A Party of Cookies

Listen, I know everyone is all America's Test Kitchen is the best all the time. I get that I do. My brother has the book and I have taken a few recipes from it. I especially like the Blueberry muffins for the times when you want something a little different than my Bisquick Blueberry Muffins. (I've used that link so many times I can't even tell you.)

But when it comes to cookies well Betty Crocker is where it's at. Sure I have Martha's book too and some of her recipes are really good. But Betty's got that down home you could actually make these kind of recipes. I use:

I have written about this book before, back during Gingerbread House time. But in case you don't remember I will explain. This is my favorite cook book. I have my Grandmother's copy, with vanilla stains, and notes about certain recipes and clippings from magazines and newspapers pressed between the pages but the binding isn't doing so well. However, the lovely Betty Crocker people re-released the book EXACTLY the same. (There is a note about how food safety and popular ingredients have changed through the years) but it is still all 1963. The photographs are real and the food styling is just so homey that every single cookie looks possible because they aren't too perfect.

When it came time on Friday to make our cookies for our party, C and I got out the Cooky Book (I just love that it's spelled with a Y) and got to work. We use Mary's Sugar Cookies on page 18. I have made Ethel's Sugar Cookies as well (very tasty and also on page 18) but for cookies for decorating Mary's cookies are where it's at.

And you guys, they were perfect. We chilled them for about 4 hours and rolled them out, cut them with our heart cookie cutters and 8 minutes later we had PERFECT cookies. Crisp around the edges with a soft chew in the middle, perfect for decorating. Just ignore my flash and head in the window and look at the fun C is having.

(He insists on putting on his apron when we cook and apparently that spilled over into decorating too.)

It was a very happy Valentine's Day with cookies to decorate. Everyone enjoyed themselves. I used store bought frosting and then just a few different kinds of sprinkles so that it was easy peasy. And it was. We also had Papa Murphey's and punch because we're fancy like that. 

We had a great Valentine's Day and a good weekend. Now we're back to Monday and the weather is GROSS. But on the upside it is supposed to be nice the rest of the week so I am looking forward to that! 

Valentine's Day Quick Takes

1. Mother Nature is a tease. Yes. It was 33 yesterday. Maybe even 34. That is above freezing people. And it was sunny. And the snow did start a melting. But my glory was short lived when I awoke to snow. More snow. And cold. Snowy and cold. I'm willing to bet the Pagans dancing naked in Spring weren't crazy they were just relieved the Winter was over.

2. Happy St. Valentine's Day! I know a lot of people are all "we don't need material things to show love" and "corporate Holiday" and all that. But I don't subscribe to that philosophy and I enjoy even the small gift giving holidays.

3. C got 2 new Elephant and Piggie books for his collection:

He is excited by this and in the hour since receiving them we have read each 3 times and the other Elephant and Piggie books once. It's an Elephant and Piggie kind of day up in here.

4. Husband got a desperately needed pair of tennis shoes, which is not entirely selfless because I may strongly dislike the pair he has taken to now. (A pair that is in goodish condition but are ugly to the ugliest power.) But since Husband's life revolved around 4 pairs of shoes: black dress shoes, brown dress shoes, tennis shoes and a casual summer shoe it really is okay to throw a new pair in the mix selfish or not.

5. We are having a party tonight, the details of which I have not hammered out. It may involve cookie decorating but we'll see. The guest list is in fact figured out so I suppose that is something.

6. I am being summoned to read some new books over again so I should probably go.

7. Link up with Jen will ya?

Theme Thursday: Heart (What About Love?!)

The title did in fact warn you I would have this here. 

Hearts is a hard theme for me. I don't have Valentine's decorations that I put out. We did make some Valentine's Day crafts but they didn't actually involve hearts and I can't post them because their recipients have not actually become the recipients yet.

Sadly I'm kind of over the Olympics, my heart just isn't in it. Thanks NBC. I know I can stream all the stuff on the interwebs but my interwebs is of the slow variety. I also realize that Summer vs. Winter and the shows being reruns in the summer. But the last round they had Olympic coverage all day and now it's the standard line up. I don't love Rachael Ray anyway but when I could and should be watching something Olympic-y it's even more of a let down. So it's hard to get pumped watching snowboarding, again, at night when I haven't seen anything else.

Okay, enough lamenting. Ridiculous. It's Thursday. There's a theme. And it's a happy one. Well as long as we mostly all stick with Valentinesy hearts and not heart disease hearts. Though I suppose if we're all taking pictures of our oatmeal containers and their heart healthy warning that would be okay. (And I completely missed the #WhatWomenNeed thing and had no idea, but the way you're all responding is in fact happy, healthy and hopeful!)

So y'all (in my longing for Southern Living life because... more snow/cold.) get this:

A random smattering of stuff on a tray and some hearts. Think of it like the baby/bridal shower game that is sometimes played. Or hidden pictures or something. Either way. Have a good Thursday. 

Oh and link up with Cari because that's what some people like to do on Thursdays and it's pretty swell. 

Sochi 2014: Pt. 1

So... here is the Madeline's play by play of the Olympics weekend 1.

• First of all, in my normal life (not during the Olympics) I would never want cable. These next few days... I wish I had DVR and all.the.channels. 

Okay now that we've covered that little issue we will continue our look alike game from Friday.

• Canadian Figure Skater Kevin Reynolds is the human embodiment of Peter Pan. 

I'm not even going to post a picture of Peter Pan because I am certain you already see it. Plus he flies with a little bit of pixie dust hard work. Just saying. 

• If you are in the process of naming a baby watch the Olympics. ENDLESS possibilities. Having a girl? I would go with the female speed skating list: Ireen, Martina, Olga, Claudia, Annouk, Ida, Antoinette, Yuliya, Shiho, Jilleanne, Bente, Jelena, Kim, Mari, Shoko, Natalia, Stephanie, Luiza, Brittany, Yekaterina, Masako, Anna x2, Francesca, Ivanie, Noh, Yang, Katarzyna. 

There's pretty much an event that will suit your naming style. Like the hip names? Slopestyle snowboarding is jammed packed with great names for you.

My favorite boy names can be found in the men's cross country skiathlon: Dario, Marcus, Martin, Maxim, Ilia, Jean-Marc, Daniel, Johannes, Maurice, Lars, Alexander, Giorgio, Hannes, Anders, Tobias, Alexey, Petter, Alex, Evgeniy. Sjur, Tord, Francesco, Axel, Mikhail, Ivan, Iivo, Curdin, Jonas, Roland. 

So many swell choices. 

• I also believe I missed my calling as a biathlon athlete. Now, when we did cross country skiiing in gym class I was horrible but nobody told me I could have a rifle strapped to my back and shoot targets before continuing. That's all I am saying. It's is my new favorite sport. Easy. 

• It is 65 degrees warm in Sochi today. I have clearly made the wrong choice to not travel to the Winter Olympics. I never pictured Russia as beautiful. (Bleak might have been a more correct term) I know it's a beach resort town but it really is stunning. Shamefully I'll be here in my windchill warning tundra wishing I was in temperate RUSSIA. 

Lazy Saturday Goodness

Today was one of those days that was uneventfully perfect. Except for the fact it snowed again. Because, really, it's hard to get excited about snow these days. At least it's pretty? Maybe? *trying for the bright side I guess*

Let's start with the fact that I didn't actually watch the Opening Ceremony. I am sad about this. We didn't stay out too late at the dinner and it wasn't even over yet when we got home. And I started watching the re-run but didn't really want to see the part with our President, because I just like the Olympics not the politics. So I watched Saved By The Bell (yeah. for real.) and fell asleep after Zack, Slater and Screech saw Jeff cheating on Kelly at The Attic.

So because I had fallen asleep early my sleeping in all day didn't pan out. I still slept in until about 10:00 though. I came downstairs to my guys and we enjoyed reading, playing and some extra snuggles when I caught the toddler.

For lunch we had a hot dog party! It was a blast. After our hot dogs, baked beans, pasta salad and Cheetos for the boys we celebrated with one Girl Scout Cookie each! Love that they are on sale now, we only bought 3 boxes total so we're taking it easy on them this year. If you're curious it was Peanut Butter Patties we broke into. (There's a box of Thin Mints and Caramel Delights waiting on the sidelines.)

After a super short Skyping with my parental units it was rest time. Which was enjoyed by all because it is Saturday and we could!

Our late afternoon was spent shoveling the snow we didn't need, making dinner and playing. After our delicious evening meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes and Caribbean blend veggies we all headed out to the living room for Wheel of Fortune and the Olympics.

It just doesn't get much better than that.

And because I was enjoying rather than observing I have no photos to document our pretty good day.

7 Quick Takes: The Big News Edition!!

1. I am incredibly impatient so I'll just get on with the good news... It's Friday. No really. The week that wouldn't end is actually coming to an end and that is today! Praise the sweet little baby Jesus, adult Jesus and any version of Jesus you like better than those two.

2. Now, technically the week is not over yet, I have to make it through today, which involves a work dinner with Husband and the 14 other people+spouses from his department. This dinner has been incredibly drama filled on the planning level and the 2 things I was looking forward to ordering are off the table as Husband's boss pre-ordered everyone's salads and desserts because it's a group of 16. (It is not the lobster bisque and bananas foster flamed table side that I was hoping for.) But lest you think I am ungrateful for a free dinner out at an expensive place, I am not, I just wanted it to be on February 21 because now I can't see the Opening Ceremonies. (Don't worry, I am staying up LATE and watching the rerun.)

3. Did you all watch the Olympics last night? First of all, my knees hurt just watching the Moguls. Seriously. And how sad it is for that American who injured herself badly and the only thing she asked her parents was "Can I still be called an Olympian?" Oh it broke my heart.

4. Second of all who thinks that Evgeni Plushenko

He's the Russian figure skater if you weren't sure

 Looks an awful lot like Johnny Lawrence from Cobra Kai?

That's William Zabka's character in The Karate Kid if you weren't sure. 

I am just putting it out there now because someone famous is going to say it and the world will think it's hysterical.

5. Sometimes I let C watch Jake and the Neverland Pirates because it's just so cute when he sings along with the songs. It's his favorite. When my parents were here last weekend they supplemented his pirate ship Duplo set he got for Christmas and now he has the whole Jake set. It is the best thing ever.

6. I've got to clean today and write up an instruction sheet for the babysitter. (Husband's uncle.) I'm sure it'll be fine but I still want to make it as smooth as possible. We don't get out much.

7. Yesterday was Ronald Reagan's 103 birthday. We celebrated it in our "social studies" class yesterday. We sang "Happy Birthday" and then we pointed to Ronald Reagan a few times on our Presidents of the USA place mat. C can find him by face now. (One side has them in order the other side they're all jumbled up.) We also practiced saying "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Which pretty much consisted of saying "wall" but hey I'll go with it.

C was also able to Skype with his uncle and show off his Ronald Reagan skills. My brother is a pretty big Ronald Reagan fan. Both my brothers like government and politics and things like that so we work on social studies a lot with C. He can also find George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. (And we do "I cannot tell a lie" and "Four score and seven years ago" respectively.) 

Have a great weekend friends.

Theme Thursday: Church Windows

I was going to take a picture of one of my windows this week. Sort of a domestic church, front porch looking in, home is your castle introspective thing. But I didn't. You don't care how my drafty windows help me to be a better person and inspire me in a similar fashion as an actual church. Because the picture would be BORING. And a week like church windows should not include boring pictures even if the sentiment would be nice. 

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must admit that this week I am using old pictures that were taken by others. But I own the rights to these pictures so I am not in violation of anything and they are my favorite church windows. 

These first 3 are from the day of our wedding. At the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. I would have taken them myself but I was a little busy. 

They're just beautiful and classic and huge. They just speak to my heart and that light shining through certainly made me feel God's presence that day. I don't know that I've ever been to a more beautiful mass. I am totally biased and all because I got to plan it but really, it was the perfect mass.

Ack, I am just sick looking at the beauty. I was going to take a stained glass class once and then realized that they were making stained glass tulips. And I love tulips I do, but when I yearned for this kind of majesty it was kind of a let down. 

So not just a church window but some of the other beauty the Basilica has to offer. 

This is a recent addition to the church window picture collection. Taken by Husband at our friend's wedding mass in September. Some church in one of those Chicago suburbs. Who can keep track over there?! Funny enough it was pouring, it was not a nice day, but you'd never know that by the window. That my friends is Divine Light. Glorious. 

Okay linking up with Cari and I cannot wait to see your awesome windows, and pictures you probably took yourselves for that matter.