How was your weekend?

Hi everyone,

I hope that you all had a nice weekend.  Our weather has been nothing but cloudy and rainy.  It can be pretty depressing not to have the sun shining.   Still, we do what we can to not get down about it.

So, on Saturday when we heard about an Art Festival on Lake Minnetonka we decided to go check it out.

I loved walking around and checking out all the artisan's creations.  Think I may have gotten some inspiration because I've got an idea brewing for a new painting.  Stay tuned.

We also enjoyed some of the food from the tasty food trucks - delicious Steak Bites, Strawberry Rhubarb Struedel, Gyros, French Fries, Kettle Corn, and more.  Oh, how we have missed you, summer fair food.

It was a great day, and we lucked out.  It just started to sprinkle as we walked to our car.

 

Later, Saturday evening we decided to take in a movie at the Theater. 



The Internship - with Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson.  How could you go wrong with those two actors?  We all really enjoyed the movie.  I've always been a fan of Vince Vaughn, and was really surprised when I read the credits at the end, and found out he also wrote the story.  Damn, that guy is good!

Don't you think it's cool the way this group of guys, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, and more always seem to help each other out by providing roles in each other's movies? I like that.

Sunday morning I made this for a breakfast treat.

Trader Joe's Coffee Cake.

My family gave it another thumbs up.

Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce - Billy's Syrup.

Do you love ice cream?  Us too.  So, tonight we were all ready to have us some ice cream when we realized we were out of chocolate sauce.

No problem, I remembered a recipe we used to make all the time when I was a kid.  It's called, "Billy's Syrup" named after my cousin.  Probably not because he created it, I'm guessing because it was his favorite.  Most of our family recipes have someone's name in front of it. 

 

Billy's Syrup - The Best Hot Fudge Ever! is easy to make and just as delicious as I remembered.

Here's how.

In a small sauce pan add:   1/4 Cup Butter
                                            3/4 Cup Sugar
                                            1/3 Cup Milk or Cream
                                            1/4 Cup Baking Cocoa

Bring to boil for 2 minutes. 

Cool and stir till creamy

Add to your ice cream sundae and enjoy!

 

 

Last Sunday, I found myself walking the isle's of one of my favorite stores - IKEA.

 

I warn you tho, do not go to this store on the weekend.  It is way too crowded for inspired browsing.

 

Some how, I managed to find a treasure in the short time we stayed.

 

My new cutting board.

I love the look of Butcher Block, wish all my counters were this.

Oh well.

This cutting board is large so you have plenty of space for chopping lots of vegetables.  I also appreciate that it locks in place on my counter's ledge.

 

For the price of $10.00, you can't beat it.

 

 

How To Cure A Dog's Ear Infection - EcoEars Review

It's been a while since I've posted a product review.  If you have a dog with an ear infection, or ear mites. Then you are going to want to know about this product.

Meet our dog, Pebbles.  Poor Pebbles has had gunky itchy ears for longer than I care to admit.  She constantly scratches and licks her paws.  Sometimes, she'll even shake her head crazily.  She's miserable and I was at a loss of what I could do for her. 
I took her to the vet.  He gave me some drops and instructed me to put this antibiotic in her ear twice a day for 10 days.  I did my best, but not always making the full 10 days.  Her ear would get slightly better but soon would be just as bad as before. 
Vet's are not cheap, and so I just kept putting in the drops.  Even though it really wasn't working.  I didn't want to go back to the expensive vet, and my small bottle of expensive antibiotic was running out soon. 

What to do?
Well, I went searching online and found a product called EcoEars, a natural remedy.

For Dogs With Itchy, Smelly & Gunky Ears.  This sounded like Pebbles problem.  Maybe it would work? 

click picture for link

 

I ordered the product which was very reasonable and so much cheaper than the vet.  I couldn't wait to receive it in the mail.  I was feeling so bad for my dog.

The product arrived within days. I found Pebbles and doused her ear good.  I loved the big bottle of EcoEars.  It was easy to use with it's simple spout.  If some of the stuff missed the ear, no problem.  There was plenty.  Pebbles hated it, of course.

Imagine my surprise the next day when I checked Pebbles ear.  The black gunky stuff was clearing up already.  I could see pink again.  She wasn't scratching or shaking her head anymore.  I gave her another dose.
You are supposed to do this for 10 days in a row.  By the third day Pebbles ear was perfect.  She is so happy, more relaxed.  I'm just thrilled with this product.

Click Picture For Link

If your dog has ear infections.  I can not recommend EcoEars enough.
It's a great product, priced right, and it works.

Thank you EcoEars.


 

Pinned There, Done That. Philly Cheese Sloppy.

I found this recipe on Pinterest

 

from http://blogchef.net/philly-cheese-steak-sloppy-joes-recipe/

I've been trying to find some new meals for my family.  This photo just looked so delicious. 

We basically followed the same recipe with a few changes.  Here is what I did.

1 lb. Ground Beef

1/4 Steak Sauce

1 Tblsp. Dried Onion Flakes

1 Cup of Beef Broth

Salt & Pepper

 

I buttered and broiled some hamburger buns.

Added meat to bun, and added a slice of Provolone cheese on top.

Back in the oven to melt for a second.

 

That's it.  This was a very easy meal to make.  My family gave it

  My friend Laura over at her blog  has a "Pinned There Done That" linky thing going on.
http://lmichele.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/05/pinned-.html#tpe-action-posted-6a00e54f053b398834017eeafeba24970d

Join in the fun and use it as motivation to actually make some of the things we pin.

I hope to see you there.

 



Fairy Gardens at The Minnesota Arboretum.

A few months ago the Minnesota Arboretum was having a Fairy Garden exhibit.  I've always liked the idea that there are beautiful fairies living in my flower gardens.  So off I went to check out the exbit and get some inspiration.

Here's some photo's.

BBQ Potato Chip Chicken - Easy Meal.

This meal gets requested almost weekly from my kids.  Lucky for me, it's an easy meal to make.  I serve it with another favorite Anne's Mac & Cheese.

Here's all there is too it.

4-5 Chicken breasts - I usually thaw mine out, but sometimes I'll even do it with frozen ones.

1/2 cup Butter - melted.   (I've used olive oil, even a mix of milk and eggs.  Basically, to coat the chicken.)

Next, smash a bag of Potato Chips - any flavor you like.  We like the BBQ flavor, but without MSG please whenever possible.

Coat the chicken breast with the potato chips and put into a greased pan.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until thermometer reads 180 degrees.

Serve and enjoy!

Studio Snapshot

 

Studio Snapshot

Every once in a while I like to give you a glimpse of an art project I'm working on.  This one has been in the studio for a month or so.

I tend to let things simmer and brew a bit.  Inspiration on what is next, comes to me like a book, chapter by chapter.

This is a painting of my three sister's, and me.

It's not done, but my hope is, I'll be finishing it in a couple of weeks.

I'll post the finished project as soon as it is completed.