"homemade granola"

The other night at 10:00 pm (late I know, and I had to go to work the next day!!!) I was browsing thru a cookbook (weird I know) and I came across this recipe for homemade granola. I had all of the ingredients and decided to give it a try. It was raining outside, so I opened up my kitchen window and started assembling my ingredients. This is my "version" (I strayed a bit from the original) and my house smelled wonderful! It turned out GREAT and I will make it a regular food that I make. The kids loved it as well. Here is the recipe.

Granola

3 c. regular oats, uncooked

1/2 c. flaked coconut

1 c. salted cashews (I left them whole)

1/4 c. wheat germ

1/4 c. sunflower seed kernels

1/4 c. + 2 TBSP honey

1/4 c. vegetable oil

2 1/2 TBSP water

2 TBSP brown sugar

3/4 tsp. vanilla extract

1/4 tsp salt

(next time I will try adds such as dried cranberries, etc as the seasons change. I don't like raisins in my granola, but some people might. Adjust to your families likes.)

Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Stir well, set aside.

Combine honey and the rest of the ingred.; pour over oat mix and stir well. Spread mix evenly on a cookie sheet (with a lip).

Bake at 350 for 25 min or until golden brown, stirring every 5 minutes. Cool. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place for up to 1 month. Yields 5 1/2 c. YUMMM....

"i need a day like this.........."

but I want to be the person sitting IN the chair being pampered, NOT the one doing the pampering. Oh, thats my JOB. Very exhausted 11 hour days are just too much for me to handle.

"meet the Terry's"

Isn't this just the cutest little family you have ever seen? Ken, Tara and baby Mclain. They were at the wedding and we got to visit with them and hold the baby. Tara is looking mighty fine and hot since she became a mamma. (she was hot before!). Tara, I will get this pic printed up and get it too you..... :)

"clutter room"

I really would love to have a room like this in my house to retreat to. A room all my own. Pile free. To wrap gifts................scrapbook..............nap...........get away from it all..

"kam.....the bird is chirping"

I need to get a grip. thank the good lord tomorrow is burrito tuesday. I need to take a yoga class or start drinking or something. peace out.............

"poolside in the rain"

Went to Albany Tennis Club with Kela and her kids today. So nice of her to invite us. We got RAINED on. So strange for the end of August. Our last week of summer before school starts. I need to get it together and be prepared for the crazy schedule of the school year. (obviously I didn't go to Multnomah Falls today :(

"Multnomah Falls"

I really want to go to Multnomah Falls tomorrow. I have never been, which is sad since I have lived in Oregon my entire life. We stopped there on the way back from Idaho, but it started to thunder and lightening and pouring down rain. We wanted to walk to the lodge and get ice cream, but decided the weather conditions were our sign to just go home. We had been in the car for 8 hours and were tired. Of course it just stared raining here about an hour ago. What is up with this weather in the middle of August??? (oh, i missed the balloons this morning. was lazy and slept in. :(

"this kid"

I think I saw this kid today at the mall.......................

"37 and fabulous"

I celebrated my 37th birthday in Idaho at a wedding. (not my wedding, ha ha). Still feeling like I look pretty good!!! I am not sure why these two cuties look so much older than they really are???? Not ok....

Spent my birthday with my favorite girls......................

MMMMM......................birthday cake. Had a piece at the wedding, but not a real birthday cake.

Balloon fest is this weekend. Night glow would be fun. I think I am too tired to go. Worked today and might just be lazy and watch some TV tonight. It is usually the weekend of my birthday, but this year it was a week later. In years past the kids and I have gotten up at dawn and watched them launch and then followed them and watched them land. So fun........maybe I won't be lazy in the morning and will get up and see them..................we'll see. Still more roadtrip pics to post.....

"more roadtrip fun......"

The FAB 4....................................need I say more???

We were ready to PARTY............(missy & maddy)

The girls getting ready. (nicole & maddy)

The bride. BEFORE. ----AFTER pic to follow.

The beautiful bride. Sunny Duffy (the last moments before she was hitched). More to come.......keep watching.

"we're baaaacccckkkk"

Idaho or bust baby...............We headed out of Albany by about 7:30 am (after coming back to the house once, going by the salon to get bobbypins, fuel for the car and Starbucks.) Had my 3 best friends in the Hummer, lots of loud music and snacks. Lots of laughing and singing (documented on video) and the trip was fun but hectic. Lots of wedding obligations so most of the time was very busy. Wedding was beautiful (hotel was gorgeous right on the river). More pics to come in the next few days. This is the beginning of the AMAZING RACE.............(nicole & maddy lookin' fine)

We kept up this pace for about the first 5 hours. Music, sugar, Starbucks, singing.....towards the last leg of the trip (as seen below) we kind of started to wilt............

Power lunch. Need to keep the sugar-high up for such a long journey.......(crack babies always do the trick)

Are we there yet????? This is the road to NOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Almost there.... in Lewiston, ID. Calling for directions. Hot, tired (8 1/2 hours in car so far) and ready to settle in........more to come on the roadtrip in the days to come. Hot mess, near meltdowns and the "mushroom" shirt. ha ha ha hee hee hee........

"weddings, birthday's and roadtrips, oh my"

Can't wait to leave for Idaho. The drive will be long, but should be fun. 9 hours, one way, in the Hummer with me, Kam, Nicole & maddy, a video camera and lots of laughing. I'm excited for the wedding, my birthday and spending time with some of my favorite people (I will miss my boys).

I wish I could wear this dress to my "birthday party" hee hee..............................

Celebrating my "37" birthday day with my BFF (that's us in this picture, we are GORGEOUS) and our girls at a fabulous wedding, with cake and pretty dresses.......................

Prepare yourselves girls for the trip of a lifetime with your hot mamma's (Maddy & colie).................beauties..............

The lovely bride-t0-be Sunny D............................

Peace out...........we're off to the wedding of the year...........................

"roadtrip"

This time next week we (me, Nicole, BFF and maddy) will be on the road to I-DA-HOE. BFF this is how much luggage we are taking. JK!! We both need to figure out our dress situation. I have all of the mapquest and directions and am making lists, lists, lists for everything else. Need to charge the video camera. Should be fun........................

"crash & burn"

Called BFF to walk tonight. We decided to take a new route. 1st leg of the "trip" was fine. Nice new sidewalks, beautiful park, sun was setting. 2nd leg of the "trip" not so good. Stepped off of a curb and went flying and sprawled into the street. Face first. I think my boobs saved my head from hitting the pavement. My hands didn't fair too well. Couldn't immediatley get up because I was stunned and BFF was LAUGHING histerically once she knew I wasn't broken anywhere. Picked a few rocks out of my hands. But we finished our walk (the entire way) in the dark. Blood, rocks, limping home. Hopefully I burned off some of those calories from the cookies I ate from laughing so hard............waaaahhhhh waaaahhhhh

"life"

"buck up little pony (BFF)"

BFF. Buck up. Get a grip. Relax. Drink some vodka. Laugh at this picture. I am planning our trip so don't worry about anything. We are going to regroup and be fabulous again. We will do it. Never fear, pink pony is here...............

"post for kela"

Is this entertaining enough????? ha ha ha . Love ya Kela!

"lions and tigers and bears, oh my"

Got some postcards from my nephews today! They are traveling to Missouri (by car) and are experiencing the scenery. One postcard was from Utah and the other was from Yellowstone. Hope they are having fun!! Sounds like they have seen all kinds of animals and sites. Wonder what mom is doing with all of her free time??

"speaking of rocker chick"

This is a pic of my BFF (taken last week, ha ha, actually 20 years ago in high school). She is the HOttie in the middle in the disco ball dress. She is HOT. I love the hair, the tan and the dress. She was the prettiest and most popular girl in school (she will argue about that with me). She is still the prettiest and most popular..............love ya.

"rocker chick"

Seeing an old 80's band Queensryche concert tonight. It's in Eugene at Cuthberth Amphitheatre. hubby got us some tickets from some friends. (bagenski's). should be fun because the venue it outside. I'll let you know how it goes.