Holy Moly...

It’s been quite some time since I posted! I.i.O. has been on the mind daily, but everything has been such a whirlwind for me that I just couldn’t find the time to sit and make a proper post. I have practically done nothing but job hunt this whole time, yet sadly employment still hasn’t pulled through yet. It’s taken a pretty big hit on my ego and even my positivity at times, but I’m still goin at it and being optimistic that it’ll happen for me soon. (Keep your fingers crossed and maybe even say a little prayer for me!)

Number 4 on my *Goal List* can finally be crossed off!

4. Have all possessions put in storage

It’s such a relief to have all my things accessible to me again after a year and a half. I’ve been going crazy the last two weeks organizing and basically purging as much as I can… Trust me, I’m about to have a massive yard sale!! The sheer volume of baby clothes and items alone is astounding. Although I still have my big pieces of furniture left to get (since I haven’t had a truck to be able to fit them in) I’m counting it as crossed off! =) I’m so pleased to see my goal list getting smaller and smaller.

Not even close to all of the baby clothes!!!

Another from my goal list is my weight loss goal. I stopped obsessing over the exact amount of poundage I’ve lost, but I know I’ve hit the goal of 20 pounds. I think I’m more pleased with my body than I ever have been…and I think a bathing suit is very close on the horizon ;) I may have tons and tons of stretch marks from my babies, but I feel I am finally at peace with them and don’t absolutely hate them anymore. My belly was their home for almost a year and every home gets gashes in the walls and scuffs on the floor boards; it’s what shows they were lived in.

(Yeeeaaah...I haven't exactly kept up with the goal to take pictures of myself or not always be the one TAKING the photos....oops!)

And one more thing: my girls are potty training! So far Lydia is definitely way ahead of Bridget, but hey, she’ll catch up here soon. They’re also in big girl beds now. They turn 2 in just 3 weeks…so they really aren’t babies anymore at all. Makes me sad but I am proud of my girls =)

Loves!~Kels

Outback "Bushman" Bread

The bread from Outback is often overshadowed by Red Lobster's * Cheddar Bay Biscuits *. It may take more effort than the biscuits, but it is still well worth the work.

Add 2 teaspoons of granulated sugar and 1 package (2 1/4teaspsoons) yeast to1 1/4 cup warm water.

2 cups bread flour and 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour.

1 tablespoon cocoa

1 teaspoon salt

Here's a peek at how the yeast foams after a few minutes

2 tablespoons butter, softened. Ok, so I usually nuke mine in the microwave because I am impatient. Soo mine is usually softly melted..

After combining all the dry ingredients, make a well in the center.

In the center add 1/4 cup of honey

And 2 tablespoons of molasses.

To get the rich color of the bread, add 1 1/4 teaspoons of red food coloring, 1 teaspoon of yellow, and 1 teaspoon of blue to the yeast and sugar mixture.

Pour the yeast mixture in the well in the center of your flour.

Start mixing and incorporating the dry ingredients from the inside out.

Not long after it starts to get real doughy, you'll have to start kneading the dough by hand.

Once kneaded, form the dough into a ball and set it somewhere warm for 1-1 1/2 hours

It will have doubled after the time elapsed. If it hasnt doubled, you may need to start over because the yeast may not have activated correctly.

Separate dough into 6 even portions.

May be kinda silly, but its nice to actually have something made/produced here in town.

Lay out a little corn meal onto your work surface. Roll your 6 portions into mini-loaves.

Rub a little water on the bottom and gently roll in the corn meal.

Carefully tap off excess corn meal.

Arrange your loaves on your baking sheet

Cover with plastic wrap and set in a warm place for another hour.

Uncover- they will have risen a little more- and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

They may not look exactly like at the restaurant...

But they sure eat the same =)

Happy Eatin'!

Loves!

~Kels

Goal #7 update

This wasnt the most important or sentimental goal to finally cross off my list...but it's certainly one that has made me quite happy =)

7. Upgrade phone!!

My old phone was shutting off whenever it chose...and well...barely even worked anymore! So I am very grateful to my friend Sarah who gave me a brand new Evo after sending her other one off to be repaired. And in turn, I was much happier giving her money than at the store; especially for her first trip to the grocery since she just moved her and her son into their own apartment this week. A phone for food? I like the trade. =)
* Original Goal List *

Keep truckin' on your goals!!

Loves!
~Kels

Bubble Art

As we all know by now, Pinterest has completely taken over every aspect of life. We can find anything! Look out Google...Pinterest may have you beat soon! (Kidding)

One of the first things I ever pinned was an incredibly simple DIY art tutorial...for kids. Granted I have three little kiddos of my own, I just thought it was cool and wanted to do it myself. =)

I had a little trouble mixing the colors and the bubbles, so they arent as vibrant as I had hoped. But now that summer has come around and there are bubbles-a-plenty around for the kids, I'll have to take another crack at it =)

It makes me think of those huge Jawbreakers!

Here is the * Original "Bubble Print" link * via http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/

Happy Creating!

Loves!
~Kels

BBQ Chicken Pizza

Sometimes ya just need a little BBQ in your life. Well, at least I do. Today's super easy treat provides a slightly different way of eating it that I've made for a couple years now.

Cook chicken for about 40 minutes (if frozen) in oven set at 375 degrees.

I already had BBQ sauce made. You can use any kind you like.

I learned it's much easier to make a "personal" pizza when making this unless you're having a full family meal, then a regular large crust is great.

You'll need just a tiny bit of Olive oil to brush on the crust later.

Dice up your cooked chicken.

Lightly brush olive oil on the crust and put in the oven for about 4 minutes. Brush bottom and repeat.

Mix the diced chicken with your BBQ sauce.

Spread your BBQ'd chicken onto the crust. Now you can either leave it plain like this (I do) or you can add anything else you'd like. Top the chicken with mozzarella cheese, red onion slices, and pineapple for example. (That's the version I'll be making next, I just get weird about what's on my BBQ.)

Pop this in the oven for about 5-8 minutes or until everything is warmed through evenly and cheese-if you've used it- is melted.

Have at it! You'll probably need a napkin =)

Happy Eatin'!

Loves!

~Kels