Here’s to the next 25!

Twenty-five years ago I looked upon your beautiful face for the first time.

And I watched you become a beautiful baby of my very own.

And you changed into a toddler (I'm your age in this photo).

And then to my little girl.

Then you turned 13 and discovered boys (and grew boobies- eekkk).

You and Daniel have an incredible bond. That was a fun ski trip!

Before I knew it, high school graduation.

And you turned 20 - no longer a teenager or my little girl.

And then I heard -"Mom, I met this guy I really like a lot!"

And, like turned to true love.

And you made your career dreams come true with two degrees from the U of A.

And, you have a beautiful smile and more beautiful soul.

I feel so blessed to be your mother.

Here's to the next 25 years - Happy Birthday Emily!

Another Tim Moment

Sunday was another drizzly, gloomy day and rather than stay in the house and pout about it – my husband decided he would make the weekly run to the local Wal-Marts with me.  (rare)  Before we departed for the store, I wanted to get the Sunday dinner roast into the crock pot and Tim cut up some onion and a couple of garlic cloves for me while I browned the roast.  Once the roast was in the crock pot, we grabbed our shopping bags (because we’re so green these days Ha!) and headed out the door. 

I don’t know about you, but my shopping starts on the non-food items side of the store and I finish at the deli and fresh veggie section next the registers on the other side.  Tim is a random wandering shopper so we tend to split things up while shopping.  He grabbed some motor oil and new filter for my car and then went to the beauty section to pick up some shampoo and conditioner.  He was gone an unusual amount of time and when he finally caught up with me I asked, “What took so long”?   He started ranting about the shampoos and conditioners and how stinky they are these days and blah, blah, blah.   I couldn’t imagine anything other than he was sniffing the girly stuff before finding what he wanted.    We finished up our shopping and driving home.  He was still sniffing his fingers and then said “Oh! That’s why!”  and started laughing.  “What?” I asked.   “Well, I couldn’t understand why anyone would make stinky shampoo that smelled like coconut and garlic and now I know.  I was rubbing it on the ends of my fingers to smell it and I had forgotten to wash my hands after cutting up the onions and garlic for the roast”.  

We had a good laugh.  Duh!

Recipe: Pita Chips and Tapenade

This is yumminess on a pita chip.  It is another ‘big box retailer sample people recipe’ to go along with the little Puttanesca Burger Bite recipe from yesterday.  I nearly hurt myself pushing little old ladies shopping carts out of the way the the day they had samples in the store (just kidding).  People were lined up waiting for the sample lady to make batch after batch of this stuff.  I highly recommend this one with the burgers or not with the burgers.  Just make it and enjoy with a lovely Shiraz wine.

Pita Chips and Tapenade
Serves 30 – Preparation Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients
3/4 cup Manzanilla Spanish Olives, diced
1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp. salt
5 oz. Bourin’s Garlic and Herb Cheese Spread
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1/4 cup dried cranberries
30 New York Style or Stacy’s Pita Chips

Directions:

1.  Mix diced olives with olive oil and salt.  Add waltnuts and cranberries; mix to incorporate.

2.  Spread each pita chip with cheese spread and top with tapenade. 

Oh Baby!

Y’all Enjoy