Winter, Already? No!!

We had our first snow of the season yesterday and I just can not believe it is winter already. It wouldn't be so bad if mid-June had not looked like this:

Worst thing about cold weather and babies? You put all the layers of clothes on to keep them warm and they secretly work their hardest to get out of all those little layers. Fun times.

But really...isn't his little hat the cutest?

I love free stuff

Free Amy Butler Patterns by mowe34

So Easily Amused...

The Audacity of Hope

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." -- Martin Luther King Jr.

"This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can." --Barack Obama

I feel like I have done a pretty good job keeping this blog free and clear of political preferences but that is about to change. I keep hearing people who actually believe Americans elected Obama to simply appease racial guilt. This infuriates me. I did not vote for Obama because he is black but because he was the better candidate. He didn't win me over by smearing John McCain through the mud....he won me over with his policies and his beliefs. I see this election and the results as a sign that America is at a point in its history that the need for real leadership and the desire for solutions to real problems are color-blind. Congratulations President Obama.

"I believe that there will ultimately be a clash between the oppressed and those who do the oppressing. I believe that there will be a clash between those who want freedom, justice, and equality for everyone and those who want to continue the system of exploitation. I believe that there will be that kind of clash, but I don't think it will be based on the colour of the skin." - Malcolm X

Oh, and by the way, everyone knows that ex-athletes are the hardest workers.

Vote today!

Feed Me I'm Starving!

A friend of ours called tonight and then ended the conversation with "I gotta go...I have to cook my daughter dinner."

"What are you going to make for her?" we politely pondered.

*Big sigh* "I haven't figured that out yet."

So I am posting this quick and easy (and quite tasty) recipe for our friend and his daughter. May she never have to wait for dinner again.



Tex-Mex Corn Chip Chili
Borrowed from Everyday with Rachael Ray
Serves 4

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 sweet onion, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
One 15-ounce can black beans
One 15-ounce can pinto beans
One 10-ounce can tomatoes with green chiles
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
12 ounces pepper jack cheese, shredded (I used half this)
One bag (about 10 ounces) corn chips, such as Fritos

1. In a Dutch oven (or a big pot...like you cook pasta in), heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook for 7 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, chili powder and cumin and cook over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Add the beans, with their liquid, and the tomatoes; bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Stir in the cilantro, then top with the cheese, cover and let stand until the cheese melts, 5 to 10 minutes. Place a handful of corn chips in each of 4 bowls. Top with the chili and serve.

Just Didn't Meet the Deadline...

While the house was decorated for Halloween, the paint used was not dry. Here are some of the projects that I was scrambling to get finished before the holiday:

Let's see things you should know..the votives were made out of Jack's old baby food jars...Anne gave me the idea from an old Martha Stewart craft...the black vase was/is a spray painted over dollar store abomination...the wicker globes were also from the dollar store and the painted white...there was going to be two vases with longer ball flowers but I broke one of the freshly painted vases while chasing a chicken out of the garage...and if you don't carve your pumpkins you can leave them on your front door step as Thanksgiving decorations. Hmm I probably could paint them white for Christmas as well. Kidding.