What's Cooking: Almond Crescents

(Mixing the buttery goodness)

I decided to make almond crescents, which looked so good when Rachel made them over at Heart of Light .

(Ready to cook)

The recipe gave me enough to fill two baking sheets and just as I was about to pop them in the oven I realized my ovenwas broken... brilliant. So after a quick phone call to my fellow Two Blogger I drove to her house with my uncooked delights.

(The finished product)

The recipe doesn't specify how long to cook them, but I left them in for about 12 minutes. I rolled the finished crescents in powdered sugar and I was done. They turned out dry and crumbly, but in a good way. They're perfect with a cup of coffee.

Photos by moi.

Music Musings

(Fleet Foxes)

Right now there are two bands that I've been listening to for weeks. The first is Fleet Foxes. I've been flipping their serene album from A-side to B-side since my brother-in-law got it for me for Christmas.

The second is The Avett Brother's album "I and Love and You." I'm slightly obsessed with this one. I heard the album's title track "I and Love and You" months ago and have been hooked ever since. Each time I listen to the album I have a new favorite song, currently "And It Spread," but to be fair, yesterday "The Perfect Space" was my fav.

I highly recommend both albums and encourage all of you to get thee to a CD store (or library or iTunes).

(Avett Brothers)

Photos are the band's album covers.

Let Me Count the Ways....Worksheets

I once asked a teacher, who is a friend of mine, what her kids struggle with the most in third grade. She quickly answered, "counting money and making change." Well, no surprise there! I can barely function adding and subtracting coins in my own head.

So, wanting to get my son more comfortable around coins and numbers I turned to the Internet for resources. I was not disappointed! I found this website comprised of all kinds of homeschooling worksheets. Donna Young is the creator, and she has a numerous list of different subjects and age appropriate worksheets!

Here are the worksheets I printed out, about coins. Having them laminated at a Teaching Supply store (not UPS, they are very pricey to laminate! I found out that the hard way.) These were only $1.30 at the Teaching Store and will last forever.

I cut out the ones that I am going to use as flashcards, and the rest are ready for an erasable marker!

Oh, Internet let me count the ways I love thee free and abundant resources!

The Avid Reader's Musings

I've decided to start a new blog with posts just about books. It's too hard for me to try to limit myself to posting about books once a week or so.

We'll still have this blog, which will have fantastic posts on decorating, DIY projects, cooking, organization, travel, and a million other interesting things. But I hope you'll come visit me over at...

The Avid Reader's Musings

...to read my book reviews and thoughts on various books.

Photo was e-mailed to me and I have no idea where it is originally from.

Juicy Vitamins

Here's the starting health line up- Orange, Apple, Carrot, Cranberries, and Spinach Juice. My helper and I took the afternoon and sliced and diced.

It was the first time I had used a juicer. Here are my Pros and Cons of the process:

Pros

-Takes a minute to pour out a healthy drink from our pre-made selection of juices.

-The kids favorite is fresh apple juice. Orange, carrot, and spinach combination is mine.

-I know that my body is absorbing the highest nutrient content it can get through these juices. The fiber in the pulp (or skin of the fruit) is taken out by the juicing machine. So, my body is more readily able to absorb these nutrients rather than expel them with the skin/fiber portion of food.

-I saved the skins of the cranberries and carrots. I added them to the meatloaf and muffins for breakfast and dinner the next day!

Cons

-It is a pain to have to clean out the blade out every so often, because the excess "skin" clogged the machine.

-We had a bag full of cranberries and spinach and only got a slim selection of juice.

- I threw away the apple, spinach, and orange skins.

Overall, I would say that I would do it again. But would not use a juicier as an everyday source of vitamins.

One Man's Trash

(New dresser!)

Over the weekend I acquired a brand new, gorgeous wood dresser! By brand new I mean new to me. And by acquired I mean, found on my brother's apartment balcony.

I stopped by my brother's apartment and happened to notice this beautiful piece of furniture sitting on his back porch... in the snow. I was flabbergasted. I tried to remember that he and his roommate are male college students and furniture is only truly functional if it can quickly be turned into a beer pong table, but come on!

(Contact paper lining the drawers)

After a quick conversation he explained someone had given them the dresser and they didn't want it (hence the outdoor storage). Two days later, after I had cleaned it, rubbed it down with pledge and lined the drawers with contact paper, it was sitting in out master bedroom. It replace a little pressed particle board dresser we had been using.

(Old dresser)

I know the trend right now is to paint pieces like this, but I just can't bring myself to cover the wood. I love it just how it is, slightly nicked and scratched. One man's trash can absolutely become another (wo)man's treasure.

Photos by moi.

Corralling Cords

Organizing Issue: Two lamp cords who think they own the joint.

Organizing Solution: 3M Cord Clips striking fear into wayward cords everywhere.

The Action Shot.

Not even gravity can stop me from organizing! :)