NONIE AND PACA'S HOUSE.

We're here! We're in Pennsylvania! We drove into Williamsport last night and we're still trying to figure out where we're going to live... ahhh the hotel life- not as fun as you'd think. ha.ha. I am very grateful for the company Dave is working for. They are really taking care of us (or trying to). There have been a few kinks, but overall I don't have much to complain about. Ethum and Avre did way better than I thought they would (yay for that!). The poor little guys both have a cold now. womp wooomp.

On the drive up, the boys and I stayed at my in-laws house, in Oklahoma City, for two days while Dave finished packing our house in Houston. Here's a few pretty pictures I managed to shoot while we were there...

-Amanda

A PEEK - The Boys Room.

Hey everyone! Yesterday, I drove to Oklahoma City all by myself with the littles in tow. It actually wasn't too bad, but an eight hour drive is never fun.  Dave will be here tomorrow. He had to stay back to finish packing up the house. He has worked so hard... I feel so bad that he had to do it alone. Friday, we'll begin our journey to Pennsylvania. Day one, our destination will be St. Louis, Missouri, day two will be Columbus, Ohio and day three will be Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Monday, we'll be finding out were exactly we'll be moving. My husband's company has rented a fully furnished home for us, but I have yet to see what it looks like, nor have I seen the town. This will be interesting...
Anywho, I told you all I would share some photos of the boys room, and even though we are no longer living there, here they are...

I'm too frazzled to go into a lot of detail about the rooms at this point, but I hope enjoyed the peek!

-Amanda

FIG + OLIVE TAPENADE. // (and the winner is...)

My friend, Abi, and I have recently started a little pen pal recipe swap. This is the first recipe she sent and I just had to let you guys in on the link so here it is. I followed the recipe exactly, except I left off the walnuts due to a certain nut hater around here. I really didn't have a special occasion to make it for so I had a little more than we could eat. I sent a good chunk of it on my in-laws trip back to OKC but we still had a lot...



I have been trying to use up everything we have in the fridge and freezer before the move so I came up with this tasty spin on a BLT. I will admit that I'm pretty proud of myself for putting it together. Dave said it was the best BLT he had ever had and if you know Dave, you know he doesn't say those things lightly (not even to me). ha. ha.

( oh wonderful... I had a pretty picture of the sandwich saved here and now it is gone. go figure...)

and without further adieu, the winner of the MijuAndYou giveaway is... Faye!!!
Please email me at simplemittens AT gmail DOT com .

Thank you to everyone who participated !!!

-Amanda

ps. the winner was selected randomly using random.org.

TIDBITS.

1. the last of the etsy wrapping paper shipments.. 2. homemade sweet potato and banana baby food.

3. rides to the laundry room. 4. almost roasted veggies.  5. nom nom.

-Amanda

ps. don't forget to enter the giveaway!!!

TEA SANDWICHES TWO WAYS- A Recipe.

I have made these tea sandwiches every year for Ethum's birthday parties. My mother-in-law was teasing me because I always make a different dessert but these sandwiches always make it to the menu. I say they are fit for pretty much any occasion- especially a picnic!

Turkey-Chive Tea Sandwiches:
1 package cream cheese
1/4 chives, thinly sliced
3/4 lb sliced turkey
1 loaf 'extra thin' whole wheat bread (I used pepper ridge farm)

Using an hand held mixer, combine cream cheese and chives. Spread on two slices of bread. top with a piece or two of turkey. Serve.

Cucumber-Dill Tea Sandwiches-
1 package cream cheese
1/4 cup dill, chopped
1 1/2 cucumbers, sliced
1 loaf 'extra thin' whole wheat bread (I used pepper ridge farm)

Using a hand held mixer, combine cream cheese and dill. Spread onto two pieces of bread. Top with four slices of cucumber. Serve.


-Amanda

Don't forget to enter the giveaway !!!

VANILLA MILK- A Recipe.

Ingredients:
1 gallon organic whole milk
1/2 cup sugar
3 T. pure vanilla extract

Whisk or blend all ingredients together. Serve or keep refrigerated.
(this recipe could easily be halved.)

So easy, right? As I was planning Ethum's birthday party I was trying to come up with a fun drink. Last year, I made fresh-squeezed lemonade but I didn't feel like it quite paired with chocolate whoopie pies. Then, I thought about chocolate milk but I didn't want to mix chocolate with chocolate. It seems like every time you serve chocolate with chocolate, the sweeter one stands out and other one becomes not so tasty. Then, I remembered how much Ethum loves Horizon's vanilla milk, so I browsed a few recipes online and this is what I came up with.

-Amanda

TIDBITS.

1) birthday banner. 2) play 3) someone labeled our dresser..

4) apples and nutella 5) candid composition

-Amanda