I heart rubber stamps!

No, I am not a Stampin' Up fan or former SU user. I just like rubber stamps. I recently found this great website (Rubber Hedgehog) with just the sort of stamps I like.
The Vizsla (of course!!) stamp reminds me of when Remy was a puppy. I love it! Anyone want to go in on S/H? Let me know!

Check out my favorites below:
Vizsla

Poodle

Goat (especially the one eating the banner!)

Turtle with a balloon (scroll down for this one)

Don't believe in God or miracles? Click to read!!

Etiquette Dilemna

What does one do when subtle hints aren't taken? How can one be blunt & to the point politely? Is there a way without hurting someone's feelings?

Sunday BBQ

Omid cooked dinner over at his parent's house last night. Lin, Ward & the girls joined us. On the snack table: tamarind
Just like a sour lemon ball: Tart!!

In this photo: Omid is modeling 'fashionably yellow' Chinese slippers. These always get lots of comments from guests.

Omid's lemon & pomegranate Cornish game hens. YUM!
After dinner, Ward felt sleepy & needed a nap. Omid is making sure he has pleasant dreams.

Keep Calm & Carry On!

I love this!

Remembering this saying is a lot easier than counting to ten (which I never remember to do anyway).

A Cry from Iran.....Hey anyone in the PDX/Vancouver area...if your church is hosting a screening of this movie...please let me know (I want to view it!). Thanks!

Nike+ Update

Since purchasing my Nike+ in January, I have walked/ran 190 miles and burned 21,524 calories. Remy and I are 'fair-weather' walkers. If it's pouring outside or too cold, we stay in. This being said, we logged no exercise for the month of February. Remy and I logged 11.01 miles yesterday. Our furthest yet. I am feeling it today in my hips. I decided that I will not upgrade to the entire 26.2. I need to be content with 13.1 miles.

Prayers!

Click on this link to read this family's story: their daughter really needs your prayers!

PM Snack

The kids and I stopped at Taco Bell for an afternoon snack today. Matty tried out the new 'tortada.' He said it was tasty. Check out Nas & Matty's Taco Bell commercial.

Two Best Friends

Out & About in PDX

75* today! Omid, the kids and I headed into Portland & ended up at VooDoo Doughnuts. Waiting in the long line.



Waiting, waiting, waiting.


Remy was there in spirit.
The band "Remy the Restless" was playing this week at Berbati's Pan (next door to VD).

45 minutes for a donut?

Love this bumpersticker!

Loot!

VD box

After VD, we walked over to the Portland outdoor market. Omid got a Polish hot dog.

Bigger & way more expensive than Costco ($6.00 vs $1.50 + a soda). Omid says Costco's Polish dogs are more delicious ( & economical).

Half Marathon

One month from today....I will be participating in my first half marathon. So exciting! The last time I had anything to do with the CCM was in 1984. My friend Karen and I manned a 'water station' & passed out water to the runners. I got to meet Joan Benoit Samuelson who was in Oly for the Olympic Trials. It was very cool. She went on to win the first women's Olympic Marathon at the 1984 Summer Olympics held in Los Angeles later that year.

Next on my list...Lacamas Lake Run/Walk in July!

A Good Friend!

This is my friend Anna.

She is a dedicated cook.

This is Olive, Anna's Airedale. Look at that nose!!!!

Anna is such a nice friend. She loves PW as much as I do (maybe more since she owns PW's cookbook).

On Monday, she brought me one of PW's buttered rosemary rolls (soo tasty). And today...this was in my mailbox.

A surprise!

Inside was PW's chocolate sheet cake. It was delicious!! I tried my best to make the cake last, but it died a quick death before 9:00 a.m.

Dear Anna:
Thanks so much for the sweet treat!!

I heart PW!!

I love Pioneer Woman. What is not to love? Okay, there was that one time I was a little miffed because Remy didn't win a dog photo contest, but I am over that now. Did you know there are PW haters? It's true. Just read this post and all the accompanying comments. Readers are divided. Some love PW, the others not so much.

Remy!

This morning I checked in on PW's site & saw on the Home & Garden tab that she had posted some cute photos of Charlie (eating). I thought I would try the same thing with Remy. Please keep in mind I just have a point & shoot camera. :)

All legs, just like his mom (that would be me).

I love this photo the best.

I stayed in one spot while Remy kept inching closer to me.


Such a kissable forehead!

Make This!!

PW's Vanilla Bean Scones! These are delicious! I made a batch on Saturday and a second batch today. I am too cheap to buy vanilla beans ($12.99 for 2!) & these turned out just fine with vanilla extract. Saturday's batch I used Costco vanilla and for today's scones I used white Mexican vanilla. The kids and I preferred the Mexican vanilla scones. Omid said they tasted like a Krispy Kreme donut. No joke!

Monster!!

Lot's of excitement over at Omid's parent's house tonight! It wasn't a monster, but it scared the poop out of Nas & I. Nas hiding on a countertop.

Shelter your ears from the screams!

Hooters!

Omid, Matty & I were out and about running errands this afternoon. We were hungry and decided to stop somewhere for lunch. Guess where we stopped? This is such a "bloggable" restaurant! Let's stop!

Wings. They tasted better than they looked.

Deep fried pickles. I saw those on the menu and was determined to try them. They were so tasty! That was a surprise.

Hey! These pickles aren't bad.



Leftovers.

Matty & the Hooters' Gals.

We are such tourists. We had to get a tshirt for Matty. My only rule: He just can't wear it to school.

Rowan Playdate

The last time we had a playdate with Rowan, she looked like this: You can read all about that last visit here.

We saw Rowan again today and this is what she looks like now! 16 months old!

Remy was still very interested in showing Rowan his toys, giving her kisses & whacking her with his tail.

Kissy Kiss!

Future veterinarian? Rowan loved Nas' Betta fish.

She also read about choosing a good college. Very important.
*Note to Aunt Heidi: Rowan was encouraged to attend WSU and not TESC!

Rowan loved going "wheeeee!" in the spinny chair with Nas.

The best for last....Rowan has some super dance moves!

Thanks Laurel & Rowan for the visit and the YUMMY treats!! Nas said the scones were BETTER than Starbucks!

The Book Seer

Looking for a good read? Ask the book seer!
http://bookseer.com/

Perspectacles

I love this video! Matty watched it at school today. I am so glad he shared it with us.

FAIL!

I hate failure. We are not strangers. I've failed at lots of things. Baking is usually not one of them. Well, today was the day.

I made a delicious cherry filled coffee cake last week. Today I had the brilliant idea to make the cake in a muffin tin, so everyone could have their own little cake. I blame myself for chatting on the phone and not really paying attention. Lesson learned!

My muffin tins were filled too full and spread out over the tops of tin. I had to do some delicate surgery to remove the tops with the cakes.

Failed cakes. - they don't even look delicious to me.

I had just enough batter left over to make a batch of mini-cakes. They turned out much better.

Make This!!

Potatoes Supreme: ready for the oven.


Need an extra side dish for Easter? This dish is delicious and is a nice change from au gratin potatoes. The recipe doesn't call for bacon or any other meat - but Omid and I decided to add some sopresatta sausage. We also used a variety of cheeses (gorgonzola, chevre & parmesan).


The ingredients. Check out Remy in the top right corner. He was begging for some cheese.

If you can't boil the potatoes the night before, than do it at least an hour before making the dish. These babies are HOT and take a long time to cool.

Potatoes Supreme
6 large russet potatoes or 12 yukon gold - boiled & salted
If possible, boil the potatoes the day before. Grate the cooked potatoes & place in a large bowl.
Add:
1/2 c butter
2 c shredded cheese
1/2 c chopped green onions
one pint sour cream
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t salt
Mix all ingredients and place in a Pyrex. Bake at 350* for 35 minutes.