Fresh Beet and Mozzarella Salad

First boil beets or buy...I really like the ones at Fresh and Easy and at Trader Joe's.  The golden ones work really nice too because they don't stain the cheese or if you just want more color you can use both.

Chop beets into small bite size pieces...

add about 2 cups of Arugula

top with chopped bite size fresh mozarella~I used 8 ounces

Just add salt, pepper and olive oil to taste.  Toss and serve as an appetizer, salad/side or as main dish.  The beets and mozzarella have such an amazing flavor.  This is one of my get together staples.

Hope you enjoy this amazingly simple and absolutely delicious dish!

Dress I made from Pinterest

Here is the Blog where I got the instructions:

http://asmallsnippet.blogspot.com/2011/09/wanna-make-dress.html

They were very easy to follow and it didn't take long at all.  I ended up making a sort of belt instead of sash and used velcro to close it in the back and decorated it with a few buttons.

free children's play performance!

We saw this recently at Childsplay and it was AMAZING!!!!

The City of Goodyear is hosting a free performance of ?With Two Wings? by the
award-winning theater company Childsplay on Friday, May 4, at 7 p.m., at the
Estrella Foothills High School Performing Arts Center. Funding for this
performance has been provided by the Arizona Commission on the
ArtsTickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis at the
performing arts center box office on the night of the performance. The box
office will open at 6 p.m.

Location: Estrella Foothills High School, 13033 S. Estrella Parkway, Goodyear,
AZ 85338

Cost: Free

Description of Play: ?With Two Wings?
For children in grades 1-6
A heartwarming story about love and letting go. Lyf's parents have kept him safe
in their nest and not let him learn to fly.   Into Lyf's world burst a hilarious
pair of fast-talking twins who have snuck away from ?flock? school on a quest
for adventure.  Lyf is amazed by their cavalier attitude towards flying, but
will his parents' secret reason for protecting Lyf be enough to keep him from
the skies?  This story about a child's instinct to grow and a parent's instinct
to protect holds an unexpected twist that will leave you smiling for days. A
Childsplay world premiere!

For more information call Dianne Cripe at 623.882.7809

I am very excited about this new website and facebook page.  A Mighty Girl: The world's largest collection of books and movies for smart, confident, and courageous girls.   They have so many amazing books and movies listed.

http://www.amightygirl.com/

https://www.facebook.com/amightygirl

My Mom wants to pin her recipes, so we are using my blog...happy baking!

Banana Crumb Muffins

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 bananas, mashed
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F . Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.
2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

My mom loves these

Chunky Applesauce Muffins

Ingredients

• 4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon ground allspice
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups chunky applesauce
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup raisins

In a bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, allspice and baking soda; set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, applesauce and vanilla; stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in raisins. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until muffins test done. Cool in pan 10 minutes; remove to a wire rack.               

                                      Hot Black Bean and Salsa Dip

I made this dip for Spencer's Bday party yesterday.  Everytime I make it; it is gone!

You will need:
1 can of black beans, rinsed and drained
1 cup of jarred salsa
1 tbsp-1 1/2 tbsp chili powder
Chopped large tomato

Mix everything and simmer for 20 minutes.  Serve with tortilla chips.

Girl Legos

Phaedra loves the new Friends Legos.  Here is she playing with a Dog Show set.  They are easy enough for her to put together without getting to fustrated and designed to be a playset after.  If you are looking for a great gift idea for girls, we highly suggest these.

Easy, cute project we did the other day...a piggy bank made from a 2 liter bottle and some cardstock.  We used water bottle caps instead of thread spools for feet.  Here is the original link from Martha Stewart:
http://www.marthastewart.com/272476/bottle-bank?center

I am so in love with everything Matilda Jane!  I am hoping to become a trunk keeper in the fall!  Isn't this dress adorable?  This is my girl on her 6th Birthday

Summer Camp registration starts this Saturday for Childsplay!  I think we are going to try to get into the Fancy Nancy camp in June.
http://childsplayaz.org/academy-schedule-summer.php

Rock The Presidents at Childsplay was awesome!  I enjoyed it more than Phaedra.  It was very creative and very informative.  An older child would love this show!  It is a Childsplay original and will be showing through March 4th.  childsplayaz.org

If you are looking for good, cheap fun for the kiddos on the weekend, Skate Zone on Van Buren offers skating lessons every Saturday for only $5.  The kids that work there are amazing!  They are so patient and sweet with the kids.  The lesson is from 10-11am, then it is free skate.  From 11-12 the free skate is for the kids doing lessons; the rink doesn't open till 12 for regular hours.  We love this place!
http://www.skatezoneaz.com/

Things going on this weekend:

Feb 18th- Whirly Twirly Ball at Lifetime 5-8pm

Saturday and Sunday 10am- Ultra Star Cinema, showing through the end of Feb- Barbie in A Mermaid Tale 2.  Only $2.50.  http://www.ultrastarmovies.com/kidtoons.asp

Rock The Presidents at Childsplay; we are going to the 1pm show on Sunday.  The shows here are fantastic!
http://www.childsplayaz.org/2011-2012-season.php

My muse =)

1st Try!!

Due to many requests, I am attempting to start a blog...wish me luck!  This is for you, Natalie!