Ribbit, RIbbit!

When Life Gives You Walmart, Make Baked Peaches

If this blog was called Dwelling on the Negative, I would tell you all the ways in which I despise Walmart. But, alas, it's not.  For that reason, I will tell you just one thing: No matter how much cheaper they may be selling an item for, in the long run, you will pay.  Oh boy, will you pay.  The good news?  When I was on the phone phones (at one point, during a 42 minute hold on my phone, I called back on Tyler's phone), I was able to make a batch of baked cheesecake peaches.  It's amazing how a little sugar, butter and cream cheese can quickly lower my blood pressure.

Those rings left on the Silpat?  Peach flavored caramel :)

You can find the recipe here.  I melted the butter in a bowl in the microwave, then dipped the peach halves in it to coat.  I didn't bother with the mixer (I didn't want to drown out the beautiful hold music- in stereo when on two phones!), and just hand mixed the cream cheese mixture instead.  The few lumps that were left smoothed out when baked.  This recipe was super easy and really delicious.  All four of us gobbled them up and fought over the leftovers.  

Get to the store and buy peaches while you still can (Happy Autumn, by the way!).  This recipe is easy to make and easy to love- I'd make a few extra and remember that this is fruit, so you ARE eating health food.  

P.S.  A cute story about cream cheese: Hadley loves "cheem" cheese on waffles or toast, eating it most mornings.  Tyler overheard Hadley being a sweet big sister and helping Blake get hooked on phonics.  She said, "Blakey, can you say cheam cheese?  Sound it out!  Ba, ba, ba- cheem cheese!"  

Ana White

I know I already posted about Ana White awhile back, but with us getting ready to move, I've been revisiting her site a lot lately.  Ana White is just a regular lady in Alaska who believes that anybody can build things; she makes things like furniture, houses... no big deal.  We are about to have a low budget and a high furniture need, so I love that her site is full of plans geared at teaching people like me (read: no woodworking background) to make things.  After my post a few months ago, a friend kindly made me a little helper tower for our new kitchen.  I can't wait to use it!

So why am I reposting about her today of all days?  Well, you truly must check out her plans for a flip down art desk .  Genius.  I think that this would be great in a kids room, playroom or even the kitchen.  The more I think about it, this would have been a perfect solution to create an office space in our current home.  You could create a horizontal bar in side to store a laptop when not in use.  Darn, that would have been a lot cheaper than buying a new house with an office.

Speaking of the new house...If any of you are reading this blog and thinking, "Gee, I would love to make this stuff and I have all of these tools, but no space to use them," well, then do I have a deal for you.  I just happen to have a very large, very lonely work bench and no tools to fill it with.  Let's make a deal.

That's all for tonight, but I figured it's about time for a new post.  I have some great things to post about, especially coming off a fun vacation.  I also have some ideas in the works and something really great that I'm working on, but I can't tell you about it just yet (No, it's not a baby).

Until then...

Little Houses

Maybe it's because I'm experiencing anxiety over moving to a larger house, but I've been really drawn to small homes lately.

For starters, how cute is this (really, really) little library?

Or how about this playhouse makeover?

via

Now, onto real houses...

Not to Scare You, But...

Have you had your home tested for radon?  (Wondering what radon is?  Go here to read about it.)  If not, you can go to a home improvement store and buy a test kit for less than $15.  The only problem is that you have to send it to a lab across the country and wait for results.  If you want/need instant results, and if you're in the Boise area, then contact Idaho Radon.  The owner is very nice and knowledgable.  He will come to your house, run the 2 hour or 2 day test and get the results back to you instantly.  Should your levels be high, he will point you in the right direction for mitigation.

Check out Idaho Radon's website now to find a code for $50 testing.

Hello, Mr. Sunflower!

Look who was peeking over the fence at us this morning!  I was just thinking how animated sunflowers are, when Blake said, "He's looking at us!"  

Picking Favorites

A few weeks ago, at Stroller Strides, I was asked what my favorite body part was.  After a lot of thought, I went with my teeth.  

Now, while I do like my teeth, this question has been bugging me ever since.  My teeth?  Really, that's all I could come up with?  After having 2 kids, it's hard to say that I really love any of my body parts.  You know that body type questionnaires that ask where you tend to carry weight?  Arms, abdomen, or legs?  How about all of the above?  Check!

I've decided not to think of this question from a point of vanity.  Will my legs ever earn me a modeling contract?  No, but I can't blame that on having kids.  Are they strong?  Heck yes!  

Yep, I'm ready to change my answer.  

Super Cheap Glasses!

Use this link to go to coastal.com, choose your glasses, then enter the code TODAYGLASSES on the final checkout page and any of the featured glasses are only $10, including shipping and handling.  Of course, this only includes basic lenses.  I would need to order the thinnest lenses to combat the coke bottle effect, which would put the price at $59 including UV, anti-reflective and anti-scratch coating- that's still a great deal!

33 Minutes!

This man held a plank for 33 minutes!  Holy Cow!  I'll try to think of him the next time I groan when my Stroller Strides instructor says "Just one more minute of planks!"
Read about it here.