Thursday, December 2, 2010

What a Friend Means....

a friend is a laugh, a wink an inside joke.
a friend is loving you for who you truly are.
a friend is someone who always has your back, no matter what!
a friend is there in good times and in bad.
a friend is someone that has made their way to your heart

THANK YOU MY SWEET FRIENDS!!! YOU MEAN THE WORLD TO ME!!!!

~Kim

Monday, September 20, 2010

HELP! I can't fix my template

Do any of you know how to change or fix my blog template or format to work with all the neat, fun backgrounds? None of the "new Blogger free Templates" seem to work and I cannot get my old layout back.... I need help!! If you do or have had the same problem, please, please leave me a comment!

Gee, this is embarrassing!!!! AND, I promise to be back soon with fun pictures and more recipes!

Thank you for any help peeps!!!!

Until next time,

Warm Blessings from Kim

Friday, September 17, 2010

Autumn is in the air!

Hello and happy Friday Blogger friends!!
I have been away for so long, I forgot how to post! I am not liking my new blogger template, it threw a monkey wrench in my new background!

I have been peeking in on all of you from time to time and LOVING all the fall inspiration. I am in the process of taking some photos to share with you of our home and will try to get those up on the blog this weekend!

What have you all been up to?? Anyone taking any fun fall leaf trips, going to pick apples?? Maybe a craft show or two or three?

I do have a great new recipe I just tried for you all to test out. I LOVE, LOVE one pot healthy meals! This one is just great and is packed with good stuff to warm you to your toes on the chilly nights ahead.

Hope you enjoy it, let me know if anyone tries it out!

TUSCAN CHICKEN AND BEANS

Olive Oil
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into pieces
1 tsp. dried rosemary, crushed or 2 t. chopped fresh
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. fresh ground pepper
1 cup chicken broth or stock
1 16 oz can of cannellini beans, drained
2 TBSP sun-dried tomato flakes

To Make:
Lightly coat and heat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil. Add the chicken, sprinkle in the rosemary, salt and pepper. Stir fry for about 2 minutes. Add the broth or stock, beans and tomato sprinkles to skillet, bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 8 minutes or until chicken is done and sauce reduces down.

* I serve this over rice and it is YUMMY!

Well, that's about it girls. I hope you all have a joyful Friday and Fall-Fun filled Weekend!

Until next time,
Warm blessings from Kim

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Cool drink for a warm Memorial Day weekend!


I just HAD to post this recipe! I have been looking and looking for a fun and festive cool drink for summer entertaining. Or, to just enjoy on your deck with your hubby.. wink,wink! This is what I came up with! Let me know if any of you try it! Yummmo!


WATERMELON VOKDA SLUSH


what you will need: 4 cups watermelon, blended in the blender, seeds removed


2 oz. lemonade concentrate in the can, thawed


2 T. lemon juice


1 c. vodka (optional)


2 oz. melon liqueur


lemon zest to garnish


DIRECTIONS:

Pour the blended and pureed watermelon into empty ice cube trays and freeze.


In the blender, combine the frozen watermelon cubes, lemonade concentrate, lemon juice, vodka, and melon liqueur; blend until smooth. Pour into 4 martini glasses and garnish each with a sprinkle of lemon zest. note: I froze the glasses before hand too. the drinks stayed colder and firmer longer. :)
Now, you can make this a "PG" drink by omitting the vodka, of course! But, after a hot day of entertaining the relatives... you may need that vodka, Ha! Have a great weekend ladies!!!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Just a little hello

Hi friends and blog family!

I have been following all of your great posts lately and trying to get to each of you and leave a comment here and there. Not much new here. I am debating on taking a job with Southern Living. What a scary step after being home with the kids for 12 years now.

Hope you are all doing well! Toodles for now.

~Kim

Monday, March 22, 2010

Spring Greetings!

Good Monday Morning!

I know I have been gone for a loooong time. We have had so many challenges in our life lately. Our youngest son Nicholas is having hearing difficulty and it has been difficult to get things organized for him at school with his new "ears". I am blessed to have a wonderful caring community, but public schools can be tough and not very accommodating. (surprisingly)! We have also had a ton of sinus/ear infections and illnesses in general between the four kiddos.

How have you all been? I hope you are all healthy and doing well! I have gotten some really nice e-mails from my blog buddy Colleen. Thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts my friend! It really warms my heart!! I hope to be on again posting very soon. Thanks for checking in with me!

Blessings,
Kim

Monday, February 1, 2010

Grab a cup of coffee...Lots of show and tell !!!

Well.. I have to say I have been showered with gifts lately!! I want to share some birthday gifts from hubby and the kids first...

This is a beautiful hooked runner they got me! It looks perfect on the center island in the kitchen! I just love the warm colors in it!!
Next, is this darling salt box pillow!! It always amazes me what Jon and the kids pick out. The boys said they got this because it looks like OUR house. (We recently painted it red.) So cute!




They also got me this Paula Deen enameled pot. It is really big and PERFECT for soup and chilli! Thank you Jon and kiddos! I had a great birthday!!

Next up is a special ring my friend Jennifer gave me. It's hard to see in the picture, but it came with the most wonderful saying. "Whenever you wear this ring, know that you are loved just the way you are"... Awwwww, puts tears in my eyes! She also took me out for lunch at Truffles & Tortes in Anoka. We had a wonderful time! Thanks Jen!!



This adorable doll was HAND MADE for me by my friend Renee!!! She is so cute and notice the clothespin hands and sweet face. She came with a prim pumpkin to hold in fall time, but I switched it out for Valentines Day and added a heart. She is such a talented girl! I love it Renee!!!



Here we have a wonderful surprise from Maine!! My blog buddy Colleen sent me these WONDERFUL salt dough sweethearts and wintertime bowl fillers.... also in the box was some yummy chocolates, a great smelling Yankee votive and a sweet card! she makes THE BEST salt dough goodies! How lucky I am to have met her! I was so taken back by her kind surprise package in the mail!!!! Thank you my friend!! P.S. If you want to know how to make these adorable salt dough bowl fillers, visit her blog at www.andbabymakesfive.blogspot !! She has great tutorials for you!! (scroll down to see how I displayed my new goodies!!)








My friend Nicole gave me this cute heart votive and a great assortment of candles to go with it! She invited me over and surprised me with a wonderful birthday dessert too! You are so sweet Nicole!!
When I think of you all, my heart swells with gratitude for you and your friendship and love! I am truly blessed!!!!
Thanks for visiting, I'll be back for Whatchya Workin on Wednesday. I will have a ticking stripe cupboard curtain that I am working on!
Blessings,
~Kim










Friday, January 29, 2010

Door County Cherry Muffins


Door County Cherry Muffins - courtesy of the White Lace Inn Bed and Breakfast
*Oh my... if you haven't been to Door County, WI you must visit someday!
This is a haven filled with Wonderful Bed and Breakfasts, antiques , wineries and quaint shops! They are known for their cherries and have several orchards on the peninsula!
*ingredients:
4 cups flour
2 cups sugar
2 T. baking powder
1 T. cinnamon
3 cups frozen and rinsed cherries
1 cup butter (melted)
1 cup milk
4 eggs
1 t.vanilla
TOPPPING:
1 cup flour
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
~~~~~ Steps:
1. preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. combine dry ingredients and blend. In a sep. bowl, toss 1 tbs. or dry ingredients with the cherries.
3. In a large bowl, mix butter, milk, eggs and vanilla. Then add dry ing. and stir until well moistened. Stir in the cherries.
4. spoon batter into muffin tins to about 3/4 full and sprinkle with topping mixture. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-18 minutes. Makes about 2 dozen muffins.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Watchya Workin On Wednesday

XXX TICKING STRIPE GRUNGY PRIM CINNAMON HEART GARLAND TUTORIAL OOO
Happy Wednesday everyone! I have a fun little prim garland that I whipped up. It is super easy and smells heavenly too! I used some scrap ticking stripe and waverly floral fabric along with some homespun to make "patches" on the hearts. They didn't show up so well in the photo, but I basically just "ripped" the homespun into small square shaped "patches" and attached them to my finished hearts with heat-n-bond.
Get your supplies ready

You will need:

Fabric Scraps

Pinking Shears

Heat and Bond

Twine or Ribbon

Cinnamon

Double Strength Brewed Tea

or Coffee

Glue Gun
Cut out desired size hearts from the scrap fabric with your pinking shears. Don't worry about them being perfect, after all they are "handmade"! Soak your heart cut-outs in double strength
tea until desired look. This gives them a nice prim
aged look and allows the cinnamon to stick.



Sprinkle your damp hearts generously with cinnamon. I put
mine on parchment paper and then let them dry overnight.

Glue your cinnamon hearts to a twine or ribbon. I
also added some "patches" from torn homespun by
using my heat and bond. (follow the directions on the package) I hope you have fun making these, I sure did! My camera is on the fritz, so I will post my "show and tell" later in the week when I can download my recent photos. As always, thanks for stopping by!
~Kim











Monday, January 25, 2010

GIVEAWAY RESULTS!!!!

Good Monday Afternoon!! Here are the results of my very first giveaway....
Drum roll Please...... The winner is "AND BABY MAKES FIVE"!!!! Congratulations to you! Your package will be on it's way and so will a check to the American Red Cross for $45.00!!! Thank you everyone!! This has been a fun thing for me and it warms my heart reading all of your great entries and comments!! I will be doing it again in the near future!! I am off to my fifty foot tall pile of laundry now, but I will be back for "Watcha Workin On Wednesday"! I will have a fun grungy cinnamon heart garland tutorial for you and some "show and tell" too!! Have a great day

~Kim

Sunday, January 24, 2010

ONE MORE DAY TO REGISTER FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

Hello All! There is one more day left to register for my Valentine's giveaway! Thank you to everyone that has signed up thus far! We are up to $42.00 last time I checked for the Red Cross!! Wow! See what a little blog can do for a great cause! I will post the results tomorrow! Thanks again everyone!!!!! Have a great day and GO VIKINGS!!!!!
~Kim

Valentine Giveaway with a twist of kindness.....
scroll down for all the details!!!

Friday, January 15, 2010

Giveaway with a Twist of Kindness

TA-DA! Here it is!!!!!! SIGN UP TO WIN, AND HELP HAITI TOO!

Here is what you get: A painted Valentine's Day sign, ADORABLE stitched heart, a FAB Banana Nut Bread can candle from A Primitive Glow (DEVINE!!), A Rabbit Creek Microwave Fudge mix, A sweet floursack towel with Valentine's sentiments AND you get the woven burgundy and cream mat underneath!!!!

Now here is the twist: For every person who enters, we will donate $1.00 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for Haiti!!!! Here are the rules to enter:


1. You must be a follower of my blog (so sign up!)

2. You must advertise my giveaway on YOUR blog

3. Please leave me a comment stating you want
to be entered!

That's it! Easy, Peasey!! I will be doing the random drawing on January 25th, so get entered and help the Red Cross too!!! Good luck ladies!

For more information on how you can donate to help the people of Haiti go to:

http://www.redcross.org/

Thank you to ALL who enter! I will post the results on January 25th! Scroll down for my awesome Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding Recipe for today's Swap and visit my friend Colleen for more recipes and fun at "And baby makes five"!!

Blessings,

Kim




Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

(a Food Network Recipe)


Ingredients:

4-6 day old croissants (I know, who lets 'em sit for a day before they are all eaten!!)
2 Cups half and half
2 Cups heavy cream
Pinch of Salt
4 Oz. semisweet or bittersweet choc. chopped
(I used Bakers brand bittersweet)
6 Eggs
1 Cup sugar
Whipping Cream to top.

To Make:
Cut croissants into 1 inch squares and place in a baking dish
Then, in a saucepan, heat the half and half, cream, and salt over med.
heat, stirring occasionally to make sure the mixture does not burn
or stick. When the cream mixture reaches a fast simmer (do not
let boil *) turn off the heat and add the chocolate and whisk until melted.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together. Whisking constantly, gradually
add the hot chocolate-cream mixture. Pour mixture over the croissant pieces and gently toss
to coat. Leave "soak" for 15 minutes. As it soaks, fold the mixture a few times
to ensure even soaking.
When ready to bake, heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Line a roasting pan that is 2 inches deep (at least) and larger than the
baking dish you used with paper towels. Fill the pan with
very hot water and place the dish of bread pudding inside. Bake
until set, about 40-45 min. Serve warm with whipping cream.

GIVEAWAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION!

Hi ladies! Hold on to your mouse-pads and stop back later today... I am unveiling an unbelievable January GIVEAWAY!! It has a twist that includes a little random act of kindness and some WONDERFUL goodies! Also, I will have a new recipe for our swap! See you back here later this afternoon....
Toodles for now!

~Kim

Friday, January 8, 2010

It's Recipe Time!!


Good Friday Morning All!!


Boy oh Boy is it ffffffreeeezing here in Minnesota this morning! It is currently -18 out there. Yes, that is a minus in front of the eighteen! Because it's so nippy I thought I would post a couple of "warm the body and soul" recipes for you to try out! Remember to click on the link at the right of this post and join Colleen from And Baby Makes Five in her weekly recipe swap! It's fun and there are loads of great recipes to try out!


My last post was talking about random acts of kindness, and boy do I have one to share with you all! My sweet friend Kindra (check out her amazing blog at Three guys, a girl and a prim place) sent me this ADORABLE block set she MADE! Yes, she MADE them! Just for me! I love them Kindra, and they are just perfect for perking up the house after putting away all my Christmas decor. Thank you so much for brightening up my day and my heart!!!
Yummy Cream Cheese Croissants
2 pkg. Crescent Rolls
FILLING:
2 (8oz) Cream Cheese
1 C. Sugar
1 tsp. Vanilla
1 Egg Yolk
TOPPING:
1/3 c. Sugar
1/2 c. Chopped Walnuts
1 Egg White
* Grease a 9 X 13 inch pan. Mix filling well and set aside.
Spread 1 package of the crescents to cover bottom of
pan and pinch seams. Spread filling to cover. Stretch and
pull other package of rolls to cover top of filling. Beat
egg white until frothy, spread over crust. Sprinkle with 1/3
cup sugar and nuts. Bake at 350 degrees for
25-30 minutes until light brown.
Gram Saeger's Smothered Chicken
3 to 4 lbs. Chicken
1 c. All-purpose flour
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 c. Margarine
2.1-oz Env. Chicken Noodle
Soup Mix
10-3/4 oz. Can Cream of
Mushroom Soup
12-oz. Can Evaporated Milk
1 t. Poultry Seasoning
1/2 t. Dried Parsley
* Dredge chicken pieces in flour; sprinkle with salt and
pepper. Melt margarine in a large skillet over medium heat.
Fry chicken until golden on both sides; transfer to a greased
13"X9" baking pan. Sprinkle with soup mix; pour mushroom soup
over top. Combine evaporated milk,seasoning and parsley
in a small saucepan over medium heat; heat through without
boiling. Pour over chicken.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serves 4
Mmmmmmmmm!!!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Random Acts of Kindness

Happy New Year All!

I hope everyone has wound down from the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I know it's cold out there and we are now cooped up for a long winter. So, I thought I would tell you all about my New Year's resolution ( yes, I am a little late, but bear with me please) I have thought long and hard about what it should be. Like everyone, I have lots of things I'd like to change and loads of projects I should be working on, BUT.. what is truly important in life?? An organized closet, a little weight loss perhaps?? Not really. What is truly important in my opinion is the lessons we teach our children about the life we lead and the type of person we are. This leads me to my resolution. If we ALL just looked for the good in people, if we All just tried to understand anothers hardships, if we ALL had sympathy for others, the world would be better. It would teach our children that people ARE good. I pledge for the New Year to be kind to others, to put myself in other peoples shoes and to just do good!

I know it seems small and sort of silly, but I will do my best to adhere to my plan. I hope you all will join me in doing a little kind deed for someone else when they least expect it. I think it will make us all happier! I'll see you all back here on Friday for a great recipe and a little "lighter" post! Have a great day everyone!!
~Kim