Michigan Fall, i love you!

ok, you know how i HATE the winter and that i am bitter because i didn't move to maui after college, but instead returned to the frozen tundra of michigan.  now that it is october, i've added the electric blanket, dug out my flannels and started planning for my hibernation, but what the what?!?! it has been GORGEOUS here in michigan, do you think she's trying to win me over?  for the past week and 1/2, it's been mid to upper 70's and full on hawaii sunshine!

michigan

(dear power lines, thank you for adding beauty to my shot)

 hawaii...see, hardly any difference AT ALL!

i have been enjoying it while i can

 ok, so i ran out of pink spray paint...see the red? guess what?! i can't find this spray paint anywhere and i'm thinking it is no longer available...

and by "enjoying" i mean burning a hole in the ozone with my spray paint!  come on back tomorrow and see what's going on with chinamommy!!

and don't forget the deadline for the hat drive is coming soon- october 31st!! 

see all information in the tab above or just donate a buck and check it off your list of things to do (donate button top, left-easy peasy paypal!)

Dutch Oven?

So, I made this Pumpkin Rosemary Soup last night...
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Sound good?

Try it right HERE!!!

and just so you don't have to google "dutch oven" like I did, I'll go ahead and tell you what it is.  A "real" dutch oven happens to be (from Wikipedia)

 A Dutch oven is a thick-walled (usually cast iron) cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. Dutch ovens have been used as cooking vessels for hundreds of years.

but also found on Wikipedia, the only version of a dutch oven that I, personally, was familiar with:

A dutch oven is a fart chamber (a contained area of flatus) created by pulling a blanket over some one's head and breaking wind. The phrase is a slang description based on the cooking action of a Dutch oven where food is cooked and steamed inside a closed chamber. Performing a Dutch oven creates an area of foul-odored air in an enclosed space that must be inhaled.^[1] This is done as a prank or by accident to one's sleeping partner.^[2][3]

^{I was only familiar with the 2nd dutch over-Trust me, go for the "real" dutch oven for the soup!!}

^{A pan will work, we didn't have a dutch oven.  I also used vegan bacon.} 

^{This soup is SOOOO good, it's seriously worth going to the site and making it!!}

^{We've had the most fabulous week here in Michigan, the sun is out, the temps in the mid to high 60's...Ahhh, if only it would stay this way for the next 3 months!}

^{Have a great weekend and let me know if you try the soup!!}

^{Any other favorite fall recipe's?} 

Apple Crisp and a Halloween Sneak Peek...

Hello October!!

Ok, so I'm not a fan of fall like the rest of ya, but I do LOVE apple crisp (which is a fall thing, right?!).

I made a recipe a while back that frankly, SUCKED!  So I googled apple crisp and came up with one that had over 2,000 positive reviews and guess what?

They were right!

So, here it is:

(one side note, I am not so much of a sweet person and this is freakin' SWEET! I cut my white sugar to 3/4 cup and when I make it again, I'll cut it to 1/2...FYI)

Apple Crisp II

by Diane Kester

(from allrecipes.com)

Preheat over to 350

In a 9X13 pan:

put in 10 cups of apples (I like green granny smith).  mix 1 cup white sugar, 1 TBS flour, 1 tsp cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples.  Pour 1/2 cup water evenly over this.

In another bowl combine:

1 cup quick cooking oats, 1 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 tsp baking power, 1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/2 cup melted butter.  Mix together then sprinkle over the top of the apples mixture.

Bake at 350 for about 45 min.

Mmmmm, not only tastes great, your home will smell FABULOUS!

Let me know what you think!!

PS: she suggested serving it with rum raisin ice cream or a BIG dollop of freshly whipped cream... Ok, anyone that knows me KNOWS that is over the TOP for me!!  But if you like all the extras, GO FOR IT!

IF you don't know me, I am the most plain/bored with food eater ever.  My cousin use to say she hated to go places with me because I always forgot to eat.  "No, I don't want sauce on it, I don't want extra gravy, and I don't want you to add_____."

I eat healthy, I eat to live, I don't live to eat, but...

Warm Apple Crisp steals  my ❤ just a little!

Has anyone started decorating for Halloween?!

I've never been a big fan, but now that I have a child...

LOVE IT!!

Remember this guy?

and these guys?! I did the glitter skull tutorial last Oct- anyone give it a try?

They survived pretty well in plastic bags, missing a bit of glitter, but just a bit...

 Ok, how weird is my wall color in these pics?!  Speaking of pictures...

Canon is sending me some software so maybe now I can connect big girl camera to my mac?!

and... guess who just got PHOTOSHOP!!!???

Yeah, don't get all excited it could take me years to learn it.  I sat last night staring at the screen like a deer into oncoming traffic!!  IF you know of some good online photoshop tutorials, Please share!!

Ok, off to JoAnns cause I ran out of yarn less than 100 stitches from the end of Darlings newsboy/girl hat...well, of course I did!!!!

Have a fabulous weekend and make some apple crisp!

Baby Hat donation deadline coming SOON...Oct 31st!

**Info posted on the weekends for you newbies!**

Fall Fashion 2010...

Yep, this is going to be short... REALLY short, but I've got to get downtown to the court house and try to squeeze some blood out of a turnip...

I love when you look up fall fashion 2010 and get this: sheer is in, underwear as outer wear, leather clothing is IN and cut-out clothing, then add in some velvet and military style and you've got me all worked up.  Isn't there a site out there for "Hey, I'm 40 (ok, 41) and I am a mom who wants to look hot, but not Pam Anderson hot, and not psycho like "leather cut-out" psycho....".  Throw a mom a bone, what the heck am I suppose to wear this winter?  I do want to share one trend that this northern-cold-hater is THRILLED about... SOCKS with heels and Knee socks with boots!!  

My feet are cold people- ALWAYS cold!  You will only see me barefoot when the temps rock 80+!

I believe this trend started last winter because you might remember, 

I gave it a go...

Any fantabulous fall fashion trends for those of you over 23?

Anything a MUST for your closet or have you just given up and are still sporting your velvet JLo jogging suit?

Speaking of velvet jogging suit...Tonight is my 1st running club run...

I'm nervous, I'll report back tomorrow if I don't end up at the ER, but if I do end up in the ER I'll be sure to take photos!!

Happy Monday and go put your socks on!!!!

and don't forget...

 BABY/KID HAT DRIVE

As most of you know, my daughter was adopted from China and I left a little piece of my heart there.  I'm collecting hats to keep the children and babies warm in the winter.  Many live in orphanages that are without heat.

1. make a baby hat, toddler hat, or kid sized hat 

(you can take the non-crafty way out and buy one if you must)

2. Send to:

David Shellenbarger

c/o chinamommy

146 E Main

Caledonia, MI 49316

3. I need them in my hot little hands BY Oct 31, 2010.

4. I'll take care of shipping them to CHINA this fall.

any questions- please feel free to email me!!

chinamommy@yahoo.com

What is happening to my SUMMER???

UGH!! Look at the tree in my front yard??

the turkeys in the back

The Mister's (almost) empty garden

The pumpkins

and pumpkin vines gone WILD!

A pumpkin fell off our porch last year, a few seeds got left behind and started to grow.  I pulled the plant out and threw it at the edge of one of my flower gardens...  It has TAKEN over!

Note to self: do NOT throw baby pumpkin plants anywhere NEAR flower beds, they will survive and go nuts.

It makes me sad to see the end of summer, but it makes me happy to see the beginning of fall fashion!

the little necklace clips on each side of the shirt!  this is GREAT for a little girl that doesn't like ANY think "scratchy".  She can't stand jewelry that "touches" her...

I've somehow failed her!!

Silly bands itch her wrists, necklaces pull the hair on the back of her neck, rings rub her finger...

Happy weekend friends and don't forget the deadline is approaching to send in baby/kid hats!

I need them by Oct 31st-Boo!

(I'll post all the info tomorrow)

Remember: they do NOT have to be HANDMADE!! 

(for you craft slackers...you know who you are!)