Peace

I know it is on the controversial side, but I found such a moment of peace and bliss just moments ago when all the boys were sitting watch TV. We have been cutting back on TV time but when they play it ends up with more fighting and less playing within minutes.

So on went the TV and in I went to the kitchen. I turned up the radio and set the baby up on the counter next to me as I set to work making meatballs for dinner tonight. It is early in the day so I felt no rush to get things done and could just enjoy the music drifting out of the radio and the soft sound of rain drops dripping outside. I suppose part of my good mood could come from the fact that I absolutely adore the rain, the sound, the smell, the way everything looks in the cloudy light, rainy days are my favorite. The boys were so quiet and engulfed in the Disney show, I got lost in the peace and felt incredibly relaxed. Cooking and baking, I'm doing so with out any kind of time constraint, is one of my favorite things in the world.

Unfortunately, before finishing the baby got cranky and his cries burst my peace bubble. It was nice while it lasted.

Sectret Ingredient

As most anyone who knows me, or reads my blog, knows I love to bake. This year has been a busy one not leaving me much time for it and normally I bring tasty treats to my neighbors very frequently.  With the holidays in sight I had to get down to business and get some cookies baked for my awesome neighbors. My husband requested chocolate chip... BORING! I usually just use the chocolate chip package recipe but decided to hunt for something new online. I came across a recipe online, which I can't find now to reference, but decided, as usual, to change it up a bit. It dawned on me that cinnamon, just a hint, might be really tasty in a chocolate chip cookie. So I took to the pantry and retrieved my beloved cinnamon risking the chance my husband would HATE this rendition of his favorite cookie. I think I am a genius! They were so good with that hint of cinnamon! I anxiously awaited my husbands arrival home from work and when he walked in the door I was shoving cookies in his face. I warned him he may not like them because I added a secret ingredient. Apparently he is very observant because all he did was LOOK at the stupid things and knew I added cinnamon. Still, I had to wait for the taste test from my very tough critic. To my delight he like it! I think this recipe is a keeper and I am excited to have a chocolate chip cookie recipe to call my own!

Sure fire foods

A while back a friend of mine told me she use one of my recipes whenever she needs to brig food somewhere. It really made my day! I love to cook and bake so I lost picture and recipes on here for the fun of it, so to hear someone actually tried and LIKES my recipe is just the icing on the cake (pun intended). If you have tried any of my recipes I'd LOVE to know what you though of it. Please feel free to post on here or my Facebook about it!

This post also comes from realizing tonight that I have two, and only two, sure fire meals that all my boys gobble up. One is tacos, easy peasy with store bought seasoning (it never tastes right when I make my own). The other is my Mac & Cheese (and only my Mac and cheese, it's hit or miss on other kinds). So how about all you other mamas out there? What is something your kids are sure to eat everytime you make it?

Recovering kitchen chairs {DIY}

Having 4 boys can be rough on my home and my furniture. Our kitchen takes one of the biggest beatings on a daily basis. As embarrassing at it is, I'm not going too lie, my kitchen chairs are DISGUSTING! I try to keep the clean but these boys spill everything they eat or drink at every meal and it is just impossible.

This Christmas my in-laws are coming to visit, and although they have seen the mess it's still really embarrassing and I don't want them to have to see or sit on them. I have been talking for a long time about re-covering them. My mom used to do it and I've watched enough HGTV and DIY shows to know it is pretty simple to do, but I've been nervous still. I finally decided that it was time to give it a try and I was really impressed with myself! The only thing I wanted to do, should have done, but didn't do, was to to a plastic covering for easy future clean up. I actually will probably still do it, I just have to find the right kind of plastic.

So here, for your viewing pleasure, is how to re-cover kitchen chairs!
It is really quick and easy. I finished 4 chairs in an hour.

BEFORE (ewwww, I know)

Locate the screws on the bottom of the chair. Unscrew them and pop off the seat.

Pull the fabric around tightly and use a staple gun to secure the fabric. (I also hammered them in to make sure they were tight on the fabric)

Continue to pull the fabric around and fasten on the underside of the seat. Make sure you are keeping the front tight and flat)

Flip over the seat and make sure it is how you want it and then line it back up on the chair and reinsert the screws. Make sure you line it up evenly. 

AFTER (HORRAY!!!)