list – Page 22

I love…

Published on April 22, 2013April 22, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay2 Comments

Like anyone else, I love a lot of things. Especially, today, I love the Earth. I love the air and the sounds and the miracles that happen in and around the earth. Specifically, I love how the earth gives us water and crops and grows luxuriously green grass for me to pad my summer feet through. Of course there is more, but that’s what I’ve got first thing in the morning.

However, since we are on the topic of things I love, I thought I would share a little bit more…

Like, how much I love how sweet smelling and worn out my dogs are after they come home from an afternoon at the groomers.

I love a productive afternoon of working hard on stuff in the garage so we can be DONE with this move already, and then taking my girl to donate a car load of stuff at the Salvation Army and grab a milk shake for the ride home.

I love free birthday gifts from Sephora, just for being a member.

I love that my fourteen year old thinks it’s amazing to watch The Hunger Games (for the 4,000th time) on her iPod nano. All 2.5 inches of it.

I love washing my face first thing in the morning. It sets the tone for a day.

I love new books, and new book release Tuesdays. I love how the ones I’m most excited about are delivered magically to my Kindle at some time in the night.

I love the Monday morning sounds of the washing machine running and bird songs as their artists bask in rays of crisp sunshine.

I love making brown butter French toast a’lorange with Gen. We chat about things, and realize our moods are both up several levels, likely due to the bright blue sky and ginormously glowing orb it holds.

I also really, really, really love Macaroni & Cheese. One of my girlfriends and I pride ourselves on being adventurers on a quest for the world’s best ever Macaroni and Cheese. In the beginning, my husband thought that was just not a cool enough adventure for him, but as the years have progressed he too has grown a bit Mac ‘n’ Cheese obsessed. Every new restaurant, or every stumble upon a new Macaroni & Cheese recipe is like a taunting challenge, SO it only made sense to share those voyages with you. Welcome to Mac & Cheese Mondays, ya’ll…

To start, I thought I’d share Chw’s current favorite Mac’n’cheese recipe. It’s pretty great, just not my favorite, but I am an equal opportunity Mac & Cheese maker so it works out fine and everybody wins. (though, for the record, Gen’s favorite is also my favorite, so we kind of win just a little more!)

What you need…

2 c. of your favorite small, dried pasta.

1 c. shredded sharp cheddar

1/2 c. shredded ANY OTHER CHEESE YOU LOVE

1, 8oz package cream cheese

1 c. undiluted evaporated milk

1/2 c. grated (NOT DRIED) parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Cook your pasta in boiling, generously salted water, according to your package directions. Drain, but don’t rinse.

Combine, back in pot (BUT NOT ON HEAT) the pasta with the cheddar and other cheese (Not Parm.) and cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese is melted.

Poor into casserole dish.

Slowly stir in the milk, making sure to scrape the sides of the dish.

Evenly sprinkle Parmesan on top

Bake between 25 and 30 minutes- or until desired golden browning on top.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chw’s Favorite Mac & Cheese

(Adapted from Beatrice Ojakangas Mac And Cheese To Beat The Box recipe)

2 c. of your favorite small, dried pasta.

1 c. shredded sharp cheddar

1/2 c. shredded ANY OTHER CHEESE YOU LOVE

1, 8oz package cream cheese

1 c. undiluted evaporated milk

1/2 c. grated (NOT DRIED) parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Cook your pasta in boiling, generously salted water, according to your package directions. Drain, but don’t rinse.

Combine, back in pot (BUT NOT ON HEAT) the pasta with the cheddar and other cheese (Not Parm.) and cream cheese. Stir until the cream cheese is melted.

Poor into casserole dish.

Slowly stir in the milk, making sure to scrape the sides of the dish.

Evenly sprinkle Parmesan on top

Bake between 25 and 30 minutes- or until desired golden browning on top.

EAT!

Today…

Published on April 16, 2013 by Mae @ Rainydayinmay7 Comments

{My pretty fantabulous friend Jenni sets up posts like this every now and again. I’m feeling anything but original these days so I thought I’d crash her bullet point party and go that route…}

…I had tea and toast for breakfast. While this is true of most mornings, it’s been quite a struggle recently because they do not sell our beloved bread here and so we are trying (and failing) sandwiches and toast other ways.

…I had an amazingly ideal list of things to do. They were necessary and wonderful things that included things like finally getting to the end of unpacking our office; baking a batch of delicious muffins and sitting down to write a few handwritten notes. These things did not happen.

…I fought with my fourteen year old over being tired of nagging her to do things she knows to do. It’s true, world, I suck.

…I ignored the photos, from the weekend, that need to be blogged and categorized.

…I did light organizing.

…I touched base with my son, which is always awesome. Gen received her AWESOME birthday gifts from him. She’s been watching the mail, like a hawk, every day for weeks. International shipping is sometimes not our friend. At any rate, that boy is an AMAZING gift giver and she is one happy girl, for sure.

…We ate sweet potato chips and ice cream for dinner.

…When I could not watch CNN anymore, and my heart ached deafeningly over the Boston tragedy, I lost myself to pinterest and then watched rom-coms with Gen.

…I hugged her tight at bed time. She’s a precious, precious girl.

…hours passed by so slow and fast, all at the same time. The air pressure is doing a circus number on my head, for sure. Today someone was over for a bit and we discussed the overhead/sunshine differences between here and places like Idaho, Texas and California. You take the good, you take the bad and suddenly- well, you just have to look at the bright side. That’s what we have to do. That’s what I have to do. Life isn’t bad. Sometimes there are crazy, dark or overwhelming things- but our perspective is everything.

…I LOVE the Osbournes. Ozzy, Sharon, Jack, Kelly… I love them. Today when Ozzy announced that he’d “fallen off the wagon” and had been drinking and using again- but was 44 days sober and trying- I beamed for this celebrity man I admire. This moment right here is when the few ultra conservative friends I had, will decide I am not worth it and close the door on me. Ha ha. I am ok with that. I admire a man who is honest, and loves others with an honest and grateful passion. I learned a lot about parenting from them. Today I am reminded that I can learn a lot about life too. I may not have a drug or drinking problem, but it is always true that no matter how many times we fall on our faces- it’s getting up and being brave enough to try again that matters.

…was all in all, not an awful day personally. The Boston tragedy aside, of course. Some days are worse, others are better. I am better for today, or at least I hope so. That’s my introspective 10:17 p.m perspective anyway…