One Thousand Gifts (250-267)

© shoutingforha

250.  Walking on the old train tracks with two rambunctious boys, pockets weighted down with interesting rocks and old railroad spikes. 
251.  Wisps of hair tickling my face in the gusting wind. 
252.  Lilies poking their heads up out of the soil. 
253.  Family pictures scattered throughout the house.  I love walking into a room and seeing the faces of the people I love. 
254.  Brunch and deep conversation with some girlfriends. 
255.  A cup of coffee on a quiet afternoon.
256.  Laughing with the hubby at old pictures of ourselves.  How quickly clothing and hairstyles drift out of fashion.
257.  Stacks of good books at my fingertips.
258.  Homemade pie crust.
259.  Meals spent with my guys.  There is nothing better.
260.  A clean bathtub. 
261.  An hour spent playing fetch with Brick.  He is so lazy these days that I was shocked by his extended burst of energy.  What a treat!
262.  Bedtime prayers.
263.  My hubby, dressed in his topcoat and fedora, heading off to work on a rainy morning.  I'm so glad I get to grow old with that man.
264.  Laughter. 
265.  An hour spent catching up with an old friend.
266.  Girl Scout cookies, especially Tagalongs.
267.  The sound of drums and guitar echoing through the house.

For more lists of gratitude, head over to

Sunday Links

2011 Oscar Ballot and Trivia | The Art of Doing Stuff

instantwatcher.com | Find good streaming titles on Netflix

Recycled Gift Bows | How About Orange
I love the idea of using an old phone book.

Handmade Birthday Candles | The Crafts Dept.

Love You Forever.  Lock The Windows | Shaun Groves
I couldn't agree more.

Stormy Weather

Late February and early March signal the start of the Spring storm season here in Tennessee.  To celebrate this occasion, the hubby and I did the only logical thing...  We spent the better part of the evening watching the weather reports as the first batch of severe weather roared through our state.

Send help or a walker.  A ninety-year-old woman is trying to take over my body.

The real reason I enjoy watching the weather is to listen to all oddly-named towns that dot our fair state.  My favorites from last night:  Goat City, Bumpus Mills, Sweet Lips, Defeated and Difficult.  Quality entertainment like that is hard to find.

I also get a kick out of our local weather people.  If I had a dollar for every time I've heard the words, "Go get in your safe spot," I would be a rich woman.  

They also seem to have an uncanny ability to state the obvious. "It's raining four inches an hour.  Now what that means is that if it rained for an entire hour, we'd have four inches of rain."  Thank you, kind weather person, for calculating that tricky math problem for me.

The truth be told, I am fascinated by the weather here in Tennessee.  Where else can you get torrential rains, sweltering heat, tornadoes, blizzards, high winds, frigid temperatures, flooding...  all in the span of a few short months. 

The only downfall to having stormy weather, other than the destruction often left in it's path, is that it somehow ignites a desire to be outdoors in our water hating dog, Brick.  Just last night, he insisted on going outdoors during an especially heavy downpour.  

Don't be fooled.  The crazy dog wasn't heading out for a quick bathroom break.  He merely wanted to drink rainwater from a bucket that the boy had left on the back patio.  Which, of course, made perfect sense.   

Why would the beast drink water from the five gallon dog waterer in the house when it is so much easier to brave hurricane rain and 70 mph wind gusts to quench his thirst outside.  Our dog is smart like that.  Thank heavens for ShamWow.

After laughing until our sides ached, the hubby and I headed off to bed.  There's nothing better than being lulled to sleep by the sound of rain against the windows.  Don't you agree?

What is your favorite thing about the local weather forecast?

Homemade Lotion Bars

© shoutingforha

Hello, my name is Mrs. Ha and I am a lotion junkie.  Just ask my hubby.  I have a bottle of lotion or container of salve by every sink in the house, in the drawer of my nightstand, in my purse, in the console of my car...  I never know when my hands might come in contact with water and need a little moisturizing.

You can never be too careful about these things.

One of my favorite ways to keep my hands nice and soft is by making homemade lotion bars.  They are super easy to make and moisturize my hands like nothing else.  They also do wonders for my feet which take all manner of abuse since I am constantly barefoot.

I keep a lotion bar in a pretty blue dish right next to my kitchen sink.  When my hands feel a little dry, I simply grab the bar, rub it around in my hands for a few seconds and then massage the lotion into my skin.

Lotion Bars

4 oz. beeswax
4 oz. shea butter
5 1/2 oz. coconut oil
essential oil of your choice

For this project, I prefer to use beeswax pearls.  It eliminates the hassle of grating 4 oz.  Unfortunately, all I had was a block of beeswax.  The grating can be quite tedious, so be patient.

© shoutingforha

Place the grated beeswax or the beeswax pearls in a glass measuring cup.  Microwave on high for 1 1/2 to 3 minutes, or until the beeswax has melted.

© shoutingforha

Add the shea butter and coconut oil.  Microwave again, in 60 second increments, until all of the oils have melted.  Add a few drops of essential oil (I used lavender) and stir to combine.

© shoutingforha

Pour the mixture into molds.  I like to use a muffin pan.  The size seems to fit perfectly in my hand.  Allow the mixture to cool completely.  If you are having trouble getting the bars to release, just pop the pan in the freezer for a few minutes.  It works like a charm.

Why don't you make some homemade lotion bars of your own. Your skin will thank you for it.

~~~~~

This post is part of Works For Me Wednesday hosted by We Are That Family.

One Thousand Gifts (238-249)

© shoutingforha

"...slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life… " - Ann Voskamp

238.  Buds appearing on tree branches.  Spring, are you showing yourself already?
239.  Fried chicken. 
240.  Book club.  I love getting together with the girls to talk.  Sometimes we get a little crazy and actually discuss a book.
241.  When Brick dreams that he is running.  I think his legs see more action in his sleep than they do when he is awake. 
242.  Phone calls from my boy.  I love the sound of his husky voice on the phone.
243.  A long, hot shower. 
244.  Boys playing in the creek. 
245.  Noticing the way my boy's shoulders are becoming so broad and strong.  How amazing it is to watch a child grow from boy to man.
246.  The stillness of an early morning.
247.  The sound of dozens of songbirds in my back yard.  Growing up in Colorado, I never noticed how few birds there were.  I am always amazed by the numbers and varieties of birds that call my Tennessee back yard their home. 
248.  Lunchtime visits from my hubby.  I love when I get to see him during the middle of the day.
249.  Long bike rides with my boy.  The weather was perfect on Sunday... sunny, warm and with a cool breeze.

For more lists of gratitude, head over to

Sunday Links

Pull Tab Picture Hanger | Make: Projects
I thought this was a brilliant idea.

 How To Make Homemade Art Supplies at Home | Apartment Therapy

A Useful Re-use of Plastic Bottle Caps | Re-Nest

How to Fix a Dried Out Sharpie | The Art of Doing Stuff
 This tip is going to be mighty useful at
 the Ha house.

 22 Manly Ways to Reuse an Altoids Tin | The Art of Manliness

25 Quick and Easy Smoothie Recipes | Whole Living

A Rambling List To End the Week

© shoutingforha

Prepare to be bored.

1. The redhead had his first shift as an Office Helper yesterday.  He was really excited about wearing his nifty safety patrol sash.  I was excited that he was wearing his cool sash over his totally awesome Denver Broncos shirt.  Go Broncos!

After arriving bright and early, the boy served as chief door holder for the hoards of children arriving at school. The highlight of the morning was leading the school in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

As we were driving home after school, the boy told me that there was one little mishap at the end of the day.  When he and his trusty sidekick took down the American flag, it accidentally touched the ground.  As the boy tells it, an over-zealous teacher began shrieking, "The flag touched the ground!  It needs to be burned!"

Thankfully, the principal stepped in and calmed the teacher down.  Apparently, the whole thing was his fault.  You see, despite the long list of instructions given to each Office Helper, the principal never told the two greenhorns the proper procedure for removing and folding the flag.

Thankfully, both boys are now well versed in proper flag etiquette.  I don't think they will make the same mistake twice. 

2.  My boy is staying at school until 5:00 tonight for the Rock-n-Roll Read-a-Thon.  In addition to presentations by various authors and illustrators, the kids will attend a dance, eat a bunch of junk and, of course, read. 

For the past twenty years, the Read-a-Thon has always had a 50's vibe.  You know, poodle skirts, leather jackets, sock hop...  This year, the powers that be decided to mix things up and have a 60's theme.  The boy was thrilled and decided to wear a giant Afro wig (pictures coming soon).

There's just one thing I don't understand.  When they made the big switch-a-roo, why didn't they didn't give the event a more groovy name?  If they were short on ideas, they should have called. Off the top of my head, I can come up with several winning suggestions.

What about, "Peace, Love, Read-a-Thon?"  Or maybe "Give Reading a Chance."  Better yet, "R-E-A-D-I-N-G!  Find out what it means to me."

The witty possibilities are endless.  

© shoutingforha

3.  There is a creek that winds through my neighborhood.  You long time readers have been forced to view countless photos of the redhead wading in it's waters in search of tiny crayfish.  I'm sure as the years go by, you will be subjected to even more.

One thing I don't think I've mentioned was that the horrible flood last April changed our tiny creek.  While the width is relatively unchanged, many parts are much deeper and the water doesn't quite flow the same way it used to.

At first my boy was upset that his precious creek was altered.  Then he realized that the new improved creek now houses a multitude of giant crayfish.  Just the other day, my boy and his friend pulled the great big fellow pictured above from the icy waters.  If the water weren't so nasty, I think he might be big enough to eat.

I have a feeling  the boy is going to spend a ton of time down at the creek this summer.

4.  Brick decided to go for a little trot today.  The boy mistakenly left the door wide open and the beast decided to take full advantage of it.  Little stinker. 

Normally, I would grab my keys, hop in the car, drive around the corner and wait for Brick to wander over and hop inside.  For some odd reason, I decided to do things the old fashioned way.  I poked my head out the back door and let loose my loudest whistle.  

To my complete surprise, the crazy dog came galloping back into the house.  I have no idea what has come over  the beast.  Next thing I know, he will be refilling his own food dish and brushing his own fur.

5.  *** UPDATE:  The old saying, "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride" no longer applies to my hubby.  He was, at long last, selected to sit on the jury for a criminal trial.  He found the entire process to be quite interesting.  I'm a little jealous. 

My hubby has been summoned to jury duty for the umpteenth time in our marriage.  I am not exaggerating when I tell you that the man gets called once every year or two.  This time, the summons was from our local county courthouse.  If memory serves me correctly, the previous one was for a grand jury trial at the federal courthouse in Nashville.

For the record, my hubby is always dismissed in the final round of jury selection.

Here's my question.  Why is it that my hubby gets the call to jury duty so frequently when I, myself, have never been called once?  It's the same way with my Mom.  She's been called more times than I can count.  If the process is supposed to be completely random, why do they randomly call the same handful of people over and over again?

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not complaining that I haven't been selected to participate in this particular civic duty.  I'm just curious to hear if you, dear readers, have ever had jury duty.  Well, have you?

On that note, I'm going to head up to the school for the dance.  Have a happy Friday!

Homemade Granola

© shoutingforha

Today, I'm sharing my favorite recipe for granola.  It's really yummy and easy to make, which is a good thing.  The fellows and I seem to gobble it up just as quickly as I can make it.

I think I found this recipe in a Martha Stewart Living magazine many moons ago, although I'm not positive.  This is starting to be a theme with me.  My notating skills clearly leave something to be desired.  Oh, well.   

When making a batch for yourself, feel free to alter the recipe to suit your family's tastes.  I have made the granola with a variety of nuts and seeds and it is always delicious.

You can also add dried fruit if you so choose, although I usually make mine without.  The reason... once it's added, it's a pain to try and pick it out.  To be honest, my hubby and son would be thrilled if I would add raisins, but raisins are one of the two foods that I truly despise (the other is canned tuna).

Hello.  My name is Mrs. Ha, and I am a selfish, selfish woman.

Either way, you can't go wrong.  The stuff is just that good.  Take my advise and go whip up a batch of your own.  I'm sure it will become a favorite at your house as well.

Granola

3 c. oats
1 c. wheat germ
2/3 c. almonds, chopped
2/3 c. pecans, chopped
1/2 c. pumpkin seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 c. pure maple syrup
1/4 c. honey
2 Tbs. oil
2 Tbs. molasses

In a large bowl, toss the oats, wheat germ, almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds and cinnamon to combine.

Pour the maple syrup, honey, oil and molasses into a glass measuring cup.  Heat for 30 seconds in the microwave and then stir to combine.

Drizzle the syrup mixture over the oats and nuts.  Toss to thoroughly combine.  Spread the mixture onto a cookie sheet.  Bake at 275 degrees for 35-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.  The granola will be golden brown.

Allow the granola to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container. 

Wordless Wednesday - The Stash

Face paint from the boy's Valentine's Day Party.
© shoutingforha

Is it just me, or does this child look like he needs some chapstick?

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.

One Thousand Gifts (223-237)

© shoutingforha

223.  Snowflakes as delicate as dandelion fluff. 
224.  The way my boy is constantly drumming, even when he's not sitting at his kit.  Sometimes it drives me crazy, but I know I will miss the constant rhythm one day.
225.  Caramel corn.
226.  Always finding Nerf darts throughout the house.
227.  One last snow before Spring arrives.  This has been an amazing winter.
228.  An empty laundry basket. 
229.  A gathering with other moms.  I am thankful to have other women to share the journey with.
230.  Reading with my boy before bed. 
231.  A movie day with a friend.
232.  Laughing with the boys while we enjoy a treat at Sweet CeCe's. 
233.  The sound of my nephew's laugh heard over the phone.  It's almost as good as being there... almost.
234.  My hubby's graying hair.  It reminds me of all the years we've spent together.
235.  Mud-caked shoes after hours of playing outside.
236.  Mason jars.
237.  Goodnight kisses.

For more lists of gratitude, head over to:

Sunday Links

  

Map Your Valentine
Use Google Maps to remind your Valentine
of a special place.

Clothespin Planter | Family Chic 

I Recently Took Up Smoking (a handy-dandy guide to making

your own bacon) | The Art of Doing Stuff

Becoming a smoker suddenly sounds like a brilliant idea!

6 Natural Remedies You Probably Already Have | Simple Mom

Make Your Own Lip Gloss | Meet the Dubiens

Homemade Cards | Angry Chicken
I love the idea of using kids comments to make 
cards.  Especially since my boy says the craziest things.

Of Snow and A Valentine's Day Party

© shoutingforha

We got another three inches of snow on Wednesday night and, as a result, school has been canceled until Monday.  A collective sigh of misery could be heard throughout the county.  Five day weekend anyone?  

Thankfully, the county had the presence of mind to build ten snow days into the school calendar.  As of today, we have used nine.  Is it wrong of me to hope that we use all ten?

In related news, I suffered a moment of weakness and I agreed to help with the activities for my son's Valentine's Day party, which was scheduled for today.  In reality, I simply offered to bring my Valentine's Day bingo game and a few bags of Sweethearts to use as markers.

I've found that it's helpful to have a game of some sort to pull out towards the end of a class party.  By that point, the kids are all amped up on sugar and are itching to go home.  A game is a good distraction.

When I spoke to the mom in charge of the fourth grade party, she informed me that she used to be a clown and thought she would do a little Valentine's Day face painting (hearts and cupid).  That's it.  Her grand plan was to leisurely paint faces for ninety minutes.  

I don't mean to be rude, but my initial reaction was that her party sounded really LAME.

She then told me that she had absolutely no intentions of doing anything else, but that she would be "fine with it" if I took care of everything else.  Grrr.  Many moms could simply say, "No thanks.  I'm just fine bringing my Bingo game."  

I'm not one of those moms.

It was as if something was compelling me to step in and take over.  To be fair, I think I was partially motivated knowing that my son, like the other boys in the class, would not be happy about having hearts painted on his face.

I immediately dug through my craft supplies to see what I could pull together. With just a little effort I was able to come up with enough activities and crafts to keep the kiddos occupied for the duration of the party.  Then it snowed and school was canceled.

While I am slightly annoyed that all my effort might be for naught, I am secretly hoping that the powers-that-be don't reschedule the class parties.  Next week is already jam-packed, culminating with the 60's themed Read-a-Thon on Friday.  I would be happy to pack away my bingo game until this time next year.

Either way, it is clear that I need to do a better job of saying no.  

How about you, dear readers?  Are you one of those parents who is always helping out up at your kids schools, or do you prefer to keep your school activities to a minimum?

A Cutting Board & A Scary Sharp Knife

Today I would like to tell you about two of my new favorite kitchen gadgets.  Both were Christmas presents from my hubby.

© shoutingforha

First up, is an amazing John Boos cutting board.  I had been a longtime admirer of Boos boards, but due to my extremely frugal ways, I could never bring myself to fork out the big bucks to buy one of my own.  Leave it to my hubby to take care of that little problem for me.

© shoutingforha

The hubby bought the board here.  It was the same price as on Amazon and as the hubby tells it, Michael Ruhlman himself emailed to see how we were enjoying our purchase.  Now that's what I call service.  I love it, Michael!

© shoutingforha

For the record, the cutting board is wonderful.  The large size provides ample room to prep multiple ingredients and the weight prevents it from sliding around on the counter. 

© shoutingforha

The other gift I want to tell you about is my Kyocera KT-140-HIP-D Kyotop Damascus 5 1/2-Inch Santoku Knife with Pakka Handle.  Since there's no chance I could ever remember a name like that, I prefer to call it the Scary Sharp Knife.
 

© shoutingforha

This is the first ceramic knife I have ever owned and I immediately noticed how much lighter it was than my Wusthof and Shun knives.  The Damascus is insanely sharp, so sharp that I would liken it to a razor blade.  It easily slices through meats and vegetables like a hot knife through butter. 

For some reason, my boy seems to be unnerved by my new knife.  He has taken to shouting, "PLEASE DON'T CUT YOURSELF!" every time he sees it in my hand.  Despite the boy's fear, the knife has quickly become one of my favorites.

What about you, dear readers?  What kitchen gadgets do you love?

~~~~~

*** The opinions expressed are my own.  The fine folks at Boos and Damascus have no clue I exist. My hubby purchased the cutting board and knife with his own hard-earned cash and I have not been compensated in any way for my review.  

Wordless Wednesday - Clouds

© shoutingforha

 

© shoutingforha

© shoutingforha

© shoutingforha

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.

The Office Helper

When I was in the sixth grade, I was a member of the Safety Patrol.  At my elementary school, all of the cool kids were on the Patrol, and let me tell you, I thought I was hot stuff.  In reality, I was merely a notepad totin', sash wearin', deputy crossing guard.   

Now, twenty-six years later, my boy is about to take his turn on his school's version of the Safety Patrol.  Thursday morning, bright and early, my boy will start his job as an official Office Helper.  Exciting stuff, eh?

Technically, the boy was supposed to start last week, but no one bothered to let us in on that little tidbit of information.  He signed up during the first week of school, way back in August, and was told that someone would let us know when he was scheduled.  Apparently they forgot.

I heard through the grapevine that the "powers that be" were moderately annoyed when the kiddos neglected to show up for their shift.  I guess they just assumed that the kids would get a warm and fuzzy feeling inside indicating that their turn had arrived.  You know, just like bears instinctively know when to hibernate.

I wonder if I need to be concerned that these people are in charge of my son's education.  Hmm...

Anyway, at my son's school, fourth and fifth grade students can sign up to be an Office Helper.  They volunteer one day a week for two months.  The students are given a nifty neon green safety patrol belt that they have to wear when on duty.  They must arrive at school forty minutes early and stay until after all the other students are gone. 

The duties of an official Office Helper include:  opening doors for students, parents and staff, greeting people as they enter the building, lending a hand when necessary, helping to lead the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem, and taking down the flags at the end of the school day.

At the end of the seven weeks, my boy, along with the other Office Helpers will receive a reward for all their hard work.  And what a reward it is.  Drum roll please...  

The kids get to eat lunch with the principal, in his office.  I don't know about you, but that doesn't sound like much of a reward to me.  Punishment is more like it.  What elementary school student wants to eat lunch in the principals office?

I wish you could have seen the look on the boy's face when he realized his fate.  It was one of pure horror.  I am curious to see if the threat of a shared meal with the principal will be enough to keep him from joining the ranks of the Office Helpers again next year.

I have a feeling the boy is going to expect something mighty tasty in his lunch box that day. 

One Thousand Gifts (211-222)

211.  My boy, doing what he knew was right, even though it was really hard.  I am so proud to be his Mama.

212.  Happy tears.

213.  Our gentle giant, Brick.  His sweet, and slightly graying face, still has the power to melt my heart. 

214.  An afternoon spent on the floor racing slot cars with my boy. 

215.  The sound of music playing throughout the house while I cook and clean. 

216.  The sight of a grandmother and granddaughter, hand-in-hand, skipping down the street.  The look on their faces was pure joy.

217.  Eating lunch with my boy in the school cafeteria. 

218.  The sound of the wind blowing in the treetops. 

219.  Kind words about my boy from another mom. 

220.  Giving our piano to a pair of adorable girls that desperately want to learn to play.  It makes my heart happy knowing it will be used and loved.

221.  Swapping books with a friend.

222.  Getting the giggles.

For more lists of gratitude, head over to:

Sunday Links

  

It's a Valentine's Day extravaganza!

Valentine Sweet and Treats Round-Up | The Crafty Crow
 
10 Valentine's Day Gifts for the Special Geek in Your Life | Mashable

Kids Classroom Valentines | Skip To My Lou
I love these!

Marshmallows On A String | The Decorated Cookie

Yarn Love | Family Chic

Heart Rocks for Valentine's Day | The Artful Parent
These would make a great addition
to my collection!

Valentine's Day Crafts for Kids | Martha Stewart

The Force

I saw this over at another blog and thought I would pass it along.



Isn't that adorable times ten?!  It kind-of makes me wish my boy was little and still liked to walk around in his Darth Vader costume. 

Excerpts From the Ha Family Dictionary, No. 2

Today I would like to share another excerpt from the Ha Family Dictionary.  This one is courtesy of my boy.  Enjoy!

I would like to continue a series that I started many moons ago entitled "Excerpts From the Ha Family Dictionary."   Behold, I give you the Ha family word of the day...

Bajongle

ba-jon-gle [ba jong gle]

interjection, verb

A colorful response to a 

question or circumstance.

An expression of joy, 

surprise, excitement, 

triumph, sarcasm or 

approval.

A state of disorder.

I would love to tell you that I, Mrs. Ha, am the brilliant mastermind behind the creation of this delightful word.  Unfortunately, that would be a lie.  All credit belongs to my hubby, wordsmith extraordinaire.  He's a little goofy like that. 

In all honesty, I cannot remember the first time I heard my hubby use the word, bajongle, in a sentence.  What I do know is that the definition of the word has grown exponentially since it's inception.

Some typical uses for the word are...

"I was driving through the parking lot and, bajongle, an old lady almost backed into me."

A glass of water get's knocked over... "Bajongle!"

The boy:  "Dad, did you see me beat that level on my video game?"
The hubby:  "Bajongle!  Great job!"

"Why is your room such a mess?  It's completely bajongled."

As you can tell, the grammatical applications appear to be virtually endless.  

I'm sure that Webster's will be calling us any day now.  I'm sure they are just dying to add bajongle to their latest edition of the dictionary. 

The Best Blueberry Muffins Ever!

© shoutingforha

Hello, dear readers!  Today I am going to share my favorite blueberry muffin recipe.  I am not joking when I say that they are the best ever.  Seriously.

Try as I might, I cannot remember where I originally found this recipe.  It is one of the literal dozens that I have copied down off the internet without notating it's source.  My deepest apologies to the genius who created this gem.  If anyone out there in internet land recognizes this as their own, let me know.  I would be delighted to note the source. 

In my humble opinion, there are two reasons why this muffin recipe is superior to all others.  First, it calls for the use of butter, not oil.  Butter adds a richness to the flavor that is truly wonderful.  

Second, and most important, is the way the muffins are prepared.  A mixer is used to beat the butter and sugar until it becomes light and fluffy.  After the addition of the eggs, the mixture is whipped once again, creating a batter that is incredibly light and fluffy.

Give this recipe a try.  I have a feeling it will become a favorite at your home too.

The Best Blueberry Muffins

1 3/4 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
1 pint blueberries
3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. sour cream
1 stick of butter, at room temperature
2/3 c. sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk

Combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt.  Toss the blueberries with 2 Tbs. of the dry mixture.  Set both aside.

Combine the milk and sour cream.  Set it aside as well.

In the bowl of your mixer beat the butter and sugar for three minutes.  Add the egg and egg yolk.  Beat an additional two minutes.

Using a rubber spatula, fold half of the flour mixture and half of the milk mixture into the butter mixture.  Mix until just combined.  Repeat with the remaining flour and milk mixtures.  Gently fold in the blueberries.

Spoon the mixture into lined or greased muffin cups.  Bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Wordless Wednesday - Bed Head

© shoutingforha

© shoutingforha

Isn't my boy's hair magnificent?!

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit 5 Minutes For Mom.

A Keen Howser Review Courtesy of The Sister

photo source

As I have mentioned previously, my twin sister and I are what some might consider opposites.  Other than our personalities, one of our major differences is our body temperatures.  Allow me to elaborate...

I am one of those people that would fall into the warm category.  Just the other morning, my boy found me outside scraping three inches of snow off the windshield of the car wearing my cotton pajama pants, a tank top, a lightweight cotton hoodie and a pair of flip flops.  It was 22 degrees and, believe it or not, I wasn't the least bit chilly.  

I rarely wear a coat, always keep the house on the chilly side and despise being too hot.

My sister, on the other hand, is cold blooded.  She is always chilly and desperately hates being cold.  In fact, I used to jokingly call her "The Amphibian" when we were growing up.  The irony that her home is perched in the Colorado Rockies, 8900+ feet above sea level is not lost on me. 

As I was checking my email the other day, I found this message from the frozen lady herself...

Oh, Keen House Slipper,

How do I love thee?
Let me count the ways...

All other slippers on the planet are inferior in every way.  

Let's talk about the slide.  You know, the slipper that loosens and stretches as you walk and eventually becomes a clunking log under your foot.  It slips right off your foot if you run too fast and if you're not careful, your toes will become deformed from trying to grip tightly enough to prevent it from falling off.

Then there's the fluffy slippers.  You know the ones.  They make your feet sweat in between a mass of what feels like a cheap stuffed animal.

Not the Keen Howser.  It's light.  It's cozy, but not too cozy.  It's warm, but not too warm.  Best of all, they actually stay on your feet.  It's a slipper fit for Goldie Locks... It's just right.  

I'm so glad Santa knew how much I wanted them.

There you have it.  If anyone out there in internet land is suffering from a case of icy toes, go grab yourself a pair of Keen Howsers.  Mountain dwelling amphibians love them.


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*** The opinions expressed are my own.  The fine folks at Keen have no clue I exist. My sister purchased the shoes with her own hard-earned cash and I have not been compensated in any way for my review.