full service.

Just mentioning WHAT gets my kids all excited? Let the begging ensue.

Now, it's a treat to help fill the tank, because I've made it that way! Only good boys get to belly up to the pump. Sometimes they even wash the windows (or just stick a wet wad of blue paper towel on my window.)

Nothing like a little five star service at your favorite gas station. All I had to do was sit in the car and read a magazine. It's about time they start pulling their weight around here anyway!
And besides, a view of :
is better than an old greasy gas station attendant any day. (I always think of Gomer from Andy Griffith, or was is Goober?)

my favorite national holiday.

I received an e-mail a few weeks ago letting me in on the fact that today is national:

What does this mean?

Well, the Cheesecake Factory restaurant put every single piece of cheesecake on their menu at a special $1.50 price. Normally, it's $8 to $10 a rich and decadent slice.

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Of course, we were not the only ones that knew about this national phenomenon. When I arrived and squeezed past the massive crowds, the hostess let us know that there would be a 60 to 75 minute wait for a table. Soooooooooooo.... we decided to explore and:

We brought our friend Janelle along for the fun too, so that made it extra special. We all got a kick out of the:

After a while, we decided to go back inside and enjoy the air conditioning. We squeezed back inside the restaurant, and huddled under a plant. Soon the crowds started migrating, and they pushed us right next to the cheesecake display.

Oh, Hallelujah! Finally, we got a table-- it was outside, but after a short 30 minute wait, I wasn't complainin'!Janelle and Ben ordered the same thing, they must be chocolate lovers. They got:
Do you know what this is? This is the:
Probably one of the fanciest cheesecakes on the menu!

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Josh changed his mind about 347 times, first it was dolche de leche, then it was strawberry, soon he changed his mind and decided on cookie dough... but in the end he choose:

BANANA! This would have been my last choice, but he seemed to enjoy it!

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I prefer my cheesecake of the plain variety, and decided on:

Not a peep for 30 minutes I tell you! Not even one peep was muttered while we enjoyed our cheesecake.

And we even had leftovers to bring home for later.

laughing and crying.

Yesterday night, it was girls night. What better way to celebrate than going to see Mamma Mia! (Jeff, you can thank me for not dragging you later...!)

It's hard to take pictures in the:

My first laugh of the evening was looking at all of our:How Martha Stewart is bringing handmade, wax paper rolled caramels and fresh kettle corn? Kirstin, you crack me up!

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This movie was SO funny! I think it caught me a little bit off guard as I was laughing so hard I was crying. There is just something about Pierce Brosnan singing Abba that made me roll!

treasured trash.

Ok, so I have professed to being a trash picker. That's okay. Sometimes, when you see something laying out by the side of the road and it looks fixable, you jump out and when no one is looking-- you swipe it!

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This is how we obtained Ben's lovely white crib after all. All it needed was a little love. I even sold it at a garage sale after he grew out of it and pocketed a little cash. See, it wasn't junk after all.

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Anyway, this little "trait" (as I'm going to put it) has totally been passed down to my kids. Today, Josh spotted two cardboard egg cartons on top of the trash can that were waiting to be dumped into our recycle bin.

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"What!" he exclaimed, "You are going to throw those away!" He clutched them like treasures, and after an approving nod from me, hauled them away to his bedroom and latched the door. I really didn't think much of it, I've given the boys empty food boxes to play "grocery store" with before, and so I went about my day.

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A while passed, and soon Josh came out and presented me with:

"It's a mouse!" he proudly exclaimed, "and, it's a girl mouse mom. You wanna know how it's a girl mouse?"

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Hmmmmmmmmmmm... I got a little scared at this very question. How would one know that this was indeed a girl mouse. I felt a "birds and the bees" conversation coming on... but there was no where to run!

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"Because, she has eyelashes, just like you!" he motioned over and pointed gently to the little penciled in eyes.

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Not only did he construct a small little egg carton mouse all by himself, but he guided his brother to do the same.

And so, we enjoyed some:
I have to admit. I feel a teensy weensy bit proud that I have bred and cultivated two boys who think with imaginations and creativity. I think it was remarkable that they were able to see a mouse out of an old cardboard egg carton. I am proud.

handkerchief aprons:

You choose:

the colors.

ric rac, lace, ruffle or ribbon.

hand embroidered embellishments.

hand embroidered name or initial.

For gifts or yourself!

Basic apron includes: white handkerchief base, 2 yard ribbon tie back, and ric rac or lace embellishment bottom. ($15 plus shipping.) Additional embellishments, extra.

some people say.

Perusing old photos tonight. Isn't that fun to do?

I ran across some of my faves.
Some people say I look like my mom...

Some people say I look like my dad...
What do you think?

my day with the little chefs.

I was a busy woman today.

Two completely packed little chef cooking classes, one right after the other.

I was up to my armpits in meatballs-- serious!

Look at my little chefs so diligently rolling their meatballs. I love them (both the meatballs and my little chefs.)
We enjoyed homemade meatballs and spaghetti, puffy parmesan bread sticks, and chocolate covered bananas. (X2) Seriously, I love this!
Now, I am going to go put my feet up.
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Italian Meatballs

1 lb. ground beef
2 eggs
1 clove of garlic, minced
½ C dry bread crumbs
1 T parsley (fresh or dry)
¼ t basil (fresh or dry)
3 T parmesan cheese
S&P

Mix all ingredients well with hands. Form into golf ball size balls. Place balls in a large pot and cover with spaghetti sauce. Cover and simmer until cooked through. (about 30 minutes)

Serve over cooked pasta.

**This recipe is full of memories for me. My grandfather and grandmother ate at an Italian restaurant in 1952, and were so impressed with the meatballs-- they asked the owner for the recipe. I've been eating these since I had teeth.

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Parmesan Puffs

1 package of frozen puff pastry
1 C parmesan cheese
1 t dried basil
¼ t garlic powder
¼ c butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet.

On a lightly floured surface, unfold pastry sheets. Cut each into 13 strips.

In a shallow dish combine cheese, basil, and garlic powder. Brush pastry sticks with melted butter and roll in cheese mixture, lightly coating each side. Gently twist pastry sticks and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

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Chocolate covered banana pops

4-5 medium ripe but firm bananas
8-10 craft sticks
1 bag of milk chocolate chips
Sprinkles

Peel and cut each banana in half crosswise, insert a stick at the bottom.

Melt the chocolate either in the microwave (keeping an eye on it so it does not burn) or over a double boiler. (I put a oven safe bowl over a pot of hot water to make my own double boiler.) Melt chocolate. Roll the bananas into the chocolate to coat, adding any toppings if desired. Place bananas in the freezer for a few hours to set.

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Not sick of me yet? Looking for the recipe for my pie and crust I made yesterday? I am a guest blogger here today and reveal all the secrets to that fantabulous pie crust!

sweetie pies.

Today.

Today, I battled my nemesis named pie crust. Can you believe in all my 28 years I have never been able to master pie crust. I gave up about 8 years ago as a newlywed. Today, I decided to drag the kids along with me to the fight. We all came armed with our rolling pins.

I decided to make good use of those blackberries (remember or not? Click here! ) we picked last month and use about 4 cups of them in a lattice top pie. The boys made their own ramekin pies. Did you know that you could bake little individual pies in an oven save mug or tiny bowl? I got this idea from a restaurant. Once, I had a miniature apple pie baked into a cup and topped off with a crust hat.

Everything tastes better with:
After the boys finished their pies, I worked on mine.
I will have to be honest, the dough put up a fight. But, I strategized and pressed forward. I was not going for a beautiful pie, just an edible one.My favorite part:
On to do other things, like cleaning up the pie dough mess. Mercy me! Flour everywhere, even in my eyebrows. We were all covered in a fine dust.
Oh wait! Is that the timer ringing?!

Careful, they are so stinkin' hot!
The hardest part: (well except for handling the dough.)
C'mere boys!

I ate my dessert BEFORE dinner tonight.

I can say, that after an 8 year vendetta with pie crust-- I finally tamed the ravage beast. Take that pie crust. You'll never get me again. I think I won this time!

I hope I can save a piece for Jeff when he gets home. But, I make no guarantees.