A Month in the Life

I've been hearing a lot in the news lately about an impending food crisis due to the rising costs of food and gas. This article from the Wall Street Journal says perhaps it really is time to stock our pantries.

Honestly, I'd rather not think about it. It all just feels too "Y2K" to me ... but perhaps it wouldn't hurt to have some basics on hand. One of my favorite online services is called The Grocery Game. For a subscription fee, this service tells you what the best deals are at your local grocery store or drugstore each week. It also tells you when to use your coupons so you maximize your savings along with the stores' sales cycles.

I don't like the idea of stocking up my pantry based out of fear, but if it's based on bargains, I'm all for it! :)

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

Madilyn's friend Sydney (in the pink) came over tonight so we could get some fun pictures in Syndey's tutus.


Sydney's mom commented on how amazing it is that just a year ago for her and nine months for me, these were our babies! Now Sydney's walking and Madilyn's crawling. It really does happen just way too fast.

It's probably to their advantage. Just think of all the crazy things we'd take their pictures in if we had more than a year to do it!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

I'm a huge fan of convenient ways to cook. That's why when I saw a three-ingredient recipe on a package of biscuits I bought at the store this week, I knew I had to try it.

CHICKEN & DUMPLINGS

INGREDIENTS:
2 cans (18.6 oz each) Progresso® Rich & Hearty chicken pot pie style soup
1 can (7.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated buttermilk biscuits
Chopped parsley, if desired

DIRECTIONS:
1 . In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat soup over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until bubbly.
2 . Separate dough into 10 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Place biscuit quarters on top of hot soup. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes.
3 . Cover; simmer 8 to 10 minutes longer or until biscuits are no longer doughy. Sprinkle with parsley.

While my version didn't look like this beautiful photo, it was still pretty tasty. Not as good as Cracker Barrel or my grandmothers, but it'll do in a pinch!

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My cousin told me about a new cake shape: a giant cupcake! As I'm thinking ahead to my daughter's first birthday party, I think this will be a winner. It's just a Wilton cake pan design!


Chocolate fountains are out. Cupcakes are in. In a big way. Not only are they enjoying a resurgence in popularity for kids' parties, but they're popping up in non-edible designs at stores like Gymboree, and last week I noticed a whole new line of cupcake designs at Cracker Barrel (can you tell I like that restaurant?). They have clothes, cookie jars, cookbooks, kid cupcake baking sets, cardboard cupcake boxes (each box holds 4), sprinkles, mugs -- you name it! They also have a cookie-cutter set that creates 3-D cookie animals! I love all of it!

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

How would you like a new Mercedes-Benz for $4,400? Well, if you'd settle for one with two tires and no engine, it's yours! Mercedes has created a mountain bike with a magnesium frame and all the fixin's.

Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

So I'm loving the new print-on-demand technologies that are allowing anyone to publish a book without the traditional costs associated with large print runs. Sites like LuLu.com and Blurb.com (and many other photobook websites) are helping the average joe create real books for the average cost of regular trade books.

Tonight I was uploading some photos to Costco (my favorite place to get photos developed -- .17 cents a copy plus free shipping) and decided to check out a link to MyPublisher, one of those handy-dandy photobook websites. I downloaded the software and I'm well on my way to creating my first photobook.

I've decided to chronicle my baby Madilyn's first year in photographs and journal entries (from my blog). The software is intuitive and very easy to use. The designer in me wants more freedom creatively, but for my purposes, I believe this will work. I recommend it! (Plus, as a Costco member, I get a discount).

Here's a photo going in the 9 month section of the book.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!

The birthday girl, Becky, and me, at the tea party in her honor at her family's company, the Inspiration Ministries in Charlotte, NC


This is the view of INSP's new digs from the main road.


Questions, comments, concerns? Please feel free to E-mail!