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All’s fair in love and poetry… New album THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. Out April 19 🤍

store.taylorswift.com

📷: Beth Garrabrant

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If I’m not playing with frosting I’m playing with paint… tonight’s painting 💕

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pumpkin spice creme brûlée

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Newish post for y’all… old recipe revisited and an easy must bake this season. Please share 💕🫶🏼💕

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san fransisco rice and other hot messes

San Fransisco rice Hello there, carby, starchy side dish. Who ever thought of combining pasta and rice? It's kind of like combining soup and stew. But; manohman it sure is tasty. I made this the other week when we were "rowing" our Five In A Row book of Grandfather's Journey. In the book, the chronicles of an old Japanese man are recorded as he spends lots of time in San Fransisco and Japan.  The unit study also has a cookbook to go along with each book, so I decided to make the "San Fransisco Rice" recipe. Yes, it's like Rice-A-Roni™, aka "The San Fransisco Treat"... but: Sans the flavor packet and sodium. And, I have to say: I like this one better, and it makes a ton. Yum. But: back to the book- it's a beautiful story, with watercolor illustrations, and it's very "real" not your typical children's book. The same author wrote another book, "Tea with Milk" which actually has a love story intertwined in it about how his parents met. It's refreshing, and sweet. I highly recommend them both. Anyway... remember my post about "Enlarging Our Tent"? We did it again. We have taken in another newborn, this time a preemie. Of course, I didn't know anything except that there was a 10 day old that was being discharged ... and: we said "yes"-and: hours later a social services worker is at our house with the tinyiest baby, and ... once more we are in newborn baby land. Ahh the snuggles, smells and tummy time. So, this is our fifth placement. #1 is still with us, #2 went to live with grandmother, #3 went to a more specialized home, #4 went to live with dad... and here we are number 5. Of course this doesn't include all the temprary respites, I think we are over ten including those. Wow. If someone would have told me two years ago what my life would looks like now- I would have laughed and said "no way!" And, now: here we are- and I wouldn't change a thing. Even admist the terrible toddler tantrums, the biting, the running, the screaming... even in the hot mess fostering can sometimes be, all is well with my soul. There is a peace that comes from God that gets you through the tatrums, sleepless nights, thrown food, uncertainty and anxiety,poopy diaper explosions,  homevisits, therapy visits, parent visits, doctor visits....you just do it. It's a roller coaster, but there is no other ride I'd want to be on. And, here I am on the baby train. I wish I could show photos, but I cannot. Consider this a novel and paint your own image of a blissful hot mess. :) I'm happy. It's been a long time. After the loss of my father, I was struggling. Sure, I have had tons of happy moments, adventures, and fun days... but there was always a hollow longing in my soul that I wasn't doing something. I knew I wanted to impact kids, guide them, and help lead them in the right path. I was a group leader for pre teens for a year at church, later I became director of Children's Ministry at a small church, I was an assistant at a local school... but there was a calling for more. The idea of fostering never really crossed my mind until it was showing up everywhere I turned. I began to ask questions, my daughter began to talk about it, we went to an informational meeting, signed up for classes, got background checked, home visits, and then.... Here we are. Embracing the hectic, happy, hot mess of fostering. So: what's your hot mess? I don't think of the term "hot mess" as a negative thing. Most of the time hot messes comeout of good intentions, and are things we learn from, and can laugh at. Take this San Fransisco rice, for example. The recipe calls for vermicelli pasta broken into 2" segments. Well, I did that part. Then I forgot my broken pasta was in a small bowl on the counter. I grabbed it hastily to put it away, forgettting about the small haystack of  dry pasta it held. Dry pasta all over the floor. That's a mess, and luckily it wasn't hot. So, I call my dogs... to get all four to come without shouting each individual name, I simply say: ""uh-oh!" which, in dog talk means: "Something edible has fallen on the floor" They come, scampering in, excited to find a tasty morsel or two. They found the haystack of dry pasta and, clearly were not interested. At all. So, I grab my cordless sweeper vac.... it proceeds to spin and spit the pasta peices even further. Meanwhile, a baby is crying and my dogs are underfoot, clearly disapointed in the results of the said "uh-oh". Out had to come the broom and dustpan, and thank goodness for those old timey house cleaning aids.... I really loved my broom and dustpan during the hurricane. It was all I could do to keep the house somewhat normal with spaghetti model extension cords running all over the floor. So, it turns out I don't have mush of a hot mess story to go along with the recipe, but I have my life...my hot mess of a happy life. Go embrace your hot mess.

san fransisco rice and other hot messes

- 4 oz uncooked long grain rice - 4 oz uncooked vermicelli pasta (broken into 2" pieces) - 3 TBS butter - 4 TBS sesame seeds - 2 TBS chopped green onion (scallion) - 1 1/2 cup chicken stock - 1 TBS soy sauce - Heat butter in a large frying pan over med-high heat and toast the rice and pasta, and sesame seeds , stirring often until golden. - Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil, cover and cook on medium low for 20-25 minutes , or until rice and pasta are tender. - Toss with soy sauce, and green onions. - Serves 4-6

        Read the full article

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homemade gummy bears

What happens when a homeschool mom wants to incorporate the characteristics of protein chains for her high schoolers chemistry lesson? Gummy bears.

Of course, she didn't want her picture taken. Gone are the days when I couldn't keep her out of a picture. When I first started this blog, she was barely 2 and oh my goodness how she would clammer into every picture I'd try to get...

Nowadays, I'm lucky to get her hand. Such is life. She still wants to take selfies with me, so I'm blessed with that. Geez, I hope she doesn't get mad I have her on here. But she's like, my only reader so... I won't complain about that, either. So: I have a little confession: I didn't think these would come out. Seriously. I thought they would be more jello-y than gummy. Because the last gummy bears I made just weren't' that chewy/gummy. But: these were. Perfect.

The recipe called for two packets of unflavored gelatin, and one packet of flavored. We considered trying the all natural mix, but it was vegan and I was teaching about protein strands, so I had to keep it real. HOWEVER: I will be making some vegan ones soon. But, they won't be bears... (vegans, you know.) I'll mold them into trees or something.

homemade gummy bears

- 2 pkt unflavored gelatin - 1 pkt flavored gelatin - 1/3 cup water - combine the gelatins and water - cooke over medium heat until dissolved - pour into desired mold - freeze until firm , and unmold DessertAmericancandy, gummy Read the full article

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Taylor Swift chai sugar cookies

Y'all...I got to go to the Eras tour...  (Insert a dizzying head spinning happy dance with glitter, confetti and fireworks)

BUT: It's a bittersweet story because it involves the disintegration of two friendships, and the birth of new friendships. And, to be honest, I just am not ready to write about it all. To be honest, it has been really difficult for me to even write recently. So I took up oil painting. of course,  I still love writing, and I will get  have gotten back   to it. Recently, I did a "30 tiny paintings in 30 days" challenge, which I LOVED. Here's part of the results:

(the eggs are my favorite, I think) I loved the accountability it gave me, so I decided to kick off a 30 posts in 30 days, right here. Yay for all of y'all. :) Because to be honest- who's really interested in art??? This blog used to be sooooo popular, but now it's like the popular girl that hit puberty over summer and is stuck  under construction hiding in the back of the room until it's time to come out, and; well, it's been a long time coming. So here we are. I made cookies for the occasion. If you read my previous post,or follow me on Instagram  you'll catch some signs at why I made these cookies.

These cookies are so good. I think the recipe originated from Joy The Baker, because when I started searching she had a post about how her sugar cookie recipe got morphed by Taylor Swift- and OHMYGAWDDDD- if that happened to me -I would just die dead RIP me, you know? I'm like : "Hey Taylor! I know you like you cook and bake... I got cookie recipes here!" Come visit... But now she's on an extended tour, so I better create some recipes you can make on the road or backstage... pumpkin spice cookie batter butter balls, maybe? (That's on my recipe "set list")

Anyway, what I LOVE about these cookies,( aside from the fact that  they make the house smell like hugs and happiness, of course!) They taste amazing, and not too sweet which is just perfect because you want to taste the spices not just sugar and flour, you know?

Now: little kids are the best and worst critics at the same time. They are more brutal than a gang of middle school girls at the mall... especially if they are 7 or under. Trust me. I'll make a damn good meal only to have it be scoffed at as: "The grossest thing everrrrr!" alongside dramatic wrenching and gagging. And: sweets are not free from the critiques , either. My kid can remove each shred of zucchini in zucchini bread with the precision of a neurosurgeon. And- a speck of parsley? You don't even want to know what drama that has caused. "Mommy! There's MOLD in my macaroni and cheese. It's GREEN!!!!" "MOM-MEEEEEE. This bread has GREEN in it." "MOOOOOOOMMMMMMMEEEEEE! " (For the record, I do have one kid that loves lettuce. He calls it "grass on his sandwich"- I'm like "whatever, sure it's grass and win win for the green stuff!"  I have a kid that loves sushi and one that loves rice, so it's slowly balancing out....  sorta. Back to cookies:

  So cozy. And, yes it's the middle of summer. In my dreams, it's the middle of ... Fall. But I don't have Fall where I live so, I settle for the flavor of Fall. Ya gotta do what you gotta do..... And in the middle of summer when I'm sad over not seeing another eras tour, and then surprise! She's coming back to my state. Well- it's another reason  to celebrate the best we know how.In this house we celebrate pretty much everything... You finished cleaning your room? Let's make ice cream. My paperwork is done? I'm celebrating with cupcakes. The yard is mowed? Scones it is... The list goes on. But when there's something specific that we are looking forward to it gets even BIGGER. For instance, to commemorate the release of Speak Now Taylor's version me and the girls  took a train trip to Miami in our Eras shirts to pick up a life-size cut out that my 15 year old daughter had found on Marketplace. Then we ordered SN cardigans on the train ride home.  My daughter was so. bummed they won't ship until November, but I was like- "It will be cool out and we can wear them without dying!" Once again, back to cookies:

  I found this image of the handwritten recipe on the internet, I don't want to piss anyone off so I will just link to the recipe itself. Lord knows I have inadvertently done that. Probably this post will piss some people off, too. What can I say... errr write? Haters gonna hate, hate, hate. Here is the recipe: Taylor Swift Chai Sugar Cookies  Read the full article

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Special day for my little one…

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💕

Halloween Brown Sugar Breakfast Tarts

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This week: I got completely blindsided and friend dumped unfriended whatever you want to call it. It made me bitter with hurt. But I also made cake so… 🤷🏻‍♀️ 🖕🏼

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I made a pretty little cake . Because it’s Monday. And I’m a mom and my little kids get excited like it’s the best day ever when they see stuff like this.

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torching things is fun.

Got any pictures to burn?

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My kitchen is getting her fall colors …

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My sweet Georgia grandmother's biscuit recipe, perfect, fluffy tender and flaky. Like a hug from grandma herself.

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Who doesn’t love a warm hearty casserole? It’s like a hug from grandma after a rough day…. Casseroles are up there on my favorite comfort food lists. Right next to tacos and sushi. Have you …

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These are what’s for dinner tonight. Vegetarian burritos, smothered in a spicy tomato and green chile sauce and gooey melted cheese. This meal will make you look forward to leftovers, too- because it makes a …

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Is it just me or s’mores everywhere these days? I know that they are a quintessential summer snack, but this year they seem to be in your face everywhere. What’s a girl to do when …