Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Looking for ideas for Valentines gifts on a budget. I did this last year and they were a hit. Cheap too, a container of strawberries from Costco and two bags of chocolate chips.
Here are the Steps:

Wash and dry strawberries. (Drying them completely is important or the chocolate won't stick)



Melt chocolate, I used milk chocolate and white chocolate. (I do this in the microwave in 15 second increments)





YUMMY!







When the chocolate is cool, dip the strawberries in the chocolate and place on a lined cookie sheet (parchment paper or plastic wrap will do)



It was delicious!







Finally I drizzled white chocolate over the milk dipped and milk chocolate over the white dipped. I did this by putting the left over chocolate in plastic baggies and cutting off the corner to make a small hole.

I wrapped them in groups of two or three (they were huge strawberries) on a red and white polka dot plate and wrapped it up with cellophane and tied with a cute red ribbon.

Don't blame the Small Stuff

When I first started up our blog I was so excited that I was going to be part of this new online world of bloggers. I quickly realized that while I was waiting around for big news to write about I was finding a great way to never blog. Pretty soon I didn't write about anything. I am making the decision right now that I am going to blog consistently, even about the small stuff. Because isn't that what life is about, those everyday events that make life more interesting and worthwhile. As much fun as huge life events are they are few and far between, give me the small stuff anyday. So here I come blogging world!

Makayla Mary

My sister had her second baby on Saturday. Her name is Makayla Mary Smith and she is beautiful. She was born at 4:04 pm she weighed 7lbs 7oz, and was 21inches. It sure makes us want to have some of our own someday. Congrats Meg, Chris and new big sister Alina. She is a keeper. I am already thinking of ways to spoil her and pondering when I can start teaching her to do obnoxious things, that only and Auntie can get away with teaching. We love you May May!

Spring is here, kind of.

By popular demand another post. I really will get the hang of this regular posting someday. If anyone has suggestions let me know.
I love spring! I love that it is finally feeling warm outside. One of my favorite parts of this time of year is sandals. I love sandals and painted toes. Enjoy your toe revealing weather.

Hooray, a new post!

We are still not very good at updating our blog regularly.










December: Christmas was great. BEST CHRISTMAS EVER, we got a..... wait for it...wait for it.... a dishwasher!!!!! Anyone who know me knows how I detest doing the dishes, and so does Michael. It is amazing what a dishwasher has done for our marriage, seriously no more nagging each other about who's turn it is, or being forced to wash when you need a spoon to eat your cereal. It is heaven sent. The rest of Christmas was spent making the rounds to see our families, the blessing and the curse of having all of our family so close by is we have a busy holiday.
January: We have been busy with me going back to work and Michael starting a new semester. I am still loving teaching even though I have a class of 28, ugggghhh! Michael is taking a few social work classes at SLCC and of course enjoying them. We have finally got all of Christmas put away, it always takes us a while. We also have new years resolutions to go to the gym, Michael is by far better then I am, but we will keep it up and have a healthier 2009. Have a happy January everyone. We are sure lucky to have such great friends and family who support and love us, and we love you all too.

One Christmas Billage and a Giant Flo-o-oked Tree!

As the song says:

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us.
They're green when summer days are bright;
They're green when winter snow is white.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
Your branches green delight us!

Well in response to the song, our tree is not evergreen, but white as snow. I think it turned out very nicely this year.

We also went "Jorgensen authentic" with our Christmas village or as my niece says "billage". The snow is made from taking ivory soap and grating it then nuking it in the microwave and finally whipping it in the Kitchenaide for a long time. It smells good and looks nice, but what a lot of work. My family just used cotton batting for our village snow. It also looks lovely.


Thanks Michael, for all the hard work flocking the tree and whipping the snow.

Kirby vs. Melted Wax

Kirby - 0 Wax - 1








December 7:
Kirby the "2 year old" managed to knock the candle warmer off of the microwave and cover himself with red wax. (My mom told us it was okay because he looked festive) No he was not hurt, he was so shaggy that it just got all over his fur. After some research on the internet, and yes other people had asked the question "How do you get candle wax out of dog fur?" (that made us feel a little better) After two hours of baby oil, hair dryer, blotting and a few baths we decided to sacrifice his warmth and cut the wax covered hair off. So here is the before and after pictures of our adorable pup. For those of you who wonder why we don't have children, I argue that we do.