Simplicity, chaos, but so much love!

 So, here is what we did! He loves the chompies and so we centered around the color green. There are 8 elements of: undead, water, air, fire, magic, earth, tech, and life. We created at least one game for each element.

For water we had a good ole water balloon toss!

For undead we had cut out sharks out of water! Guests had to use a straw to suck the shark to  and race to a finish line and back to water to restore life!

For earth they also were able to crack open homemade dirt rocks to reveal a crystal! (I found this recipe on Pinterest).

Also for air guest got a balloon raced to the chair to pop!

As a side game we had pin the tail on Spyro. My 13 year old son drew him on a poster free hand! :)

Fire was blowing out the candles!

Also for earth we had a scavenger hunt where we had guests find a stick, leaves, and a rock or pebble. Games without pictures: we allowed for guests to plant flowers in tiny pots for life. For tech we had 6 gold cans that we stack 3-2-1 and guests had a squirt gun to knock them down. For magic we  had a shark (Terrafin) pinata with candy and prizes in! (Remember Griffin is only 5!) For food we had a combination of things: not pictured are level up lemonade (which was gingerade punch) power up pizza and chompies truffles (oreo truffles) Griffins fav are my chocolate cupcakes and that's what he got We dipped pretzels in green candy melts sprinkled with green sugar for prism break pretzels.   We had watermelon slices for wrecking ball watermelon. Super tasty golden gear pineapple! No party is complete with out stomp smash fruits and veggies!   Lastly were the favors which guests had Skylander Giants coloring pages, the prizes from the pinata and these gumball favors with thank you notes.   Of course most of the presents were also Skylander as well so our Griffin had a GREAT day! On to planning the next party...a Fashion Swap wine tasting with all my fav gals! :)

So, in going through the end of the stack or recipes in my menu board, I was ready to add some new recipes and I decided on baked meatball hoagies, and this is what I did....
To make the Italian meatballs, I chose ground turkey. For us, we have really been substituting turkey for almost all red meat and pork. It is so much more lean and higher in protein plus has much less fat content. And truly doesn't really change the flavor. So here's what I did for meatballs:

2 pounds ground turkey
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
3/4 cup dry bread crumbs (mine were Italian blend)
1/3 cup fresh parsley (or 2-3 T dried)
3-4 T fresh oregano (1 T dried)
2 teaspoon fresh rosemary (same dried)
1teaspoon dry mustard(1 T prepared mustard can substitute)
1/3 cup pizza sauce (you can substitute tomato sauce, ketchup or marinara)
Healthy pinch of salt
4 garlic cloves (3-4 t of minced garlic can be used)

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and form tablespoon size meatballs. I used my Pampered Chef medium scoop to make them so they are all roughly the same size and cook equally. This recipe makes about 40 meatballs. I put a cookie sheet on my baking sheet to keep the meatballs off of the excess fluid. Bake at 400 for 15 minutes or until interior is no longer pink.
Then I took a package of 6 hoagies (sad because we prefer whole grain but we couldn't find any whole grain), put 4 ,eat balls in each hoagie, then I took half a jar of traditional spaghetti sauce and half a jar or pizza sauce and mixed them together. I topped the meatballs on the hoagies with the blended sauce and then took a block of mozzarella cheese and shredded atop of each hoagie. Lastly I sprinkled with Parmesan. Bake at 400 until the cheese is bubbly.
We serve with a side salad and as long as you don't put too much sauce, you can eat like sandwich. Everyone loved them, very kid friendly. Aside from the white hoagies, it's a very healthy meal as well.

After two days with sick kids at home, two sleepless nights because of my daughter being up all throughout the night, then having a terrible storm here in Indiana last night that made us lose power 6 times (yes, I said 6, and each time I reset my alarm clock for fear of over sleeping) Wednesday was not looking like a great HUMP DAY! However, starting my day with my devotional, it got brighter! From my Busy Mom's Bible from Zondervan, my devotion reminded me that "caring for our outward appearance is not wrong as long as we remeber to focus on our inner thoughts and attitudes too". It reminded me that I need to take time preparing my heart, just like I take time preparing my physical body (showering, exercising, etc.).
 

 In working for a large non-profit and being the only paid staff member, my time is so constrained, but I love what I do. I had so much to do today and was pleasantly surprised by a few new contributions today, which of course brightened my day again! Nevertheless, I was happy to break from work for my weekly Rotary International meeting. If you are not familiar with Rotary, it is a service club that brings together professionals in local "clubs" for humanitarian projects and to bring
about a sense of goodwill and peace. Rotarians try to live life by the 4-way test..which is:

Of the things we think, say or do

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? (http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/RotaryInternational/GuidingPrinciples/Pages/ridefault.aspx)

At today's meeting we had the priviledge of having Indiana Supreme Court Justice Steve David as our guest speaker. Wow, what a delight! After hearing him today, I can confirm, he is simply a "normal guy". He said a few things that really resonated with me that I not only wanted to share, but thought this would be a great charge for individuals. First he said "don't focus on your 'to do' list, focus your energy on your 'to be' list!"  What a great thought provoking statement. We, and by we I mean me, are so focused on all of the things we have to do each day. I don't just metaphorically either, I literally make a "to do" list every day! I also find it very hard to sleep at night if I do not get everything checked off of that list. In considering this, I really do want to focus on what I AM rather than what I have TO DO!

 

Some people run to lose weight, some need to work their heart muscle some run because it's the only thing they know. For me...it'a about so many things that I find it difficult to pick one. I have many friends who run or workout in another way, but I have even more who see my posts on agave boom or Twitter who ask me all the time "why do you run so much!?" My answer usually one of the following..."why not!", "because its so much cheaper than therapy", or "simply because I can!" And the thing is, you can too! Anyone can try it. You just start slow and work your way up, like I did!
Things you should know about me...
1. I have not always been a runner. I ran track in middle school but had to give it up (along with volleyball and softball) because of this terrible knee issue called Plica! No, not Pica which it's commonly mistaken for but Plica, basically an abnormal band in the knee. Normally it can be removed, sadly, mine could not...
Read more about this syndrome here http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/otherinformation1/a/plica.htm

2. When I did run track. I was a sprinter...never long distance!

3. I started trying to run/jog after having my fourth child in an effort to get my body back (as four children in 9 years on top of nursing each for 10 months...wow, it does a number on your body). While I am naturally petite, I gained 50 with each pregnancy! I was not a cute pregnant girl with just a basketball belly! :) so, I tried to pickup the habit of running roughly 4 years ago! I did not like it, so just resorted back to workout videos and actually fell in love with Beachbody products at that time. My husband and I bought P90X and loved it.

4. After doing in home workouts via DVD's for a year, I really wanted to become a runner. I had several people I knew who had picked it up later in life that loved it and I wanted to love it to. So, after my husband and I booked a trip, 3 years ago this month, to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary in Mexico, I decided to give it a go again. (For those who don't know this, I am a pretty determined individual). I wanted to not only lose weight for this, our first vacation, but I wanted to love this sport as much as everyone else did! I wanted my knees to allow me this!

I started running on a treadmill! I would get on and just run as much as I could...til failure. Trying to increase my pace or distance a little each time. Any progress was growth! Once I became comfortable enough with myself, I started to run outside. Our home at the time had a 1/2 mile road out tithe highway that way uphill and downhill and so it became my outdoor run! I'd run back and forth increasing distance each time. I always ran alone. It was my "me time!" When you have 4 kids, you need my "me time"! :)

Almost 2 years ago, a friend invited me to a race in neighboring city. I signed up for the 5k at that Spring Fling race! That's where it really began! That's when I felt I truly became a runner! It was a nasty cold, wet day! But I ran my best time ever, which surprised me because as soon as the race started, I went numb! Seriously, I was dizzy and shaking, but I ran through it! I remember watching my friend run the half marathon there that day thinking "how?" Knowing that I wanted to do that someday! That was March and I trained myself that year to run my first half marathon that Fall! I ended up with a fractured tibia late spring, putting me in a boot and on crutches for 8 weeks! I ran the half marathon 1 month after being released! It wasn't record breaking time, but it was a major accomplishment! I knew then that I'd never be ale to attempt a full marathon!
Since then, I've ran several 5ks and a few half marathons. Never first, but never last! This year, I have a few goals specifically for running, run a 5k in under 25, run a half in under 2 and to run my first full! This years extra special because now my husband is running with me! And while I usually run alone, it is so nice when he and I get time to go for a run!
This Saturday, a group of us are running a night trail run and from the looks of it, it all be cold and muddy/icy! I am doing the quarter marathon and to train today I ran at our local nature park! It wasn't a great, feel good run because I am struggling with a tight hamstrung and calf on my left leg that the hills only aggravated. But, I felt like I was alone in this beautiful place! So,
I stopped for pictures! Beautiful landscape of God's work!

So I have to admit. Breakfast is hard for me! I never want to eat as soon as I awake and then there is just not much time. So...we bought this fabulous smoothie maker at Sam's Club by Oster. So convenient! You blend and drink in the same container! Just switch the blade for a to go lid! And, at Sam's it comes with 2 smoothie mugs! Plus it was only around $30! Love it.
So, here is my favorite smoothie! When I drink this, I'm not hungry at all until lunch!
1/4 cup light vanilla yogurt - I prefer Greek
1/4 cup milk - I really like almond milk
2 T pb
1 T milled flax seed
2 T raw oats
1 banana
1/2 cup raw spinach
1/2 cup ice
Additions: sometimes I add 1 scoop of protein powder, slivered almonds when I have some on hand, a dash if cinnamon, or even honey.
It takes great and really does last!
Honestly the pb has the most calories but for an entire meal, still not bad, plus so good for you! Just blend and enjoy.

My sons 8th grade team was playing their final middle school football game and some of the moms wanted to do something special for the boys and they asked me to make some cupcakes for after the game.
So, I made my favorite chocolate cake recipe (posted previously with Scorpion cupcakes) and then my absolute favorite chocolate buttercream recipe:
2 cups unsalted butter
9 cups powdered sugar
2 1/2 cups cocoa
1teaspoon vanilla
1+ cup milk
Dash of salt
Mix and add milk by tablespoon until desired consistency is achieved.
So I frosted with the Wilton large star 1M again.
Then I made some chocolate marshmallow Fondant as follows...
In a microwave safe container, graze with vegetable shortening and add 1 package 10 oz large marshmallow and 2.5 Tablespoons of water. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring after each until marshmallows are completely melted. Add 1 teaspoon if almond extract and stir. Add 1 cup of cocoa powder and stir. I take a bag of powdered sugar and stir half of it in the mix. Then I grease counter with crisco, and pour the rest of the bag into a mound on the counter. In the center well of the mound, I pour he mixture from the bowl. Then I knead until I have incorporated most of the sugar. There will be about 1/2-3/4 cup on the counter that I discard. I then wrap the fondant twice to keep air from drying it out and work with a little at a time.
To make the footballs, I rolled into balls and then pulled he ends to shape. I made decorator frosting with:
1/3 cup vegetable shortening
1 1/3 cup powder sugar
1 Tablespoon plus 1teaspoon milk
1/2 teaspoon almond extract.
This I piped with the smallest round tip I had (sorry, can't read the number in it) to make the football stitches.
I colored some of the decorator frosting purple (as this is our school color) and piped a G on one side of the footballs and then '17 on the other as this is their class year.
I was happy with the finished product. Would be cute for Super Bowl!

So...my best friends daughter was turning 9 and she wanted me to make cupcakes for her party. When asked what kind she wanted, she knew exactly what she wanted. Chocolate cupcakes with tan buttercream and scorpions on top! WHAT? Scorpions...really? My friend wasn't going to let her have them, but...it was what the birthday girl wanted. So, I started my quest to find a scorpion mold or cutter of some fashion. But alas, there are none...so let the creative juices flow.
I opted to make them using cocoa candy melts, plain m&&m's, pb m&ms and candy coated sunflower seeds. It was a process, but they turned out well. I used a wonderfully moist chocolate cake recipe as follows:
In mixer bowl, stir:
2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons each baking soda and baking powder
and 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
add 2 eggs beating well after each
then stir in :
1 cup milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Beat for a few minutes to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
Then stir in 1 cup of boiling water. Mixture will be runny, but I promise that they are sooooo moist! ;)
Poor into cupcake tins (I always use liners). Bake at 350 for 2-18-20 minutes or until cupcake springs back when touched...or if you prefer, use the toothpick method!
Then, as always,, I used the Wilton Buttercream (with a few minor changes) as follows:
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
1/2 cup unsalted butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (mine is from Mexico and is not clear)
3 Tablespoons of milk
Dash of salt
To this I tinted the frosting with brown gel food coloring. Used very little to achieve tan.
I used the Wilton 1M star tip to frost the cooled cupcakes.
To make the scorpions, I laid wax paper on my counter, melted the candy melts in the microwave as per package directions. From there, I free handed the shape of a scorpion and placed the m&m's and candy coated sunflower seeds appropriately to the shape of the scorpion (as seen on the picture). After the candy melts hardened, I simply removed from the wax paper and placed atop the cupcakes...and done. A happy 9 year old with an odd birthday request! :)