Must Try: BBQ-ed Brie and Qwirkle

We were lucky to have Tim's parents here for 10 days! But, what I'm about to share with you I'm both proud of and ashamed of. ;) hehe..

In those ten days, we ate three rounds of brie cheese (you know, the Costco size). We shared some with others, but I'm pretty sure I ate double my fair share each time!

While I'm a sucker for good cheese cold or warm, I'd never had my cheese BBQ-ed until recently. Now, I can't get enough. Here...let me share!

 Take the whole round--rind and all--and pop it in some foil on the grill.

 Once the top starts to puff up--maybe 10-15 minutes or so--remove from heat and cut open.

 Enjoy immediately! Anything works for dipping in, but my favorite is a baguette or garlic bread!

Cheers!

And one more discovery to share...

My lovely in-laws gave Tim and I a new game for Christmas! Oh, how I love to play games.

Qwirkle.

Have you heard of it? Played it? It's like dominoes (although, truth be told..I've never played dominoes beyond stacking them up and pushing one down). This game uses colors and shapes rather than numbers.

 Tim was our score keeper!

 Here's the game...played out.

I only document the score sheet when I actually win the game! I can't brag too much, it's possibly just beginner's luck. ;)

If you get the chance, try it out!

Aloha! Happy almost weekend to you.

Eleven for Twelve

I'm sitting in the dark, quiet of by baby girl's nursery. Correction--room. And she's not much of a baby these days. In fact, I'm leaning against the door and tapping on the laptop keys as a gentle, physical reminder for her to stay in her new-to-her toddler bed.

So far so good. She's humming herself to sleep and I have a solitary place to put my resolutions in writing! Science proves that we are much more likely to stick with our goals if we share them with others!

Thanks to all of you who have added goals, ambitions, and resolutions to your social networking of choice. It's been an inspiration to read!

Okay...after much thought and prayer...I'm excited about embracing 2012. I not only share with you my resolutions for accountability's sake, but also because I can't misplace a blog post! I know exactly how to get back here and check up on my progress. ;)

We had a guest speaker at church this weekend and he shared that 12 is the number of order in the bible. He believes this year will be a year when God restores order for people personally and the church as a whole! Wow! I love that vision and I do believe this is a perfect year for me to claim God's order in my own life and with my own family.

I'm only on day two for my first resolution, and for me, it's lofty (because I'm not nearly as disciplined as I wish I were)...but this is my first and best way to invite order back.

1. Read through the bible this year! I have a One-Year bible that is organized in chronological order and broken up into daily readings from start to finish. *To be honest, I bought this bible two years ago and dusted it off two days ago. Yikes. Well, here's to a new year!

2. Read My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Again. This is my all-time favorite devotional. If you've never tried this one out, I strongly recommend it! As you underline wisdom that speaks to you, date it also. Then if you read this during various years, you'll have an awesome record of what God showed you in the past!

3. Jog more. Surf more.

4. Try a new dinner recipe each month.

5. Use coupons.

6. Learn to sew!!!

7. Finish the books I've started. Specifically as follows:

• The Shack
• In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day
• The book of Jane (Christian Chic Lit)
• The Pound 4 Pound Principle (written by my pastor)
• East of Eden
• The Help
• The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
• The Power of a Praying Wife
• Bringing Up Girls

I don't even want to think about when the last time was that I picked up some of these titles. It's not that they are boring reads, it's just that I get so stinkin' busy and push reading so far off until it falls off my plate altogether. It's shameful (I'm an English teacher). 

8. Reach out more to my neighbors--literally--the families living in the homes on my street. Tangibly speaking, here's my plan: have time to stop and chat while walking the dogs, when possible, make extra food and take over meals, bake extra cookies and drop at doors, invite to church. 

9. Take more time to chat with my students about their lives. 

10. Gain weight, have a baby, lose weight. Well, I suppose the only real resolution is the lose weight part because the gain and baby are comin' no matter what I do. ;) Anyway, this summer still falls into this year and I'll need this resolution then! Just Dance 3-- Here I come! 

11. Pray more. Specifically for my daughter, daughter-to-be, and husband. I pray. I pray honestly and I pray hard. What I don't pray is consistently---enough. I need to find more quiet places and pray without ceasing. 

All eleven resolutions won't happen this week, this month, or even in this half of the year. The beautiful thing about new year's resolutions is that I have 365 days to remember and focus on these eleven goals. Eleven goals that I believe will help restore order and help me honor God above all else. 

Join me! Make measurable and attainable resolutions. Don't like resolutions? Call them goals. Ambitions. Ideas. Heck, call them dreams. But think about what you want for 2012. Each year goes faster than the last, right? 

May God richly bless you in this new year!

Zephaniah 3:17

Best Of...2011

The week between Christmas and New Years is a funny thing. It flies, right? Between baby Jesus and resolutions...there is so much to contemplate!

Blakely's grandparents are here (Tim's parents) and we are enjoying all that the island offers with wonderful company!

I'm stealing moments here and there to pray and contemplate the new year. Two more days and we usher in 2012...whether we're ready or not.

Since I love all fresh starts, I'm a sucker for resolutions. Yep, I make them. Every year. Sometimes the same resolutions carry over each year, well most of the time. But, hey, it's still a new beginning and I can't pass that up.

My list is still undecided, but I'll share soon. Instead, I want to embrace 2011 for a minute. Here is our family "best of" list for the year.

{you may have read this already}

Best Vacation: Chicago and NY (for Tim and Katie)—To the grandparents (for B)

Best 1^st First Birthday: Blakey’s mainland luau

Best Milestone Birthday: Katie’s 30^th (birthday Olympics)

Best Company: All of them! (we love our visitors—mahalo)

Best Movie: Soul Surfer

Best Accomplishment: Blakely learning to walk, talk, and surf (well, close to surf)

Best Unexpected Success: The papayas on Tim’s trees

Best First Try: bathroom renovations DIY

Best Musical Artist: Amy Grant (every year)

Best Amateur Surf Comp: 3^rd annual Tandemonium (we’re getting better)

Best Actual Surf Comp: Billabong Pipeline Pro

Best Work Milestone: Tim’s five years with Chevron

Best Gratitude: Thanking God for B’s continual development in spite of her congenital hypothyroidism

Best News: Baby girl #2 coming in May

Best Reason to Celebrate: John 3:16 (Jesus Christ)

Do you have a list of "bests?" Although not every day is a great day, it does help to focus on the high points before the year closes out. 

 Enjoy your last couple days of the year, my friends!

Failed Family (Xmas) Pics!

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours!

Here is the snapshot of this moment:

My inlaws soaking in some sun in the front yard
My baby stirring in her crib
My husband playing a {silly} "new" game on his phone
Two pots of soup simmering on my stove
Newly constructed gingerbread house on my table
Well, that's about the gist of it. Here I am... a few minutes to journal some memories and share some love with you all.

You know, I thought I had a photogenic, happy-to-smile-for-the-camera little girl. Well, until she turned two a few months early. :) The one day that I had the right slice of time and someone to man my camera (Thanks, Alicia), B turned off the camera charm. Completely. Stinker. She was happy alright. Spirits were high. But, a Christmas picture?...not on her list.

For fun, here are the failed attempts. Have you been there? Tried and tried for the right shot and ultimately didn't get it? Seriously, I even curled my hair for these fam photos. Oh well, at least I still think she's pretty cute. Chalk it up to "funny" memories. There's always next year. By then, I can most likely communicate a bribe!

When I Was 8 {and Russian Teacakes}

The house smelled like chocolate and cinnamon. I hurriedly flung the front door open and slid around the corner and shrugged off my Jansport.

Mom, we're home! I cried out excitedly.

Before she could leave the kitchen for a home-from-school kiss, I had already folded my lanky body into the corner between the boxy speaker and the record player.

I lifted the needle and replaced the current record with Amy Grant's Tender Tennessee Christmas. I started with song #4. The intro to Emmanuel made my entire 8-year-old body feel like Christmas all over!

Never mind that it was just three in the afternoon. Our Sunnyvale house was a Christmas wonderland! The tree was lit up, cookies were fresh, Amy Grant cooed, and hot cocoa was on its way. Christmas couldn't have been more magical.

Now that I'm 30 (that came fast), have my own home, my own lit up tree in broad daylight, and my own little girl, Christmas seems just as magical. Probably because Amy Grant's Tender Tennessee Christmas is still at the top of the play list. ;) And, amidst the hectic-ness of the season, I still make time to bake rich and aromatic cookies for anyone who comes this way!

I baked another round of my favorite Candy Cane Russian Teacakes yesterday. This time I snapped a few pics and thought I'd share the love cyber-ly. Since I can't offer you all a cookie, here's a very simple recipe! So simple and common, I'm almost embarrassed to share it! ;) Just five ingredients. Try it out, play some Amy, and enjoy your moment!

Candy Cane Russian Teacakes

1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup crushed candy canes (or chopped walnuts)
1/3 cup (or more) reserve powdered sugar for coating

Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Here's the run-down!

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Crush your candy canes (I suggest using a rolling pin, but use it more like a hammer and less like its intended use.)

3. Cream butter and vanilla till smooth
--it helps to let the butter soften, but I usually forget to do that. --recipe works fine with margarine too.

It may seem a bit lumpy, but since I'm not a perfectionist I just move on to the next step and the bumps and lumps work themselves out! ;)

4. Combine sugar and flour and blend into mix
--I just dump it in and let my Kitchen Aid do the work on a low speed.

This part takes a few minutes and I eventually help the flour residue on the sides and bottom to mix with the rest.

5. Mix in crushed candy canes (or chopped walnuts) 
--again, the mixer does it for me. This recipe is also good with macadamia nuts!

6. Shape into 1 inch balls
--I grease my cookie trays and prep my extra dough. In the picture below, the uncooked balls are on the plate and the cooked ones are on the sheet.

7. Bake for 12 minutes at 350
--I use two cookie sheets and set my timer for 6 minutes. Then I swap the trays in the oven (from top to bottom) and cook the remaining 6 minutes. If my balls are on the big side, I may add a minute, but don't bake too long. They'll look a little "uncooked" -- and that's okay!

8. When cool, roll in reserve powdered sugar

Now! Enjoy! It's super easy to double, triple, etc... this recipe! It makes for easy home baked gifts for neighbors and friends!

p.s. I'd be remiss if I didn't say that the real reason Christmas remains so magical for me is because of the very real celebration that Jesus Christ was born as a human baby and died on the cross 30 years later to give us everlasting life! Of course, Amy Grant does add to the magic, too!

Mele Kalikimaka! I'll trade you some sun for some clouds today! xoxo

It's a Wrap: Beloved Guests

Christmas is a week away! It comes quicker every year!

We are staying on island this year. In just a few days, Tim's parents fly in for the holidays. Yay!

At the moment, it's silent in my living room. I'm soaking it in.

Although, I'll always choose a house full of loved ones over a quiet, sunny afternoon alone. Don't get me wrong, I crave the down-time, it's just that I also adore hosting family and friends!

Andy and Alicia left us for a week on Kona and are back home in Yelm. How we miss the NW right about now! Just this morning we officially said farewell to our dear island family Chris and Amber. Lucky for us, we had them (and baby Luke) at our house for a bonus few days! We are especially grateful for the time we have with family and friends at this time of year!

I have a few cute pics to share today, but this week I plan to share a favorite (easy) Christmas cookie recipe and some failed family pics... just for fun!

Fortunately for me and Tim, Blakely doesn't get tired of the beach (which is close and free). Her new favorite beach activity? Sand boogie boarding! Especially with her cousin, Sawyer!

Mele Kalikimaka! Enjoy a gingerbread latte and warm coat for me! xoxo

Blakely and Sawyer take the Waves

Pine Trees.

If you come visit us here, we will go!

It's not really called Pine Trees, but hey...once you name a place, that's it.

Today we took the cousins surfin'.

While I can't complain about the white sand and blue water, I'll be honest... I could go for some icy car windows and an oversized sweater. Thanks to Andy and Alicia, we now have a real pine tree Christmas wreath on our door. Tis the season! Mele Kalikimaka.