Happy Easter

I'm home for Easter which is super nice. I love going to my Mom's house. Of course when visiting I bring Winston who runs around like is never gets to run at home. And sadly my parent's dog, Tinkerbelle, doesn't like him. So whenever he runs past her, she growls. And looks at him kinda like this

(I just don't like him. Why is he here?)

 And my parents have a cat, and as someone allergic to cats, I can say that I have spent the past day with a box of tissues next to me. But I love being able to just relax. I love being able to hang around outside and to have family around. I think this is one of the best times to be around loved ones.

 IIt's Easter, and it's at this time I think of the people I like to call "The Cristers" (Christmas and Easter go-ers) Those that only go to Church on the really important holidays. Sometimes, I just want to say this to them

 But I don't. Because that's not what Jesus would have done. Instead, I think he would have done something else.  Think of this ( and if you don't believe in God I suggest you stop reading right here) the Lord has risen. He gave up his life for us and the best I can think if celebrating the fact that he gave us eternal life, is to he with Family.  So Happy Easter to all.

 Ciao,

Thursday thoughts

Today linking up with Neely from A complete Waste of Make-up and Amber from Brunch with Amber for It's Okay Thursday.  I am also using a grow your blog hop and Thursday Thoughts (With Toby's Tails)

So to start....

It's Okay...

to want to put my feet up right away when I get home.

to pack the day before leaving on a trip.

to be so tired you fall asleep standing up.

to sound like my mom when disicpling the kids I work with.

to be called "the mean teacher''

and

to knit in the dark.

Speaking of knitting in the dark

Source: sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net viaDanielle on Pinterest

This reminds me of me the other night. I was watching The Hobbit and knitting. That's just how I am.  I'm also a wondering person. Like I really wonder if this

Source: agirlandherneedle.blogspot.com viaDanielle on Pinterest

Works?

Which leads me to this...When working with kids do you ever sound like your mom? I know I do. I did yesterday when talking to a child.  I even said "Wow, I just sounded like my mom" and the kid just looked at me me like "what?!"

Source: fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net viaDanielle on Pinterest

OHP- just Pinteresting

Today I'm working a very long shift, so I'm just Pinteresting for some chill time. Just Pinteresting, and of course linking up with Michelle from The Vintage Apple.

So let's just jump on in :)

Source: unafloresita.blogspot.com viaDanielle on Pinterest

Source: whatsgabycooking.com viaDanielle on Pinterest

Source: Danielle on Pinterest

Source: so-relatable.tumblr.com viaDanielle on Pinterest

And a give-a-way of a purse (YAY)

Source: acompletewasteofmakeup.com viaDanielle on Pinterest

Ciao,

Guest post

I did a guest post over at the Peony Princess. Please head over there to read me today.
Ciao,

Knitting time

I know I talked before about starting up an Etsy shop, and I would love too. I just Need the time to make product. Just as the idea came into my head, I began getting busy with work. And currently, it seems I'm getting more and more responsibility which is great, but it means less time to knit and read (my two favorite things) which leads me with...how can I get stuff done?

Source: appleyarns.com viaDanielle on Pinterest

Thankfully my husband and I talked a bit about this last night and we came up with some decisions. I am going to manage my time better. I hope by doing that I can get more stuff done like I want. So, now the question is, what to make? I will take any ideas you readers have. Going off of that, I read about a pay it forward for blogs. So, I think that is something really nice. Here's what I'm going to do, the first 5 people to comment will get something homemade. (I did this with face book and am just about ready to give my homemade gift to the first person) The item may take some time, but everything will be out, by December.  Now, there is a catch...if you comment, you have to offer something similar on you blog or facebook if you don't have a blog. It's all about paying it forward. :)


Ciao,


P.S  I updated my NF page. (Neurofibromatosis) please check it out. The update is at the bottom of the page since my explanation of NF is at the top.

Liebster Award

I was nominated for the Liebster award by the wonderful Heather Ann @ Every girl like me. I am extremely honored to have been nominated and I can not tell how wonderful it feels.  It's great to have been given this award. :)

To those of you who don't know what the Liebster award is, look no further. It is given to up and coming bloggers who have under 200 followers, in order to create new connections and bring attention to growing their blogs. (Fun right!) And for those who know German, I do believe that Liebster means dearest, beloved, or favorite. 

The rules are simple:

1. Link back to the person who nominated you.

2. Write 11 facts about yourself.

3. Answer the 11 questions from the person who nominated you.

4. Nominate 11 blogs with 200 or less flowers. Notify them. ( You cannot nominate the person who nominated you)

5. Create 11 questions for those bloggers you've nominated to answer. 

Are you ready for my facts :)

1.  I was born in New York and am an avid New York Yankee Fan. Opening day...right after Easter and against the Red Socks.

2. I love learning about other cultures and their history. Along with that comes...

3. I really hope to be able to be tri-lingual if not multi-lingual (English, Spanish, Italian and American Sign Langauge)

4.  I've had bangs since I've been in high school.  They are wispy, fall to the side and work great with my face.

5. I just created my first twitter account. (I know, I Need  to get caught up to the times)

6. I am trying to grow a lemon tree ( really hope it works)

7. My goal is to knit a blanket and socks

8. I love Disney movies. I can sing all the songs. I also love musicals.

9. I used to be a vegetarian, until I met my husband. ( My brother called me and said I lied right here. He said I did eat meat before I met Jeff, so I'm editing it to...I was kinda a vegetarian and ate chicken Sometimes but not all the time )

10.I can not keep nail polish on my nails, although I would love to have a real manicure with out those plastic nails. I want to use my real nails. 

11.  I'm under 5 feet, which makes me a legal midget. 

(Side note- as I'm writing this, Winston has decided to sit on me- so please let me know any typos I may have missed)

Heather Ann's Questions. 

1. If you could only shop at one store, where would it be? I would have to say Maurices. They have pants, for my short size, and shirts that are nice and long (which I love)
2. If you could swap lives with someone for a week, who would it be? I really don't know. I think it could be fun to be famous, but then I think about the fact that all the press would be following me and I don't want that. Hmmm, maybe I would swap with my BFF and go to school in Louisiana. 
3. What is your biggest fear/phobia? Spiders and losing all my loved ones. 
4. Name one thing on your bucket list and why it is important to you? One thing I really want to do is go to Southern Italy. It's where my family is from and I want to see where I came from. I think it's important to know my roots. 
5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? In 5 years I hope to be raising a family and living on a Military base.I would like to be a Stay-at-Home Mom until all my kids are in school. In 10 years I hope to be teaching, whether it's on base or not, still raising my family(but all the kids will be in school), and raising money for NF.
6. Who is your biggest role model? My mom
7. What is your favorite TV show/Movie? Grey's Anatomy/ Disney movies.
8. If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be? Energetic, Empathetic and Quirky. 
9. What is your favorite childhood memory? Christmas Eve- we would have a picnic underneath the Christmas tree. It was a time where I felt close to my brothers and sisters.  
10. If you could travel/live anywhere, where would it be? I would say Italy again. or Ireland. Somewhere in Europe would be super nice. 
11. If you could give any advice to new bloggers, what would it be? Do not be afraid to follow other blogs, join link up and comment. Commenting is super helpful. 

Who I nominate...

Ms. Paws at Life, Love and Paw Prints

Kathrine at Newsom's Nest
Mindy at  Ponderings of the Heart
Jeffrey at Journey to a Slimmer Me
Jess At Little Miss Undomestic
Ashlyn at On Cloud 9
Kristen at Making each Minute Count
Katie at Dabbling in Dixie
Mandee at A Day in the Life of Mandee
Jazmine at Sassy Brunette
And
Aasha at Aasha speaks Bahasa

My Questions for all the wonderful bloggers I nominated

1. What is the best travel experience you've had?
2. Why did you start blogging?
3. What would you tell 18 year old you?
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?
5. If you could have any animal as a pet what would it be a why?
6. What is your favorite song?
7. What is a meaningful quote to you?
8. What is your favorite desert?
9. What is your dream job?
10. Are you an extrovert or an introvert?
and
11.  If someone could make you your favorite meal,
including an appetizer and desert, what would it be? Who would that person be?

 Okay all you nominees, I can't wait to see what you wrote. I also want to thank all my readers. 

Ciao, 

It's Okay Thursday

It's that time for ....

It's Okay...

...to have Jeff make dinner once in a while. 

.... to rock out to Backstreet Boys and Brittany Spears while cleaning.

... to spend an entire day knitting.

...to carry around a box of tissues for my allergies.

...to forget to take my multi-vitamin.

...to be love cats, but be allergic to them (Sad I know)

...to go to bed at 8:30 PM

What's okay with you today?

I'm trying something new with this link up and doing a



Let me know what you think.

Oh how Pinteresting - Poop n' Giggles

I got Blog love- so please follow me there

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Yesterday my husband decided to give our dog some new food. He said it would be fine and Winston would like it. Well, Winston did like it, and he ate all of it, but this morning I came home to a dog who has had a reaction to the food. And when I say reaction, I mean a reaction. 

 And by everywhere, I mean it was everywhere. On the floor, on the couch, on the fresh cleaned blankets, on the bed, and on him. The best part, he saw me, ran up to me, and jumped on me, so also it was on me. Ugh. Naturally  I cleaned it up (Who wouldn't?) but needless to say, Winston is not ever getting some special canned dog food again. and as for Winston...

 So this lead me to find and pin funny animal memes. And of course since it is Wednesday, I'm linking up with....

And here we go :) (I don't know about you, but I got a new pinterest set up and the button I use to put this on isn't there, so just go back to the old way of clicking the picture to get to the link)

Ciao,

Birthday Cake!

It's J's birthday today. He's turning a big.....well, he is getting close to entering his mid twenties. And he is well not doing a great as one would be doing around their birthday. He seems to be a bit depressed. I thought maybe making him a healthy cake would help him. (And by healthy I mean less than 310 calories)

Tuscan Cake with Citrus Compote

( I did make some substitutions- they will be in Pink!)

Cake:

• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 6 tablespoons of EVOO(extra-virgin olive oil) - I didn't have enough oil (opps) so I used 1 1/2 tablespoons of  pure vegetable oil (Don't tell)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp grated grapefruit ring (My grapefruit was bad so I used clementines instead)
• 1/1/2 tsp grated lime rinds
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1( 6 ounce) container of plain yogurt. (I use Greek yogurt which involved math- ugh- I found out that between 2/3 and 3/4 cup is 6 ounces. Remember there are 8 ounces to a cup NOT 16 like I thought) 
• 1 1/4 Cup of flour
• 1/4 cup of cornmeal- the first time I have ever used cornmeal in cooking.
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt

1. Preheat over to 325 degrees.
2. Grind up the limes and clementines

   3. Place sugar and oil in a large mixing bowl; beat at high speed 2 minutes or until well blended.  

    

 4. Add the egss 1 at a time and beat well after each addition,

 5. Add the rinds, yogurt, and vanialla; beat until just combined.

             

6. Combine the flour, cornmeal, baking soda, baking powder and salt, stirring with a whisk (A whisk is very important)

                                             

7. Add the flour mixture to the oil mixture and stir with a whisk until just combined. Pour into a greased cake pan and bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. 

            

 For the Compote:

• 2 large Red grapefruit ( I didn't have those so I used clementines)
• 4 Large Oranges
• 2 tbsp of fresh lime juice
• 1 tbsp of lemon juice
• 3 tbsp of honey
• 1/8 tsp of cinnamon

1. Peel the fruit, reserve the juices and set the fruit in a medium bowl.

              

2. Combine  the reserved juices, lime and lemon juice in a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Stir in the honey and cinnamon. Simmer until syrupy. Cover and chill for 30 minutes, mix with the fruit and pour over the cake. 

And the Cake!!!!

 So, while I was making the cake I did have a helper. (or someone who wanted to help)

(Hey Mommy what are you doing? Can I help?)

(Is that for me?)

(I can't believe I couldn't lick the spoon)

Ciao,