Vacation Update

Well the man and I have talked, and we decided to only go up to BC for 3 full days. It gets a bit stressful visiting my mother, lol, so he wants to keep it short and sweet.

Our plan is to get up there day 1 and leave our house early enough in the morning so we get to mom's house about 4PM. Day 2 will be spent traipsing around Vancouver. We're going to go on the Sky train, perhaps see the Sea Wall, and just have fun, long day. Day 3 we will be going to White Rock in the morning and then go have lunch somewhere. We'll have a bit of a relaxing afternoon, and then my husband and I will go out on our date. Day 4, will be in my hometown. We'll visit my Oma, go to Karl's (local Dutch store), go show the kids and my husband where I went to school, do a bit of shopping etc etc. And we'll have to plan a visit to see Mama Bear, lol. And Day 5, we will leave for WA bright and early! We will be leaving July 16th, which is my 29th birthday, and coming back on the 21st. And I think my brother and I will be having a joint birthday something-or-other together, if he can make it back home from Ottawa.

Short and sweet.

I'm On Twitter

Weird! lol I don't know how to add it to my sidebar, so here is the link if you want to follow me!!!
I love the iPod APP for this, I can twitter on my iPod!!! Yaay!
http://twitter.com/krustythecat

Family Vacation

This isn't much of a vacation, considering some vacations some families take, but this summer we're planning on 3-5 days in my hometown. My husband has never been there, and the kids only once-and then, we were only there for two days for a family function. We have a few ideas of what to do, but I'm at a loss for the other days.

The place we're going to be visiting is in the Lower Mainland, BC...near Vancouver. Those of you readers who are from BC can give me some ideas, right?

We're thinking of spending one of the days at Cultus, as that was where I spent the majority of my summers growing up. I love that lake!! I'll probably also go visit my Aunt and Uncle who have a house close to there, after we're done for the day...maybe.

I want to spend some time in my hometown showing the kids and my husband where I lived, grew up and went to school etc. Hubby wants to do a bit of shopping, as do I, and I'll want to visit my Oma. I'm actually thinking of seeing if she can have everyone over or something so that we can see the whole family.

That takes up two days, but what else do we do? We have considered White Rock, Stanley Park (not the aquarium), and I definitely want to take the kids on the Sky Train and see a bit of downtown Vancouver.

Apart from that, we're kind of out of ideas. My husband says nothing duplicate that we have here in the Seattle area. So no Science World, aquarium, no game farm...that sort of thing. Our home base will be Langley.

Whatever ideas you have, please share them. I want us to have a fun few days!

Not To Toot My Own Horn...

But, I have to say how proud I am of myself!!!

Today on the menu plan was spaghetti with home made bread. One of our favorites actually. Usually my husband makes the sauce and then when he is gone, I try to recreate his recipe. I did extra well today and the sauce turned out even better than his! *gasp*

The real reason I am proud of myself is because my bread machine broke. Well, I noticed the paddle wasn't turning, so I landed up taking all the ingredients out and pouring them in a bowl. I then mixed the ingredients with a wooden spoon, and then by hand. I kneaded the bread, punching it and folding it and then let it rise. Then I kneaded it again and let it rise one more time.

The end result was a golden brown loaf of perfection! It was the best loaf of bread I have ever made, including with the bread machine.

I think I'll still get my bread machine fixed, I think it just needs a new belt, or something like that. I have to call around to find a repair shop tomorrow. But, I am still very happy with myself for doing it from scratch, by hand.

Can you hear me clapping for myself? lol

Make It From Scratch Carnival

Thank you to Stephanie, over at Make It From Scratch, for hosting this week and including my post Pizza Pizza in this weeks edition of the Make It From Scratch Carnival

Back To The Gym

I haven't gone regularly since NOVEMBER!!! ACK!!! Obviously December was just crazy with the holidays, snow, a few days off school etc etc. Then the 1st week of January we had no school either, and the 2nd week my son was sick. Last week I was sick and also hurt my knee. So we've had an odd couple months.

But today I ventured back and I feel good about it! I thought I was going to die on the elliptical though...I really have spent far too much time away from the gym. I landed up doing 25 minutes on the Elliptical, lots of weights/resistance training, and then I stretched for quite awhile. I do want to get back into spinning, but I don't think I am ready for it after taking so much time off. That's going to have to wait awhile, at least for the time being. If I were to just jump right back into that, I would really hurt myself. Spinning is not a workout to take lightly.

In other news, I think the UPS man is going to be able to drive to my house with his eyes closed pretty soon. We got a couple pkgs last week, and now 3 in a row this week! lol Today was part of the twins' birthday party supplies, tomorrow is a Gymboree order, and Wednesday is going to be more party supplies. I think my hubby will be expecting something next week too. What can I say, I like shopping!

Until next time...

Yankee Candles

Have you ever bought a Yankee candle before? They're supposed to be the best ones you can buy, but I have always shied away because they are so pricey. Literally, you will pay $20-$25 for a large 22oz candle. But they are the best, so people say. Apparently they smell really great and the scent actually travels through your house as the candle burns. And I've heard that as you burn them, the wax actually burns off the jar, so all you are left with is the silver part of the wick at the very end.

I'm a skeptic, I really am. I have never bought a Yankee candle before because they are so expensive, and I highly doubted the smell was that good.

Well, I've been reformed! I'm convinced! I'm a convert!

Today while I was at Marshall's, killing time while Midas changed the oil on my van, I found a Yankee candle. It was only 9.99 for a 22oz candle, which is a great bargain for a Yankee candle in that size. I purchased the Roasted Coffee scent and it is STRONG! But it smells fantastic. I am very happy with it. I also found some Yankee tea lights in a passion fruit scent that I will burn as well. I think I'll try them tomorrow. I'm not sure I want to burn the coffee scent every day, because it is that strong. I might go for a more neutral scent next time I can afford it. The hallmark store closest to me sells Yankees, so I will see if I can go there and get one.

This is the one I got:



In other news, tonight is our weekly "Family Friday Movie Night". I got "The Absent-minded Professor" for the kids. The old Disney one. I am looking forward to watching it, and I think they will really like it.
Well, I'm off...I have to cut up some chicken and prepare some stuff for dinner, as well as do some cleaning up.

Meal Planning With Your Calendar

I am really into meal planning. Years ago, before I did this, I would haphazardly shop at the grocery store and just kind of fling things in the cart as I went along, and make up my meals as I was shopping. I've been trying to plan better though, so a couple days before I go grocery shopping, I decide what I want to make for the next 2-2.5 weeks. I make my meal list and grocery list, and then I download one of these:



I then look at our regular calendar and figure out our schedule and decide what to cook what days. I know that Tuesday and Thursday are designated Karate nights, so I always need something easy for those nights, like grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup, or tator tot casserole. Friday or Saturday nights are usually homemade Pizza nights. Not everything is easy though; The next couple weeks will see Cabbage rolls, Goulash, Beef Roast and Beef stew (yaay for leftovers!) and Rubber Chicken (roast chicken, chicken pot pie and then chicken soup!). I currently have 17 different meal options, so I almost did 3 weeks this time.

After I am done deciding what to cook when, I pencil it in on the calendar. Voila! I now have 2-2.5 weeks of menu planning. I can look at each day and figure out what needs to be made, or I can prepare the day before if I am making something like a Roast Chicken for instance. Of course I am free to substitute if something doesn't work out, but usually we pretty much stick to the schedule. It also really helps me stay on budget as well, because I only stick to what meals I am making. I always allow for some extras, because I never fail to forget a few things that I needed.

It Works for me! Check out the other great ideas at Works For Me Wednesday!!

What A Historical Day!

Wow, I actually got goosebumps watching President Obama take his oath. I am hoping that this country can actually move forward from this economic crisis and repair itself, wouldn't that be wonderful? Yes We Can!!!

I am proud to be an almost-Citizen of this country! Next year, 2010, I will be able to take my oath as well and become a permanent citizen of the United States of America. This is home to me now, and while I am thankful for my green card, I can't wait to make it official.

Here's to a New Beginning!!!!

In other news, Thank You to A Dusty Frame, for including my post Thick and Hearty Pea Soup in this weeks edition of the Make it From Scratch Carnival

Pizza Pizza

I love pizza. Adore pizza. I could eat pizza every day. I simply love, love, love, Pizza. Unfortunately because eating out is so expensive, we can't afford to eat it all the time. So I thought it was time to take the plunge and make my own. I've done it before, but never with great success b/c I always used a store bought crust. Never again my dear readers!! I can make it myself!!!!

Thanks to my wonderful husband, I have a FANTASTIC bread machine. And with my fantastic bread machine, I can make even more fantastic pizza dough.

If you don't have a bread machine, I can't help you with the crust, I'm sorry!

Pizza Crust Dough Recipe for 2lbs of dough


*it makes two thick crust pizzas* However, I have a 16" pizza pan and a 12", so I get one thin and one thick. The kids always get the thick crust and I make a thinner one for myself

1-1/4 cups 80*F Water or 27*C
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 Tbsp white sugar
2 tsp salt
2 Tbsp dry powdered milk
4 cups bread flour
2 tsp Active Dry Yeast

Make sure you add the ingredients in the order given.
Put it in the dough cycle in your bread machine and wait. Mine actually has a pizza dough cycle, and takes about an hour.

Once your dough is prepared, divide it up however you want. I usually do 2/3ds and 1/3d, mine being the smaller. Roll it out and make sure you use a slightly floured surface. Place your prepared pizza dough in the pan and start with your ingredients.


Pizza "fillings"

Pizza sauce (our favorite is actually WalMart's great value brand with the green lid)
Pepperoni
Ham/Cdn Bacon
Pizza blend Cheese
Pizza Sauce

I usually do a mix of that for the kids. For myself, I always do pepperoni first, then ham, and then finely diced onion, and then the cheese. We'll be trying something different though, I think I might make an all meat pizza, or Hawaiian if the kids will eat it.

Bake one pizza at a time for about 11 minutes at 425. My recipe calls for 20 minutes, but my pizzas were way over-cooked and slightly burned at that time. 11 minutes is just perfect, in my opinion.

So now that you know how to make your own pizza, you can save yourself a few bucks and not have to go out. Now, I'm not saying we won't ever buy pizza again, because we absolutely adore Papa Murphy's Chicago style stuffed pizza, but this is an almost-as-good substitute. And my pizza tastes better cold anyway!