sheppard girls

Reading

 

I added a sidebar on the right listing the books currently being read (or read aloud) around here.  The other day I said to the dad "I know I shouldn't complain, but there are so many stinkin' books laying around here".   People read and then just abondon their books - on the coffee table, on the kitchen island, in the mudroom, on the stairs, in the bathroom....  Saturday I bought this book.  I finished it Sunday evening.  I never even got to add it to the sidebar.

Wild goose chase

When you go out shopping for some thing(s) specific, does it seem like a big waste of time?  I am currently on the hunt for:

Two floor lamps, for two different rooms.  One for our bedroom to take advantage of the other clearance Anthropologie shade I mentioned earlier, and one for the big one's bedroom because the Ikea one has already been broken.  No lighting costing $29 is going to stand up very well to children, so I blame myself for that one. 

A table lamp for the desk in our office because the current lamp no longer works and since it was from Target getting it fixed will probably cost more than the lamp did originally.

A ceramic garden stool to use as a little bedside table in the big ones room.  They are everywhere right now, so I got it into my head to get one, but I had no idea they were so expensive!

Hanging wall jewelry storage for the big one as well. I am tired of our walk to the bus stop becoming a sprint because she can't untangle the necklace she wants.

A new shower curtain for the girls bathroom because I got new artwork, including this print (which they don't care for, but I love!) and the current shower curtain seems too tame.

Spring coats for both the big one and the little one.  They have been wearing quilted barn jackets for the last two years and now that I need new, larger ones they are no where to be found.

Easter dresses.  Impossible!

These garden chairs from Target for our firepit, because I sacrificed my beloved Loll adirondack chairs to get my beloved Designers Guild wallpaper in our mainfloor bathroom.  The chairs are sold out on-line and because they are so large, each store only carries one. 

Valspar spray enamel paint.  I had a can of the perfect aqua blue, but it only painted half of what I needed and now I can't find another can. 

Buggin' me

This is our entryway lamp.  It bugs me.  I like the Jadeite-like base, and I really like the fact someone used an old toaster cord to repair it.  But it doesn't have a harp, so the shade I have on it is always tipped.  Also the shade is really boring.  I tried to recover a shade, but despite several online tutorials and You-tube videos with amazing results, my attempts were a big failure.

So on a weekend trip to Anthropologie, I found two of my favorite recent lampshades - on clearance.  I tried the smaller of the two on the green lamp, but it didn't work.  So I got a new lamp and harp from Target.  The lamp was great.  The harp was bent.  So I decided to do the big girl homeowner thing and visit a real lamp shop.  For just a little more money I got a 10 inch silver harp and the cutest little finial.  I am very happy.

ABC as easy as 123

In honor of Michael Jackson week on Americal Idol.  Did anyone sing ABC?  I had to go to Bunko and missed the second half, but that would be a great song!  I have been getting a crazy fun number of alphabet onsie and t-shirt orders lately.  I like to think it all began with Missy, who posted a picture of her sweet Laney in one a few weeks ago, but actually most of the orders have been local.  I will give Missy credit anyway for sending good vibes out.  They all looked so cute all lined up I had to take a few pictures before making my deliveries.

 

d for Delaney

   

k for Karl

 

w for Wyatt

 

m for Molly

 

n for Norah

r and e for Rachel and Elizabeth.  The big one says she would wear one with a big "s" on it, but we'll see.

More soup for us

Speaking of WiseCraft.  Several of her soup recipes have become quick favorites around here.  Most recently she posted a tortilla soup recipe, which I made, even though the primary ingredient was avocado and I hate avocados.  Really hate them.  Their consistency icks me out.  Here is her recipe:

Wise Craft Tortilla soup (serves 4-6)

2 tsp. olive oil
1 white or yellow onion, chopped small
2 scallions, chopped small and including 1/3 of the green stem
2 32 oz. boxes of reduced sodium chicken stock

1 large can diced tomatoes
1 large avocado
3/4 cup queso cheese
3 cups of shredded, pre-cooked chicken- white meat only

Coriander, cumin and cayenne to taste
finely chopped fresh cilantro for garnish
unsalted tortilla strips (recipe below)
freshly ground pepper

1. Heat olive oil over med. high heat in a dutch oven or your favorite soup pot. Add onions and cook to soften (not brown), add scallions, cook for one minute more.

2. Pour in chicken broth, then add in shredded chicken and canned tomatoes. Heat through for 15 minutes.

3. Slice avocado evenly into bite-sized chunks, add to soup pot. Add spices and pepper.

4. To serve, ladle soup in bowl, add in queso cheese, then tortilla chips, then cilantro.

*Leftover soup is fine with chicken and avocado in it, but store the tortilla chips, cilantro, and queso cheese separately.

Her recipe didn't include them, but I added the chicken, tomatoes and spices and it was great.  As were the homemade tortilla chips, also inspired by her.  Finally a use for the Costco size bags tortillas I always come home with!

ATC swap

The big one is participating in the ATC swap organized by Blair at Wise Craft and Erin at House on Hill Road.  I am not quite sure why, but she decided to have diner themed ATCs. 

   

We are getting them packaged up and into the mail.  It will be fun to see what we (I mean she, oops) get in return.