A little of this, a bit of that {or} Wow. It's already Thursday.

My sweet girl, Kennedy, had to have some port care done yesterday at the cath lab. It's more a blessing than a curse, this monthly care is... {because requiring said care means we aren't using the port for medications at the moment- YAY!} but still? The visits are an unpleasant pain in the buttocks. Imagine, if you will, having a 1" needle stuck into your chest on a regular basis. Can you say 'hurtie'? And then add to that being an 8 year old girl. I cannot fathom how strong this experience is making my girl {silver lining time}. That being said, it is still a much better option than enduring the poke after poke of IV starts {plus, she had gotten to the point of having ZERO peripheral vein access so to port or not to port was never a question for us...} I just marvel that when they put said needle in, there is nary a flinch or wince. I watch for a reaction every time, but there is never one. At least not physical. She tells me that she isn't even there when they insert the needle. She forces her mind to imagine herself somewhere else. Somewhere GOOD. {like, this last time, she was swimming with dolphins in the Bahamas.} Can you imagine such wisdom from such a little girl?! She doesn't really know it, but she is my hero. Forget movie stars or athletes {although, I DO love me some Larry Fitzgerald} I am just so lucky to be this little chick's mom.

I've been working around the house a bit, spring cleaning and changing things up a bit.

Remember these curtains? They were a but flat and drab. And maybe more shabby than chic. {thanks to Heather for alerting me that I had gone there, unintentionally...<3}

So....I painted them with black stripes. When I am totally completed with this project, I will post a step by step about how I did it :)Super easy! AND I think it turned out fab! It cost about an additional $3 per panel. In my opinion, TOTALLY worth it.

I also gave my $10 coffee table a makeover.

I do so LOVE wood filler!

And if your name is Erin, these just MAY be your notebooks :) I am getting a tute ready for these, as well. {if you are interested}.

This ruffled one is my FAVORITE! I am fighting the temptation to keep it :) You won't tell Erin, will you? .... I knew you could keep a secret. You ARE such a pal.


Off to lunch {with a good friend I have somehow managed to not see in 7 months- I am noticing a pattern - I had dinner last night with another friend I hadn't seen in about the same amount of time. Good to know I am coming out of my cocoon.} {I had to rely on spell check to spell cocoon. Not a word I use that much,apparently.}


{oh. and I have it on good authority that both girls made it into the talent show!}

 {I may or may not have been singing along and making jazz hands.... I will never tell.}

A really great weekend :)

Whew. Another Easter under our belt already?! I can't believe my kiddos have a little over 4 weeks of school left, and then they are MINE ALL MINE for the summer.

...

Woo. Frickin. Hoo.

....

No, but really I AM SO GLAD FOR THAT. You believe me, right? ... :)

The mister and I had the grand opportunity to get out of the house sans kiddos on Saturday. A few of the stops included Trader Joe's {for dye-free, as wholesome as you can get, Easter candy}, Pei Wei's {for lunch - they have a small but tasty GF menu}, a few garage sales {scored that perty cabinet for $5!}, thrift stores {Goodwill was 50%} and antique shops {found a few new ones}. The desert is in full bloom, which LOOKS beautiful, but is a killer for my poor Michael's allergies.... poor dude.

Easter morning was pretty standard, except the level of believing in our brood has fallen to 0% overall {do you know what I mean? Don't wanna ruin anything for anyone, so broad terms I type.} It was weird, totally less pressure for me but seriously? A bunch less fun, too. 

We started out the morning with Easter baskets, which contained less candy than ever before.{more toys and cash, which the boys appreciated!} As mentioned above, all of the candy was from Trader Joe's. I was impressed with their selection of health conscious, but still FUN, candies. My sister's co-worker steered us there and I am glad she did. It made the candy feel less evil that I was prepared for :) The girls slept in foam rollers, as it the tradition. They even went to an early morning neighborhood Easter egg hunt in them. And yes, that IS me with the night before's makeup on. I hope you weren't eating. I should have warned you! Sorry.

I took the kids down to the park by our house for a quick photo shoot, before we left for my mom's house for dinner. And, guess what? I am simply NOT a photographer. Admitting is the first step, right? And it was windy. This picture of the back of the kiddos was my best shot. Ugh. I won't quit my day job :) {I know, I know. You are thinking, 'what day job?'}

Most of them looked like this.... Can you say nerdy and unnatural?

The kiddos loosened up once they had some food in them {at my mom's house}. I take a picture of them on this swing {in my mom's backyard} every year. I looked at last years pictures and can't believe how much BETTER Kennedy looks this year!

Steroids, in case I've never mentioned it lately, suck. They do in fact save lives {they are saving Kennedy's right this minute} but MAN they also really really really suck. She was so sick in this picture, I remember her saying how hard it was to be in her skin. I am so glad she is doing so much better now. And she is still taking a really low dose of the 'roids. But obviously, the side effects are starting to finally go away.

It really was a perfect day.

{It's always really weird to see a family shot because I am visually the odd duck out. Can someone explain genetics to me again? This IS my natural hair color and we ARE the biological parents of all 4- how come none of them got my skin/hair coloring? Should I start looking for the 'real' mother??? I DO have hope for Brighton- his is the closest to brown... geneticists? If you are reading, feel free to email me with info...}

I hope everyone had an equally delightful weekend - I am off to watch talent show auditions. Piper is singing a song and Kennedy is singing/playing the piano. I will do my best to channel my inner stage mom. Wish me luck!

{Make this!} Simple .but adorable. doll-clothing hangers A perfect Easter basket stuffer!

I have finally come to the conclusion {I got REAL with myself!} that I do indeed work best under pressure. Which is probably why quick, easy and cheap {but CUTE} projects just really, really appeal to me. {and why I procrastinate like no other....} Oh, you too? I don't think we are that un-common. And do you, perchance, have an American Girl doll lover in YOUR house? {or really, a doll lover of any kind?}

{I have TWO! - it gets.... a bit.... PRICEY!}

If the answer is yes, then this may be just the last minute craft you've been looking for... I made these today and I am planning on sticking them in my girls' Easter baskets. {we are not doing much - if any - candy this year - ahh! the HORROR!}But if I know my girls, they are going to squeal with delight when they see these!

Doll-clothing Hangers!

Ready to make your own? Gather these supplies:

7/8" cup hooks {I purchased this pack of 100 from Walmart for less than $5} Depending on what your hangers are going to hang on {size of closet or armoire rod} you may need to get a bigger size hook.

Jumbo craft sticks {the ones that are about the size of tongue depressors. These are also from Walmart.}

Paint {and paint brushes}, scissors and any type of fast drying, permanent glue {I used a hot glue gun because I DO LOVE TO USE HOT GLUE!}

Each hanger takes one cup hook and three craft sticks. First, mark the middle of ONE of the sticks with a thick marker swipe.

Now, using sharp scissors, make two cuts on eitther side of your line, in effect cutting out a small piece of the stick {making a notch}

Now, put glue all over both of those pieces---

... and glue to the top of one of the still intact sticks.

Now, fill the area where you cut the craft stick away with glue and stick a cup hook in there.

Cover that layer with a whole lotta glue....

And cover with the third stick. Wait for the glue to try and you are ready to paint, as you wish.

I have one daughter who LOVES pink {Kenny} and one daughter who LOVES yellow {Piper}. These are all set and ready to gift. YAY for EASY PROJECTS!

{Make This!} A flourless chocolate cake {gluten free living} It doesn't taste like sadness!

Since we decided to go gluten free as a family this past January, I have really tried to modify our family {food} traditions to not only be as healthful as possible, but also super yummy. Because, really? NO ONE wants their child's birthday party memories to taste like sadness and deprivation, right? While thinking about what type of cake I could make for Kennedy's birthday {this was in February}I stumbled across a bunch of flourless type cake recipes. And these made me think back to my 16th birthday, when my dad took me for lunch at a local {fancy} Italian food restaurant, where I tasted flour-less chocolate cake for the first time. I remember it being heavenly. So, I attempted one for Ken's birthday, with great success. And then again, yesterday for Camden's birthday. Please note two things. 1) This is SO to die for, you don't need to be on a GF diet to appreciate it and  2) No one should EVER have to eat Betty Crocker's gluten free cake mixes and think they are acceptable or delicious. They are neither. They are gross. They taste like sadness. Betty should be ashamed of herself. And at 6 dollars a box? Arghhhh! There are so many better things out there, you shouldn't to think that is as good as it gets. 

Start out with these ingredients:
*1 {12 oz bag }gf, high quality bittersweet chocolate chips {or baking chocolate squares}
*1 cup + 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into chunks
*1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
*6 eggs
*1 cup gf unsweetened cocoa powder
*1 tablespoon half & half {you can substitute any kind of 'milkish' drink}
*1 tablespoon honey
*1/4 teaspoon gf vanilla extract


Also, gf cooking spray, parchment paper and a 9" spring-form pan.

First, you need to prepare your pan. Cut out a circle of parchment paper to line the bottom of your pan. {I trace the bottom and then cut out the circle. Because I suck at cutting circles, free hand. So. Not. Martha.}

Now, spray your whole pan with cooking spray.

And stick your perfectly cut circle into the pan. You pan is now ready for the party. Set her aside for a minute.

 

Now, measure out 8 ounces of your chocolate.  

Cook the chocolate chips and 1 cup {2 sticks} of the butter {cut up} over medium-low heat, stirring often, until melted.

Stir. Stir. Stir. Don't burn, burn, burn.

It really REALLY helps if you have a cute kitchen helper named Brighton :)

When everything is melted and it looks like this ^ carefully transfer to a large bowl.

Add sugar and mix well. {worst picture EVER and I only took one. Sorry.}

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one.

Sift cocoa powder into bowl {ahem. or not. I hate to sift. my cakes have still been delish.}and stir until blended.

Your batter is ready to bake! So easy, peasy!

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake 35-40 minutes or until cake has risen and top has a crust. The cake should be firm-ish in the middle when done.

Cool on a rack for 10 minutes. {or... the top of your gas stove that is rack-ish}

Then, invert on your serving dish and remove the spring form pan.

Is your mouth watering? OMG This cake is SO YUMMY!

It has the BEST texture! Now, let the cake cool completely - for like, an hour? You can speed up cooling by sticking it in the fridge. Yeah. I know, I am a last minute girl, too :)

To make the SUPER EASY glaze {make it when you are ready to glaze your cooled cake} take the rest of your chocolate chips {4 ounces) and butter {3 tbsp}and melt over medium low heat. {Don't tell Chef Ramsey, but I use the same pan from before WITHOUT WASHING IT! Ahhhhhh the HORROR!}

Remove from heat and then, just stir in the honey {1 tbsp}, half and half {1 tbsp} and vanilla {1/4 tsp} and mix until combined.

Pour the glaze onto the center of the cake.

Use your spoon to gently coerce the chocolate to the sides of the cake. I like it to drip over the edges a bit.

It will look like this when you are done. Now is the time to add chopped nuts, if you so choose. {while the glaze is wet.}

Now, chill the cake {uncovered} for 30-60 minutes and enjoy. And oh, my. You WILL enjoy it!