Thoughts for Thursday

 

 

 

My experiment in forcing forsythia blooms is working! After six days of looking like nothing much was happening, suddenly the buds began to get plump and when I woke up one morning there were actually green leaves and flowers. So pretty and springlike and I am happy I tried it this year. It's not too late for this method if your forsythia has not yet bloomed.

 

 

This little angel lost her two year fight with cancer yesterday, and if you followed the NCAA Basketball Tournament at all, you probably heard her story. At MSU, she was known as Princess Lacey and had an amazing relationship with basketball player Adreian Payne. She called him superman and did as much for him as he did for her. Her beautiful smile and spirit could light up the whole basketball arena and she will never be forgotten at MSU. Her story and the impact she had in her short life is told nicely in this newspaper article.

 

My 40 Bags in 40 Days challenge is moving right along, slowly, but surely. My big project yesterday was my laundry room - both cabinets and coat closet. I managed to find 4 bags - one to donate and 3 to toss. I found old shoes, outdated appliance manuals and many cleaning supplies past their prime. Having another area clean and organized is always a great feeling and the extra space is welcome. Today, I tackle a file cabinet in the basement that hadn't been touched in years.

 

 

I am surprised that I am still enjoying The Real Housewives of New York City this season. I really thought I was done with the housewives shows, but this version feels more interesting and less forced. Also, since I went to New York City this past summer, the locations give me glimpses of that wonderful city, in all its summertime glory. This week's episode included some silly scenes of the Mermaid Festival at Coney Island and was fun to see.

 

Happy Thursday!

 

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Plants, Burlap and a Basket

 

 

 

A wire basket filled with plants, burlap and a ceramic bird gives a springtime touch to my dining room table. I am working on a small, simple update to my dining room and this is a first step to the french country look that I hope to achieve. I plan to recover the chairs and I have something new in mind to hang on one of the walls. More to come with those ideas on another day :-)

 

 

This pin was my inspiration, but I wanted to go a little less Easter and a little more springtime. The basket is a great size and when I tire of this look, I can use it for many things. Both the basket and the bird are from HomeGoods and the burlap was leftover from another project. The plants are from a greenhouse, near my home and while I was buying indoor plants for this project, I can't tell you my joy in seeing all the summer flowers beginning to fill their aisles.

 

 

There are still a few weeks to go before any outside planting can begin, but in the meantime this simple centerpiece will bring some green and springtime inside.

Happy Wednesday!

 

{Linking with these friends}

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Carrot Cake Cookies

 

 

 

A cookie that is perfect for the spring season, uses a springtime ingredient like carrots. These Carrot Cake Cookies are delicious and soft cookies, bursting with the flavors of golden raisins, spices and of course grated carrots. They are so pretty and perfect with a hot cup of tea or a cold glass of milk in the afternoon. And, what a great way to add some healthy veggies to a sweet treat!

These cookies are so simple too. They are made with a carrot cake mix and I used carrots purchased from the grocery store, already grated, to save myself a step. The scent, while baking, filled my kitchen with the aroma of spices and I couldn't wait to give one a try, as soon as they were out of the oven.

Diabetic note: Since these were made from a cake mix, I couldn't control the sugar and use Splenda as a sugar substitute. I will only allow myself one cookie per serving to help control my daily carb count. No need to deprive yourself, as long as you use portion control :-)

 

Recipe for Carrot Cake Cookies

1 box carrot cake mix (any brand)

1 box instant vanilla pudding - 4 serving size

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 eggs

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup grated carrot

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together carrot cake mix, pudding, vegetable oil and eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add grated carrots and golden raisins. Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray. Place on cookie sheet using a cookie scoop or a tablespoon. Bake for 14-16 minutes. Enjoy!

 

{Linking with these friends}

 

Rattlebridge Farm

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Jennifer Rizzo

Savvy Southern Style

 

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