Brother-Sister Date: Harlem Globetrotters

Trifle #3

I made my third trifle this weekend.  A super duper chocolate one.  This trifle has a duplicate layer of: brownies, chocolate pudding, and whipped cream with chocolate chips on top.  I used this recipe for the framework and only really followed the pudding and brownies part.  I made the whipped cream from scratch, and like past trifles, this one was delicious!  

Recipe: Strawberries 'n' Cream Trifle

I recently purchased a trifle bowl and am making good use of it!  So far I've made a chocolate cherry trifle and a strawberries 'n' cream trifle just this weekend.  Both were fabulous and served over 8 people each time.  I did make a small adjustment in the strawberry trifle recipe, which calls for the prepared whipped topping in a container, but because I strongly dislike the stuff in the container, I made my own!  My version consists of heavy whipping cream and just a tad bit of confectioners sugar.  The homemade cream was a hit and helped the recipe come together nicely with its subtle sweetness.

Dog-Sitting and Snowboarding

Bella girl is the adorable black lab in this photo.  We watched her while her owners and our friends went to San Francisco.  She was great; well behaved and trained.  We spoiled her rotten because we couldn't get enough of her cuteness.  I also got to spend a lot of time with her due to another Nor'easter that came through at the end of last week.  I worked from home last Thursday and Friday and was able to take her on many walks.

I took a break from watching Bella to go snowboarding with Ben and Carter.  Ben actually skied and Carter and I braved the slopes on snowboards.  I had been snowboarding once before and really enjoyed it.  This time around was like starting from scratch!  I fell a few hundred times in the beginning and then gained enough skill to make it down the hill twice WITHOUT falling!  I was super impressed with Carter - he took to the slopes with determination and was awesome!  I wish I had video of him maneuvering down the hill, but all I have is one of him after he fell and Ben next to him.  It was also a lot of fun to watch people from the lift.  I saw numerous accidents, some really funny and others that weren't so funny.

Knitting: Reknit

To my readers who enjoy knitting, check out the article on NPR's website and the link to Reknit.  This mother and son duo make a great team.  The mother repurposes old knitted pieces and the son keeps his mother's company in the technology/web 2.0 loop with a great website and Facebook exposure.  What a great way to recylce and reuse!! 

I've been on a sewing kick recently but this story has given me new inspiration to knit something.

Happy knitting!

Sick of Being Sick, and Winter

It's that time of year... when sickness is bound to fall upon you in some way or another!  Tom and I both have head colds right now.  We've had our heads buried in tissues since Thursday and have a severe case of light sensitivity.  The first day we got sick we were at work and waited until the sun set before driving home to avoid teary eyes while driving.  I think... I hope... our head colds will dissipate sooner than later as we both have busy weeks ahead of us.


Tom is finally back to work for the first time since 2009!!  Last week was his first week back and he was warmly welcomed.  He had been working from home for about 2 weeks before returning, which helped him transition back into the work pace.  He was also going stir crazy while working from home, waiting like a dog at the door to go somewhere when I returned home from work.  I think Tom, his employer, and I are all happy he's back into the swing of things!


2010 has been flying by with very little time to take deep breaths and look around.  We recently had two major snowstorms that gave us a chance to relax at home and enjoy the moment for a change.  The past several winters have been very mild, so two snowstorms yielding 2+ feet a piece really caught us off guard!  The first major storm happened on a Saturday and although it stopped life for one day, things were pretty much back to normal by Monday.  The second major storm, however, happened on a Wednesday and shut down both the city government and the private sector for a day and a half.  It was the best snow day ever for both kids and adults!!!  I baked in preparation for a dinner party later in the week, watched movies, and filmed and photographed the snow falling outside.  This winter has definitely been one to remember!

Celebrating Love One Felt Heart at a Time

I love making crafts in celebration of Valentine's Day.  Last year I made pop-up cards and this year I experimented with felt material.  I got the idea for this project while watching "Julie and Julia."  There is a scene in the movie where Julia (Meryl Streep) hosts a party on Valentine's Day and she and her guests all wear red hearts.  My version of the hearts involves felt and file paper for the interfacing.  The hearts were worn by my family members with love.