Earth Day Dinner

I know it's past and gone but I just found this adorable Earth Day dinner from Secrets of a Super Mommy. How creative/fun is this? I have never celebrated Earth Day before, but I might just have to next year so I can try this fun dinner!

Guilty

I have an obsession. It's called earrings. Maybe this is because I didn't get my ears pierced until a week before my 23 birthday...or maybe because usually they don't cost a lot of money compared with clothes/shoes/or other things I would love to buy all the time. Maybe because it's a fun, risk-free way to try a new color and if you don't like it so much...it's not that big a deal because it's only earrings. I don't know what it is, but I would love to own all of the above earrings. They can be found here and here and here. You should check out the other jewelry these shops have to offer--I just posted a couple of my favorites, but they both have lots of beauties!

April Reads

The Bronze Bow by Elizabeth George Speare

A friend of mine suggested that I read this book, I had never heard of it before and I didn't even know what it was about. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was about a young man living at the same time as Jesus Christ. I didn't want this book to end, and thought it was perfect that I read it over Easter weekend!



5 Children and It by E. Nesbit

This is another book I had never heard of before and was a lot of fun! Five children discover a sand fairy near their new home which grants them a wish each day. To find out what else happens though, you'll have to read it!



The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy

I had seen the musical of The Scarlet Pimpernel five years ago and enjoyed it and it was fun for me to read the book now. I didn't remember a lot of the things that happened in the musical, and thoroughly enjoyed the book so much more than I expected! I didn't want to put it down! It was filled with mystery, passion, disguise, suspense...oh it was just great! I would say more, but I don't want to give anything away if you don't know the story!

Homemade Oreos

I have always wanted to try Homemade Oreos...but have felt it would be best to find a tried and true recipe that someone just loves. Well...I don't know of anyone who has a recipe like this, so if you have one--please send it my way! Otherwise I might try this recipe from Martha Stewart that looks so delicious!

Fond Memories

I saw this picture on a blog today and it flooded me with a memory I had forgotten about! When I was around 10 years old, I got to spend some time with my Grandparents who were living in Washington, a town outside of St. George. I found a pair of slippers in the old ranch house, and my dear Grandma taught me how to make them! They weren't as fancy as this, but they were soft and comfy...and oh how I miss her! Now I want to find them and make some new ones! You can find the pattern for the above slippers here. Also a great tutorial on a crocheted flower that gives you tips on how to change it up too!

Breakfast Strudels

Another breakfast club recipe I'd like to try...if I ever really start a breakfast club. :) Find it here.

Sleepy Monster

I am inspired by this post to make one of these for my own little lovable huggable likable monster!

It would be fun to make one look like a monster from this book that my little honey loves!

Know Your Style

I thought this quiz was fun...and surprisingly accurate! At least for me. It told me my style is Classic. Yes, indeed. I agree.

Date

Our date this week was very unexpected but was a lot of fun! Mr. Wonderful rearranged the furniture in our living room so we had space to do Pilates and then after that, he tried to teach me some jujitsu moves "in case I ever get attacked." Um...that made me feel a little scared seeing how I really wouldn't know what to do if that ever happened, but at least now I remember one choke hold which hopefully I will never have to use! It was fun to do something out of the ordinary and I think I actually look forward to him reinforcing the jujitsu another time! :)

If you would like to learn more about what Project 52 is, go here!

Brazilian Lemonade

You have got to try this! We went out to eat at Tucano's for Mr. Wonderful's birthday...he loves it because of all the meat. The thing I was most looking forward to was Brazilian Lemonade! This stuff is amazing! I can't wait to try this recipe! And I'm so happy I can have it whenever I want without having to pay to go to Tucano's!

This recipe and picture are courtesy of Our Best Bites. You might want to try this with Baked Cream Chicken Tacquitos for dinner some night!

Brazilian Lemonade

4 juicy limes (try and find ones with thin, smooth skins; they're the juiciest and the thin skin cuts down on the chance of your drink being bitter)
1 c. sugar
6 c. cold water
6 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk


Mix cold water and sugar very well and chill until ready to use. This step can be done ahead of time.

Wash limes thoroughly with soap (I just use hand-dishwashing soap or regular hand soap); you need the soap to get the wax and pesticides off of the limes because you're using the WHOLE lime, baby. Cut the ends off the limes and then cut each lime into 8ths.

Place 1/2 of the limes in your blender.

Add 1/2 of the sugar water, place the lid on your blender, and pulse 5 times. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a pitcher (the one you'll serve the lemonade in) and pour the blended mixture through the strainer and into the pitcher. Use a spoon to press the rest of the liquid into the pitcher. Dump the pulp and stuff in the strainer into the trash. Repeat with remaining limes and sugar water. Add sweetened condensed milk; DO NOT leave this step out unless you will die of a horrible sweetened condensed milk allergy because this is the secret ingredient! You may want to taste test it at this point; I used giant, thick-skinned limes tonight and didn't test it and it came out a little bitter. If it's bitter, just add some more sugar and maybe a little more milk.
Serve immediately over lots of ice. This does not keep well, so don't make this in advance (although you can cut the limes, mix the sugar water, and measure the sweetened condensed milk in advance). Serves 4, although I can pretty much guarantee you that people will want more; I usually plan on 1 1/2 servings at LEAST per person.

*OR*

I just found this extremely simply and quick recipe here!

2 bottles Simply Limeaid
1 can sweetened condensed milk
4 sliced limes for serving
1 bag crushed ice

In a large bowl (or pitcher if you have one big enough) pour about a cup of the Limeaid in then pour in the sweetened condensed milk. Pour in the rest of the Limeaid, mix well.

Fill desired glasses to the brim with ice, pour Brazilian lemonade over top with lime and serve immediately.