared as I can be the night before makes all the difference in the world and makes a huge difference in the morning. Things that can be done the night before are: Making lunch, laying out clothes, making sure backpacks are packed. Any thing else you can think to do the night before...DO IT!!

Tip #5- Kneel down and say family prayer together

Even if we are running late I make sure to gather my children around me, kneel down and say a family prayer together. It only takes a minute and yet is so important. I want my children to know that they can go to their Father in heaven for anything and that if we stay connected to Him through prayer He will guide us through out our day.

I hope this helps friends. I am not an expert on anything, but I can tell you what works for me in my home.

Matthew's first day

I forgot to post this on my blog (I post a lot on facebook) and the kids and I were looking at the blog and Matthew said, "wheres my picture for school?". Opps - so sorry my boy, so here we are! My big boy heading to kindergarten. He loves school and his teacher!

Izzie's first day of preschool!

When did time fly by! It still feels like I should be snuggling with this sweet baby, but now she is going to school! We have been talking up school this past week or so, just a little worried she would cry and not want to go, ha! I was wrong, she had no trouble and was excited to go. Oh, I do love this little person!

#3

Yep, the Jaggi family is growing. Welcome #3.

Matthew says to friends, "Mommy has a baby in her tummy. It is a present from Jesus!"

We are due in March - man that seems so soon. So much to do!

Some of my favorite things...

I have been thinking about some of my favorite things. One of the most important is restaurants, we go out every Saturday to eat and John lets me pick most of the time. So I do a lot of repeats, cause I find a favorite and I like to go back and back. So let me know some of your favorites!

Restaurants: (in no order)

I Love Sushi

Pin Kaow (Thai)

El Pollo Loco

Panera Bread

Cafe Rio

Chipotle

In-N-Out Burger

Poppy's Frozen Yogurt

Gandhi's (Indian)

Einstein Bagels

Jersey Mikes

Molly Malone's (in Southern Highlands)

Memphis BBQ

Eggs

I love eggs, I have them for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But this has been my favorite so far - my egg omelet!

So easy and so fast -especially for dinners.

This is an 2 egg omelet with veggies:

2 eggs - beat in bowl or cup

salt and pepper

Pour in heated pan covered with Pam spray on stove top. Swirl around pan to cover the whole bottom. As it is cooking, keep swirling so you don't have to flip. So no mess of an omelet. When done, about 2-3 minutes, remove to plate and add:

Cheddar cheese

sprouts

spinach

tomatoes

bacon pieces

Or anything you like (this was just so easy and what I had in the fridge) you can use: onions, mushrooms, peppers (these might need to be cooked first though).

Be creative!

Summer Pictures

Here are some random pictures from my camera/phone. Sometimes that is all we get is random! Enjoy!

The kids playing at the water park -That is Matthew in the orange top.

My Izzie girl

We went to the movies and we were waiting for the movie to start (it was dark and the flash was bright!)

Mallory Anderson - my BFF Susan's baby. Love those cheeks!

Grocery shopping with mama. My beautiful girl!

I can't believe it isn't a MILKSHAKE

I am about to let you on a HUGE - AWESOME secret.

I love dessert, okay that isn't the secret, but I love, love them. Especially when it is hot outside, I want ice cream, frozen yogurt all the time. Of course I don't because.... well you know why. But lately I have been buying smoothies from the my gym. They are so good but they cost a ton - $6 for one! I buy them for special days and the kids love them. I let them share one and they think they are the luckiest kids on the earth, well because the smoothies my gym make are sooooo AMAZING. Creamy, rich and very tasty. Sorry to all those who love Tropical Smoothie, but I can't stand theirs. They don't have much flavor and they all end up tasting the same (and I have tried and tried many flavors).

Our favorite flavor at the gym is banana creme pie. It has 350 calories and no idea on fat. So I don't feel so bad when I share it with the kids. 2 smoothies going 3 ways, not bad to cut down on calories. So trying to be the thrifty mom I am on the hunt for the recipe. I tried many, tofu, milk, mixes and none tasted good. So I was blogging and I found this recipe for many shakes/smoothies and I had to stop and read. As I read the ingredients I said, whoa, that is so gross. Then I watched her make it and I said, well if she can swear by it, why not.

I got all the ingredients and ran home.

I made the banana cream pie and I danced a jig. Matthew and Izzie danced a jig. We jumped up and down and drank our smoothie. I could of kissed the blogger. Click and check out her site: She gets all the credit! (Dashing Dish)

http://www.dashingdish.com/2010/03/i-cant-believe-its-not-a-milkshake/

What makes me even happier is the recipe here is cheaper, less calories than my gym smoothies and they taste like a milk shake. I have only tried the banana cream pie, but I promise I will try more!!!

So here we go with the recipe:

PROTEIN SHAKE BASE- Start each shake with this base and blend in the extra ingredients to make the flavored shake of your choice!

• 1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese (or 1 Cup Reduced Fat Greek Yogurt). Cottage cheese may sound strange, but TRUST me… this is what makes the ‘MILKSHAKE’ consistency! Also, if you are sensitive to dairy, you can use tofu to get the same consistency!

• 1 Scoop Protein Powder (Something that has around 100 calories per scoop~I love Designer Whey Protein Powder)

• 1-3 Packets of Splenda/ Stevia/Low Calorie Sweetener (Play around with how much depending on how sweet you like it!)

• 5-10 Ice Cubes (Depending on how thick you like it, use less for a thinner consistency)

• 1/2 Cup-1 Cup Water (Alter this according to desired consistency)

• *Optional- 1/2 tsp Xanthax gum (you can get this from most grocery stores in the gluten free section! Just a pinch of it makes your shake sooo thick and creamy!)

CHOOSE ADD-INS TO MAKE THE FLAVOR YOU WOULD LIKE:

Peanut Butter Butterscotch Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 2 Tbs Sugar Free Butterscotch Pudding Mix (Jello Brand)
• 2 Tbs Peanut Flour OR 1 Tbs Regular Peanut Butter
• Optional: A few drops Maple Extract
Servings: 1
Calories: 310 ( add 40 if using regular peanut butter)
Weight Watchers PointsPlus: 9

Mint Chocolate Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 2 Tbs Cocoa Powder
• 2-3 Drops of Mint Extract (Be Careful to Only Add A Few Drops… This Stuff Is Strong!!!)
• Optional: 1 Tbs Lite Hershey’s Syrup
Servings:1
Calories: 250
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5

Superman-Ice Cream Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 2-3 Tbs Sugar free/Fat free Pistachio Pudding Mix (Jello Brand)
• Optional: 2 Tbs Cool Whip Lite
Servings:1
Calories: 250
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 2 Tbs Cocoa Powder
• 2 Tbs Peanut Flour Or 1 Tbs Regular Peanut Butter
Servings: 1
Calories: 260 (add 40 calories if using regular peanut butter)
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6

Strawberry Banana Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 1/2 Cup Frozen Strawberries
• 1/2 Banana
• Optional: 2 Tbs Cool Whip Lite
Servings: 1
Calories: 280
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6

Lemon Cream Pie (These ingredients added to base)
• 2-3 Tbs Sugar Free Lemon Pudding Mix
• Optional: 1 Graham Cracker (or Honey Teddy Grahams) on Top of Shake (You could add this straight to the blender~ it blends up tasting like a ‘pie crust!’)
Servings: 1
Calories: 290
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5

Strawberry Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 1/2 Cup Strawberries (Fresh or Frozen~ If you are using frozen use less ice!)
Servings: 1
Calories: 220
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 4

Banana Cream Pie Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 1/2 Frozen Banana
• 2 Tbs Sugar Free Banana Pudding
• Optional: 1 Graham Cracker (or Honey Teddy Grahams) on Top of Shake!
Servings: 1
Calories: 250
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6

Oatmeal Cookie Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 2 Tbs Oats
• 2 Tsp Chocolate Chips
• Dash of Cinnamon (Or To Taste)
• Optional: 2 Tbs Vanilla or Chocolate Sugar Free Pudding Mix
Servings: 1
Calories: 250
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6

Cookies and Cream Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 1/2 (100 Calorie) Oreo Pack (Throw the Cookies Right Into the Blender!)
• Optional: 2 Tbs Light Cool Whip OR 2 Tbs Sugar Free Vanilla Pudding Mix
Servings: 1
Calories: 230
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 6

Pina Colada Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 1 Tbs Coconut Extract (Found In The Baking Isle by the Spices)
• 1/2 Cup Pineapple (Fresh or Frozen)
Servings: 1
Calories: 220
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 4

Strawberry Cheesecake Protein Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 1/2 Cup Strawberries (Fresh or Frozen)
• 2 Tbs Light Cream Cheese (Or 2 Tbs Sugar Free Cheesecake Pudding Mix)
Servings: 1
Calories: 260
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5

Lemon Raspberry Shake (These ingredients added to base)
• 1/3 Cup Raspberries (Fresh or Frozen) OR 2 Tbs Low Sugar Raspberry Jam (If You Don’t Like The Seeds!)
• 1 Tsp Lemon Juice OR 2 Tbs Sugar Free Lemon Pudding Mix
• Optional: 1 Tsp Sugar Free Dry Raspberry Jello Mix
Servings: 1
Calories: 210
Weight Watcher PointsPlus Value: 5

Cocoa Rice Pudding

Cocoa Rice Pudding

¼ cup cocoa powder
½ cup brown sugar
1/8 t salt
1 ¼ cups milk
½ t vanilla extract
3 eggs
2 cups cooked rice
½ cup craisins or dried cherries, or cranberries (optional).

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix cocoa, sugar, salt in a mixing bowl. Add a splash of milk about ¼ cup and whisk until smooth. Crack eggs into mixing bowl, add vanilla and rest of milk. Whisk to combine. Then stir in rice and craisins or dried fruit. Transfer to baking dish or ramekins.

Bake for 30 to 40 minutes. Smaller dishes bake faster.
Remove when the middle is jiggly when shaking the dish. Cool for 5 minutes.

If you use this as a dessert you can add vanilla ice cream or whipping cream! YUM!

Typo

My blog wont let me correct any post that has already been published. Then of course I see a typo. In the hot fudge it is 14 oz can of condensed milk.

I hope that helps!

Some new recipes

I have some new recipes to post - super easy and yummy - so of course they are both chocolate. I will post one today and the other later (I have to type it out).

I had a lot of visitors this past month and we discovered Poppy's - a frozen yogurt place that is awesome. One part of it is the hot fudge they serve. I have a weakness for that stuff. Hot and gooey and aah so, so, yummy. My sister had a easy recipe so I tried to copy it and this is what I made.

Hot Fudge

14 oz can if condensed milk (the thick one)

2 cups semi-chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Melt chips in a medium size pan. When melted add the milk and the vanilla stir for 4-5 minutes.

Enjoy it on ice cream, cheesecake, or just eating it out of the pan (that is what my kids did and okay me too) So easy and oh so good. Refrigerate the left overs - if there are any!

Cookies - New York Time's chocolate chip

I have been baking way to much lately - I go to the gym so I can eat my cookies! It is hard when I have so many visitors and they demand cookies- well okay I demand that they eat my cookies! But this recipe for chocolate chip cookies is so good and you have to have patience (that is hard when I have cookie dough in my fridge calling my name) but it will be worth it!

They do make big cookies so one will be enough (if you have the will power!)


New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour
1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour (I did use all-purpose)
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter (I didn't have unsalted and used salted)
1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks, at least 60 percent cacao content (I used dark, semi and mint chocolate chips)
Sea salt

Directions:
1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (the size of generous golf balls) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day. Eat warm, with a big napkin.

more..pics..enjoy!

We took some family pictures this month..here are a few...

Here are some non-edited and some edited. I have so many I can't choose. The wind was our biggest issue. IT BLEW AND BLEW. Not model (blowing with a fan) wind, but tornado wind! Our photographer did amazing with what she had to deal with. For me - picture day is so stressful - Hair, clothes, smiles, sweat, nose boogies, sucking it in, etc. - I needed a nap when I was done!

I had my sis and bro-in-law for 3 days..here is a few things we did...

My BFF sis and her hubby came to visit us for a few days. We had such a nice time but it was to short! I was so depressed when she left. She is a darling person. So caring, loving, and thoughtful. I am so grateful she is my sister and we are a forever family! Here are a few pictures of our activities.


Matthew waving to a diver cleaning the Silverton's salt water tank.


The Bass Pro Shop (bro-in-law's choice to see) had a special truck with all sorts of deer trophy's - not my cup of tea, but the kids thought the truck ramp was cool.

Izzie got a new hair bow - dang I could just eat her up!

We ate some YUMMY frozen yogurt at Poppy's (highly recommend-Blue Diamond and Cimmeron) and the kids loved the yogurt and well as the little tables - as you can see they had to have the boy table and the girl table.

My sis, Jennifer and bro-in-law, Steve (sorry bad picture) they have been married 21 years and have 5 kids. I LOVE THEM!

Matthew and Uncle Steve after looking at the guns at Bass Pro. Matthew thought that was cool and he loves his uncle Steve.

Dang what a cute kid - Glad he is mine!

Looking at some boats. Nope, none came home with us-darn it!

My sis -Jennifer and I. We are both going blonde - can you guess who is older? I used to be really bugged when someone asked me that. Especially since I was single and she was carting around 3 kids at the time. I don't care now anymore. I am now trying to look like her!

My mom told me when I was young and my older sibling (Jen, Bryan and Andrea) went to school I would be sad and wait by the door for them to return home. When I saw them return, I would run to them. I don't remember that, but I love hearing stories like that when I was young.

I love this woman! Jennifer you are amazing!!!! (and the kids at the bottom of the picture are pretty great too!)