Fun and Favs

For Fun #1: We weren't at Cornerstone a few weeks ago when the Pirates did a promo for D6. But, we heard it was hysterical and could be found on youtube. So, I found it and you really should watch it. Click here: promo. It is hilarious!

For Fun #2: To celebrate our 4th anniversary, Kate and the kids made Jason and I sushi. Kate knows we LOVE sushi, but I was quite surprised to hear she made it.

And then I looked a little closer . . . Rice krispie bars wrapped around gummy worms with fruit roll-ups wrapped around. So fun!

For fun (and for my sanity) #3: We now have a guard door on our dryer vent opening so there will be no more ground squirrels in my dryer vent!Now onto some favorites from this summer (in no particular order)....

Favorite #1: My new diaper bag. My first diaper bag busted after only two months. Thanks to two friends (Allie and Jenny) who suggested I take it back, I was able to get my money back for it. My new bag is BIG, but I love it. It is my purse and my diaper bag all in one. And everything in it has its own place (I think it has over 11 pockets).

Favorite #2: My homemade (and cheap!) iced latte I make every morning. Here's the recipe:

Make coffee in your coffee pot with 3 scoops of french roast coffee (I use the cheap Walmart or Aldi brand. The key is that it is a dark roast) and 6 ounces of water.

Pour into a glass. Add a few shakes of sugar and a few squirt of carmel ice cream topping. Add as much milk as you want. I use a little 2% and a little skim. Add as many ice cubes as you want and you're done!

Favorite #3: Homemade granola. I got this recipe from my friend Shelly Guttau. Many of my friends and family have requested it and I make it every two weeks. It is great to eat plain, on yogurt, on ice cream or with milk as cereal. The picture is from one batch. Here's the recipe:

5 c oatmeal
1 c slivered or chopped almonds
1 c chopped pecans
1 c chopped walnuts
1 c sunflower seeds
1 c sesame seeds
1 c wheat germ
2 c coconut (I don't use this)
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp salt (I used 1 tsp since I used salted sunflower seeds)
(I didn't use walnuts or coconut, but increased the pecans and added ground flax seed. I also sometimes put in steel cut oats)
*Mix this all together

1 c canola oil
1.5 c honey
*Microwave oil and honey for 2 minutes, 30 seconds
*Pour oil/honey over oat mixture and stir to coat

Spread out in an even layer on two cookie sheets. Bake for 20 minutes (DON'T OVER BAKE!). Lay granola out on wax paper as soon as it comes out of the oven and let cool. Store in airtight container for up to two weeks. (Refrigerating makes it crispier.) It makes A LOT!


Favorite #3: Sun tea.
My mom ALWAYS made sun tea while I grew up. So, it brings back good memories of home when I see a tea jar sitting out in the sun. I didn't think about making it until my mother-in-law told me she made raspberrry and green tea by boiling it. So, I took her idea of using green tea bags and raspberry tea bags (that you typically buy for hot tea) and made it in the sun instead of on the stove. I found this great tea jar for 25 cents at a garage sale!


I use about 4 raspberry tea bags and 3-4 green tea bags at one time. I also sweeten the tea a little with stevia, which I get at Wheatsfield.