Pins to Projects: Flower Cookies

Yes, a second blog post from me today. I promised Squirty that I would make cookies. He was supposed to help me, but then he went and did this:

So I did some cookies using the basic idea found HERE.

I just used bagged sugar cookie mix. I have my own awesome recipe, but this was easier with L since what I wanted to do was decorate them.

First I rolled the dough into small balls and then I rolled the balls in colored sugar.

Next, I cut each one down into petals, so they looked like this

The original site left them like this and put a piece of candy in the middle. I didn't do that. I flipped them over so the sugar side was up.

Baked them for 9 minutes, per the instructions

Voila! Flower cookies ready for spring!

Made Squirty rather happy with his pre-soccer snack. Pardon his crazy nap hair.

Will it work? Pins to Projects: Jewelry Cleaner Recipe

My wedding ring always seems to be filthy. I'm constantly scrubbing it with a toothbrush to clean the diamond. My childhood friend Rachel pinned THIS recipe for jewelry cleaner, so I decided I would try it.

Here are my rings before. There is lots of build-up on the prongs and the area where the two overlap.

To clean the jewelry, you put a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of a bowl. Then you heat up one cup of water for 1-2 minutes. Pour that in the bowl. Add 1T each of baking soda, salt and dish soap. Add your jewelry for 5-10 minutes (I went with 10)

Remove your jewelry. Rinse with cool water. Dry with a cloth.

It got most of the junk of the gold, but my diamond is still pretty cloudy. I'd say that it does work, but only on metal, not gemstones. I wouldn't try it with a soft item like an opal or a pearl.

Pins to Projects: Fun with baking soda

Since Milk Dud was sick last week, I had to come up with something fun for his big brother to do. Last week, I had pinned THIS project with baking soda and vinegar/water/food coloring. It's from Amber who write the awesome Binkertation blog and has inspired me to actually do some of the projects I pinned.

So all you need is a large dish, some baking soda, white vinegar, water, food coloring, an eye dropper and a mug or two to hold the food coloring/white vinegar/water combo.

So, nothing much to say. L had a lot of fun doing this.

He talked about doing it for days! We will do it again after we dye Easter Eggs this week. I will just add a little more vinegar to the dye.

Pins to Projects: Hair style

So, one of my friends pinned this cute hairstyle. The link to it can be found here: http://imgfave.com/view/2115937

I'm planning on chopping my hair this Friday, so I wanted to try it before I do that. The braids didn't work for me, so I just pinned 3 knots at the back of my head. It held through a 2-mile run and a core strengthening class at the gym.

Here was mine:

What is funny is that one of the trainers at my gym saw the hair style and decided to do hers that way, too.

Homemade Mexican Pizza

So Saturday was a double food experiment day. I decided to try and make Mexican pizzas for the boys and I for lunch.

Here is the final product before I walk you through what I did.

Okay, here is what you need: fajita-size flour tortillas, refried beans, shredded cheese, canned or fresh diced tomatoes, peppers (optional)

Turn your oven on broil and pop the  base tortillas in a for a minute or two to make them more sturdy. Coat the tortillas with the refried beans.

If you add the jalepenos, do it here. My kids and I like things spicy.

Add a light coating of cheese.

Put under the broiler until the cheese is melted

Put another tortilla on top of this

Sprinkle the tomatoes (I used Ro-Tel)

Cover with cheese (more than last time)

Put under the broiler until the cheese is melted

Cut and serve.

These were a big hit with my boys. They both can easily eat their weight in cheese and love pizza.

Black bean brownies

I had read something about black beans in brownies last week, so I decided to make my own recipe for them.

Here is what you need

One 15.5oz can of black beans, drained and rinsed (I use the low-sodium ones)
1/4c cocoa powder
3/4c white sugar
3 eggs
3T apple sauce
1t vanilla
1 pinch of salt

Dump all of this in your blender and blend until smooth

Like this.

Pour into a greased 8x8 square and bake at 350F for 30 minutes. The edges will pull away from the side of the pan.

Entertain your 19-month old Milk Dud while baking them.

This is what they looked like done. Cut into 16 pieces and enjoy.

They were pretty good. I think that next time I will put some cinnamon and chili powder in them to make Mexican black bean brownies. The texture is a little different because of the absence of flour. Someone will have to correct me if I'm wrong, but I think these are also gluten-free.

I'm going to be better about this... really

I'm going to be better about blogging. I mean it. I have less going on in my life right now, so it's just the family life and running... oh and Jeopardy!

My running goal for the month was 40 miles. As of today, I am at 33.46. I have over a week left. I know I can do it!

Okay, so Jeopardy... I keep putting off studying. I know I need to sit down and do it, but life keeps getting in the way. My kids have been sick. I've been sick. We had birthday party fever. It's March Madness and my Gators made it to the Elite 8.

I've been "trapped under a milk dud" for 19 months and counting! He asks for it and says "other side." I was glad of it when he has the stomach bug... twice.

Onwards and upwards!