An Extra Hour

I am running short on time. I could use an extra hour...

just for me and my "to do" list.

What would I do with that hour?

I could:

*fold and put away the laundry

or

*crochet some more granny squares for

the afghan

or

*catch-up on The Office

or

*bake something sweet

or

*sew some ladybug pants for The Girl

or

*sew some camo-skull PJ pants for The Boy

or

*give myself a mani/pedi

or

*go through my closet

or...

Alas, this phantom hour eludes me. I will just have to do more "squeezing in".

How would you spend a precious extra hour of "me" time?

The Tooth Fairy I Am Not

I am not a good tooth fairy. That I am sure of.

The Boy lost a tooth while eating a brownie at Nana and Pappa's house. It was kept safe in a plastic baggie until he returned home and could put it in his tooth pillow.


Like all crafty moms, I took him to the fabric store when he got to that "wiggly-tooth age" and let him pick out what he wanted: skulls...shocker. It has had quite a bit of use, so the excitement of a lost tooth has waned. So last night we put the tooth in the pillow, read our story, turned out the lights, kiss kiss, hug hug...now back to downloading music onto my iPod. I even asked The Mr. if he had a dollar...yes he did. So, no problem.

Except I never played tooth fairy. Never even gave it a second thought. Until this morning when I hear a very unhappy child yell, "What's up with this? My tooth is still here! Why didn't that tooth fairy take my tooth?"


Crap. Think fast. You are good at thinking on your feet...you were a preacher's kid for goodness sakes...it's how you got through your teen years.

So, I go in. I am shocked. "You are kidding...your tooth is still here?" Meanwhile The Mr. is getting some cash...and as if he has read my mind he drops it on the floor right outside the bedroom door. He says, "What's this out here buddy?" That would be my cue.

Apparently, that tooth fairy had a busy night gathering teeth. The Boy just happened to be her last pick-up, and she had so many teeth that were so heavy she had dropped the money outside the door and would have to come back tonight. I have heard of that happening...haven't you?


I don't even think The Boy even truly believes in the tooth fairy...he is in that "I don't think it's real but I am not going to take any chances" mode. He really just wants the dough. And he got it. Two dollars...one for the tooth and one for parent guilt.

Pancakes and Pride

Magnolia Cafe. Just saying, or in this case writing those words will make my mouth water. It is a quirky little establishment on Congress Avenue in Austin. It is always open. The food is very simple. And I love it.


Whenever I go to Austin a visit to Magnolia is a must. I always get the same thing: tropical tacos and one whole wheat blueberry pancake for dessert. The pancakes are the size of a large dinner plate. Somehow I am able to eat it all. It is just that good.



The Alamo. This battle and the legend that surrounds it is what gives us Texans that "attitude"...that swagger.


We really can't help it. We are told that epic tale of bravery from the cradle to the grave. Movies have been made about it...songs are sung in homage to the fight. It was nice to see a piece of history. It was nice to feel that "state pride".



Just a couple of things that make Texas great.

What's For Dinner?

These are our dinner plans for the week ahead...

Sunday: return from San Antonio...getting take-out

Monday: chicken with olives and carrots, brown rice, peas, fresh tomatoes

Tuesday: whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce, green beans, spaghetti squash, whole wheat garlic bread

Wednesday: out with family

Thursday: tuna salad sandwiches on whole wheat, tomato-cucumber-&-red onion salad

Friday: left-overs

Saturday: hamburgers, oven fries

Monday's main dish comes from the April issue of Real Simple magazine.

Enjoy!

An Evening With My Boys

On Friday, I was able to spend an evening with a sell-out crowd watching my boys play. My boys being the Spurs. To put it simply...the game was great. Perfect really.

We were five rows up from court side. Five rows up! We sat 2 rows directly behind the great David Robinson. And 3 rows directly in front of Eva Longoria-Parker. We had better seats than Eva! My Mr. did really good work scoring those tickets.


This was the ultimate game for me. The Spurs never trailed, yet the game was close enough to be exciting. Aggressive plays at the rim were made. Three pointers sank. The beer was cold. The crowd was loud.

As if the game could get any better, we just so happened to sit next to Judy. Judy has had season tickets forever. She knows the Spurs. And every one else. I mean she really knows every one. We got the dish on all the players, the players wives (including Eva), their kids, and other season ticket holders. It was amazing!


I have to give a shout out to this lady. Judy, thank you so much for making this game even more memorable. It still amazes me that we can meet someone who we may never see again, yet they become part of the fabric that is our memory. That's Judy. Such a cool lady who made this game great. Perfect...really.

iPod's New Home

I did my part to boost the economy and bought a new iPod this weekend. It will hold more songs than I will ever conceivably listen to. I am just not in the "music loop" like I once was. It saddens me.

I didn't want my new gadgetry to get scratched. It needed a home. So, I looked around for a case. No luck. They were lacking character and quite homely. So last night I worked this up.


It is a simple pouch. I have made a few of these for cell phones and to keep my computer chord for my laptop. So easy and quick. It consists of two fabric layers and a piece of batting or flannel for padding. I have used a snap closure in the past, but this time opted for the elastic-button route.


I put a button hole at the top so that the earphone lead can connect to the iPod while it is in the case with the front flap closed.

This took about half an hour to put together. Instant gratification...I dig that.

So now I can work on downloading some melodies to keep me entertained while driving to Austin and San Antonio this weekend. I wish all of you a very Happy Easter. Don't eat too many Peeps and chocolate bunnies!

If you have any musical suggestions I will gladly take them.

Southern Comfort

What is your favorite dessert? Easy.

Cobbler. I love it. Actually, I love most fruit-based desserts. Pies, crisps, tarts. They are sweet with just a little bite. Crispy and cake-like at the same time. Perfection. I made a peach cobbler this weekend. It was a new recipe and I can't really say where I got it. Something tells me it is from my chef-crush Ellie's site. But don't hold me to it. It received rave reviews from all that partook.

I know that peach cobbler isn't strictly southern, but to me it is steeped in down home hospitality. I remember my mom making huge pans for family reunions and church pot lucks. So to me a cobbler is "southern comfort". Add a little Blue Bell ice cream and then...well I am in a state of bliss.


I am including the recipe just in case you need a little comfort...enjoy!

Peach Cobbler

preheat oven-400*

Filling:
cooking spray
3 bags frozen peaches (12oz size)
1/4 c flour
1/4 c sugar
1 cap almond extract (I use the lid on the jar)

Topping:
1/2 c whole wheat flour
1/2 c unbleached flour
4 T + 2 t sugar, divided
1 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
4 T chilled butter
2/3 c plain yogurt
3 T canola oil

Toss peaches with the flour, sugar, and almond extract. Transfer to a sprayed baking dish.

Mix dry ingredients and cut-in the butter. Add milk and oil. Don't over mix. Drop batter onto the fruit. Sprinkle the top with sugar. Bake 30 minutes or until golden.

Eat.