I Love Blue Shoes

For today's post I'm extremely pleased to introduce our guest writer, my sister, Alyson!!

Some people find their thrills in driving fast cars, getting the winning hand in a game, or discovering a new recipe they can’t wait to try out. For me, I get that shock of electric excitement when I find a pair of fabulous shoes. Sneakers, sandals, boots, and flats are all wonderful to me, but my true passion lies in high heels. My latest addition has been, in my opinion, one of the best: a pair of blue, ruffled, gorgeously tall heels.

I was out shopping at Kohl’s, browsing down the shoe aisle when I first saw them sitting on the shelf. Instinct kicked in, and I grabbed quickly for the shoe box, as if I was in the world cup and had four large opponents also heading for what I already considered MY shoes. Smirking gleefully, I sat down and kicked off my own shoes to try on these beautiful masterpieces. I’m sure if others had seen me at that moment, the emotion passing over my face could only be described as “love at first sight.”

I took my first step in them, and instantly knew that there was no way I was going home without them. I made my way over to my mother, also shopping, to show off my incredible find (did I mention these shoes were originally $60, and I found them on sale for $15??). I struck a pose, or as much of a pose as one can strike when trying to display only one’s feet, and then pranced proudly around the aisle a little longer. Finally, I carefully returned the heels to their box, which was glued to my hands until we were out of the store.

What do you find your thrills in?

Homemade Hamburger Helper. Genius or nothing special?

On Samster Mommy she posted about making a homemade hamburger helper. It looked delicious! She directed us readers to another blog for the full information which is what we're going to do here at "Chickens in the Road"(click here).
It's cooking on my stove right now so we'll post later on how it tastes but I think it's genius.

1) Economical-it's 1 1/2 cups noodles, water, milk and seasonings. Maybe some cheese, maybe a small can of tomatoes. That's it! For Aaron and I one 16-oz box of noodles (12 oz=3 cups) would last 3+ meals with leftovers. Plus milk and seasonings which we have in bulk it's a win-win on the wallet.

2) Healthier- It's all almost natural ingredients without all the preservatives of the boxed variety. Plus you can add red beans, peppers, potatoes or rice instead of noodles etc.. to really hearty up the meal.

3) Easy to cook on a busy night. Or when you're waiting to deliver and don't want to stand too long in a hot kitchen :)


We just took it off the stove so we'll report back on the turn-out!!

Jenna and Sydney

Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock-Tick-Tock

I love "time" and I love beautiful and fun "clocks". But, i think for J and A, the ticking seems a little bit louder as they wait for their baby to make her appearance....and soon! All is well and i am really enjoying my time in Nevada.

Summer Reading List

As I've spent the better part of the day researching and reading I've come across a lot of summer reading lists. My favorite one put out by the Wall Street Journal is what JP Morgan bank recommends it's billionaire clients to read. This list is so popular that they have now come out with a winter reading list as well.

So my question is, what are you reading this summer? Beach reads or literary classics?

Right now I'm reading The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer. You can read it online for free until July 5 at: http://www.breetanner.com/. If you want to buy it for your Twilight collection I believe it's only $8. If you're reading it yourself, tell me your thoughts!

What's on your TBR list?!

Zucchini Chocolate Cake

Love the bright color of the zucchini in this recipe. My son did the grating of the zucchini. Made it easy for me. So, I took 1/2 cup melted butter, 1 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1 large egg. I mixed that together. Then, I added in 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, 3 Tablespoons sour cream and 1 cup of finely grated zucchini.

Then, the dry stuff. I added in 1 cup of flour, 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts. Mix. Nice.
Spray pan with cooking spray, pour batter into pan, and bake at 350 degrees. This recipe was originally for cupcakes. I decided to do a small round instead. I cooked this for about 30 plus minutes..checking it quite frequently, since I was not sure of the baking time.
It turned out just fine. This cake is heavy....very dense.
Yum....fancied it up with a little powdered sugar. Whip cream or a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream would have been nice, also. But, lets talk TRUTH. My family was not that thrilled about this cake. It was not a hit. I liked it because I prefer homemade and it tasted like it was good for you-ha! So, give it a try and let me know your opinion. To make and bake...or not to make and bake!!!!! Recipe is from the the May 2010 magazine, Everyday Food!

The Muggle Solution!

Today I am off to visit a Pediatrician's office and then pre-register at the hospital for delivery. I feel quite grown up interviewing a Doctor. She has come highly recommended so I anticipate a good visit.

I should probably leave this post at that, leaving you thinking and believing how responsible and mature I am but I can't help but share the following article with you. I read it a few days ago and I'm still THRILLED about it!

It began:

"The seeker from the Bronx High School of Science had to jump a fence and follow the snitch down Fifth Avenue. He caught the snitch but it didn't count because his broom wasn't between his legs"

Do you know what this means?!

Look familiar? (Unless a spell has been cast on you to only see empty camping fields)

Muggle QUIDDITCH of course!

Kids in over 150 colleges and 100 high schools are doing it. (Not just the young-ins) Are you?!

Here are some excerpts from the aol article by Karen Matthews:

"In Muggle Quidditch, chasers try to throw the quaffle -- a volleyball -- through a hoop (hula hoop or otherwise attached to pvc piping). For defense, beaters hit opposing players with a bludger -- a dodgeball. The team's seeker runs after the snitch, a fast runner with a tennis ball in a sock that the seeker has to grab like the flag in flag football. The players race around after quaffles and snitches while holding their brooms between their legs.

"This version of the game is the best it could possibly work in real life, short of flying brooms," said Alex Benepe, commissioner of the International Quidditch Association."

There is a commissioner?! According to Benepe, exhibition games going on in the Northeast are there to announce the incorporation of the Quidditch association as a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Quidditch and literacy education (two noble things)

I just love this..when make-believe goes hand-in-hand with reality. Isn't that what childhood is? Maybe that's why I enjoyed this article so much. In the chaos of an increasingly scary world there is still a corner of innocent imagination at play that brings that old feeling of childhood security to me again as an adult. There is never enough good news broadcasted.

And besides people getting out from behind the tv/computer/game system and getting great exercise, it sounds so fun! Who of us read Harry Potter and didn't dream of playing Quidditch ourselves?

So start a chapter of the Muggle Quidditch Association with the kiddies (young or old) in your neighborhood/campus. Go all out and make team jerseys and host weekly practices, all you need are a few household supplies and a little old fashioned imagination!

There and Back again.. A..erm... Large Hobbit's Tale

A week in pictures..Arizona baby shower, 2nd Wedding Anniversary on the beach and a college grad..

The party favors my sister-in-law thought up. The theme color was purple and the flowers I hot glue gunned onto the top of little glass jars

a great turnout

These girls had on the cutest tutu skirts that made the party so colorful and girly

NOT a real baby! but the homemade wrap I couldn't wait to try out

My sister-in-law models the other wrap I received. (She's married to Aaron's twin brother!)

Does that make us twin sisters? We are great friends

Aaron took his task of minding our niece during the party very seriously..

Can you tell he's ready for our baby?

Can you spot something below that doesn't quite fit in with the others?

Closer...

A pair of legs?

Ah hahahaha she wore the poor boy out. Welcome to parenthood!

While in San Diego we spotted a beached whale stranded on the sand..

hehe.

Nothing like sand between your toes

A wonderful set up, we spent 2 days sitting on the beach doing nothing at all
Then we went to an aquarium

One of Aaron's dreams is to swim in a shark cage. Gaaa! I'm afraid this is as close as you're going to get!

I don't dream of being inside a shark's mouth but I couldn't resist, mate

Then back to AZ for Aaron's brother Adam's college graduation!

I just love this picture of Aaron and our niece

3 of the 4 brothers

Whew! What a trip! Are you going anywhere this summer?