Happiness is....

Happiness is a fat 3 month old.  Even though we are battling yet another cold, this one invited his good friend dry cough.  lovely.

Happiness is also homemade ricotta! I haven't purchased ricotta in months.  Frankly, it is expensive and gross.  But I love cheese, especially fresh cheese.  When I realized how easy it is to make ricotta, the cheese heavens parted.  There are lots of recipes out there.  I used one from Hide the Cheese.  Now it is your turn.....

 First things first.  Get a nice big stock pot and scrub it with cold water.  This will prevent the milk from scorching.  Scorching is bad, I have proof positive of that.... observe.

Next, gather the gang.  Half a gallon of whole milk (I have also used low fat combined with half and half), salt and vinegar.  You can substitute lemon juice for vinegar.  I use white vinegar because I need a lemon tree.

Now plan on babysitting some milk.   You want to bring the milk and a 1 tsp. of salt to a simmer.  Don't boil it, get it going to about 180 degrees.  It will be nice and frothy.

 

 Now for the science experiment, add 3 TBS of vinegar to the mixture.  It will start separating....

 Simmer it for a couple of minutes and at that point you might realize that you forgot to get your strainer, bowl and cheesecloth out.  Quick! Grab a bowl and a strainer.  The cheesecloth makes it easier and cleaner but you don't have to have it.

 And then you get this little pile of love.

 I recommend spooning some into your mouth while the cheese is still warm. 

 If you are making a pasta dish, cook the pasta right in the leftover liquid (is this whey?).  Yum. 

 At this point, the baby starts to fuss and Super Dad comes through to close.  By the time you are done feeding her, this delish is in the oven. 

Super cheese!!! 

This boy house is infected with girl

Lauren got her first princess movie for Christmas: Beauty and the Beast.  The boys have watched it at least 3 times (in the last week since it has been opened) and requested to watch it 15 times.  It is one of my favorite Disney movies, I've seen it no less than 100 times and used to listen to the soundtrack on a daily basis.  When we aren't watching the movie, the boys are making requests for songs. 

As a result, Keith has been conceptualizing a Beauty and the Beast-Star Wars cross-over.  "I wish we had Beauty and the Beast/Star Wars movie."

 +

 Princess Leia as Belle

Luke as Gaston

 

Chewbacca and Han Solo as the Beast

 

 But Keith isn't the first one to have this idea......

How I deal with my issues.

I have issues.  Moving into a new house put a spotlight on my issues.  It was much easier to hide my issues in a bigger house.  I had a whole walk-in closet full of issues! My issue... I don't know that I would call it hoarding but it is definitely Hoarding's cousin. Kevin refers to it as my "need to fill every empty space"....

For example, I have issues with cleaning.  I'm not very good at it, so to compensate I purchase cleaning supplies. Lots of cleaning supplies.  I never realized how many cleaning supplies until they all came to live in one place.  Seriously, 13 bottles of Scrubbing Bubbles.

Soldiers poised to fight dirt.

I also tend to buy random presents that I lose track of and never actually use.  Boxes and boxes full of presents. 
I purchase beauty products by the pallet. 
And my clothes.....  Bins full of clothes from size 10 on up (or down).  And I need to get out more because I have lots that qualify for NWT (new with tags). 
Moving forced me to take a lot of stuff to consignment, sell things at a garage sale and attempt to organize what was leftover.
And then I came face to face with spool after spool of ribbon.  It all gives birth to the cut ribbon that I use to wrap candles, plates, and whatnot.  It was a mess. 

 

See.  That's just a little bit of the mess.  Who can figure out what was even available.

 

 So I took some of these that I had hanging around (I also tend to buy random craft supplies).  And started wrapping.  And the mess turned into.....

THIS!  Happiness in a basket. 

Now, I'm contemplating this lovely for the teachers and my mommy friends.  Check it out at Then she made  Do you think I can do it?

Give me one more week

I'm adjusting.  I'm finishing up an online class (teaching it that is). I'm chasing after boys. I'm folding laundry. I'm figuring this thing out.

Look how big Lolo (she's racking up nicknames like nobody's business) is getting!  I'll be back soon!

Edited to say: I know I have been out of it.  I haven't clicked through to Be Different Act Normal in months.  Just saw the cutest Valentine project and actually contemplated taking it on!  whoa.