Getting my Bum Off the Sofa, Really

After Christmas I took a little rest.  Until Hubby and I went to the BiG Ballard estate sale I was resting.

A sabbatical, if you will.

After Christmas was stored away and I didn't make any resolutions and I laid on the sofa and became addicted to Downton Abbey, and I snacked too much and felt no creativity.... no major projects got started or finished here.

I am feeling  rested now and I am ready to go on.

So, some thrifting, projects, and walking are in order and I am now ready to tackle them.  Well, maybe not the eat less, move more.  Rome wasn't built in a day.  Give me some slack.

On to the projects...

I've been looking for this contraption for a very long time.  It's going to be something cool and very Pottery Barnish.  Miss Holly has agreed to help me.  Friday I was at Joann's Fabric, thinking about calling Holly and I ran right smack into her, right next to the adhesives in the scrapbooking aisle.  Divine intervention?  I think so!  I always think every project will be easy and amazing until I hit a wall.  Poor Holly witnessed my simplistic mentality at it's best.  Or worst?  Remember that I don't know how to sew and I was in a fabric store.  Poo!

 We had 12 black stemmed champagne flutes, then I broke one while washing late one night and then there were 11.  Now there are 20.  I found 9 at the thift store this week!  

Thanks goodness!  Because one never knows when 19 of their closest friends will need to stop by to celebrate and make a champagne toast.

I have that all the time.

Anyway... I am prepared.  Like a boy scout, prepared.

 Hubby and I found this ottoman.  It needs to be recovered or slip covered; however, it is the perfect height and has good bones.  There are two spots it could go in the Stone House.

Canvas drop cloth and a lot of it.  I have plans.  I need a stencil and poof another project is on it's way.

The package was open so I got a great deal.

So many projects, so little time.  Stay tuned.

Lofthouse Copycat Cookie Recipe

Lofthouse Copycat Cookies

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

Cream together.

Add 3 eggs, 

1 tsp. vanilla

1 1/2 cups sour cream

Mix in the dry ingredients.

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

5 1/2 cups flour+

After the cookies were mixed I divided the dough into two oblong inch thick pieces, wrapped them in cling wrap and put them in the fridge overnight.

The next day the dough is ready to roll and cut.  I use half flour and half powdered sugar on my rol pat, then roll the dough.  The Lofthouse cookies in the grocery store are thick so I made mine thick.  Use a generous amount of flour/powdered sugar.

 I keep my powdered sugar handy to dip my cookie cutters if they start to get sticky.

Bake at 425 degrees in a preheated oven for 8 minutes.  Cool before frosting and decorating.

I made two batches over the course of Love Week and tried two frosting recipes. 

Preferred Frosting

1 cup butter

1 tsp. vanilla

4 cups powdered sugar

6 T. heavy whipping cream

Mix until light using a mixer.

 Obviously, I still haven't taken a cake decorating class.  I'm not sure if this recipe should be labeled Love Week or June is Dairy Month.  Either way, they are very good and much like the ready made cookies available at the grocery store, they are addicting.  It is humanly impossible to eat just one.

 *Disclaimer:  Of course, I found the recipes on Pinterest and tweaked them.

The Conclusion of Love Week 2012

Yesterday Kassie showed up with a special Valentine's Day breakfast for Max.

It  looked delicious and was so pretty on the tray.

Who wouldn't want to wake up to a pretty red head with a special breakfast?

This morning it was back to Mom yelling, "get UP, I called you 5 minutes AGO!"

"And bring down your dirty laundry OR you won't have any CLEAN clothes!"

As for breakfast, it was chocolate milk, that Max poured and stirred for himself.

The party is over.

Thus concludes another Love Week at the Stone House.

Valentine Dinner 2012

We celebrated Valentine's Day on Valentine's Eve last evening.  I set the table with a Scrabble theme.  It was a lot of fun to use the tiles, words and the Scrabble board colors red, pink, blue and tan.  I love Scrabble and am always up for a game.

 I baked more cut out cookies.  I've been experimenting with Lofthouse copycat cookie recipes for a few weeks.  I think I've finally got it.

 Of course, we had a heart shaped meatloaf with some of Max's favorites and a few surprises.  Max requested the snow salad and the green bean bundles and since he will be away at college next year I was happy to serve his choices.

I had gift bags for everyone.  My guys usually get valentine boxers and chocolate, this year was no exception.  Adelene and Kassie got chocolates and treats too.

 After gifts we had dessert.  The sugar cookies and chocolate mousse served in chocolate cups were a hit.

 After Kassie went home Max showed Ad the jewelry he had bought Kassie for her Valentine gift.

It's pretty and Ad approves.

 I had the Scrabble board out and ready to play a game but we were too busy visiting and laughing to have time for a game.  I'm thinking may be Hubby will play a game tonight.

I want to wish each of my readers a special Valentine's Day today.  Remember to show someone you love just how much you love them today and always.

Love you!

I Corinthians 13:4-8a

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 ⁸ Love never fails. 

Love Week 2012

Remember the faux roll waffle iron recipe?

Well, it's back.

For Love Week.

We are celebrating Valentine's Day on Valentine's Eve.  Do you want to guess what we're having for dinner?

Yes, you're right!

Meatloaf.

Celebrations

I attended Bob's 90th birthday luncheon this week.  His dear friends, Pete and Hope came too.  It was so good to see them and so good to see Bob and Pete laughing it up.  Bob's wife, Anna Greta brought lunch.  She is an excellent cook and no one makes Swedish Meatballs better than a Swedish woman.  Their daughter made the homemade rolls.  It was a fun day at the museum.

Yesterday I had an appointment in downtown Bellingham, Hubby came with me.  It's our wedding anniversary on Sunday, and since we have a full weekend we decided to go out for lunch at D'Anna's to celebrate.  Their pasta is handmade on site and is fantastic.  We had a lovely day.  

That said, I have to add that we had numerous calls, texts, interruptions during what we thought would be our private, romantic lunch celebration.  Alas and a lack that wasn't to be.  Max had an issue and boy howdy did he need his parents.  

Next year we will have to be  on a cruise. 

Out of phone range.  

I think it's the only way we can get a little peace and quiet.  

I'm kidding, we love our little guy and are so happy that he can call us.

Just not all the time.