Easy Meals

Chicken Cordon Bleu Pasta.  I found this recipe on allrecipes.com, one of my favorite sites.  

Chicken+Butter (brown chicken)+Wine (cooked until reduced)+ Salt and Pepper+Ham+Soup+Cheese and put over cooked pasta.  

Pretty good for being so easy.

(not loved by the kiddos, though.  Paul licked the plate.)

My sous chef. 

Breakfast Burritos!  These can be made for the week, wrapped in paper towel, and then shoved in a freezer bag, and enjoyed all week.  I was a doubter, about how good they would taste, but they were actually BETTER heated up than fresh.

Hash Browns cooked, then set aside to drain off excess oil.
Red Pepper+Onion+Ham+Hash Browns+Scrambled Eggs+Tortilla+Cheese.  (Basically, put first 4 ingredients in pan with butter or oil, then add eggs--with or without milk-- and cook until done.  Put in tortillas and top with shredded cheese.

Four Hours of Tent Making

Last year, for Valentine's Day, Paul and I made a basic tent for Tate and had a picnic for dinner underneath, as a little surprise.  So this year, I told Tate that we would build another tent for Daddy before he got home, since Paul was supposed to work until late.

Since I wasn't sure how I was going to construct the tent, being in a new house and all, I started making it during Soleil's naptime.  Since I knew the time between picking Tate up from school and dinner is kind of hellacious on a normal day, I thought I would prepare ahead of time.

I really got into it, and since Baby Soleil took a good nap, I worked on this thing for about the full 2 hours she was asleep.

When Tate got home, I thought he would be thrilled.  NOT SO.  He became entirely irrational complete with snot covered crying, yelling, stomping, etc.  When I got to the bottom of it, and had calmed everyone down, he said "But you said WE would build the tent and it is done already!"    A part of me wanted to laugh, but I was so tired I asked what he thought a good solution was. The only thing that would satisfy him was if we took THE WHOLE THING DOWN.  So I did.  I did give him a long talking to about frustration managament, etc etc but, I mean, it was Valentine's Day, after all.  

The next part of the solution, was to rebuild the tent.  I was exhausted at this point, and we had about an hour before Paul was to return.  We started building, and trying to get it done before he came home.  Paul sent a message, saying that he was bringing dinner home, which was odd considering it was his late night from work.  I told Tate this, and then he asked if we were eating dinner in the tent.  And then he stopped.  And BURST INTO TEARS again.  Oh Lord, help me.  He then said " I didn't realize it was Valentine's Day and I ruined the whole thing and now Daddy will have the food and we won't have the tent ready!"  

Since Paul is a professor, and he had a class that he had starting started teaching at 3:30p, I couldn't even call him to clarify details.  See, the kids eat at about 4:30-5p, and Paul doesn't get home until 6p.  At this point, Soleil started whining for food.  I sent Tate downstairs to get her a piece of bread to eat while we worked.  I had made a small effort to look nice, but now I was covered in sweat and my hair was a mess.  I was pinning sheets, and standing on chairs, and getting more sheets, moving furniture as quickly as I could, with a teary boy and a baby getting bread crumbs all over the floor.  

YAY! HAPPY V DAY TO ME!  

As it always does, it came together in the end.  We got the tent built about 3 minutes after Paul got home with chinese food and we ate while sitting in the tent, and let Tate watch a Valentine's Day show.  I poured the wine within 30 seconds of Paul coming up with the food.  

Since Tate's design has the tent around the couch, around the TV, it is kind of like a little movie theater.  Because of this, it is still up.  I don't think that I will win any home decor awards, but it is cozy in there, I have to admit!

Lesson of this story....Must work on expectations for holidays, both with the boy AND the mama.

Cards, Cupcakes, Cookies

Getting some help with the cards.

 Soleil helping to review the cupcake shop, Sweet Retreat in Edina, MN.   Oreo cupcake...YUM.  This cupcake was really moist and flavorful without being overly sweet.

One of Tate's classmates gave me this temporary tattoo at his school's family day.  Soleil loved it so much she kept pointing to her arm in the same place.  I used some washable markers and drew one on her arm. My mom will die after reading this. (She HATES tattoos.)

Making sugar cookies is better than therapy for me.  These were for one of my best friends, as a surprise.  Tate loved helping to decorate as well:) 

Outdoor Winter Play

The kids are really enjoying the snow.

Ready to go when they come in from the cold.

 Warming up while reading a book and wearing her new hat. (a fabric Ikea box)

 I cannot wait to make these!

 Tate's new favorite accessory...Mr. Potatohead glasses.

Pouches!

Not the most flattering of photos, but here I am, late one night after finishing making a drawstring pouch for Tate and a zipper pouch for Soleil.  The drawstring version ended up being WAY too big, but he loved it anyway.

And now I want to turn every piece of scrap fabric into a zipper pouch.  They are so fun!!  I googled "how to make a zipper pouch" and followed along with the directions.  Good Luck!

A Bit Serious

When I started my blog, it was for fun.  It was also secretly a way of communicating with my then estranged sister.  Long story short, she and I eventually reconnected, with her blog comments being a way of reaching out to me.  And then she died unexpectedly.

If you read the earlier posts, they are funnier, more entertaining, even a bit offensive.  However, since she was my audience (I always thought about her as I posted), I realize that those adjectives describe her!  She had that influence on me and, well, I miss it.

I was recently reading my blog and thought BORING.  I feel as though I was a bit of a sell-out, emulating blogs that I love, but it wasn't really me coming through.

So here you have it, folks, a confession.   Here at CupcakesandCoffee, you will find random blathering.  You will find ideas of things I do with the kids. You will find recipes.  (I love to cook, no wait.  I love to eat is more accurate.) And lastly you will find lots of crafty things, many of which I have found on the internet.  Hopefully after today, you will also find more of my voice, instead of the voice I thought I had to be.

I hope to entertain, in a relaxed manner authentically, and hopefully not offend, to open doors, and have a laugh.

Love from Cat.

What I did today instead of Laundry.

It might be a bit early for Valentines Day decor, but it makes me happy.

Cardstock hearts made with my new Cricut machine+embroidery thread+command strip hooks.  And yes, there are still Christmas lights in the family room.  I plan to move them to the beam with the hearts, so they look like they are fairy lights for Valentines Day:)

 The mantel needs some love, but the felt heart garland is a start.  I just cut the hearts with scraps of felt and sewed right through the center (from top to bottom.)

Our Holiday Continues...

Ok.  I was complaining A LOT about the fact that Tate didn't get out for Holiday Break until the 23rd.  I now am happy about it because he gets this entire week off.  We went to the Minneapolis Children's Museum, which I highly recommend for younger kids.  Perfect Day.

And on to a not so perfect day....Yesterday was the first day we had at home after traveling to Michigan to just relax at home.  Initially, I could feel myself wanting to half a bazillion things with the kiddos. (I forgot how limiting naptime is, now that Sunny Sunshine won't sleep in a stroller.)  So, I thought, let's just do ONE thing today that is planned.  Let's make PLAY DOH!!  (I found this link and was inspired.)

SIDENOTE:  If you are bored with kids at home during a break from school, or really any time, get online.  There are SO many great ideas on mommy blogs, especially, that you will be WAITING to do stuff with you kids. I swear, I am so inspired every time I have a moment to surf the web.

Back to the play doh.  Soooo...the day was not going as I had envisioned it.  I had a ton to do, having returned from a 10 day trip.  The play doh wasn't happening.  Finally after dinner, I ignored the dishes (please don't look in the background of the photo), let the baby stay up a bit past her bedtime, and made some flipping Play doh.   

It took about 10 minutes, was totally fun, and worth it.  Yep--totally worth it.

Christmas Vacation

 My favorite, but must check and make sure it is Fair Trade.  I researched a little and it said it was, but since it was on forums, etc., I must check for sure...

Another fun activity when the kids say they are bored.... (from Family Fun) 

 The final pillow for Soleil's nursery.  She's 18 months old.

 A lesson for the holiday season.  He even got to ring the bell!

 Is every 1st grader obsessed with Angry Birds?  He wanted them before he has even ever seen the game.  Good marketing, I tell you.  (They are cuddly...)

Random stuff I like Dec 2011

I am in a creative frenzy.  I am randomly looking at things I like, watching Alanis Morissette videos (the newer stuff that not many people have seen, not the old angry ones...) and thinking about the future.  Maybe it is the time of year, maybe it the bar of dark chocolate I ate earlier, who knows.

Firstly, Here is another photo of the chaise that I want.  Tate and I have been back to look at it 3 times.  No one who weighs in on it seems to like it!  Too big, too impractical, too expensive for what you get,  might not fit in the next house.  But I love it. 

 I finally scrapbooked.  More importantly, I finally made a flipping friend, who ASKED me to scrapbook!  We had a great time, and I can't wait to crop again.  (For those of you know don't know the verb "crop", it is just nerd speak for cut up pretty paper and stickers and decorate your photos.)

Here are my dad's chihuahuas in felt form for his Christmas tree.  I had to make one for my babe, Soleil, after she kept stealing them.

Thank you, Kate Hewitt, for keeping me in British biscuits for awhile.  (They are my fave, Jammie Dodgers.)

 I didn't make this, but I want to.  Found the idea in a magazine in the pediatricians' office.

Am I too old for this? Ok, I love it.  And yes, it is totally excessive and ridiculous for an almost 40 year old to own.  But I can admire it....

Natural Play Space

Tate's new school is in a new building.  The building used to be some sort of business, so they do not have a playground.  The school is in the process of planning what they will do with the play space.  After experiencing wonderful play areas at Shining Rivers School in St Louis and Batheaston Primary School in Bath, UK, I can say that kids really love a natural play space.  Not just my kid.  All kids! 

I started to research photos of playgrounds that do not have that big clunky equipment.  The photos are sooo inspiring and make me want to create some of these lovely things in my own yard.

Willow trees can be grown into little caves or forts.  I love them!

 Here is a little reading circle we found by accident whilst geocaching.

 We also found this den, obviously made by kids (the opening in the front is about 2.5 feet high) and Tate loved it.  I can stand in it in its tallest point!  Funny enough, it is located in a little space NEXT to a  traditional metal/plastic playground.

 All you need is a big pile of hay!

 And the reading circle, again, but closer to winter.

 As I said, all kids seem to respond to the outdoors.  I came early to pick Tate up from school and caught the end of recess/playtime.  They had found these ice chunks and as a group, they stacked them to make an "ice castle".  When I saw them working all together, enjoying themselves, my heart melted.

I want to play outside, too!!  

(She has a 3 month sized dress on that Daddy put her in while I was away.   She is 18 months old. Notice the size of the sleeves!!) 

Listen to Nature

I once had a yoga teacher tell me that this time of year, we should listen to nature.  It is when things start to slow down and hibernate, and instead we humans rush around and make this a very busy time of year.

When I was a kid, I would get sick every Christmas.  It was too much for me.  Too much excitement, too much activity, too much of everything.  This was why Halloween was my favorite holiday, I think.

When I had Tate, I started to like Christmas again.  By then, I had figured out how to avoid getting caught up in the "too much" and it was fun to make things magical for him.  Now with 2 kiddos, I enjoy the holidays even more.

We have had a rough few months.  I can feel myself fight the pressure to be busy with what I know works best for me....quiet, calmness, staying at home.

How do you feel about the holiday season?

Inspired while Shopping

How cute is this?  And how easy to find a thrifted wooden chair and some paint?

And speaking of paint, this is what you get when you use the new Martha Stewart craft paint and an old lamp.  I didn't love it at first, but after it dried and a good lampshade, it seems to fit in my craft room perfectly!

This pretty display is from a small shop called The Bee Cottage.  The decorative "ribbon" is strips of cotton, dyed in light colors and stamped with parisian images.  These would be great to put on the outside of a package.

And this is also at The Bee Cottage.  I love how these little pouches are displayed.

 At Caribou Coffee.

I think they sell this at Hallmark.  I love how the magnets look like Christmas cookies!