Happy Patriots' Day

Tomorrow, September 11, 2010 marks the 9th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. I baked up a bunch of my kitchen sink cookies for my local firehouse. I packaged them in a recycled cinnamon roll container and added a USA ribbon. Hope they enjoy them. :)

I've been thinking a lot about September 11th and so I wrote a little op ed and sent it to my local newspaper. It was published! Check it out and let me know what you think.  And, if you have some time, bake some cookies for your local firehouse. ;)

Happy Independence Day Open House

We go a little nutty with our holiday decorating around here. The 4th of July is no exception. I've taken a few pictures from around my house to share with you. Enjoy!

 We'll begin with the front of the house. Our door used to be blue like the window boxes but this year we painted our new door red. We wanted it to really "pop" so we left the flower boxes blue which I think looks a little patriotic all year 'round.

The buntings are from Hobby Lobby (in Arizona.) Next up, we have a few pics from inside the house. My mum collects pitchers and this is her new patriotic pitcher.


I loved Holly Hobby as a kid so this plate reminds me of my childhood.

We found this cute frame at the Assistance League of Huntington Beach Thrift Shop. It sits on top of my piano.

Lastly, I took this picture in my backyard. I thought the redish geraniums with the overgrown white vine with the violet morning glories looked very red white and blue.

Oh, and the welcome sign up at the top of this post also came from the AL of HB Thrift Store. I found the cute star plates at Target (Love them!). Well this is all the new stuff we've collected/done this year. Thanks for visiting and happy 4th of July.

If you are interested, you can view last years 4th tour. Check it out here.

Operation Write Home Memorial Weekend Blog Hop

Thank you for visiting my blog to honor Memorial Day. This year, as I was assisting Nathan, a 2nd grader,  in writing an essay on Nathan Hale, I fell in love with this Patriot all over again. Young Nathan was impressed that Hale went from a school teacher, to a political leader, to Revolutionary War soldier, to a spy on the British troops, to a fallen hero. We were both impressed by his integrity and patriotism. When captured by the British troops Hale admitted to spying and was thus sentenced to be hanged. His last words were,

"My only regret is that I have but one life to give for my country."

Hale's great-nephew, Edward Everett Hale said, "And because that boy said those words, and because he died, thousands of other young men have given their lives to his country."

It is these men (and women) whom we remember on Memorial Day. I cannot help but be grateful to all those who have served and continue to serve in the fight for freedom. I am also filled with gratitude for the families who support them.

Please continue on the Operation Write Home blog hop journey to the talented Angela with Midnight Crafting.

After I posted my cards the niece (age 8.5) made her own version.

Blankets of Love

This week I went to Salt Lake City, Utah to personally drop off the infant kits from my Birthdays Project. I was able to see the LDS Humanitarian Center for the first time.

I was amazed by all the work that is being done for people around the world. The Humanitarian Center gives tours with a movie at the end of the tour. Each row of the little theatre had a box of Kleenex. I lasted about 10 minutes through the movie without crying. Then, a ninenty year old woman talked about how she learned babies were being taken home from hospitals, wrapped in newspaper. She decided to make blankets for children all over the world. She showed how she hugs each blanket before she sends it off so when the children get the blanket, they can feel loved.

I made 11 receiving blankets.  I hope that the babies who receive their blankets in the infant kits feel loved. The Humanitarian Center volunteers were very happy to receive all the donations from the Birthdays Project. Thank you to everyone who helped.

Kitchen Sink Cookies

These are my new favorite cookies. There is something for everyone. There are a lot of ingredients and that's why I'm calling them kitchen sink cookies. They are just about fool-proof. If your cookies tend to fall flat, try these. They are hard to screw up.

Kitchen Sink Cookies

Ingredient List

1/2 cup unsalted butter
½ cup vegetable shortening
1 cups packed light brown sugar (or sugar in the raw)

2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose white flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder
¾ teaspoon baking soda
generous ½ teaspoon salt
2 cups old fashioned rolled oats

2 cups corn flakes, crushed
1 ¼ cups (5 oz.) chopped pecans
1 ¼ cups (about 3 ½ oz.) shredded or flaked sweetened coconut
Optional:
*1 tablespoon peanut butter
**2 cups Chocolate chips

The instructions, with pictures

preheat oven to 375 degrees

In a mixer or a large bowl, cream the butter, shortening and brown and white sugars until light in color.

Add the eggs and vanilla and mix until fluffy.

In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Add flour mixture to butter mixture and mix until combined. Stir in the pecans, corn flakes, coconut and oats.

This is a good time to add chocolate chips. You can add peanut butter here  too.

Let the dough stand for 5 to 10 minutes, or until firmed up slightly.

Use an ice cream scoop and place balls about 2 inces apart on silpat or greased cookie sheet.

Use your hand to pat down the balls until about 1/2 to one inch thick.

Bake for 12-15 minutes. The sides will be a light brown and the center will look slightly underdone. Set the cookie sheet onto a wire rack and let stand until the cookies firm up slightly, about 3-5 minutes (this is super important so they don't break apart!). Transfer cookies with a spatula to wire racks. Let stand until completely cooled.

Makes 24-30 3 inch cookies. Store in an airtight containes for up to 1 week or freeze for up to one month.

Enjoy! Try them and let me know how much you love them.

Little note: you can make them larger or smaller, just adjust the cooking time. :)

Birthdays Project Thanks

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for all my wonderful friends who donated items for the infant kits. You rock!  I'm still receiving items (donations are coming from all over the US and Canada!) so I will probably have the kits complete by month's end. I'm hoping to personally bring the kits to Welfare Square in Salt Lake City. I'd love to take a tour of the facilities and learn other ways that I can help relieve some of the suffering around the world. If I go, I'll take pictures for sure.

Have any of you been there? Is it amazing? What service projects are you working on now?